Expectations held and challenges faced by donors in Ukraine

The research: Expectations held and challenges faced by donors in Ukraine

Philanthropy in Ukraine presents a new study that explores the evolving relationship between international donors and Ukrainian civil society organizations three years into the full-scale war.

What did we explore—and why does it matter?
The issue of effective resource allocation has become especially urgent since the start of the full-scale invasion. Before February 2022, donors largely focused on supporting democratic transformation. After the invasion, priorities shifted toward emergency humanitarian aid.

This shift brought a number of challenges: the need for rapid decision-making, partnerships with newly established organizations lacking experience, and the impact of global aid trends on the Ukrainian context. The research is based on interviews with 16 representatives from various types of donor organizations.

Key Insights

1. Institutional Capacity Building
   Many NGOs—especially those created after February 2022—are struggling to develop internal procedures that meet donor expectations. “The concepts of indicators and results – which are the classic concepts of project management – are not always there,” respondents noted.
2. Localization Requires Structural Change
   Direct funding for Ukrainian organizations is often hindered by internal donor processes. “Different standards between departments of the donors prevent timely adaptation of flexible approaches focused on localization,” highlighting the need for structural reforms within donor institutions.
3. Joining Forces
   “It is very difficult to coordinate with Ukrainian organizations.” Donors are increasingly seeking to work with consortiums rather than individual organizations to streamline engagement.
4. Balancing Rapid Response with Sustainable Development
   “Since early 2023 we have come to realize that it is of paramount importance to go back to the issue of resilience and support of systematiс work of civil society organizations,” Donors are beginning to refocus on long-term outcomes and sustainable development.
5. Language and Terminology Barriers
   “Not speaking English is a huge challenge. Immediate [machine] translation is often not usable since definitions in this area are quite relative.” As a result, terminology mismatches often lead to misunderstandings between donors and NGOs.

The full report, “Expectations and Challenges of Grantmakers in Ukraine,” is available on the Philanthropy in Ukraine website.