Apply Now: Organizational Development Grant Competition (Ukraine)

The ISAR Unity Organizational Development Grant Competition provides grants of up to UAH 45,000 to strengthen the institutional capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Ukraine. The program supports organizational assessments, capacity building, strategic planning, professional development, and organizational sustainability as part of the Civil Society House ecosystem under the “Strong Civil Society of Ukraine – a Driver of Reforms and Democracy” project funded by Norway and Sweden.

ISAR Unity Organizational Development Grant Competition 2026: Up to UAH 45,000 for Civil Society Organizations in Ukraine

The ISAR Unity Organizational Development Grant Competition supports Ukrainian civil society organizations that want to improve their internal systems, strengthen institutional capacity, and increase their long-term impact.

The initiative helps organizations identify development priorities, implement tailored organizational improvement activities, and build stronger, more sustainable institutions capable of contributing to Ukraine’s democratic reforms and recovery.

Program Overview

The Organizational Development Grant Competition is designed for public and charitable organizations seeking to improve their effectiveness, governance, and organizational sustainability.

The program is implemented through the Civil Society House ecosystem as part of the “Strong Civil Society of Ukraine – a Driver of Reforms and Democracy” project, which is financially supported by Norway and Sweden.

Successful organizations receive financial support to implement organizational development activities based on an assessment of their institutional needs.

Funding Amount

Eligible organizations can receive:

• Up to UAH 45,000 per organization.

The funding is provided as a simple grant to support approved organizational development activities.

Project Duration

The overall project runs from:

• November 1, 2024
• December 31, 2027

Organizations can implement approved capacity-building activities during the project period in accordance with grant requirements.

Program Objectives

The competition aims to:

• Strengthen institutional capacity of civil society organizations.
• Improve organizational sustainability.
• Support Ukraine’s democratic reforms.
• Contribute to the country’s sustainable recovery.
• Increase organizational effectiveness.
• Strengthen governance systems.
• Improve professional skills.
• Enhance program quality and impact.
• Promote continuous organizational learning.
• Build a culture of organizational development.

Priority Support Areas

The program supports activities such as:

• Organizational development assessments.
• Institutional capacity strengthening.
• Strategic organizational planning.
• Professional capacity development.
• Governance improvement.
• Program effectiveness.
• Organizational sustainability.
• Social impact improvement.
• Development planning.
• Organizational learning.
• Monitoring organizational progress.
• Preparation of future development strategies.

Eligible Activities

Grant funding may be used for:

• Organizational development consulting.
• Coaching.
• Mentoring.
• Staff training.
• Facilitation services.
• External organizational assessments.
• Capacity-building activities.
• Organizational planning.
• Expert advisory services.
• Project implementation costs related to approved activities.
• Activities that strengthen institutional capacity, even if they are not traditional organizational development services.

Organizations are expected to conduct a competitive tender process to select the most appropriate organizational development service provider.

Organizational Development Process

The programme follows a structured improvement process.

Step 1: Organizational Assessment

Organizations assess their current level of organizational development and identify strengths and areas requiring improvement.

Step 2: Development Planning

Applicants prepare an individual organizational development plan outlining priority actions and expected outcomes.

Step 3: Service Provider Selection

Organizations conduct a transparent tender process to select consultants, trainers, coaches, mentors, or other organizational development experts.

Step 4: Implementation

Selected organizations implement approved organizational development activities using grant funding.

Step 5: Reassessment

Following implementation, organizations reassess their organizational development level to measure progress.

Step 6: Future Planning

Based on the reassessment, organizations prepare a future development plan to continue strengthening institutional capacity.

Who Can Apply?

The competition is intended for:

• Public organizations.
• Charitable organizations.
• Civil society organizations (CSOs) operating in Ukraine.

Applicants should be committed to improving their institutional effectiveness and long-term sustainability.

Eligibility Expectations

Applicants should generally demonstrate:

• Legal registration in Ukraine.
• Organizational commitment to institutional development.
• Capacity to implement organizational improvement activities.
• Willingness to complete organizational assessments.
• Ability to conduct a transparent provider selection process.
• Commitment to implementing the approved development plan.

Assessment Criteria

Applications are expected to be assessed based on factors such as:

• Organizational development needs.
• Alignment with program objectives.
• Quality of the proposed development plan.
• Potential for long-term institutional improvement.
• Organizational commitment to capacity building.
• Feasibility of proposed activities.
• Expected organizational impact.

How to Apply

Organizations should generally follow these steps:

1. Confirm eligibility for the competition.
2. Complete an organizational development assessment.
3. Identify priority institutional development needs.
4. Prepare an individual organizational development plan.
5. Submit the grant application with the required documentation.
6. If selected, conduct a competitive tender to choose an organizational development service provider.
7. Implement approved activities using the grant.
8. Complete a follow-up organizational assessment and prepare a future development plan.

Why This Grant Matters

Strong civil society organizations play a critical role in supporting democratic governance, community resilience, and sustainable recovery.

This grant helps organizations:

• Strengthen internal systems.
• Improve governance.
• Build staff capacity.
• Increase organizational effectiveness.
• Deliver higher-quality programmes.
• Improve long-term sustainability.
• Enhance social impact.
• Support democratic reforms in Ukraine.

The initiative also encourages continuous organizational learning through assessment, implementation, and improvement.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their application by:

• Clearly identifying organizational challenges.
• Demonstrating commitment to institutional development.
• Preparing realistic organizational improvement plans.
• Selecting activities with measurable outcomes.
• Explaining how improvements will strengthen long-term sustainability.
• Demonstrating leadership support for organizational change.
• Showing readiness to complete all assessment stages.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common application errors:

• Submitting an incomplete organizational development plan.
• Failing to identify priority capacity gaps.
• Proposing activities unrelated to institutional development.
• Providing unclear implementation timelines.
• Not planning for post-project sustainability.
• Overlooking the required provider selection process.
• Failing to demonstrate organizational commitment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the ISAR Unity Organizational Development Grant Competition?

It is a grant programme that supports Ukrainian civil society organizations in strengthening their institutional capacity, governance, sustainability, and long-term effectiveness through tailored organizational development activities.

How much funding is available?

Eligible organizations can receive up to UAH 45,000 for approved organizational development activities.

Who can apply?

Public organizations, charitable organizations, and other eligible civil society organizations operating in Ukraine are encouraged to apply.

What activities can be funded?

Eligible activities include organizational assessments, consulting, coaching, mentoring, facilitation, training, strategic planning, external evaluations, capacity-building initiatives, and related implementation costs.

Is selecting a service provider required?

Yes. Successful organizations are expected to conduct a transparent tender process to select the organizational development service provider that best meets their needs.

How does the organizational development process work?

Organizations first assess their development level, prepare an improvement plan, implement approved activities, complete a follow-up assessment, and develop a future organizational development plan based on the results.

Why is this grant important?

The programme strengthens Ukrainian civil society organizations by improving governance, institutional capacity, sustainability, programme quality, and long-term impact, enabling them to contribute more effectively to Ukraine’s recovery and democratic development.

Conclusion

The ISAR Unity Organizational Development Grant Competition provides an excellent opportunity for civil society organizations in Ukraine to strengthen their institutional foundations through structured capacity building and organizational improvement. With grants of up to UAH 45,000, the programme supports assessments, professional development, governance improvements, strategic planning, and long-term sustainability, helping organizations become stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to support Ukraine’s democratic reforms and sustainable recovery.