How to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and employees everywhere

Russian forces invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, in the biggest assault on a European state since WWII. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that 2.5 million refugees and counting have fled Ukraine in the weeks since the Russian invasion started.

There are many nonprofit organizations currently responding to the humanitarian crisis that's befallen Ukrainian residents and the surrounding region. For Bonusly users who wish to contribute their Bonusly points to these charity efforts, there are a number of options. 🇺🇦💚

We cover each option in detail in this post and will update this post on a regular basis. (Most recent update: 4/7/2022.) You can also find a shortlist of resources for employers with workers in the Ukraine and for workers everywhere at the bottom of this post.

How to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine with your Bonusly points

• Donate to charities listed in the Bonusly Reward Catalog
• Add a Custom Reward donation option to your company's Reward Catalog
• Cash out via PayPal and donate independently

Donate to charities listed in the Bonusly Reward Catalog

The following charities listed in the Bonusly Reward Catalog are currently active in Ukraine and the surrounding region: the International Rescue Committee, Direct Relief, and UNICEF USA. 

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is on the ground in Poland and preparing to support displaced families coming from Ukraine. The IRC's Charity Navigator rating indicates that you can give with confidence, with a star rating of 3/4.

The IRC donation reward is currently highlighted in the Recommended Rewards section found on the right-hand side of the recognition feed for all Bonusly users. Between February 25, 2022, when we first highlighted the IRC donation as a recommended reward, and April 7, 2022, Bonusly users have donated over $90,000 to the IRC.

UNICEF USA is working to provide children in Ukraine with access to safe water, nutrition, health care, education and protection. Check out this March 1, 2022, statement from UNICEF USA's executive director for more detail on the organization's planned relief efforts. UNICEF USA's Charity Navigator rating indicates that you can give with confidence, with a star rating of 3/4.

Direct Relief has extended offers of humanitarian support to several healthcare organizations in Ukraine. "Among the items available in Direct Relief’s inventory are IV fluids, antibiotics, medications for anesthesia, sutures, and cardiovascular drugs," wrote Tony Morain, the vice president of communications at Direct Relief, on the day of the initial Russian invasion.

Bonusly users will need to take a few additional steps to fulfill their Direct Relief reward redemptions through Charity on Top, but it's worth it! Direct Relief has a 4/4 star rating on Charity Navigator. Visit our Help Center for step-by-step directions on redeeming Charity on Top rewards.

Add a Custom Reward donation option to your company's Reward Catalog

If your company wants to support charities that aren't listed in the standard Bonusly Reward Catalog, you can use our Custom Rewards feature to add donation options to your company’s catalog. Please review our Custom Reward best practices before launching new rewards for tips on the admin side of things.

Here's a shortlist of charities working in Ukraine or the region that our employees and customers have shared with us:

• Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
• ICRC
• International Medical Corps
• International Organization for Migration
• Save the Children
• UNOCHA
• World Food Program (WFP)
• World Health Organization (WHO)

Cash out via PayPal and donate independently

If you or your employees wish to donate your Bonusly points independently, you can cash out your Bonusly points via PayPal and disburse the money as you see fit!

Other ways to support your employees

In times like these, acknowledging what's going on is an important first step. It's imperative to recognize that your employees may be struggling with stress and feelings of helplessness as a result.

This is a non-exhaustive list of additional resources for supporting your employees: 

• The team at Modern Health is hosting a few 45-minute listen & learn sessions to help people process stressful world events. We encourage you to register and attend!
• Oyster is regularly updating this resource with tips for managers and employers that have team members in Ukraine
• What you can do to help your remote workers in Ukraine from the experts at Remote