Plus: Where the Freshies are donating this week.
In a time of crisis, it’s hard to know the best way to support those most affected. As the world turns its thoughts to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many organizations are asking for emergency donations to fund their efforts to assist Ukrainians to safety.
But how do you know the best way to give? Here are our top 5 things to consider when making an emergency donation:
- Does the organization align with your values? Are you most concerned with supporting LGBTQ+ communities? Kids? Pets? Marginalized groups? Make sure the organization aligns with the issue you want to address.
- Be intentional about fact-checking and news sourcing. Our client Free Press is leading the charge for media justice, including the fight against disinformation. As news on the crisis in Ukraine emerged, Senior Counsel and Director of Digital Justice and Senior Rights Nora Benavidez shared a helpful Twitter thread on how to identify disinformation and avoid perpetuating the fake news cycle.
- Think beyond the immediacy of this moment. Organizations can become overwhelmed with an outpouring of donations during times of urgent need – and when news about these crises dies down, they lack the resources they need to keep doing the work. Consider monthly giving and staying up to date with what the organization needs once the headlines fade or the crisis becomes less acute.
- Remember your gift is tax-deductible! We recommend checking the IRS’s Tax Exempt Organization Search to make sure the organization can receive gifts that are tax-deductible.
- See where others are giving. Listen to trusted sources and experts in the field about where they are giving. And on this one, we got you. Here’s where some of us have donated over the last few days to support the emergency response in Ukraine:
- Wesley: My partner and I donated to Nova Ukraine, which provides humanitarian relief to vulnerable populations in Ukraine.
- Joy: My husband and I donated to Doctors Without Borders, HIAS and World Central Kitchen. We’ve also started talking about what’s going on with our four year-old. He wanted to give some of his piggy bank money to an organization that helps kids, so he donated to Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), a Fresh Eyes client.
- Erin: We gave to Jose Andres’ organization, World Central Kitchen. Give that man a Nobel Peace Prize, already.
- Bettina: We gave to Safe Asylum, which is mobilizing to support LGBTQ+ Ukrainians and Russians, who are facing heightened threats and repression during this crisis.
