Support Fund

Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to create significant challenges for civil society organizations. Daily obstacles such as power outages, shelling, and unstable funding threaten the ability of organizations to sustain their important work. The Vidnova Support Fund is designed to support Ukrainian civil society by providing financial assistance for rapid responses to urgent needs and for strengthening resilience.

By launching this fund, we aim to demonstrate the importance of flexible, fast funding and to encourage other donors to establish similar programs so that civil society can continue its vital work with minimal administrative requirements.

OPEN CALL 2026

Applications are currently closed

Who can apply?

The fund was created to support organizations facing urgent operational challenges or needing resources to ensure team safety, proper working conditions, and the ability to continue their work.

Eligible applicants include non-governmental and non-profit civil society organizations registered in Ukraine and working in the following thematic areas: participatory urban development, culture, education, media, green recovery, memory work, and support for veteran and IDP communities.

To apply, the organization’s statute must include at least one of the following objectives:

promotion of education
promotion of arts and culture
promotion of international activity and cooperation
promotion of cooperation for economic development
promotion of active civic participation in the public interest

If an organization’s statutory objectives do not cover at least one of these areas, the application unfortunately cannot be considered.

Please note:

In this round, only civil society organizations are eligible. Charitable foundations cannot apply.

Organizations that have already received support from the Vidnova Support Fund are not eligible to apply for funding in 2026.

Available Support

Within the Vidnova Support Fund, applicants may request only one type of support from the list below:

Up to €1,000:

Software necessary for full organizational functioning (CRM systems; project management, graphic design, and communication tools; cybersecurity and data storage tools; accounting and financial systems, etc.)

Up to €2,000:

Energy and technical support (generators, voltage stabilizers, heaters, or other equipment critical for ensuring the organization’s energy, technical, and overall operational resilience)

Up to €2,000:

Team training to strengthen capacities in project management, fundraising, advocacy, and other competencies necessary for effective teamwork

Up to €2,000:

Development of an organizational strategy in conditions of uncertainty to enhance the organization’s ability to operate (overall organizational strategy, communication strategy, financial strategy, etc.)

Up to €2,000:

Recreational rest for the team to restore capacity, prevent burnout, and strengthen operational effectiveness

Up to €5,000:

Retention of key staff with unique knowledge and experience essential for the organization’s work, including temporary or project-based positions (e.g. accountant, fundraiser, lawyer, communications specialist). Funding of the entire team is possible within the available budget

Up to €5,000:

Psychological support for the team. Psychological support enables CSO teams to remain stable amid high workload, emotional exhaustion, and uncertainty. It helps reduce burnout risks, increase work effectiveness, and ensure continuity of projects critically important for communities during wartime

Up to €5,000:

Use of the fund as a third source of financing to secure co-funding
(Only for projects whose primary funding has already been confirmed)

Up to €5,000:

Coverage of operational costs such as rent, utilities, or office expenses to support team work in a shared space

Available Funding

The total budget of the fund is

€200,000

The maximum grant amount is

€5,000

There is no minimum grant amount.

Application Instructions

The application process is simple and fast, as we understand the urgency of your needs. To apply, you must provide:

1.

The organization’s statute (in English or Ukrainian) confirming compliance with statutory criteria

2.

A brief description of the organization’s activities

3.

A a clear explanation of how the support will help the organization address an urgent challenge or stabilize its capacity

4.

Justification of why the requested expenses are necessary and proportionate

We appreciate the work of Ukrainian organizations under difficult circumstances, and this fund was created for that reason. There is no need to describe the general situation in Ukraine: we understand well the challenges civil society is facing. Instead, please focus on your organization’s context and how the proposed support will help you continue and stabilize your activities.

We understand that many people use AI tools when preparing application texts — this is understandable and can help structure ideas. We only ask you to maintain authenticity: it is very important for us to hear your perspective and your reality.

Submit your Application:

Applications for Vidnova Support Fund are currently closed.

Deadline: 8 January 2026
(or once we reach 500 applications)

Selection Criteria

The civil society organization is registered and operating in Ukraine
Activities and experience of the organization: a concise profile and examples of work demonstrating professionalism and sustainable results
Justification of need: explanation of how the requested support will help address a specific challenge or stabilize the organizations work
Budget appropriateness: how reasonable and proportionate the expenses are in relation to the stated need

The selection process will also consider geographical balance and type of requested support.

Lottery principle for “energy and technical support”

For this category, we apply a lottery system as a transparent acknowledgment that demand significantly exceeds available resources. We understand that power outages vary greatly by region and context, and we do not claim that all needs are identical. However, in this situation it is impossible to establish fair and consistent criteria that would responsibly account for the urgency and local conditions of each application.

The lottery is also a way to clearly acknowledge that, under current circumstances, we do not have grounds to prioritize some applicants over others — while fully respecting the importance of each organization’s needs.

Important

Applications accepted until: 8 January 2026 (00:00 Kyiv time)

After 500 applications are received, the online form will automatically close

You can always check the number of submitted applications on the first page of the online form

Results announced: 30 January 2026

Implementation period: 01.02.2026 – 01.07.2026

(including preparation and submission of a short simplified report)

Deadline: 8 January 2026
(or once we reach 500 applications)

Applications for Vidnova Support Fund are currently closed.

Voices from the community

“This support became one of the best our newsroom has had since the beginning of the full-scale war. Truly. Fourteen team members received reimbursement for ten sessions with a psychologist. Until now, organizations that approached us offered their own specialists. However, many of our staff already had their own therapists, and it was valuable for them to receive financial coverage for sessions with those they trusted. The consultations took place during March and April, and I still receive thank-you messages from colleagues. It’s one thing to work on adrenaline in 2022; it’s another to keep going in 2025, when nothing is improving globally. Some were thinking about resigning, others had no expectations at all. That is why the support from the Vidnova Support Fund became a ray of light for the team.”

Mental health support

Leading national Ukrainian media outlet

“As a membership-based association without permanent staff, we rely entirely on volunteer engagement, which made external financial management support especially important. Thanks to this support, our organization implemented structured accounting practices, monthly reporting, and clear financial planning. Each project now has a separate account, every transaction is properly documented, and financial records are updated on time. Having an experienced financial specialist was a turning point: we moved from delays and uncertainty to a transparent, reliable system that enables us to secure international project funding, cooperate effectively with partner foundations, and prepare for large-scale activities.”

Team support (accountant position)

Environmental association

“With the support of the Vidnova Support Fund, our organization transitioned to an innovative, efficient, and user-friendly accounting system — BAS Accounting CORP — which significantly improves financial administration thanks to its expanded functionality. It ensures timely accounting operations and reporting, while minimizing the risk of errors. The grant funds were used to purchase the software, configure it, and provide training for the operational team.”

Software support

NGO working on local ecosystem development

“Access to reliable electricity through Bluetti stations meant we could focus on our work without constant fear of interruptions. This support strengthened our daily resilience and our ability to respond to emergencies calmly and effectively. Looking at the long-term impact, we see this support as part of broader change. Unfortunately, we are entering a new era where we increasingly need to rely on self-sufficiency and mutual support within our communities. In this context, access to basic resources such as power stations becomes essential infrastructure for maintaining civic and cultural continuity. This is a significant investment, often impossible for us to afford ourselves, so we are sincerely grateful that the Vidnova Support Fund offered timely help. The grant not only supported our organization — it demonstrated what flexible, needs-based funding can achieve.”

Generator

Organization working in culture and the arts

For questions or more information, please contact us at

vidnova@wecommit.to

The Vidnova Support Fund was created by Commit gGmbH with financial support from Kurt und Maria Dohle Stiftung.