Amid USAID Cuts, a Ukrainian Aid Worker’s Plea to Philanthropy: ‘Stand With Us’

Much of the world was surprised that Ukraine didn’t fall following Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago. Many now wonder how we keep going.

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But for those of us who live in Ukraine, the resilience of our people comes as no surprise. As a Ukrainian and humanitarian aid worker with the global nonprofit IsraAID, I have a front row seat to this country’s biggest asset: its people. In the face of challenge after challenge — most recently, the devastating freeze on USAID funding — we continue to pivot and adapt. But our resilience shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of humanitarian need. We know that our survival hinges on external funds, and at this moment a substantial portion of that funding will need to come from philanthropy.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, USAID has provided some $7.6 billion in humanitarian aid and development assistance. The 90-day freeze on that funding has ripple effects that touch not only humanitarian work but nearly every corner of our nation. USAID funds a network of hundreds of local nonprofits that often collaborate to meet the vast and varied needs of affected communities. Its grants support programs in areas such as health care, education, agriculture, water sanitation, and independent media. When USAID ceased its funding, much of that work abruptly stopped.

While my employer does not receive direct USAID funding in Ukraine, many groups we collaborate with do. For example, in Mykolaiv, where Russian attacks destroyed large parts of the water infrastructure, we installed 15 water filtration stations and coordinated with a USAID-funded nonprofit, iMMAP, to create an online platform where local residents can find real-time information on water quality and availability. When the USAID funding freeze was announced, iMMAP received immediate stop work orders, threatening the ability of residents to access safe drinking water.

In another community where we work — Pervomaiska in Mykolaiv Oblast — four USAID-funded projects were immediately halted. One provided educational activities for children. Another was repairing the local health center. The third supported local farmers. The last provided access to safe water.

Kateryna Lashchkova/IsraAID

Pervomaiska, a heavily damaged community of rural villages, has limited access to resources, so reverting to unsafe water has significant ripple effects. More waterborne illness means preventable cases are added to overburdened and under-resourced health centers. Without water access, schools and educational activities can’t open. In some villages, where schools were completely leveled, informal educational activities are children’s only source of socialization. Without these activities to occupy their kids, parents have less time to work and to take care of themselves.

And the USAID funding freeze doesn’t just shut down programs — it threatens the employment of thousands of Ukrainians. One nonprofit we collaborate with on education initiatives — savED — had to cut 22 tutors in a single day who were serving some of Ukraine’s worst-affected regions. In addition to losing jobs that allowed them to help children in their communities, those tutors have lost a sense of purpose and stability — both in short supply these days. They also, of course, lost their incomes, and the state lost the taxes they paid on those incomes.

Impact on Local Donations

Local giving is yet another casualty. When these workers lose their jobs, fewer can give to the nonprofit initiatives that rely solely on small-dollar donations. Most Ukrainians continue to give to local programs, but recent data shows a decrease in such giving, with 61 percent of those surveyed saying reduced income and dwindling savings has led them to cut back on donating.

I keep thinking about all the interpreters, psychologists, project managers, and so many more whose employment relied on USAID-funded projects and who lost their livelihoods in one day. The cuts don’t only affect humanitarian programs — they harm the entire Ukrainian economy.

And yet, every organization I’ve connected with is already busy planning how they’ll patch the gaps and keep going. Some, such as Ukrainer media, which got 80 percent of its funding from USAID, are now relying on volunteers. Other organizations, which are lucky enough to have flexible philanthropic funding, are reallocating resources from planned projects that weren’t yet off the ground to USAID-funded efforts that were underway but not yet completed. That’s what we Ukrainians have learned to do over the last three years. The moment we sense trouble we are already in motion with plans B and C.

As Ukraine faces yet another test of endurance, we need to know that philanthropy is standing with us. With the situation on the front lines growing more dire, media attention is increasingly focused on military support and politics. No matter what emerges from the Trump administration’s diplomatic efforts — even if the war ends tomorrow — the humanitarian crisis and the long process of rebuilding will be with us for years, if not decades.

Philanthropy has the ability to directly fund the nonprofit organizations that are invested in that process for the long term, providing the flexible funding that allows us to adapt to an ever-changing conflict. The hole left by USAID’s exit is enormous. But until a long-term solution is found, philanthropy can make the quick shifts needed right now to support reeling communities. The notion that philanthropy can replace USAID is, of course, fantasy. But we urge the philanthropic community to reject despair and do what’s needed — as we do every day.

The ripple effect works in both directions. Just as setbacks trickle into every aspect of life, an investment in the resilience of the Ukrainian people will multiply. Philanthropic support for our country will always be put to the fullest and best possible use.