The “First Successful Grant” Program from ISAR “Ednannia”

The grant programme is designed to support newly established civil society organisations that are at the beginning of their development and require knowledge, practical skills, and mentoring to strengthen their organisational capacity.

The programme aims to help organisations overcome common early-stage challenges, including limited experience in project management, grant proposal preparation, and legal and organisational management.

The programme places a strong emphasis on organisational development. Participants receive training, practical knowledge, and guidance from experienced mentors to help build effective governance structures, strengthen team capacity, improve internal processes, and develop a long-term strategic vision.

The organisers also emphasise that obtaining a grant is not the ultimate goal of the programme. Instead, grant funding is viewed as a tool for organisational growth that enables participants to strengthen their capacity and implement initiatives that benefit their communities.

The grant programme is open to civil society and charitable organisations that meet the established eligibility requirements and are prepared to complete all stages of the programme.

Key eligibility requirements include:

• official registration in Ukraine and non-profit organisation status;
• registration after 24 February 2022 and no more than four years of operation;
• demonstrated experience in financial management and implementation of organisational initiatives;
• a team of at least two members willing to participate in training, work with mentors, and prepare a grant application;
• a socially significant project idea intended for implementation with grant support.

During the selection process, priority is given to organisations operating in frontline and war-affected regions, supporting the Defence Forces of Ukraine, veterans and their families, and contributing to community recovery and resilience.

Organisations that successfully complete the training programme may apply for grant funding to implement their own socially significant project and put the acquired knowledge into practice.

The maximum grant amount is up to UAH 400,000.

Grant funding may be used for:

• organising project events and activities;
• purchasing services, equipment, materials, and consumable resources;
• renting premises and equipment;
• administrative costs of up to 20% of the total project budget, including remuneration for the project team.

The grant programme supports activities aimed at organisational development, project preparation, and strengthening the capacity of participating organisations.

The programme includes the following key components:

• a training programme consisting of two three-day in-person modules covering organisational development, governance, strategic planning, project management, resource mobilisation, grant proposal preparation, monitoring, and communications;
• completion of practical inter-module assignments as a mandatory part of the programme;
• individual mentoring support, where experts assist organisations in refining project ideas, preparing grant applications, avoiding common mistakes, strengthening partnerships, and engaging community support;
• participation in a professional network that promotes experience sharing, partnership building, participation in professional events, and opportunities to showcase organisational achievements through the programme's communication channels.

Applicants follow a structured process to participate in the programme and subsequently apply for grant funding.

• Submit an application together with the project team and receive confirmation. Shortlisted teams may be invited to an online interview.
• Successfully complete the training provided by the Organisational Development School.
• Develop a project idea, prepare a grant application, and submit it to the independent Selection Committee for review.
• If approved, receive funding and implement the project with ongoing support from the ICAP Ednannia team.

It is important to note that participation in the programme does not automatically guarantee grant funding. After completing the training, organisations submit project proposals, which are evaluated by an independent Selection Committee. The quality of the application depends on the relevance and justification of the project idea, as well as the team's engagement in the training and completion of practical assignments.

The application must include:

• organization information;
• description of organizational activities;
• team information;
• description of the grant project idea (up to 200 words);
• motivation statement;
• confirmation that the team is ready to participate in all programme components.

To participate, an organization must meet the programme eligibility criteria, complete all required stages, and submit a grant application after completing the training. The final decision on grant funding is made by an independent Selection Committee. Participation in the programme does not automatically guarantee funding.