Oak Foundation: $383 million a year and still unknown in Ukraine. Donor analysis and how to apply

In 2025, Oak Foundation distributed approximately 1,000 grants across 33 countries totalling $383 million. For context, that exceeds the annual grantmaking budget of most major international philanthropic organisations. Yet most Ukrainian NGOs have never heard of Oak Foundation.

The foundation is headquartered in Geneva but is not a typically Swiss institution: it has offices in Copenhagen, London, India, and North America, funds organisations in approximately 40 countries, and covers topics from climate justice to child protection. Grants range from $25,000 to over $10 million.

For Ukrainian organisations working in human rights, the environment, women’s rights, or support for internally displaced people, Oak Foundation is one of the most overlooked major donors available. This article explains who they are, what they fund, and how to approach them.

Who Oak Foundation is

Oak Foundation is a private family foundation formally registered as Oak Philanthropy Ltd in Geneva. It was established in 1983. The first grants went to Danish organisations supporting single mothers and torture survivors, and to projects in Zimbabwe for vulnerable children and families.

Over more than 40 years of operation, the foundation has made over 6,300 grants. Today it supports organisations in around 40 countries through seven global thematic programmes and four country programmes (Brazil, Denmark, India, Zimbabwe).

Oak Foundation stands out from most donors in a few ways. It has been actively shifting from project-based funding to core support – giving organisations unrestricted funds for their operations rather than tying money to specific activities. It typically funds long-term: many grants run for 3–5 years. And unlike most foundations, it has no open calls with deadlines. The only entry point for new organisations is a Letter of Enquiry, submitted at any time.

Seven programmes: what gets funded and where

Environment and Climate. The most geographically broad programme. Covers protection of natural ecosystems, climate justice, emissions reduction, clean energy, and sustainable land use across Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. For Ukraine, the most direct relevance is environmental protection organisations and programmes documenting the ecological consequences of armed conflict.

International Human Rights. A global programme focused on documenting serious human rights violations, combating impunity, and protecting defenders at risk. The current geographic focus is the EU, US, Brazil, India, and Myanmar. For organisations from the former Soviet space, the foundation has historically used re-granters (intermediary organisations) rather than direct funding in some cases.

Issues Affecting Women. Funds organisations addressing violence against women, expanding women’s access to justice, and supporting women’s rights in conflict settings. For Ukrainian organisations documenting conflict-related sexual violence or supporting women who are internally displaced, this is one of the most direct paths to Oak Foundation.

Housing and Homelessness. Funds affordable housing and homelessness prevention, primarily in Scotland and the US. Focuses on systemic solutions and the participation of people with lived experience. Less directly relevant to Ukraine, but may intersect with temporary housing projects for IDPs.

Prevent Child Sexual Abuse. Global programme on prevention, survivor support, and systemic reform in child protection.

Learning Differences. Primarily focused on dyslexia and specific learning difficulties. Funds educational organisations, research, and advocacy. A narrow topic, but relevant for inclusive education organisations.

Special Interest. Discretionary grants driven by individual board members. Unpredictable and not a viable entry point for unsolicited applications.

Can Ukrainian organisations apply

Yes – Ukraine is explicitly included in Oak Foundation’s list of eligible countries. The foundation funds NGOs in around 40 countries without hard geographic exclusions for its main programmes.

There is a confirmed precedent: in 2024, Oak Foundation granted $240,000 to the University of the People specifically for Ukrainian student scholarships – direct evidence of a financial connection with Ukraine.

For International Human Rights: the picture is more nuanced. Older programme descriptions (pre-2022) indicated that for organisations in the former Soviet space, the foundation might work through re-granters rather than funding directly. Whether this practice has been revised following the full-scale invasion is worth confirming before submitting an LOI by checking the current programme strategy at oakfnd.org.

The most realistic entry points for Ukrainian organisations in 2026 are Issues Affecting Women (organisations supporting women in conflict), Environment (nature protection and environmental damage documentation), and International Human Rights (where there’s a clear alignment with programme priorities and a documented track record).

How the application process works

Oak Foundation has no open calls with deadlines. The only entry point for new organisations is a Letter of Enquiry (LOI), submitted at any time through the online form at oakfnd.org/submit-enquiry/

The LOI is maximum 2 pages. The foundation responds within 2 months if there is interest. No response means no. The foundation explicitly asks applicants not to contact programme staff directly until they receive feedback.

If the LOI is approved, the organisation is invited to submit a full proposal. After that comes a financial review, internal approvals, and signature of a grant letter. The foundation notes that programme budgets are allocated approximately a year in advance, so even a strong application may face a waiting period.

One important context: most Oak Foundation grants go to organisations the programme team has invited to apply – not to those submitting unsolicited LOIs. Only a handful of unsolicited applications receive approval each year. Still, for organisations with genuine thematic alignment, the LOI is a real path, and isolated success cases exist.

How to write an effective LOI for Oak Foundation

The foundation specifies five required elements for an LOI – all within 2 pages. That’s a tight limit, so every sentence needs to carry specific information.

1. Brief organisational profile and budget. Who you are, what you do, what your annual budget is. One or two sentences. This is not a history lesson: the funder wants to understand your current operational reality.

2. Project description: duration, goals, activities. What you want to achieve and how. Talk about change, not activities: “reducing impunity for war crimes,” not “running 12 training sessions.”

3. Location and target population. Where the project runs and who specifically benefits. For Ukrainian context: name the region, the IDP status, or other characteristics that explain the scale of the problem.

4. Amount requested and total project cost. Be specific. The foundation’s minimum is $25,000 – but a realistic starting grant for a new organisation runs $50,000–$100,000. Also include the share covered by other donors, if any.

5. Existing or potential co-funders. Oak Foundation values diversified funding. Name specific funders: this shows the organisation doesn’t depend on a single source.

One practical note before submitting: read the current strategy of the specific programme you’re targeting at oakfnd.org. “Misaligned applications will not be considered” – the foundation warns directly that submissions sent to the wrong programme are simply ignored.

Competition and realistic expectations

Oak Foundation receives thousands of LOIs each year. Only a handful reach the full proposal stage through the unsolicited process. The foundation itself acknowledges: “Despite the high number of requests, we only approve a few submissions through our online letter of enquiry process each year.”

This doesn’t make the LOI pointless. First, it enters your organisation into the programme team’s database and creates a first impression. Second, a programme officer may return to you a year later when a partner is needed for your specific topic. Third, a rejection tells you the current focus doesn’t align – which is useful information.

Organisations without a track record of working with large private foundations should consider starting with donors who have more open processes – and approaching Oak Foundation’s level after building a portfolio of completed projects and donor reporting experience.

Summary table: Oak Foundation for Ukrainian NGOs