Light for pre-frontline Kharkiv

Light for pre-frontline Kharkiv: how community foundations are using grants for organisational development from Philanthropists

The winter of 2025-2026 is one of the coldest for Ukraine in recent years. According to forecasts, at the beginning of February, temperatures ranged from -21 to -26 degrees Celsius. Due to Russia’s constant shelling of energy facilities, many houses across the country remain without heat, light, and water. 

Despite the difficult conditions, the Kharkiv community fund Toloka continues to operate, located approximately 20 km from the front line.  

“How do we work? Can I use profanity?” laughs Mariia Horbonos, head of the Kharkiv community foundation ‘Toloka’.

“Well, jokes aside, the situation is such that it is on the edge of not always healthy or adequate situation. The city is on the front line and is under constant threat of shelling. In addition to these difficult circumstances, we are now also unable to work in a warm, well-lit room. Due to the complex energy situation, we cannot work without additional chargers.

At present, our activities are largely focused on long-term social support projects for the population. Without additional sources of electricity, we are unable to plan or organise anything, as there is no schedule and the space is unusable due to the lack of power supply.

Electricity may be available for a total of 10 hours per day. Sometimes there is no electricity for 18 hours, and sometimes for 5 hours. It varies. But since most of the time when there is electricity is at night, you can somehow, if you are not bewildered, take advantage of this and charge your power banks or other devices. But it is not really possible to work at night.

Add to that the lack of water, for example. It can also disappear because something happened to the pipes, or something else. And so, in general, the importance of a place where you can meet and work in relatively comfortable conditions is growing.”

To create decent conditions for work and events, the Kharkiv community foundation ‘Toloka’ applied for an organisational development grant from the National Network for Local Philanthropy Development with the support of Global Giving. With the grant money, the foundation purchased EcoFlow, a charging station that gives the opportunity to the team to work steadily.

“For us, this is a supporting story that allows us to hold our team meetings, work in some way, and provide opportunities for such events to be held by partner organisations and our own project, which we are implementing there. Now, almost every day, various events take place in our space. For example, meetings of the Youth Bank of Initiatives, and, in fact, their team meetings, as well as some open meetings for a wide audience. We provide this space for various social initiatives and institutions. There are also events on psycho-emotional support and self-help training.”

The electricity from the purchased EcoFlow is used very sparingly in the space – only the most necessary devices are connected.

“We are already attempting to create a cosy space, and everyone is understanding when we occasionally use flashlights, for example. That is, we do not use electricity where it is not necessary. However, there are some devices that will not work without such help, such as a projector for presentations. Tomorrow we will be holding a children’s orchestra concert at this location. An electric piano and synthesiser will be used there, and, in fact, if we did not have a charging station, we simply would not be able to hold this event.”

Flexible grants for organisational development help support the activities of Ukrainian community foundations in the difficult conditions of war. Community foundations can receive a grant within a week of submitting an application. In total, 3 foundations purchased charging stations in 2025. These funds not only improve the working conditions of organisations, they literally bring light in the darkest of times.