Locally and globally, individuals, families and communities are facing very different kind of crises; here in Australia, those on the east coast are dealing with massive flooding while overseas millions are impacted by the Ukraine invasion.
The for-purpose sector has ramped up its efforts to those affected and a number of fundraising appeals have been launched to support organisations working on the ground.
The following organisations are well known to Equity Trustees and have DGR1 endorsement – which means your donation is tax deductible.
There are many others you can donate that do not offer a tax deduction, and you can do your own research to find reputable for purpose organisations doing work that aligns with your personal values and giving.
Ukraine - specific appeals
ActionAid
ActionAid is on the ground working with local partners in Poland, Hungary and Romania to provide emergency relief, dignity kits, trauma counselling and safe spaces to prevent gender-based violence. ActionAid’s response will ensure the safety, dignity and rights of the most vulnerable are upheld during this crisis and that everyone receives equal support and protection.
Act for Peace
ACT FOR PEACE is preparing to respond through its local partners on the ground, who have been working in Ukraine since 1998, and are currently providing emergency food, medicine, hygiene kits and temporary shelter to displaced families arriving in Eastern Ukraine, as well as refugees fleeing the country. Donations will help provide both practical and emotional support to families uprooted by the conflict.
ADRA
ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency Australia) is working with their team in Ukraine to provide urgent humanitarian aid including water, food, shelter, blankets and clothing. Teams in in surrounding countries, including Poland, Romania and Hungary, are also preparing to respond to the needs of incoming refugees.
Australia for UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency)
Australia for UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency’s national partner in Australia, raising awareness and funds to support UNHCR’s global emergency response to humanitarian crises. UNCHR has been working in Ukraine for around three decades to provide humanitarian assistance wherever necessary. But as the crisis escalates, they need help to provide immediate protection and shelter for those forced to flee their homes.
Australian Red Cross
Teams on the ground are providing first aid, supporting health facilities with medicines and equipment, providing families with food, shelter and hygiene items, delivering much-needed water, and repairing vital infrastructure.
Baptist World Aid Australia
Supporting the work of local Baptist and other Christian partners in Ukraine and surrounding countries to respond to the needs of vulnerable households currently displaced by the crisis. They will be helping to distribute emergency items including hygiene kits, medicine, blankets and household items.
CARE Australia
Works around the globe to save lives and defeat poverty, putting women and girls at the heart of their work to end worldwide poverty. Donations to CARE will support our local partner, People in Need, to distribute food, water, hygiene kits, sleeping bags and money for supplies to displaced families in Ukraine and those who have made it to neighbouring countries.
Caritas Australia
Committed to tackling poverty and inequality in Australia and overseas since 1964, when a crisis hits, they work hand-in-hand with local communities and churches to bring aid and relief to people whose lives have been devastated by natural disaster or conflict. Staff on the ground are providing families with emergency food, water, shelter and hygiene support.
ChildFund Australia
ChildFund’s German sister organisation, ChildFund Deutschland, has worked in Ukraine for many years and is acting quickly to provide emergency aid to children and their families. Support will help deliver relief and keep children safe as the crisis unfolds.
Give2Asia Australia
Humanitarian aid for vulnerable people affected by the crisis in Ukraine. Give2Asia is working with their partner KBFUS, pooling contributions and distributing funds to three local oraganisations (Caritas, People in Need and Polish Red Cross).
IFAW
IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) are rushing to the aid of animals as the country is in crisis and families are evacuating. Donations are supporting two local animal shelters in Ukraine with emergency aid to provide pet food, veterinary supplies, and wages for daily care staff to both shelters in Ukraine, and help protect other animals around the world.
Médecins Sans Frontières
An independent international medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion and natural or man-made disasters.
OM Australia
The OM Team is on the ground in Ukraine, prepared to work directly with their local community and those displaced by the current conflict. They will be responding with emergency shelter in homes and church facilities, first aid and basic health care, food parcels, and hygiene supplies.
Save the Children
An independent organisation for children, their vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. Support provides urgent support for families in evacuation sites or in villages, assists with the distribution of emergency items such as blankets, medicine and hygiene kits and helps teams to work in neighbouring countries including Poland, Romania and Lithuania to support people/ families fleeing Ukraine.
Ukraine Crisis Appeal
Collaboration between the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, Rotary Australia World Community Services (RAWCS) and Caritas Ukraine.
UN Women
UN Women is working closely with women’s civil society organisations, the UN Resident Coordinator, and the UN Country Team in monitoring the situation to determine how to best continue to deliver on the ground. In Moldova, their team is planning targeted interventions and developing our humanitarian response for Ukrainian refugees.
