Grants from the Abilis Foundation for organizations of persons with disabilities

The Abilis Foundation is a fund founded by Finnish citizens with disabilities that supports the activities of persons with disabilities. The Abilis Board consists of persons with disabilities who have extensive experience and interest in development cooperation, and its main donor is the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. The program provides grants for projects developed and implemented directly by persons with disabilities. An important feature of the program is its division into two funding directions:

• small grants (from 500 to 5,000 EUR);
• regular grants (from 5,001 to 15,000 EUR).

The main goal of the initiative is to promote equal opportunities through human rights provision, advocacy, independent living, or economic self-sufficiency. Projects are evaluated based on the level of involvement of persons with disabilities in planning, decision-making, commitment fulfillment, and project management. 

The applicant can be:

• Organization of persons with disabilities: more than 51 percent of the board members are persons with disabilities (or parents of children with disabilities), and more than 50 percent of the organization's members are persons with disabilities (or parents of children with disabilities).
• Organization of parents of children with disabilities.
• A democratic organization (it is not run by a single person who makes all decisions).
• The organization does not have an ongoing Abilis project.

Not eligible to apply:

• Individuals.
• Organizations that are not organizations of persons with disabilities.

The program is divided into two lots: small grants (from 500 to 5,000 EUR) and regular grants (from 5,001 to 15,000 EUR).

Co-financing (own contribution):

• The applicant organization is obliged to make its own contribution of at least 10% of the total project budget.
• The contribution must be made from the organization's own resources, not at the expense of another donor or partner.
• The contribution can be made in cash or in kind (e.g., volunteer labor, working hours, provision of premises, or other resources).

Eligible (acceptable) costs:

• Administrative costs.
• Costs for project activities.
• Equipment purchases (e.g., computers, printers, sewing machines, hammer mills, etc.).

Ineligible (unacceptable) costs:

• Projects submitted by individuals or organizations that are not organizations of persons with disabilities.
• Construction works.
• Large purchases, such as vehicles.
• Medical treatment and medical rehabilitation.
• Segregated education.
• Activities that are not focused on persons with disabilities and do not benefit them.
• Costs for participation in and travel to international conferences and meetings.

Priority project areas:

• Strengthening organizations of persons with disabilities.
• Involving persons with disabilities in communities.
• Risk reduction and emergency management.
• Sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Women and girls with disabilities.
• Livelihoods and economic empowerment.

Possible activities:

• Vocational training.
• Small business and income-generating activities (e.g., farming, poultry, livestock, crafts, etc.).
• Public awareness raising and lobbying.
• Capacity building of organizations of persons with disabilities.
• Fighting for the human rights of persons with disabilities and their development.
• Social rehabilitation.
• Accessibility, sign language training, and production of Braille materials.

1. Filling out forms. It is necessary to completely and carefully fill out the Application Form and the Budget details table using local currency.
2. Gathering supporting documents. The following must be attached to the application:
   • 2-3 proforma invoices or links to online resources for main types of purchases (if the unit cost exceeds 200 EUR).
   • Recommendation letters: at least 1 letter for a small grant and 2 letters for a regular grant. The letters must be written by competent (reference) persons on official letterhead.
   • A copy of the applicant organization's registration certificate (or an explanation of why the organization cannot provide it).
   • Financial documents for the previous financial year: financial report, balance sheet, bank statements, and/or audit report (if available). If they are absent, an appropriate explanation must be provided.
3. Signing. Before sending, ensure that the application contains all required signatures: the contact person, the financial manager, and the chairperson of the board (director). By signing the document, you also grant permission to conduct an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) check.
4. Submission. A copy of the fully completed and signed application along with all attachments must be sent by email to the Abilis Foundation representative in Ukraine.

• Contact person: Iryna Sarancha.
• Email for submission: isarancha@gmail.com.

Applications are evaluated with regard to the involvement of persons with disabilities in planning, decision-making, fulfilling obligations, and project management.

• Application form.
• Budget.
• 2-3 proforma invoices or links to online resources (for purchases over 200 EUR).
• Recommendation letters (at least 1 for a small grant, 2 for a regular grant).
• Copy of the registration certificate (or explanation of absence).
• Balance sheet, bank statements, or explanation of absence.
• Audit report for the previous year (if available).

• Each project funded by Abilis must report on 100% of the grant funds.
• The own contribution (co-financing) must also be reported by providing agreements, invoices, receipts, or whatever is possible for the organization.
• Timely and complete reporting of grants will be considered an advantage in the next grant application.
• Late or incomplete reports may result in delayed payments and exclusion from future funding.
• Before approving a grant or making payments, the Abilis Foundation strictly conducts an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) check through the Shufti system.

• Grantee organizations are required to sign and strictly adhere to the Abilis Foundation Code of Conduct. Any violation of it will lead to termination of funding.
• Unacceptable behavior includes: discriminatory treatment; sharing personal information or photos without permission; sexual relations with minors or exploitation of vulnerable persons; exchanging money or goods for sexual favors; possession of illegal goods; receiving bribes; using foundation assets for personal gain (including involving relatives or friends as suppliers).

Anti-corruption check:

• The organization grants permission for a mandatory check in accordance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements.
• The check is carried out through the Shufti system and involves cross-referencing names and dates of birth with international lists of individuals associated with crime or terrorism.