Briefly
Program description
The TRUST Project is implemented by the Czech humanitarian organization People in Need with financial support from the Government of the United States of America. The programme supports veterans and their family members by providing grants to develop existing businesses. In addition to financial assistance, participants receive training, mentoring, and business advisory support.
Main Information
Eligibility
The grant programme is open to micro-enterprises and small enterprises that meet the established eligibility criteria and operate within the designated geographic areas.
The main eligibility requirements include:
- micro-enterprises (up to 10 employees) or small enterprises (up to 50 employees) led by veterans discharged from military service after 24 February 2022, their family members, or family members of fallen or missing defenders;
- official business registration and active business operations in Mykolaiv Oblast (except for the specified communities) or in the designated communities of Kherson Oblast;
- the ability to provide documents confirming the applicant’s eligibility status;
- all activities under the proposed business idea must be completed within no more than 60 calendar days after signing the grant agreement.
Applicants who have previously received business grants from the government or other organisations may still apply; however, they will not receive priority during the selection process.
Applicants, their family members, and affiliated businesses are not eligible if they have already received a business grant or financial assistance for entrepreneurial activities from the Czech humanitarian organisation People in Need after 24 February 2022.
Financing
The grant programme provides microgrants of up to UAH 216,000 to support the development, recovery, or expansion of existing businesses. The final grant amount is determined based on the submitted application and financial plan. Grant funds are transferred to the bank account of a legal entity or an individual. For sole proprietors, grant funding is taxed in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine.
Grant funding may be used for:
- purchasing equipment and tools, restoring business assets, and renovating or improving business premises;
- renting premises (for up to two months) and creating new jobs (excluding salary costs);
- purchasing production materials (up to 30% of the grant amount);
- staff training, marketing and advertising activities (up to 30% of the grant amount), as well as legal and consulting services;
- other expenses directly related to the implementation of the business idea.
Grant funds may not be used for purchasing land or real estate, paying salaries, repaying debts, paying taxes, purchasing vehicles or used equipment, buying agricultural goods, military-related products, alcohol or tobacco products, or covering routine operating expenses. The funding is intended exclusively for business development, recovery, or expansion, rather than for financing day-to-day business operations.
Supported Activities
The grant programme supports projects aimed at business development, recovery, or expansion, as well as activities that strengthen organisational capacity and promote sustainable growth.
Supported activities include:
- restoration of business assets, rental of premises (up to two months), renovation and improvement of business facilities;
- purchase of equipment and tools, as well as production materials (up to 30% of the grant amount);
- staff training, marketing and advertising activities (up to 30% of the grant amount), legal and consulting services;
- other activities directly related to the implementation of the proposed business idea.
In addition to financial support, successful applicants participate in a mandatory business training programme covering business strategy, business models, operational management, financial planning, marketing, branding, sales, and customer acquisition. The programme is delivered through practical five-day training sessions and includes an opportunity to receive mentoring support from experienced experts.
The programme does not support projects related to agriculture, the defence industry, the production of alcohol or tobacco products, or activities prohibited under the legislation of Ukraine.
Roadmap
The grant programme roadmap outlines the key application timeline and the expected schedule for the selection process.
The main milestones are:
- the call for applications was published on 30 June 2026;
- the application submission deadline is 19 July 2026;
- submitted applications are reviewed after the application period closes;
- applicants can expect the competition results within up to 2 months after the registration form has closed.
How to Apply
Applicants submit their grant applications by following the established application procedure, which consists of several sequential steps.
- Review the grant application completion guidelines before preparing the application package.
- Download and complete the financial plan, which must be attached to the application.
- Complete and submit the grant application using the designated online application form.
- If necessary, use the educational video materials prepared for programme participants.
- Before submission, ensure that all sections of the application are completed, as the completeness of the application directly affects the evaluation results.
Submitting an application confirms participation in the competitive selection process; however, it does not guarantee grant funding or any other form of support under the programme. Applicants may also request an individual online consultation through the project's support hotline if needed.
Evaluation Criteria
Grant applications are evaluated in two stages. During the first stage, applications are screened for compliance with the programme requirements and eligibility criteria. Applicants who successfully pass this stage are invited to an interview during the second stage. The Selection Committee makes the final funding decision.
The main evaluation criteria include:
- compliance with the formal eligibility requirements, including a complete application, applicant status, business registration, business sector eligibility, business experience, and location of operations;
- assessment of the feasibility, realism, legal compliance, and implementation potential of the business idea;
- evaluation of business risks, the financial plan, and the applicant’s capacity to manage grant funding effectively;
- assessment of the proposed marketing strategy, promotional activities, and the expected contribution to local community development;
- consideration of the project's social impact, including services supporting veterans, older people, persons with disabilities, children, youth, and other socially beneficial initiatives.
Additional consideration may be given to business losses caused by the war and whether the applicant has previously received grant funding from other organisations or public programmes.
Following the evaluation, applications are ranked according to the scores received. Funding is awarded based on this ranking, and successful applicants proceed to sign a grant agreement. The provided documentation does not specify the allocation of points for individual evaluation criteria.
Required Documents
To participate in the grant programme, applicants must submit documents confirming their eligibility and participant status. The required documentation depends on the applicant's category and must be provided together with the grant application.
The mandatory supporting documents may include:
- documents confirming veteran status, such as a combat veteran certificate or a disability due to war certificate, together with documents confirming discharge from military service after 24 February 2022;
- for family members of veterans, documents confirming the family relationship, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or other relevant official documents;
- for family members of deceased or missing Defenders of Ukraine, documents confirming the relevant status, including a family member certificate or an extract from the relevant state register together with documents proving the family relationship;
- other official documents issued by competent public authorities that confirm the applicant's eligibility.
All applicants are required to submit the relevant supporting documents together with their application. The programme notes that the list of required documents is not exhaustive, and additional official documents confirming the applicant's status may also be accepted where appropriate.
Reporting and Compliance
After receiving grant funding, successful applicants are required to submit a report on the use of the grant funds in accordance with the terms of the grant agreement.
The main reporting requirements include:
- submission of a report on the use of grant funds is a mandatory obligation under the grant agreement;
- following the award of funding, representatives of the Czech humanitarian organisation People in Need will conduct on-site visits to the applicant’s place of business;
- these visits are intended to assess the effective use of the grant and identify any additional support needs for the business.