We are in a moment in time that is difficult to navigate. In prior years, we have created posts to help readers find and support nonprofit organizations dedicated to ending family separation, supporting survivors of sexual assault, or devoted to anti-racism.
As the Social Change Consulting team member working from Europe (Berlin, Germany), I’ve been asked by friends, family, and colleagues about the best ways to support the people suffering due to the Russian attack in Ukraine.
Below is a list of organizations and resources that could use support. I’ve also included a section with links to journalists covering the attack.
Organizations to Support
Many articles and guides on the internet share ways to help all individuals who have needed to leave Ukraine due to the Russian attack.
In situations like this, in-kind donations, such as used clothing or cuddly toys, are often not needed and overwhelm the aid organizations. If possible, it is best to donate to an organization so that they can purchase the medical supplies and items that are most critically needed.
If you want to select an organization to support, the resource Stand for Ukraine is a great place to start. They have identified many organizations. In addition, they’ve organized charities by focus and donation options.
The list includes nonprofits that are supporting the Ukrainian defense capabilities and also shares links to larger NGOs like the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (website and donate).
A few smaller organizations to highlight:
Razom for Ukraine (website and donate) – They are a nonprofit supporting Ukrainian people in their pursuit of democracy with dignity, justice, and human rights. Razom also created a LinkTree list of ways to help.
Voices of Children (website and donate) – They provide psychological and psychosocial support to children who suffered as a result of war operations. Before this latest attack, they have been working in villages and towns along the frontline in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Fight for Right (website and donate) – It is increasingly difficult for Ukrainians with Disabilities to leave the country. Fight for Right is working to help individuals with disabilities to evacuate.
If you prefer to support larger organizations CARE (website and donate) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (website and donate) are providing ongoing support.
Finally, for our German-speaking friends and colleagues in Berlin, this Ukraine-Bedarfsliste_aktuell Google Doc is an ongoing list of needed items.
A Note About Racism That Some Individuals Are Enduring
You may have heard that non-Ukrainians who are fleeing Ukraine are facing more hurdles at the Polish and German borders. Reports show that foreign students are facing segregation and racism at the border.
This news was then covered on state-controlled Russian media, which made some people say it was false and planted by Russian media.
It is not false. It is true. While it may have been necessary to separate Ukrainian passport holders from non-Ukrainian passport holders to process across the border, it is clear through first-hand accounts that many non-white people faced racism and hostility from government officials.
Ocalenie Foundation (website and donate) helps refugees, immigrants, and repatriates build a new life in Poland. They are working to support students struggling to escape and get through to Poland.
If you are interested in also supporting students, the University of Potsdam is collecting donations for all international students who are facing financial hardship due to the war in Ukraine. Funds will be disbursed quickly and unbureaucratically as interim financial aid to students.
Unfortuantely, you’ll need to be able to make an IBAN contribution. Details are below:
Purpose of donation “Notfallfonds Uni Potsdam” (please include as a reference)
Universitätsgesellschaft Potsdam e.V.
Deutsche Bank
IBAN: DE15 1207 0024 0327 0170 00
BIC: DEUTDEDB160
Supporting News Organizations and Reporters to Follow
There is a lot of news to process right now. And there is a healthy amount of disinformation and plenty of American pundits who are “Westsplaining.”
Ukrainian News Outlets
The Kyiv Independent team works around the clock and in dangerous situations to report the news. It’s an English language outlet. You can support them via Patreon or GoFundMe. Reporters Anastasiia Lapatina and Illia Ponomarenko are helpful follows to see and understand what is happening in real-time.
A consortium of The Fix, Are We Europe, Jnomics, Media Development Foundation, and additional media partners from across Europe, created a fundraiser to help media relocate, set up back offices, and continue their operations from neighboring countries. Donate to the GoFundMe here.
Reporters to Follow
NPR has many correspondents in Ukraine and in countries that are receiving and supporting the individuals who fled the Russian invasion. Lauren Frayer, Mary Louise Kelly, Arezou Rezvani, Eleanor Beardsley, and Tim Mak have been reporting from Ukraine. Leila Fadel is reporting from Poland and Rob Schmitz from Germany.
AFP’s reporters Daphné Rousseau and Aris Messinis are providing reports and photos.
Emmanuelle Chaze is a journalist that reports in FR-EN-DE-ES. She is a political correspondent/reporter for France24 and DW.
Lucian Kim is a former Moscow-based NPR correspond who is now Wilson Center Fellow.
Pete Kiehart is a photojournalist currently in Ukraine.
Valerie Hopkins is the New York Times Moscow correspondent and is currently reporting from Ukraine.
Justin (he, him) is a Principal and Co-Founder of Social Change Consulting. He has over fifteen years of nonprofit experience, with expertise in online fundraising, digital communications, and data management. Justin helps organizations connect their communication strategy to their income development needs. When he’s not on the clock, Justin is exploring Berlin, running, listening to too many podcasts, and drinking too much coffee.