Our Impulse community continues to grow and strengthen!

Together with the International Renaissance Foundation, we gathered the winners of the “Institutional Impulse for New Civil Society Organizations from the Most Affected Regions” competition in Kyiv.

The meeting brought together 27 organizations that are just entering the civil society sector or taking their first steps toward larger‑scale operations.

During the event, participants learned more about the community, the project team, and the core principles of Impulse. The organizations presented their initiatives, discussed cooperation rules, and outlined the initial steps needed to implement their projects.

Within the project, the teams will be developing their institutional capacities. They will be involved in strategic planning, strengthening internal policies and processes, training, mentoring, and networking with more experienced civil society organizations.

Natalia Slynko, Vice President for Program Activities at East Europe Foundation, welcomed the participants. She emphasized that institutional development is not a formality but the foundation of long‑term organizational sustainability.

Institutional development is a never‑ending journey. Policies, procedures, training, and systematic work create the basis for an organization to grow, scale, and adapt to change. We hope our Impulse Project becomes an opportunity for organizations to strengthen professionally.

Over the two‑day event, we launched a training program for participants.

Volodymyr Kuprii, Senior Manager for Monitoring and Evaluation at East Europe Foundation, explained how organizations can track their performance and build capacity using the Organizational Capacity Assessment tool. He highlighted how such approaches help teams plan their development and monitor progress more effectively.

Kristina Ladyka, Chief Accountant at the NGO Institute of Analytics and Advocacy, conducted a practical workshop on accounting and reporting in grant projects. Participants reviewed real‑life cases, common mistakes, and practical aspects of financial management to help them work more confidently with grant funds.

Diana Kovaliova, Communications Coordinator at the International Renaissance Foundation, discussed pitching and media relations with participants. During the training session, teams learned how to present their initiatives clearly and engagingly and explored ways to involve journalists in issues relevant to CSOs.

Yulia Hudoshnyk, a storytelling consultant, led a training session titled “Human‑Centered Story: Structure, Nuances, Impact.” Participants discussed how to create powerful stories based on people’s experiences, manage emotions, and communicate about their projects more vividly and persuasively.

In the coming months, the teams will embark on intensive work. We will support them throughout this exciting yet challenging journey.

We are delighted to welcome these organizations to the Impulse Community, which already unites more than 100 CSOs from across Ukraine. Such partnerships, knowledge exchange, and joint training help civil society organizations grow systematically and strengthen their communities.

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