The Ukrainian diaspora in the United States is actively supporting Ukraine. The Ukrainian volunteer initiative Tylovyky has created international fundraising teams among Ukrainians abroad, which have already raised millions of hryvnias for the country’s defense needs.
This was reported to Vilni Media by the press service of the Ukrainian fundraising organization Tylovyky.
As a reminder, more than 5.6 million Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes because of the war. Today they live in different countries around the world, but even thousands of kilometers away from home they continue to support their country. To unite these efforts, the Tylovyky volunteer initiative launched personalized fundraising teams to support the frontline.
“We wanted Ukrainians abroad to feel that they are still part of a common force. Even far from home, people can unite to support the army,” says Alisa Mezhenska, co-founder of the organization.
According to the organizers, Tylovyky introduced a new approach to fundraising: instead of one large-scale campaign, thousands of people create their own personalized collections toward a shared goal. This model made it possible to unite the efforts of Ukrainians not only in Ukraine, but also abroad.
In particular, the U.S.-based Ukrainian team started with just four participants and an initial goal of 400,000 hryvnias. After successfully reaching that target, the initiative quickly scaled up—the American team raised more than $38,000 (over 1.5 million hryvnias) for Ukraine’s defense needs.
It is also noted that participation in fundraising has a deeply personal dimension for many. The U.S. team’s mentor Oleksandra Myloserdova emphasizes the importance of maintaining a connection with the homeland.
“Being far away does not mean staying on the sidelines. This is my voice and my way of staying connected to Ukraine,” she stresses.
According to another mentor of the American team, Viktoria Dolzhenko, support from the rear is critically important for the military.
“For me, this project is very personal—my husband is a serviceman and was held in Russian captivity. I know how vital support from the rear is for those on the front lines,” she said.
Overall, thanks to Tylovyky’s international teams in seven countries, more than 3 million hryvnias have already been raised. Volunteers plan to continue expanding the project, including launching new teams among Ukrainian communities in different countries around the world.
More detailed information about the project, or how to become part of it by joining international volunteer fundraising teams, can be found via the link.
Background
Tylovyky is a social fundraising initiative and volunteer project aimed at mass fundraising to support Ukrainian military personnel, primarily for the Azov Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine.
It is a team-based fundraising mechanism that has become a trend in Ukraine’s fundraising sector and has significantly influenced overall donation results. Tylovyky was founded by volunteers, including Alisa Mezhenska, Daria Chervona, and Maria Romanova.
The idea of the project goes beyond individual donations and focuses on team-based fundraising, where a large number of people simultaneously open individual “jars” for a set amount, and all these collections together form the final goal. The project actively communicates via Instagram, where it announces the launch of fundraisers, shares donation cards, and posts motivational content—this is its main channel for audience engagement. The initiative has increased transparency and donor activity levels. Ініціатива підвищила прозорість та рівень донорської активності серед донорів.
Most recently, Tylovyky launched international teams for the first time to mobilize Ukrainian diasporas. These teams received additional identifiers in the form of their countries’ national flags on fundraising cards.
Photo: Tylovyky
Author: Inna Mikhno