A majority of Americans are at least planning to donate to the victims of the four-week-old Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to Fidelity Charitable.
One-quarter of people already have made donations in response to one of the largest humanitarian crises in EUrope since World War II, and two-thirds of those who have not done so yet say they plan to do so in the next few weeks, according to Fidelity Charitable’s survey of 1,009 individuals taken on March 9.
Among those who have taken action, 54% have made a donation to a traditional nonprofit working on the ground in Ukraine or nearby countries, while 26% have given money directly to individuals or families affected by the crisis, according to the survey, “All Eyes on Ukraine: How Americans Are Responding to the Crisis.”
Seventy-nine percent have engaged in some form of economic support other than a direct donation, such as purchasing a product with proceeds benefiting Ukraine, purchasing supplies to send to Ukraine, or supporting a Ukrainian business.
Younger Americans are more likely to branch out from direct monetary contributions, to the less traditional methods of helping. Twenty-eight percent of millennials engaged in alternate forms of economic support, compared to 15% of Gen X and 12% of baby boomers, Fidelity said.
Judging by the donations, people seem to be most concerned about medical needs, the needs of children and the immediate humanitarian needs, according to the survey. Donors also are thinking long-term and are giving to such things as rebuilding Ukraine, providing economic opportunity for refugees, supporting mental health services and strengthening democracy, the survey showed.
The top organizations receiving contributions were World Central Kitchen, Doctors without Borders USA and the United States Fund for UNICEF.