Grant competition for socially important initiatives

The grant competition is implemented by DanChurchAid and Norwegian Church Aid (DCA-NCA) in partnership with the NGO “Youth of Ukraine” and is aimed at supporting socially important initiatives in the Mykolaiv and Bashtanka districts of Mykolaiv region.

The organizers have been operating in Ukraine since 2022, focusing on the restoration of critical infrastructure, particularly water supply systems in frontline communities, as well as providing psychosocial support and protection to internally displaced persons and women affected by violence.

The competition also seeks to strengthen the capacity of local organizations and support communities through the provision of small, flexible grants, helping enhance their resilience and ability to respond to ongoing challenges.

The main objective of the competition is to support civic initiatives that implement ideas aimed at improving the quality of life of people in affected communities, contributing to recovery and strengthening social resilience.

Organizations that have non-profit status and operate in the Mykolaiv and Bashtanka districts of Mykolaiv region are eligible to participate in the competition, including:

• public organizations (NGOs);
• charitable foundations and organizations;
• municipal institutions;
• religious organizations;
• associations and other unions of legal entities.

The grant competition provides financial support to community initiatives in designated regions, with clearly defined conditions regarding funding amounts, budget structure, and use of funds.

Funding Amount

• The competition will award 45 grants, each with a maximum amount of up to UAH 520,000.
• The minimum grant amount is UAH 30,000, and the maximum is UAH 520,000.
• The total grant budget is determined based on the scale and needs of the proposed project.

Co-financing

• Co-financing is allowed and may enhance the sustainability and effectiveness of the project.
• Co-financing may include the applicant organization’s own funds or resources from additional partners or donors.

Administrative Costs

• Administrative costs must not exceed 10% of the total grant amount.
• These costs may include project management, coordination, and other organizational expenses necessary for implementation.

Ineligible Costs

Grant funds may not be used for:

• support of any military formations or military-related activities;
• purchase of medicines;
• assistance to orphanages (except family-type orphanages);
• assistance to animals;
• purchase of surveillance cameras;
• commercial activities;
• preparation of cost estimate documentation;
• expenses incurred before or after the project implementation period;
• organization of entertainment events, fairs, or festivals;
• construction or infrastructure works, including drilling wells, installing water towers, repairing sewage systems, or similar activities.

Within the grant competition, initiatives aimed at strengthening community capacity to respond to social and humanitarian challenges and improving access to essential services and safe living conditions are supported.

Supported activities include, but are not limited to:

• launching or expanding social services that address current community needs and enhance social support systems;
• establishing or improving shelters, safe spaces, and protective facilities to ensure the safety of the population in high-risk conditions;
• providing non-formal education programs for adults and youth, aimed at developing skills, increasing awareness, and strengthening social resilience;
• implementing emergency response measures, including rapid support to communities and solutions that help mitigate the impact of crisis situations.

The list of supported activities is not exhaustive, allowing applicants to propose other relevant initiatives aligned with the objectives of the competition and contributing to community resilience.

• February 2026: start of the information campaign and application acceptance
• March-April 2026: evaluation and selection of winners.

To apply for the competition, please visit:  https://forms.gle/8xm79CEuF2JHGmdz6

• Realism of goals and results.
• Quality of the application.
• Team experience.
• Alignment with foundation priorities (mental health, accessibility, etc.).

• Application form.
• Project budget.
• Photos of the project implementation location.
• Supporting documents (a letter of guarantee in case of co-financing, design and cost documentation or commercial quotations if available, a certificate from the institution confirming the number of service beneficiaries, etc.).