Whenever a political or humanitarian crisis occurs, people rush to give money – and that’s the case with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

But finding a reputable non-governmental organisation (NGO) through which to donate takes some investigation. Not all charitable organisations are what they claim to be. Some are scams; some are less efficient than others.

If you are considering donating to a worthy cause, here are some important points to consider:

1.

How long has the NGO existed? Be suspicious of organisations that pop up soon after a crisis. Consider long-standing ones with a published track record that can be verified by independent, reputable sources.

2.

Have complaints been listed online against the NGO? Evaluate the validity of those complaints by checking the source of any negative feedback.

3.

How much of the money collected goes to the targeted crisis and how much is kept for “administrative” purposes? NGOs employ people and have costs. Be aware of those costs and choose an organisation with reasonable distribution of money collected. Check claims about how money is distributed.

4.

Find out if the NGO already has a presence in the place where a crisis has just occurred and if it can get to remote and troubled areas quickly and efficiently.

[caption id="attachment_942327" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Volunteers prepare humanitarian aid for Ukrainian refugees, in Vilnius, Lithuania, Monday. Explosions and gunfire that have disrupted life since the invasion began last week appeared to subside around Kyiv overnight, as Ukrainian and Russian delegations met Monday on Ukraine's border with Belarus. It's unclear what, if anything, those talks would yield. Terrified Ukrainian families huddled in shelters, basements or corridors, waiting to find out. - AP Photo[/caption]

The crisis in Ukraine offers some opportunities to evaluate charitable sites. Below are some to check out.

1. The Ukrainian Institute of London provides a wide variety of options, including a special fund for humanitarian assistance to civilians and refugees who have fled their homes.

2. A link to Defend Ukraine offers a list of fundraising sites that provide food, water, first aid, medicine, clothes and shelter.

3. Other than donating money, the site provides a list of journalists you can follow as they cover the Ukrainian war

https://ukrainianinstitute.org.uk/russias-war-against-ukraine-what-can-you-do-to-support-ukraine-ukrainians/

As a librarian, I would caution you to evaluate each organisation listed on a site. The site above lists many impressive organisations, but also gives ways to wire money directly to Ukrainian banks, an option I would advise against because you cannot trace where that money goes and how it is used.

4. The Ukraine Humanitarian Fund is a UN Crisis Relief Fund that works with several NGOs. The UN acts as the umbrella organisation over other NGOS to collect and distribute food, water, shelter and medical care – especially to those people in hard-to-reach areas.

You can find information