Change agents in their communities – 27 organizations from across Ukraine came to the capital to begin a new stage of development. As part of the Impulse Project, which we implement jointly with the International Renaissance Foundation, the winners of the fourth wave of the small grants competition took part in a coordination meeting.

Soon, our partner organizations will be implementing their own projects focused on recovery, inclusion, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and transparent governance. The two-day event provided an opportunity to align priorities – discuss key policies, working procedures, and outline the next steps. It was also a chance to get to know one another, present their initiatives, and exchange experiences.

“When we launched Impulse together with our colleagues, our primary goal was to create a space of mutual support – where new solutions, partnerships, and confidence in one’s own capabilities emerge. The grantees from the first three waves are already implementing initiatives that are changing people’s lives. Now, it is your turn to carry the baton forward – the winners of the fourth wave of the small grants competition,” said Vira Nedzvedska, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at East Europe Foundation, addressing the participants with welcome remarks.

Such formats foster networking and help like-minded organizations connect, build new partnerships, and strengthen existing ties. At the same time, they provide an opportunity to be heard, share challenges, and receive support from colleagues across the sector.

“Institutional capacity is what enables an organization to grow despite crises. We believe that grant support within the project will become the very impulse that sparks change – within organizations, communities, and the civil society sector,” shared Olha Moloko, Manager of the Impulse Project and Humanitarian Aid and Recovery Cluster Lead at East Europe Foundation.

The next part of the coordination meeting featured thematic training sessions for participants led by experts and consultants:

• Volodymyr Kuprii, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Manager at East Europe Foundation, explained how organizations can monitor the progress of their ongoing work and use the Organizational Capacity Assessment tool.
• Larysa Shkurka, a consultant in financial management and organizational development, shared practical insights on financial management and financial reporting in organizations.
• Diana Kovalova, Communications Coordinator at the International Renaissance Foundation, revealed the secrets of pitching and successful media engagement, including how to interest journalists in their core topic – recovery.
• To conclude, Yuliia Hudoshnyk, a storytelling consultant, offered a glimpse into the art of human-centered storytelling.

The partner organizations of the fourth wave of the Impulse Project now have productive work ahead of them at both the strategic and practical levels. We are confident that each of these initiatives has the potential to become a driver of sustainable change in Ukrainian communities. More to come!

The Impulse Project is implemented by East Europe Foundation and the International Renaissance Foundation, with support from Norway and Sweden.