ISAR Yednannia Institutional Support Competition for CSOs: up to UAH 2,500,000

Up to UAH 2,500,000 for operational costs, staff salaries, office maintenance, and equipment – with no requirement to tie the funds to a specific project. ISAR Yednannia, supported by the European Union, has launched an Institutional Support Competition for civil society organisations working in democratic governance, human rights protection, and security and defence.

Institutional support is the format that practically every NGO is looking for: it covers the organisation itself, not just one project. That is precisely why these grants are rare and highly competitive.

What Is Institutional Support and Why It Matters

Most grants fund a specific project – activities, services, outputs tied to a predefined scope. Institutional support is a different format entirely: the funds go towards sustaining and developing the organisation itself, rather than delivering a standalone project. This means your CSO can pay staff salaries, cover office rent, purchase equipment, and invest in organisational development without being bound by project-specific restrictions.

The competition is run by ISAR Yednannia – one of Ukraine’s largest grant operators – with European Union funding. The aim is to support organisations that have already established robust internal processes and demonstrated effectiveness, but need stable resources to maintain momentum during the war.

Priority Areas: Who Can Apply

The competition is specifically targeted at organisations that have worked systematically in one of three areas for at least two years.

Eligibility Requirements

The competition accepts applications from organisations that simultaneously meet all of the following criteria:

Official registration under Ukrainian law – specifically the Law on Civil Associations, the Law on Charitable Activities and Charitable Organisations, or the Law on Associations of Local Self-Government Bodies. Inclusion in the Register of Non-Profit Organisations with one of the following non-profit codes: 0032, 0036, 0038, or 0039. A minimum of two years of systematic work in one of the three priority areas listed above. Readiness to undergo a CSO Verification procedure (due diligence) if shortlisted by the Selection Committee.

Applications from organisations that do not meet all four criteria will not be considered.

What the Grant Covers

This is the core distinction of institutional support from a project grant. The funds may be used for:

Operational activity and service delivery – costs necessary for the organisation’s day-to-day functioning and programme delivery.

Office maintenance and administrative staff salaries – rent, utilities, and staff remuneration. This is what makes the competition so valuable: the majority of project grants prohibit or strictly limit these costs.

Equipment procurement – hardware, software, and other tools required for the organisation’s work.

Organisational development – team training, strategic planning, consultancy services, and strengthening management capacity.

Key Competition Parameters

How to Apply

Applications are submitted exclusively in electronic form through the ISAR Yednannia website. Organisations must register or log in to their account on ednannia.ua, navigate to the Institutional Support competition in the “Active Grant Competitions” section, and complete the online application form.

The selection process has two stages: the Selection Committee first reviews all applications, after which shortlisted organisations must undergo a CSO Verification procedure (due diligence) to confirm their capacity. ISAR Yednannia reserves the right not to select any applicant if eligibility requirements are not met.

Contacts for enquiries:

📧 grant@ednannia.ua

📞 0 800 50 77 45 (free, Mon–Fri 10:00–18:00)