Ukraine Pooled Fund (UPF)

Ukraine Pooled Fund (UPF)
The Ukraine Pooled Fund (UPF) is a joint fund created by Ukrainian organizations to ensure transparent, rapid, and flexible financing for local humanitarian and recovery projects. UPF is one of the first fully localized approaches to humanitarian aid distribution in Ukraine.

UPF Goal

The goal of the project is to establish a sustainable funding mechanism for humanitarian and recovery initiatives by local and national organizations through transparent and effective grant tools aligned with international standards.

What Has Been Done

In 2023, the National Network of Local Philanthropy won a tender from the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to develop and implement UPF.

In 2024:

• A series of online and offline workshops were held with over 70 organizations from 16 regions;
• The legal and operational infrastructure of the Fund was developed;
• Due diligence procedures were adapted to the local context;
• 7 organizations were selected to participate in UPF.

In 2025:

• 9 projects from participating organizations received funding;
• Over UAH 15 million in grants was disbursed as part of the pilot phase;
• A consortium of 5 Ukrainian organizations was formed to lead the implementation of UPF’s components.

UPF Structure

The Fund is administered by a consortium of five Ukrainian organizations:

• National Network of Local Philanthropy Development (NNLPD) – Secretariat, grant administration, and participant community coordination;
• Philanthropy in UA – Due diligence processes;
• Crowdfunding platform “My City” – Capacity building for participants;
• Ukrainian Evaluation Association – Monitoring and evaluation;
• Ukrainian Education Platform – Coordination of independent experts.

Funding Mechanisms

UPF offers four core support instruments:

Rapid Response Grants

• Up to $20,000
• Disbursed within 48 hours of an emergency
• Project duration: up to 30 days

Early Recovery Grants

• $10,000 – $50,000
• Monthly application rounds (14-day window)
• Project duration: up to 12 months

Thematic and Regional Fund Grants

• Up to $50,000
• Quarterly calls for proposals
• For Tier 4 organizations that re-grant to smaller/younger organizations

Capacity Development Program

• Up to $10,000
• Continuous support for increasing organizational development tier

Each organization may only implement one UPF project at a time, except for rapid response grants.

How to Join UPF?

1. Submit an expression of interest form
2. Undergo a preliminary review
3. Complete the due diligence process and receive a development tier (Tier 1–4)
4. Sign a participation agreement with the Fund
5. Apply for grants based on your development tier

What’s Next?

We support those closest to the change.
The Ukraine Pooled Fund is not just a funding mechanism — it is an infrastructure of trust, partnership, and action. We are building a new model of support for civil society in Ukraine — adaptive, transparent, and locally led.

Our vision is a resilient system in which verified organizations have consistent access to resources, are not dependent on complex grant cycles, and can plan their work based on the real needs of their communities.

In the coming years, we aim to:

• Launch the second phase of UPF, scaling the proven model to new regions and sectors;
• Ensure sustainable funding through a diversified donor and partner pool that shares our principles of transparency, trust, and effectiveness;
• Elevate local leadership — where Ukrainian organizations don’t just implement projects but shape priorities, distribute resources, and drive systemic change;
• Develop a robust support ecosystem that includes not just grants, but also capacity development, mentorship, peer learning, and community exchange;
• Prove that transparency, localization, and shared accountability are not just possible — they are effective.Already, local organizations implement programs 15.5% more efficiently than international intermediaries (source: Refugees International, 2023).

We are not building temporary fixes — we are building long-term trust.
We operate in a model where roles and risks are shared, not centralized.
We believe flexibility is a strength, not a compromise — and that those closest to the change deserve more access, not more barriers.

Join Us

We are looking for donors and partners who:

• Believe that the best solutions are born in communities;
• Trust in the capacity of Ukrainian organizations to drive recovery and transformation;
• Want to invest in a sustainable, fair, and localized support system.

If you’re interested in partnering or want to learn more, please contact the project lead:
Tetiana Soloviova
t.soloviova@philanthropy.com.ua

For more details about the second phase of the project, please visit:
Read the concept note