When crisis hits around the world, as it has in Ukraine, Christians are often first in line to help. That’s a very good thing.

However, there’s a reason the Bible tells us to love God with our mind as well as our heart. At times like these, we should engage both. Below are a few principles and tips to keep in mind as you give to Ukrainian relief efforts. We also have our assessment of some ministries that are raising funds for Ukrainian relief.

The Old Rules Apply. Just because there’s a crisis, that doesn’t mean a ministry that has been poorly run suddenly becomes well-run. In fact, often a crisis causes a weak organization to break. That’s why, even amid crisis and urgent appeals, you should take an extra moment to do your homework. MinistryWatch gives ministries a donor confidence score, a financial efficiency rating, and a transparency grade. You can search on a ministry and check their scores here. Don’t give money to poorly rated ministries or to ministries that do not share enough information to produce a rating.

Beware of “matching gifts” or “challenge gifts.” These sorts of giving schemes can be legitimate, but in times of crisis, they are often used to heighten the sense of urgency. Educate yourself about challenge gifts and matching gifts by here.

Boots on the Ground. When crisis erupts in a far corner of the world, it is too late to establish a presence there. Ministries that are the most effective are those who have already been operating there. They have “boots on the ground”: personnel, partners, processes and infrastructure. Give to these ministries.

Individual Ministries

When crisis occurs, MinistryWatch often gets emails from readers with questions like, “What about (name of ministry)?” Here are a few we know about, along with a quick analysis. We will be revising this list as the situation in Ukraine develops. We are listing the ministries in alphabetical order. If the ministry is a part of the MinistryWatch 1000 database, we have inserted a link to its profile.

Eastern European Mission has been involved in Bible distribution and engagement in Ukraine for years. However, the group is not a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, and it does not release its Form 990 to the public. It does publish an impact report on its website, but – based on this lack of transparency — MinistryWatch is not able to confirm the information there. We therefore cannot make a recommendation regarding this ministry.

International Mission Board is the foreign mission agency of the Southern Baptist Convention. It does not release its Form 990 to the public, and is not a member of the ECFA, so it is not possible for MinistryWatch to make a recommendation regarding this ministry.

MAP International works through on-the-ground partners to provide medicine and health supplies. MAP International was a MinistryWatch 2021 Shining Light ministry, and it has a donor confidence score of 80: “Give With Confidence.”

Mission Eurasia has a donor confidence score of 95: “Give With Confidence.” It was founded in Ukraine and has had an active presence there for decades.

Mission To The World is the foreign missions arm of the Presbyterian Church in America. It has a donor confidence score of 50: “Give With Caution.”

Samaritan’s Purse has been working in crisis zones for decades and has the capability to be agile and effective in Ukraine. It has had resources on the ground there for years. MinistryWatch gives Samaritan’s Purse a donor confidence score of 60: “Give With Caution.”

This piece originally appeared at MinistryWatch.

Warren Cole Smith previously served as Vice President of WORLD News Group, publisher of WORLD Magazine and vice president of The Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He has more than 30 years of experience as a writer, editor, marketing professional and entrepreneur. Before launching a career in Christian journalism 25 years ago, Smith spent more than seven years as the marketing director at PricewaterhouseCoopers.