Do Your Research Before Donating To Causes Helping With Ukraine War Refugees

MARYLAND — People compelled to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine should take heed of the warning issued by the Maryland Secretary of State and Attorney General that there are scams looming out there.

While appeals for charitable donations likely will surge as the crisis in Ukraine escalates, it is important to do research before giving, state officials advised.

“Scam artists seek every opportunity possible to prey on the generosity of well-intended donors,” Maryland Secretary of State John C. Wobensmith said. “If you choose to give to help relieve the pain and suffering in Ukraine, please be vigilant and donate wisely to reputable, well-established charities.”

The Office of the Secretary of State registers and regulates charitable organizations that solicit contributions in Maryland. Together with the assistance of the Maryland Attorney General, the Secretary of State enforces Maryland’s charitable giving laws to ensure that donations are used for their intended purpose. Visit the Secretary of State’s website for tips on how to safely donate to charities.

“We are committed to connecting Maryland’s donors with tools and tips on how to give wisely,” Maryland Attorney General Frosh said. “Maryland is home to a number of charitable organizations worthy of your generosity. As our hearts reach out to the people of Ukraine, it is important to be prepared and do your research before donating.”

Here are some tips on how to avoid a charity scam:

• Do research before giving and visit an online resource, such as Charity Navigator, that can provide in-depth information on thousands of charities. Search the name of the charity and the terms “complaint,” “review,” “rating,” or “scam” for potential red flags.
• If a telemarketer calls asking for a donation by phone, do not agree to give right away. Ask the telemarketer questions, such as how much of each donation goes to the program, how the organization carries out its mission, what percentage of money it collects is used for program services, whether contributions are tax-deductible, and how much goes to fundraising and administration. Additionally, ask the caller to send information by email or mail before deciding to give. If they refuse, this is a red flag that the “charity” may not be legitimate. Never share personal information over the phone.
• Watch out for names that only look like well-known charities—but aren’t. Pay close attention to the name and logo to make sure it matches the intended charity before giving.

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division offers tips on giving wisely that can be found here. Maryland law mandates that charities are registered with the Secretary of State and reveal to the public their financial and programmatic activities. Search the Maryland Charities Database found here to see if a charity is registered in Maryland.

If you think that you have been a victim of a charity fraud or scam, contact the Office of the Secretary of State, Charities and Legal Services Division by email at DLInvestigations_SOS@maryland.gov or telephone: 410-974-5534.

Some things to keep in mind when donating to a charity:

• Donate money over items.
• Prioritize charities that have strong ties to Ukraine and that prioritize short-term relief over long-term development.
• Vet the charity through the Better Business Bureau’s Give.org, GuideStar or Charity Navigator.
• Go to the nonprofit’s website to see how the money is being used.
• Use a credit card rather than a debit card or a third-party service to make your donation.
• Beware of solicitations for charities by phone or text, even if they seem legitimate.
• Never agree to wire transfers or donations through gift cards.

Nationally, here are charities that are accepting donations to help those affected by the conflict in Ukraine:

Airbnb.org. Airbnb's nonprofit is asking that people — especially those living in European nations near Ukraine — sign up to provide temporary housing for Ukrainian refugees or donate to support their stays.

Alight, formerly the American Refugee Committee, has sent an emergency response team to Poland to help refugees from Ukraine.

Before the invasion, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee was active at more than 1,000 locations across Ukraine, extending “a lifeline for an estimated 40,000 Jewish elderly and 2,500 poor Jewish children," according to its website. Now, those services are expanded to include food package delivery, building a database to be able to contact clients in an emergency, and helping with the emergency response.

The American Red Cross has had teams in Ukraine for eight years, and it is now providing food, hygiene products, blankets, medical supplies, trauma kits and household assistance, as well as first-aid training in bomb shelters and metro stations.

Americares Foundation, which has deployed an emergency response team to Poland, calls the situation in Ukraine “a humanitarian crisis with immense health needs.” Donations will be used to buy medicine, medical supplies and other relief items that protect health, especially as Ukraine continues to battle rising COVID-19 infections and a polio outbreak.

Catholic Relief Services is working with its partners in Poland and other countries bordering Ukraine to provide shelter, meals, hygiene supplies, transportation to safe areas and providing other emergency services.

CARE USA, in partnership with People in Need, aims to reach 4 million people with emergency assistance — particularly families, women and girls, and the elderly who are likely to suffer the most by this crisis.

The disaster relief group Convoy of Hope is partnering with a local Polish organization to provide meals to refugees entering Poland, as well as to deliver food, water and other basics across the region.

The emergency response nonprofit CORE is on the ground in Poland, distributing hygiene kits and thermal blankets, as well as emergency cash assistance to help families resettle.

Direct Relief works directly with Ukraine’s Ministry of Health and other regional partners to provide medical aid from oxygen concentrators to critical care medications, while at the same time preparing to offer longer-term medical assistance to people who are displaced or affected by the conflict.