UNICEF
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, to defend their rights, and to help them fulfil their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. UNICEF supports health, nutrition, HIV prevention, education, safe drinking water, sanitation and protection for children and families caught in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
World Vision
Teams are on the ground in Romania at the Ukraine border responding to the needs of children and families who’ve been forcibly displaced due to the crisis between Russia and Ukraine. World Vision are also working with partners on plans to support displaced families inside Ukraine and those crossing into Moldova. Donations can help provide families searching for safety with essentials such as hygiene kits, nappies and first aid supplies. It can also help set up child friendly spaces where children can receive psychosocial support and recover some sense of normality after what they’ve been through.
Australian Natural Disaster Recovery
Australian Red Cross
Donations to the Qld and NSW Floods Appeal will help Red Cross to provide vital humanitarian support to the people and communities affected by the floods.
Australian Volunteer Support Trust
Established following the summer bushfires of 2019, the Australian Volunteer Support Trust (managed by Equity Trustees) assists the families of any recognised emergency services volunteer in Australia who tragically loses their life through their volunteer work when responding to a disaster.
Community Rebuilding Trust
Established following the summer bushfires of 2019, the Community Rebuilding Trust (managed by Equity Trustees), supports the rebuilding and re-establishing efforts of disaster affected Australian communities.
Foodbank QLD
Funds will cover food, freight and resources to deliver to the hardest hit areas around Queensland in the coming weeks. Donations provide money for groceries, reducing hunger and removing a major stress for families.
Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR)
FRRR is ready to support the recovery of rural communities across Australia that have been affected by floods in 2022. The compounding impacts of these floods, especially off the back of severe drought, bushfires, and COVID restrictions mean the recovery will be long, with varied and complex challenges unique to each town. FRRR has supported communities affected by natural disasters since 2006. They provide grants to local not-for-profits and community groups for community-led recovery and resilience.
GIVIT
GIVIT is managing offers of donated goods, services, volunteering and funds, including corporate offers, in response to the widespread flooding across Queensland and New South Wales. In partnership with the Queensland Government, GIVIT is assisting impacted local government areas including; Brisbane, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, North Burnett, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba. In NSW, GIVIT is working with the NSW Government to ensure donations are managed to support all impacted communities. As a still-developing event, specific areas will be updated when possible.
Human Nature
Human Nature Adventure Therapy is based in Northern NSW. They help young people overcome mental health and behavioural issues, and committed to working with young people in Northern Rivers recover from the trauma of the floods.
Lifeline QLD
Donations will allow Lifeline to get more trained Crisis Supporters on the end of phone lines. And send Lifeline Community Recovery Teams out to badly-damaged locations as soon as it's safe enough.
To help the flood affected community in Lismore
Mullumbimby & District Neighbourhood Centre
Providing community meals, group activities and support services in the Byron Shire community. Their Flood Relief Fund provide direct support to the local area.
Northern Rivers Community Foundation
Since 2019, the impact of drought, bushfires, floods and COVID-19 has taken its toll on the Northern Rivers community. Community organisations are on the ground responding to the recovery, and supporting communities to rebuild. Donations to the Resilience and Regeneration Fund will support charities to meet increasing demands on their services as they work together to recover from crises and build resilience within the community.
NSW State Emergency Service
The NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) is the lead agency in the response to floods, storms and tsunamis in NSW. The NSW SES also supports other emergency services in times of natural and man-made disasters and is committed to building safer and more resilient communities.
QLD State Emergency Service
The Queensland State Emergency Service is available to assist their communities 24/7 in times of emergency and disaster.
Sikh Volunteers Australia
Sikh Volunteers Australia team is currently onsite at the Queensland & NSW floods affected areas to provide support with freshly cooked vegetarian food.
St Vincent De Paul Society – NSW
Supporting communities with food and essentials, emergency housing and clothing.
St Vincent De Paul Society - QLD
Supporting communities with food and essentials, emergency housing and clothing.
StreetSmart
StreetSmart fundraise to support grassroots projects that tackle homelessness. During a natural disaster, their approach is to act quickly, responding to the immediate needs of the people impacted, using the power of crowd-funding. They look local and listen to what’s needed.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army Emergency Services Team and volunteers are in full operation across evacuation centres in QLD and NSW providing meals and emotional support to emergency workers and people escaping from the floodwaters.
If you’re interested in finding out more about structured giving, how it’s different to making a donation and whether it’s for you and your family, you can
find out more here.