We presented our research “Philanthropy in Ukraine: Who Gives, How, and Why” and want to share key insights from the event:
- Philanthropy in Ukraine is still finding its place
People donate time, money, and resources, but not always with a philanthropic mindset.
“Terminology is not always understood in its intended sense. If you ask people, ‘Do you consider yourself a philanthropist?’ many will say it’s only for the wealthy. It’s not enough to talk about philanthropy – we need to build an evolutionary path to awareness and understanding.”
— Iryna Hrytsayenko, CEO of Zagoriy Foundation
- Motivation
The main driving force is the desire to help. 76% of Ukrainians contribute to fundraising efforts because they believe their support can make a difference.
“People are motivated by the fact that their friends have gone to the front or suffered from Russian attacks. This encourages them to participate in fundraising, trust these efforts, and seek visible results from their contributions. They want to feel part of meaningful change.”
— Anton Tabur, consultant at Data Driven
- Philanthropy as a habit
For many Ukrainians, giving is an emotional act driven by pain and compassion. However, it’s crucial to turn this into a systematic approach.
“Everyone does what they can – weaving camouflage nets, donating, volunteering. But this is often an emotional, unstructured process. To develop a habit of systematic giving, we need the word ‘philanthropy’ – as an approach where donating and helping become part of everyday life and a shared responsibility for one’s community and country.”
— Daria Rybaltchenko, Director of the National Network for Local Philanthropy Development
War has reshaped the sense of responsibility
People are coming together to support each other and their communities. However, we need educational campaigns, transparent processes, and new tools to make a culture of giving a natural part of daily life.
