Last updated 12 October 2026
Three ways to give
A large relief agency. UN agencies and the Red Cross movement can reach many people at once and usually have clear reporting and tax receipts. See our list of Lebanon relief organizations.
A Lebanese nonprofit on the ground. Groups like Beit el Baraka and the Lebanese Red Cross work inside the country and know which families need help.
A small, student-led fundraiser. That is us. We raise money through GoFundMe, bake sales, and events, and we deliver care packages with local partners. We are small, so we can tell you exactly where gifts go, but we cannot offer the reach or paperwork of a large agency.
Check before you give
- Find the organization's own website, not just a social post, and read what it says it does.
- Look it up on an independent site such as Charity Navigator, Give.org, or Candid. In the United States you can also search the IRS tax-exempt organization database.
- Ask who is collecting the money, and who receives it. A real fundraiser can answer.
- Read how the money will be used. Specific answers, like food, hygiene products, and shelter, are a good sign.
- Give only through the official page or a trusted platform. Avoid gift cards and cash apps for strangers.
- Be wary of anyone who pressures you to give right now.
Where gifts to Lights for Lebanon go
Donations pay for care packages for displaced families in Lebanon. Each package holds food that keeps, hygiene products like soap and toothpaste, and other essentials families tell us they need. We deliver them with local organizations. Our partners are Beit el Baraka and the American Task Force on Lebanon.
You can see the fundraiser on GoFundMe and read the details on our donate page.
Money or supplies?
Aid organizations generally ask for money rather than shipped goods. Sending items overseas is slow and costly, and money lets local groups buy exactly what families need nearby. If you want to give supplies, ask the organization first so you do not send something it cannot use.
Tax receipts
Lights for Lebanon is a student-led fundraiser. We are not a registered charity and have not published a tax-exempt status, so gifts to us are not tax deductible and we cannot give tax receipts. If you need a receipt for your taxes, give to a registered charity. Our list of organizations is a place to start.
Questions about donating
What is the best way to donate to Lebanon?
There is no single best way. Large agencies and national societies like the Lebanese Red Cross can reach many people and often give tax receipts. Smaller groups can deliver quickly and tell you exactly where your gift went. Choose an organization you can verify, and read what it says it will do with your money.
Is it safe to donate to Lebanon?
It is safe when you give through an official website or a trusted fundraising platform and check the organization first. Be careful with messages that pressure you to act at once, ask for gift cards or cash apps, or give no name for who is collecting the money.
Should I send supplies or money?
Aid organizations generally ask for money. Shipping goods is slow and costly, and local groups can buy what families need closer to where they are. If you want to donate supplies, ask the organization first.
Are gifts to Lights for Lebanon tax deductible?
Lights for Lebanon is a student-led fundraiser. We are not a registered charity and have not published a tax-exempt status, so gifts to us are not tax deductible and we cannot give tax receipts. If you need a tax receipt, give to a registered charity instead.