Give safely
How to give safely
Verify before you give. Scammers target disasters. Type each organization's address into your browser yourself — don't click donation links from DMs or texts.
Type the address yourself
Don't click donation links from DMs, texts, or social posts. Type the organization's address into your browser bar.
Cash to an established org is the most effective help
It's fast and flexible, and lets responders buy exactly what's needed locally.
Be wary of brand-new fundraisers
Especially personal crowdfunders asking for money by private message — even ones that say they're "collecting for Venezuela."
Verify the charity
Check Charity Navigator, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, or the FTC's guidance before giving.
Request a receipt
Donations to qualified charities may be tax-deductible.
Fake collection centers are already circulating
Official sources are already disavowing fake drives. In Mexico, the Venezuelan Embassy warned it endorses only its own collection center and is not coordinating with anyone soliciting money. When a drive claims an official link, confirm it on the official body's own channel.
Charity verifiers
Other trusted directories
Independent, community-run directories that list regime-independent ways to help — channels that route aid around Venezuelan government control. Good places to cross-check what you find here.
- DonarSeguroVerified foundations
Community-run directory of regime-independent ways to give money to vetted organizations.
Visit DonarSeguro ↗ - El ParacaidistaUS drop-offs
The most complete US guide to drop-off points, cash platforms and volunteering, kept by a long-running Spanish-language outlet in Miami.
Visit El Paracaidista ↗ - Centros de Acopio VZLAInside Venezuela
500+ collection centers across 19 Venezuelan states and 21 countries, verified within 24h. Warns clearly: never hand donations to police or the National Guard.
Visit Centros de Acopio ↗ - VeneConnectVerified foundations
A verified-foundations hub with a stated vetting process, run by named founders — useful to confirm an organization is real before you give.
Visit VeneConnect ↗ - Venezuela Te BuscaFind a person
The largest missing-persons registry in this crisis — tens of thousands of reports connecting families searching for people to hospitals and shelters.
User-submitted reports — not independently verified. Use it to search and post, but confirm details directly.
Visit Venezuela Te Busca ↗
Common questions
- Is it safe to donate to Venezuela earthquake relief?
- Yes, if you give through verified organizations and never click donation links sent in DMs or texts. Type each organization's address into your browser yourself, confirm the domain, and prefer groups rated by charity watchdogs or whose funds enter through US or European payment channels rather than Venezuelan government bodies.
- How do I avoid Venezuela earthquake donation scams?
- Scammers target disasters. Never send money via Zelle, gift cards, or bank transfers to individuals; those payments are non-reversible. Avoid generic crowdfunding from strangers and crypto wallets. Verify an organization on a charity registry before giving, and only use each org's own official donation page.
- Where can I drop off supplies for Venezuela?
- Collection points exist in roughly 20 countries — across the US, Spain, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Chile, and more. Find your city on the site's drop-off pages, and confirm the location and hours on the organizer's Instagram before you travel, because sites fill up or close within days.
- What should I donate for the Venezuela earthquake?
- The most-needed items are water-purification tablets, medical and first-aid supplies, non-perishable food, baby formula and diapers, and hygiene products. Because the airport and port are damaged, cash to a vetted relief organization usually helps faster than shipped goods.
- How can I find a missing person after the Venezuela earthquake?
- Use official family-tracing channels first: the ICRC Restoring Family Links service and hospital channels. The site also lists hospital channels. Treat unofficial finder sites as leads, not confirmed records.