Help Ukraine Now!

The Committee for Open Democracy (COD) is a US based 501c3 that has launched the humanitarian aid effort “Help Ukraine 22 – Operation Palynytsya” (www.helpukraine22.org). Since its founding in 2010, the not-for-profit Committee for Open Democracy has consistently worked for free, fair and transparent elections. We have completed 30 election observation missions (EOM)s in 9 countries. Since free elections are only possible in democratic countries, we transformed our mission from election observation to humanitarian aid on the day Russia invaded Ukraine.

Over 12 years working in developing democracies in Eastern Europe, COD has continued its election observation and monitoring and expanded to democratic reform technical assistance and humanitarian aid, specifically in Ukraine.

Established by Ukraine experts and veteran election observers, COD provides unique reach and capacity in election observation. Our structure is unique in that it has almost no ongoing overhead. We intentionally collapse and expand the organization based on project demand. Fundraising is undertaken on a project basis, often organized through fundraising events common to any American not-for-profit.

This funding structure allows for independence to our work to ensure that election results match the will of the voters and ensures donations are an investment in democracy. Importantly, we deliver our findings in an objective and forthright manner.

Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, the Committee for Open Democracy works in Eastern Europe with a field office in Kyiv, Ukraine.