Mini-Grant Competition for the Development of Summer Playgrounds

The goal of the All-Ukrainian competition is to support women entrepreneurs—owners of small and medium-sized businesses in the food service industry, including coffee shops, cafes, and fast-food establishments, as well as related public spaces—by providing grants for the creation and setup of outdoor seating areas to support the development and resumption of their operations.

The grant programme is intended for women entrepreneurs who operate registered and active businesses in the food service sector.

Key eligibility requirements include:

• having a registered sole proprietorship (FOP);
• operating in the food and hospitality sector, including cafés, coffee shops, bakeries, fast-food establishments, and other local formats;
• business operation for at least 3 months or relocation after 24 February 2022;
• a need for support to establish or improve an outdoor summer area;
• permanent residence in Ukraine and Ukrainian citizenship.

Applicants may participate regardless of whether they employ staff, although having employees may be considered an additional advantage during evaluation.

The programme targets businesses operating or planning projects in frontline regions of Ukraine, including:

• Dnipropetrovsk;
• Zaporizhzhia;
• Kharkiv;
• Mykolaiv;
• Kherson;
• Sumy;
• Chernihiv regions.

Priority is given to applicants from vulnerable categories, including:

• internally displaced persons;
• spouses of military personnel;
• family members of fallen defenders;
• women with disabilities;
• women affected by the war.

Applicants are not eligible if they:

• received financial support from the Fund within the last 12 months;
• operate in temporarily occupied territories;
• maintain business relations with russia or Belarus;
• have outstanding tax or budget debts.

The grant programme provides financial support for the creation or improvement of outdoor summer areas aimed at increasing the economic sustainability of establishments.

The total competition budget amounts to UAH 455,000, while selected participants may receive up to UAH 50,000 in grant funding from the fund.

At the same time, the fund does not finance:

• raw materials or consumables;
• repair or rental of office and storage premises;
• employee salaries;
• transportation and delivery costs;
• repayment of loans or debts;
• personal non-business expenses.

The programme also specifies that delivery, transportation, installation, and assembly costs for equipment are not covered by the grant.

Within the grant programme, supported activities are focused on the establishment and development of outdoor summer areas for food service businesses.

Grant funding may be used for:

• purchasing essential equipment required for business operations;
• outdoor furniture, including tables, chairs, and benches;
• sun and rain protection solutions such as umbrellas and tents;
• decorative and outdoor lighting;
• equipment for outdoor operations, for example ice cream freezers or coffee equipment;
• family-friendly elements, including small children’s areas.

The programme specifically states that funding may only be used for activities related to the improvement or development of the venue’s outdoor area.

The grant programme includes a step-by-step timeline for the competition and application evaluation process.

Main stages:

• application submission is open until 18 May 2026 inclusive;
• technical screening of applications will take place from 18 to 25 May 2026;
• the expert evaluation stage is scheduled for 25–29 May 2026;
• announcement of results will take place between 1 and 5 June 2026.

Applications for participation in the grant programme are accepted during the official application period. Applicants are required to complete an online application form and provide basic information about themselves and their business.

The application must include:

• a motivation letter;
• documents confirming business registration and entrepreneurial activity;
• a business plan or a short project description explaining how the grant funds will be used and the expected results.

The organisers emphasize that applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Within the grant programme, winners are selected based on several criteria evaluating the relevance, sustainability, and social impact of the project.

Main evaluation criteria include:

• project relevance — assessment of the justified need for creating or improving a summer outdoor area and its importance for business development;
• business geography — priority is given to businesses operating in frontline communities or vulnerable territories;
• business feasibility and sustainability — evaluation of the actual operation of the business (at least 3 months or after relocation) and the realistic implementation of the project using available resources;
• impact on the local environment — consideration of how the project improves the surrounding space and makes it more accessible and comfortable for the community;
• socio-economic impact of the business.

Additional advantages include:

• implementation of charitable or social support initiatives for specific population groups;
• support for Ukrainian producers and local suppliers.

• Cover letter;
• documents confirming registration and operation of a business (sole proprietorship);
• business plan or brief project description, including a plan for the use of grant funds and expected results.

After receiving funding, grant winners are required to comply with specific reporting and compliance obligations related to the use of grant funds.

The grant amount is transferred to the beneficiary’s bank account after signing the agreement. The Fund also covers taxes (personal income tax and military levy) as a tax agent.

Grant recipients must provide:

• a financial report;
• copies of primary supporting documents, including invoices and receipts;
• bank payment confirmations;
• commercial offers from equipment suppliers;
• a report on achieved project results;
• photo and video materials documenting implementation;
• social media publications mentioning the Fund.

If social initiatives are implemented within the project, additional visual materials and short descriptions of activities may also be included in the reporting.

The Fund reserves the right to monitor the targeted use of grant funds and evaluate project results for up to 18 months after funding is awarded.

Beneficiaries are also required to:

• provide information regarding the use of grant funds;
• participate in Fund surveys assessing programme effectiveness;
• submit reports within the deadlines specified in the grant agreement.

The organisers state that:

• competition results will be published on the Foundation’s information platforms, while applicants will also receive notifications by email;
• submitting an application does not guarantee funding;
• only applications submitted through the official online forms and completed according to the programme regulations will be considered;
• all mandatory sections of the application form must be completed correctly.

The Foundation does not finance administrative expenses, including:

• transportation costs;
• employee salaries;
• repair works and rental of premises;
• vehicle purchases.

It is also specified that:

• applications containing errors or not meeting the formal requirements will not be reviewed;
• businesses with financial debts or terminated entrepreneurial activity are not eligible;
• project implementation must begin no later than 30 days after signing the agreement.

The Foundation reserves the right not to provide explanations regarding grant refusals.