Deadline: 19-Feb-2026
The International Renaissance Foundation is supporting young Ukrainian civil society organizations (CSOs) to strengthen institutional capacity, expand partnerships, and increase community impact. Grants of around 400,000 UAH over 8–12 months fund training, strategic planning, advocacy, and resilience-building activities in communities affected by recent military actions.
Overview of the Program
The program aims to empower young Ukrainian CSOs by building institutional capacity, enhancing partnerships, and supporting early community recovery and resilience. Key objectives include:
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Strengthening management, financial, and communication skills
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Supporting strategic planning and internal policy development
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Promoting effective external communication and advocacy
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Enhancing gender awareness, transparency, networking, and sustainable organizational practices
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Increasing CSO impact on community resilience and early recovery
The program is implemented by the International Renaissance Foundation in partnership with the Eastern Europe Foundation, with support from Norway (Norad) and Sweden (Sida).
Funding Details
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Project Duration: 8–12 months
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Optimal Budget: 400,000 UAH
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Grant Purpose: Support institutional development, training, small grants management, partnership-building, and community recovery initiatives
Who is Eligible?
Eligible participants include:
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Local or regional public organizations, unions, charitable foundations, and self-organization bodies
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Organizations registered between January 2024 and June 2025
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Groups with at least 1–1.5 years of active community experience
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Teams physically located in Ukraine and able to participate in-person
Special encouragement is given to organizations that actively involve women, youth, veterans, people with disabilities, and internally displaced persons.
How to Apply
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Prepare Application: Complete all required forms and provide evidence of organizational activity
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Submit Proposal: Include project plan, budget, timeline, expected outcomes, and alignment with program objectives
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Evaluation: Applications assessed based on completeness, organizational experience, feasibility, alignment with program goals, expected impact, and reasonable budget
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Implementation: Successful CSOs receive support for institutional development, training, partnerships, and community recovery projects over the grant period
Expected Outcomes
Funded projects are expected to:
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Strengthen organizational capacity of young CSOs
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Improve strategic planning, management, and communication practices
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Enhance community resilience and early recovery
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Expand partnerships and networking opportunities
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Support inclusive participation, particularly for women, youth, veterans, people with disabilities, and displaced persons
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Incomplete applications or missing required forms
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Lack of evidence of organizational activity or community experience
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Budget that is unrealistic or misaligned with project goals
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Applying from outside Ukraine or inability to participate in person
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Proposals not clearly linked to community recovery and resilience objectives
FAQs
1. Who can apply for this program?
Local or regional CSOs, unions, charitable foundations, or self-organization bodies registered in Ukraine between Jan 2024 and June 2025.
2. What is the funding amount?
Optimal grant size is 400,000 UAH per project.
3. How long is the project period?
Projects should run for 8–12 months.
4. Are women, youth, and marginalized groups prioritized?
Yes, organizations engaging women, youth, veterans, people with disabilities, and internally displaced persons are especially encouraged.
5. Can organizations outside Ukraine apply?
No. Teams must be physically located in Ukraine and able to participate in-person.
6. What activities can the grant support?
Training programs, strategic planning, advocacy, internal policy improvement, financial and management skills development, partnership-building, and resilience-focused community initiatives.
7. Who implements the program?
The program is implemented by the International Renaissance Foundation in cooperation with the Eastern Europe Foundation, supported by Norway (Norad) and Sweden (Sida).
Why It Matters
This initiative strengthens Ukraine’s civil society by equipping young CSOs with the skills, partnerships, and resources needed to address community recovery, resilience, and democratic governance in regions affected by recent military actions.
Conclusion
The Young CSO Capacity Building Program offers a unique opportunity for emerging Ukrainian civil society organizations to enhance institutional capacity, expand networks, and increase local impact. Through targeted training, small grants, and strategic support, CSOs can drive sustainable recovery and resilience in their communities.
For more information, visit International Renaissance Foundation.
