Ancestors of Ukrainian Philanthropy!

The Ancestors of Ukrainian Philanthropy

The history of Ukrainian philanthropy is a collection of stories about individuals who made it their mission to improve the lives of others and preserve Ukrainian identity. They supported education, culture, science, and social initiatives, creating environments where the country could thrive.

Philanthropy is not just about money. It is about the willingness to share — knowledge, time, and support.

• Volodyslav Fedorovych
  
  An active patron and cultural figure, Fedorovych supported the Prosvita Society, funded archaeological excavations in Halych, and financed an archaeological exhibition in Lviv. Passionate about folk art, he collected gems of traditional culture and initiated the creation of a carpet-making school in his native village of Vikno, where he also assembled a unique collection of folk crafts. He published travel memoirs under the title Studya artystyczne, literaskie i spolecznie and edited the works of his father. He also compiled extensive documentary material for a major historical work on the events of 1809, the first volume of which he published in French.
• Andrey Sheptytsky
  
  Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky was an outstanding benefactor and philanthropist. He supported social initiatives by opening an orphanage, founding a cedar reserve, and helping a widow, Klymentyna Avdykovych, start a confectionery business. He financed the Prosvita Society, the Ridna Shkola Society, and the Silskyi Hospodar cooperative, and initiated support programs for widows of priests. At his initiative, the Ukrainian National Museum was founded and a unique collection of icons was assembled. He contributed to the development of the oil industry, helped create the Dnister Bank, and funded the education of children, priests, and peasants.
• Volodymyr Didushytskyi
  
  A renowned collector and naturalist, Didushytskyi dedicated his life to gathering rare zoological, botanical, and mineralogical specimens. In 1857, he moved his extensive collections to Lviv, and in 1880 donated them to the city along with the museum he had built. The Count Didushytskyi Museum quickly gained recognition in Eastern Europe due to its unique collections of natural treasures, folklore, and archaeological findings — including golden ornaments from the 8th–7th centuries BCE. Unfortunately, in 1940, this golden collection was taken to Moscow and has since disappeared without a trace.
• Sofiya Falz-Fein
  
  Co-founder of the Askania-Nova nature reserve and the Kherson region seaport of Khorly, Sofiya was one of the most influential women of her time. She transformed the family business empire of the Falz-Feins into a model of economic prosperity. Under her leadership, the so-called “sheep kings” reached their golden era: she established canning, confectionery, wine, and horse breeding factories, expanded river shipping, and modernized the Khorly port, which remains ice-free even in winter. Her management was distinguished by innovation and deep social consciousness — she introduced advanced technologies and prioritized workers’ well-being. Khorly even boasted a ballroom and its own brass band. The town hosted balls, had a cinema, and did everything to ensure the port flourished. Surrounding the port’s administrative buildings were orchards, parks, and vast rose alleys. Using her own funds, Sofiya also founded a vocational school and a small gymnasium in the town.

All these individuals are vivid examples of the philanthropic spirit deeply embedded in Ukrainians. Let us nurture this culture and remember: philanthropy is not only about financial contributions, but about the voluntary investment of resources — time, money, ideas — into the common good and long-term transformation.