5 things to consider when donating to Ukraine

As Canadians watch the conflict in Ukraine that has already displaced more than a million people from afar, many are wondering what they can do to help.

Canadians across the country have joined rallies in support of Ukraine in past weeks, and many communities have come together to raise funds in support of humanitarian efforts.

If you're wondering how you can get involved, CBC spoke to an expert about what to keep in mind when deciding how to show support through donations. 

Communities across Canada have been organizing donation drives to help Ukrainians, collecting everything from medical supplies to warm clothing.

But according to Kate Bahn, managing director of Charity Intelligence Canada, an organization that researches charities and aims to help people make informed decisions about where to donate, it's best to avoid sending boxes of donations.

Getting food or clothing delivered in Ukraine is a logistical nightmare, according to Bahn.

"The ports are closing, the highways, too. Getting trucks and lorries and air shipments into Ukraine is just not possible at this time."

She said that most supplies aren't likely to make it to the region or end up in landfills and that people would be better off donating money directly to charities instead. 

Bahn said it's important to make sure the charity you choose will send your money "as close to Ukraine as possible, as quickly as possible." 

She said many charities will keep your money for several years before sending it to people or organizations on the ground because they want to promote "long-term development," though studies have shown that aid is most effective when provided quickly. 

To make sure your money gets to Ukraine quickly, Bahn said it's important to donate to charities with good track records that already have people on the ground near Ukraine or that have strong connections to Ukrainian organizations.

Bahn said Charity Intelligence Canada determines which charities are more trustworthy by following charity disaster appeals and assessing each charity's donor reports regularly.

The donor reports provide information about how much money was raised in the appeal, when it was spent, what it was spent on and who it helped.

Based on this information, Charity Intelligence Canada recently published a list of credible charities and organizations offering humanitarian aid in Ukraine.