Support Fund

Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to pose significant challenges for civil society organizations. Daily obstacles such as power cuts, shelling, and unstable funding jeopardize the ability of organizations to continue their important work. Vidnova Support Fund aims to help Ukrainian civil society by providing financial assistance to respond quickly to urgent needs and build resilience.

By launching this Fund, we seek to highlight the importance of flexible, fast-track funding and encourage other donors to create similar programs, ensuring that civil society can continue its vital work without bureaucratic burdens.

Who can apply?

Vidnova Support Fund is intended for organizations facing immediate operational challenges or needing support to sustain their teams and continue their work. Non-governmental and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply.

Areas of support

The Vidnova Support Fund provides flexible financial assistance for two main types of needs:

Urgent needs:

This support is for organizations facing challenges that require immediate action. Examples of emergency support include:

Evacuation of materials and documentation crucial for the existence of the organization (financial reports, HR documents etc.)
Purchasing generators, power banks, or fuel to ensure critical operations during power outages
and others

Support for Resilience:

This support is for organizations facing challenges that require immediate action. Examples of emergency support include:

Retaining key administrative staff such as accountants, HR managers, or IT support
Covering operational costs like rent, utilities, or office expenses to keep the team running
Providing mental health services to maintain team well-being and prevent burnout
Developing or improving communication strategies to better engage donors, partners, and the public
Developing and implementing strategies to increase the organization’s capacity to operate and function amid uncertainty
Investing in team training to enhance skills in project management, fundraising, or advocacy
Implementing systems to improve financial management or monitoring and evaluation processes
Using the fund as a third source of financing to attract co-financing
and others

This is a non-exhaustive list of possible areas of support. More specific needs may be eligible if they meet the criteria of urgency and/or organizational sustainability in times of war.

Available Finances

The total budget of the fund is

€50,000

The maximum grant amount is

€5,000

There is no minimum grant amount.

How to apply?

The application process is simple and fast, recognizing the urgency of your needs. In the application form, please provide:

1.

A brief description of your organization or initiative

2.

A clear explanation of the challenge you are facing or the support you need

3.

A detailed budget outlining how the funds will be used

Note:

One application may cover only one type of need (e.g., a generator or accounting services).

Main Selection Criteria

Urgency and relevance of the need (priority 1)
Improvement of the organization’s adaptability and resilience during martial law (priority 2)
Rationality of the proposed budget
Experience and reputation of the organization

Important Dates

Application Deadline:

Applications are due by December 8, 2024

Results wil be announced by December 13, 2024

For questions or more information, please contact us at

vidnova@mitost.org

Vidnova Support Fund is created by Commit by MitOst gGmbH with kind financial support from the Robert Bosch Stiftung.