Doctors Without Borders is sending more staff to Ukraine, where the immediate priority is to provide essential medical supplies to hospitals running low on necessary emergency response supplies such as surgical and trauma kits.

Episcopal Relief & Development is working through the Action by Churches Together Alliance to provide cash, blankets, hygiene supplies and other needed assistance.

GlobalGiving says eight years of armed conflict in eastern Ukraine have already killed thousands and thrown millions into crisis, but full scale war is having “catastrophic consequences,” made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. The charity provides shelter, food and clean water for refugees, and also health and psychological support and access to education and economic assistance.

GoFundMe verified Ukraine fundraisers support a variety of causes.

Heart to Heart International has worked in Ukraine almost since its beginning as a sovereign nation, making more than 60 shipments of medical and humanitarian aid since 1994. In response to the current crisis, the charity is delivering hygiene kits and medical supplies, and is working with local organizations to support refugees.

The International Medical Corps has worked in the country since 1999, most recently in 2014 in response to the collapse of eastern Ukraine’s health system. Its teams re on the ground in Ukraine, ready to provide medical, mental health and other health care services, and also has representatives in Poland and Hungary to assist refugees. Right now, most needed are non-food items, such as hygiene kits, blankets and other critical need items for refugees.

The International Rescue Committee is on the ground in Poland to support the approximately 1.06 million Ukrainians who fled there to escape the Russian invasion. Donations help the organization provide food, medical care and other emergency support services.

Internews supports independent media and at-risk journalists in 100 countries, with regional hubs including in Kyiv.

"Keep Ukraine's media going" is a GoFundMe campaign for journalists around Ukraine that also aims to help reporters relocate and continue their work from neighboring countries.

The Kyiv Independent, an English-language publication launched three months ago on the principles of independent journalism, needs help to continue publishing as the crisis deepends.

MAP International, a Christian organization, will send emergency medical and disaster kits to Ukraine.

Mennonite Central Committee has worked in Ukraine since 1920, when its soup kitchens fed thousands of starving families. Since the beginning of the current conflict, the organization has focused on helping people displaced by the crisis.

Mercy Corps has teams on the ground in Ukraine, Poland and Romania, where funding is provided to local organizations based on humanitarian needs they’ve identified as most urgent. In 2014, Mercy Corps helped 200,000 Ukrainians with emergency cash, food, water and sanitation supplies.

Project Hope, a global health and humanitarian relief organization, is on the ground in and around Ukraine delivering medicines and medical supplies. It has teams in Ukraine, Poland, Moldova and Romania.

Started in 2014 and devoted to building a stronger democracy in Ukraine, the nonprofit Razom for Ukraine is now "focused on purchasing medical supplies for critical situations like blood loss and other tactical medicine items." Here's a list of supplies it has purchased already and an appeal for more support.

Samaritan’s Purse sent a DC-8 to Poland loaded with supplies for an emergency field hospital on the outskirts of Lviv, Ukraine, that will have two operating rooms and be capable to providing 14 major and 30 minor surgeries per day, plus 100 emergency room visits. It has about 60 inpatient beds, including four ICU beds and four step-down beds.

Save the Children, which has been providing humanitarian aid to children and their families in Ukraine since 2014, says 400,000 of the refugees are children who are at risk of hunger, illness, trafficking and abuse. Donations provide immediate assistance, such as food, water, hygine kits, psychological support and cash.

The nonprofit Sunflower of Peace's current mission involves providing medical and humanitarian aid to people impacted by violence in Ukraine. It's accepting donations through its Facebook page.

UNICEF is on the ground in Ukraine to provide safe water, health care and other protections to children. Donations are 100 percent tax-deductible, and the organization retains less than 3 percent of funds for administrative costs.

The U.N. World Food Program USA says a $75 donation provides a family with an emergency box containing enough food for an entire month.

The U.N. Refugee Agency is on the ground in Ukraine helping refugees navigate their escape from Ukraine.

The world's biggest privately funded nonprofit United Way Worldwide has set up a relief fund in response to the intensifying humanitarian crisis to provide transportation, shelter, food and medicine, including infant supplies such as baby formula. Donations to the United for Ukraine

The Ukraine-based charitable foundation Voices of Children has been offering psychological counseling, including art therapy, for children affected by war in the country since 2015, according to its site. The group is currently helping children and families across Ukraine, including helping with evacuations.

Founded by world-renowned chef José Andrés after an earthquake devastated Haiti in 2010, the group World Central Kitchen provides meals to people in need around the globe. Andrés is now feeding Ukrainian refugees at the Polish border. Those wanting to help finance the group can do so here.

The 762 Project includes volunteers have been collecting, analyzing and posting information about Russia's troop buildup along Ukraine's border for much of the past year. Support the project here.