Organizational Development Grants from ISAR Ednannia

The call is implemented within the project "Strong Civil Society of Ukraine – Driving Force of Reforms and Democracy", administered by ISAR Ednannia with funding from Norway and Sweden. Its purpose is to strengthen the organizational capacity of civil society organizations to build an effective and resilient civil society in Ukraine. Applicants may conduct an organizational self-assessment, prepare an organizational development plan, receive a grant for organizational development services, select a provider through the Marketplace, and implement their development plan. The Civil Society Home platform also includes a service marketplace, library, learning activities, event space, NGOStudio, and other capacity-building tools.

Only applications that meet the competition requirements and are submitted by eligible organisations are accepted under the grant programme.

The main eligibility requirements include:

• official registration in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Public Associations” or the Law of Ukraine “On Charitable Activities and Charitable Organisations”;
• inclusion in the Register of Non-Profit Organisations with the appropriate non-profit status code (0032, 0034, 0036, 0038, or 0048);
• citizen initiative groups may participate if they demonstrate a justified need for organisational development and are sponsored by an organisation that meets all eligibility requirements and fulfils the competition conditions.

Applicants are also required to apply a gender-balanced approach. Organisations should ensure equal opportunities for women and men to participate in training, consultations, and all other activities implemented within the grant project.

The grant programme offers two types of grants designed to strengthen the institutional capacity of civil society organisations. Funding is provided as non-repayable financial assistance to cover organisational development services.

Key funding conditions include:

• The Simple Grant finances one or up to two organisational development services or other activities that strengthen the organisation's capacity. The maximum grant amount is UAH 45,000.
• The Comprehensive Grant supports a package of 3–4 organisational development services for organisations with more than five years of operational experience or an annual budget exceeding UAH 10 million.

Grant funding may be used for:

• organisational development services;
• related costs directly connected with the delivery of those services;
• activities that strengthen the organisation's institutional capacity;
• project manager remuneration, limited to 20% of the total project budget;
• banking expenses.

The grant cannot be used to finance organisational project activities, the purchase of equipment or vehicles, capital repairs, scientific research, debt repayment, personal travel or self-development training, or activities related to political, religious, or terrorist purposes.

The grant programme supports projects aimed at strengthening the organisational capacity of civil society organisations through professional organisational development services. The programme covers a broad range of activities designed to improve organisational effectiveness and sustainability.

Supported activities include:

• strategic planning, mission development, and the preparation or revision of strategic documents, policies, and procedures;
• improving governance structures, management capacity, mentoring, training, and certification programmes;
• developing monitoring and evaluation systems, facilitation, consulting, and external organisational assessments;
• strengthening partnerships, advocacy strategies, networking, and participation in professional events;
• enhancing the organisation’s role within the sector through consultations, training, online services, and certification support;
• building service delivery capacity, including project management, organisational adaptation, marketing, communication strategies, and branding;
• improving financial sustainability through fundraising strategies, financial policies, external audits, and financial management training;
• increasing organisational visibility through communication, marketing, and advocacy initiatives;
• strengthening organisational security by developing security policies, conducting audits, providing training, and using specialised security services.

The grant programme follows a defined timeline for the application process and project implementation. Applications are accepted until 8 July 2026 (inclusive), after which all submitted applications will be reviewed by the Selection Committee.

Key milestones of the programme roadmap include:

• By 8 July 2026 – submission of applications for consideration at the next Selection Committee meeting.
• 16 July 2026 – Selection Committee meeting and review of submitted applications.
• The overall project implementation period runs from 1 November 2024 to 31 December 2027.

The grant application process follows a step-by-step procedure covering organisational preparation, application submission, provider selection, and project implementation.

The main steps are:

• register the organisation on the ICAP Ednannia website and complete profile verification;
• conduct an organisational self-assessment, identify priority development needs, and select no more than one high-priority development area for the grant application;
• prepare and complete the Organisational Development Plan, defining activities, responsible persons, success indicators, and implementation timelines;
• complete the electronic application, attach the required documents, and submit it through the applicant’s online account;
• wait for the Selection Committee's decision. If necessary, the applicant may receive recommendations for revising the application;
• following approval, conduct an open provider selection process and choose a provider registered on the Organisational Development Services Marketplace with the “Verified” status;
• after all requirements are fulfilled, sign the agreement with ICAP Ednannia, after which the grant funds are transferred to the organisation for project implementation.

Applications are assessed in two stages. First, ICAP Ednannia grant managers review applications for compliance with the competition requirements and prepare them for consideration by the Selection Committee. If an application does not meet the requirements, the applicant may be asked to revise it or it may be rejected with the opportunity to submit a new application.

The independent Selection Committee evaluates applications based on the following criteria:

• the justification for strengthening the organisation’s capacity and the quality of the organisational development plan;
• the justification and balance of the proposed budget and its alignment with the project objectives;
• a clear link between the expected grant results, the organisation’s strengthened impact, and improvements in the development of its field of work.

Priority is given to applications whose budgets are directly related to organisational development services, as well as to applications that include a letter of intent for cooperation prepared following a prior tender process.

The Selection Committee consists of independent experts who confirm the absence of conflicts of interest before the evaluation begins. No scoring system or point allocation is specified in the provided documentation. ICAP Ednannia also reserves the right not to comment on applications or provide reasons for rejecting a grant request.

After receiving the grant, the grantee is required to submit reports on the implementation of activities and the use of grant funds. The reporting package must include:

• a repeat organisational development self-assessment (in accordance with Annex A, “Organisation Self-Assessment”);
• a programme report, including copies of all developed documents or printed materials;
• a financial report accompanied by copies of supporting documents, including primary accounting documentation.

Submission of these reports is a mandatory requirement for confirming project implementation and the proper use of grant funds.