Grants for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Projects

The Joint Fund for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support “Around Life. Around Thoughts” has announced a grant competition for Ukrainian civil society and charitable organizations working in the field of mental health and psychosocial support. The goal of the competition is to support organizations that help people cope with the consequences of war, develop sustainable models of support in communities, generate new knowledge and tools for the sector, and strengthen the psychosocial support system in Ukraine. The fund was established by international private and corporate foundations, is administered by ISAR Ednannia, and is part of broader efforts to build a sustainable care infrastructure in Ukraine.

Only organisations that meet the programme requirements and are prepared to comply with grant implementation conditions may participate in the competition.

The following entities are not eligible to apply:

• government institutions and public authorities;
• local self-government bodies;
• healthcare institutions;
• commercial organisations;
• political parties;
• religious organisations.

Grant recipients are required to comply with donor and ICAP Ednannia policies and procedures, which will be specified in the grant agreement and related documents.

Key implementation requirements include:

• conducting transparent and competitive procurement procedures;
• obtaining and comparing at least three commercial quotations for goods and services purchases;
• participating in project monitoring and evaluation activities;
• regularly tracking planned indicators and performance targets;
• carrying out internal monitoring of project implementation and results.

Project performance will be assessed against the indicators and expected results defined in the submitted project proposal.

The grant programme offers three funding categories:

• Small Grants — up to UAH 1,250,000 for local and community-based organisations working directly with people and communities. Project duration: 12 months.
• Medium Grants — up to UAH 2,500,000 for regional organisations with experience in project implementation and development of local support systems. Project duration: 12 months.
• Strategic Grants — up to UAH 2,500,000 for national civil society organisations, research organisations, and consortia working on systemic change in mental health, psychosocial support, and awareness-raising.

Projects will be funded in two instalments: 60% in the first tranche and 40% in the second tranche. The second payment will be released after successful reporting on the use of the first tranche.

Project budgets must be submitted in Ukrainian hryvnias (UAH). All budget lines must be clearly justified, aligned with project objectives, and based on market prices. Administrative costs are recommended not to exceed 10% of the requested grant amount.

Eligible costs include:

• salaries and fees for project staff and experts;
• services of psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, trainers, and researchers;
• individual and group support activities;
• training, supervision, intervision, and professional development activities;
• research, needs assessments, and development of methodologies and recommendations;
• preparation and dissemination of educational and information materials;
• support for cross-sector cooperation and partnerships;
• purchase of materials and equipment required for project implementation;
• accounting, banking, and other operational expenses.

Ineligible costs include:

• sub-grants and charitable assistance to third parties;
• purchase of buildings or premises, construction, and capital renovation;
• repayment of debts, fines, or penalties;
• profit-generating activities;
• support for religious, political, or terrorist activities;
• salaries for civil servants, local government officials, law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, or judges;
• luxury items or goods and services that exceed a reasonable and justified level of expenditure.

The grant competition supports projects in the field of mental health and psychosocial support that align with the programme’s priority areas.

Key supported activities include:

• Psychoeducation and resilience building — psychoeducational activities, self-help skills development, awareness campaigns, support for parents, caregivers and families, and programmes for people affected by war.
• Sector professionalization — training and capacity building for specialists, supervision programmes, development of organisational policies and procedures, quality standards, and monitoring systems.
• Social connections and community cohesion — self-help groups, community and intergenerational initiatives, integration activities for internally displaced persons, support for veterans and their families, and volunteer networks.
• Knowledge generation and practical tools — research, needs assessments, development of methodologies, training materials, resource platforms, and practical recommendations.
• Platforms, safe spaces, and local care hubs — support for safe spaces, digital platforms, community centres, referral mechanisms among service providers, and professional networks.

A cross-cutting priority of the programme is continuity and depth of support. Preference will be given to projects that provide long-term support, combine direct assistance with community capacity strengthening, and demonstrate potential to continue after grant funding ends.

Under the priority area “Platforms, Safe Spaces, and Local Care Hubs,” construction, renovation works, and facility outfitting are not eligible for funding.

Project proposals must be submitted electronically through the ICAP Ednannia website. The application deadline is July 8, 2026, at 23:59.

Key application steps:

1. Register the organization on the platform and wait for account activation confirmation.
2. Log in to the personal account using the email address and password provided during registration.
3. Ensure that the organization passes the technical screening requirements. The applicant organization must:
   • have a 2025 budget of at least UAH 1,200,000 and provide supporting documentation;
   • have a safeguarding policy in place and actively apply it in its work;
   • have an active governing board consisting of at least three members.
4. Complete the application form in the grant competition section and click “Submit Application.”
5. After submission, grant managers review the application. If revisions are required, the application status will be changed to “Requires Revision,” allowing the applicant to make updates.
6. Applications completed in full receive the status “Accepted for Review by the Selection Committee.”

Applications that do not meet the stated requirements or are submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Project proposals are assessed through several stages. First, applications undergo a technical compliance review. Eligible proposals are then evaluated by an independent Selection Committee composed of experts in mental health and civil society development.

The maximum score is 100 points, distributed across the following criteria:

• Alignment with the competition’s objectives and priorities — up to 20 points.
• Local leadership and community engagement — up to 15 points.
• Technical quality of the proposed solution — up to 15 points.
• Continuity of support and sustainability of results — up to 10 points.
• Contribution to the mental health and psychosocial support ecosystem — up to 10 points.
• Organisational capacity and implementation feasibility — up to 10 points.
• Budget realism and justification — up to 10 points.
• Inclusiveness, safeguarding, and ethical considerations — up to 5 points.
• Potential for learning, knowledge generation, and adaptation — up to 5 points.

The assessment considers:

• alignment with programme goals and target group needs;
• community engagement and local ownership;
• evidence-based approaches and intervention logic;
• sustainability and long-term impact;
• partnerships, coordination, and knowledge sharing;
• organisational capacity to deliver the project;
• quality and justification of the budget;
• compliance with inclusion, ethics, and participant safety principles.

Only applications that successfully pass the technical review and meet all formal requirements proceed to the full evaluation stage.

Організація-заявник повинна бути зареєстрована відповідно до законодавства України та мати неприбутковий статус. Організація повинна працювати на території, контрольованій Урядом України, мати щонайменше трьох членів правління та відповідати іншим вимогам конкурсу. Отримувач гранту зобов’язаний дотримуватися політик донора та ІСАР Єднання.

Grant recipients are required to submit reports on project implementation and the use of funds to the ICAP Ednannia office.

Reporting requirements include:

• A project report describing completed activities and including copies of all developed documents and printed materials.
• A financial report accompanied by copies of supporting documents, including primary accounting records and other documentation specified in the grant agreement and its annexes.

The submission of complete and properly documented reports is a mandatory requirement for all grant recipients.

The applicant organization must be registered under Ukrainian law and have non-profit status. It must operate in territory controlled by the Government of Ukraine, have at least three board members, and meet all competition requirements. Grantees must comply with donor and ISAR Ednannia policies.