About Us

Our mission is to develop social capital and a culture of philanthropy for the sustainable development of communities in Ukraine

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National Network of Local Philanthropy Development (NNLPD) is a network organization that brings together community foundations in Ukraine to develop local philanthropy and volunteerism in communities, engage residents, and support civic initiatives.

Community foundations are non-governmental charitable organizations whose purpose is to improve the quality of life in the communities in which they operate. Community foundations identify the needs of the local community, encourage charitable donations, and accumulate funds. These funds are used to provide grants or implement initiatives addressing critical local issues.

National Network of Local Philanthropy Development is a community foundation support organization that supports and develops the community foundation movement.

Our story

2014

On March 17, 2014, ISAR “Ednannia” initiated holding the fourteenth meeting of the community of practice on organizational development of community foundations in Ukraine. 19 September 2014, the Association of Community Foundations of Ukraine was registered. At the meeting, it was decided to unite all the foundations into one network that will provide services in regranting, fundraising and increasing organizational capacity.

2014-2019

Regular meetings of community foundations in Ukraine contributed to their organizational development and the development of the strategy of the Association of Community Foundations of Ukraine. This period was important for the formation of a united movement of foundations and the launch of network programs, such as Youth Initiative Banks, women's clubs, and the Safe Community project, which were implemented with the support of ISAR Ednannia and the C.S. Mott Foundation.

2020

The organization changed its name to the National Network for the Development of Local Philanthropy. Community foundations have shown leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, raising UAH 13.55 million to help medical institutions.

2019-2021

The National Network for the Development of Local Philanthropy began administering the Youth Initiative Banks and Safe Communities network programs. Active work has begun on developing services that foundations can provide to external stakeholders. A booklet about Ukrainian Community Foundations was created.

2022

The National Network for the Development of Local Philanthropy, together with Ukrainian community foundations, launched an active humanitarian response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. New areas of activity have emerged, including advocacy for localization, assistance to IDPs, restoration of de-occupied communities, evacuation, etc. Networking and cooperation between the foundations has significantly increased. Projects: “MedAid, Housing for Ukrainians, Books for Little Ukrainians Abroad, Youth Initiative Banks, Resource Hub, and the open letter “If Not Now, When?”

2023-2024

The National Network for the Development of Local Philanthropy and community foundations of Ukraine are actively working on community development and humanitarian response programs. A school of community foundations was launched and new Youth Initiative Banks were created. The program “Community Foundations of Ukraine” was adopted, which regulates the policy of participation, services for participants, and the procedure for membership fees. Projects: “MedAid, Community Watch, Youth Banks of Initiatives, Resource Hub, Give the Power to Ukrainian NGOs, Dreams in Action, Harvest Path, School of Community Foundations, and the Foundation of Ukrainian NGOs.

NNLPD strategy

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National Network of Local Philanthropy Development believes that community foundations play a key role in the development of local communities. They mobilize resources, unite people and organizations, and add value through local knowledge and expertise. This contributes to long-term community change, including fostering trust and collaboration, strengthening self-determination and opportunities for communities, and achieving social cohesion.

We consider it essential to highlight and promote the value that community foundations bring in Ukraine, provide opportunities for learning and cooperation, and develop leadership and facilitation roles. This will help attract physical, financial, and human resources for sustainable development.

Strategic Priorities of Philanthropists:

Promote knowledge exchange, learning, and cooperation among community foundations in Ukraine to strengthen support infrastructure.

Inspire and stimulate the growth of the community foundation sector in Ukraine.

Encourage community foundations to take leadership in addressing current societal challenges.

Implement programs relevant to communities, including the development of social entrepreneurship, youth engagement in activism, local food production initiatives, and localization of advocacy.

Attract financial resources and other support for the development of the community foundation sector.

Raise awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their significance for the work of community foundations.

How NNLPD support community foundations and contribute to the development of the sector*

Capacity building & care

Conducting grant competitions and training sessions at the request of community foundations and youth initiative banks, facilitating the exchange of experience between them. Creating and filling the Resource Hub – an online hub with relevant information and useful resources for community foundations and youth initiative banks.

Communications

Coverage of the work of Community Foundations and Youth Initiative Banks on through social media, conferences, and other media platforms.

Financing

Regranting community foundations and youth initiative banks to support local projects. Negotiating and establishing partnerships with businesses, searching for donors, and financing directly for the needs of community foundations

Advocacy

Developing and implementing a national advocacy strategy to protect the interests of community foundations. Conducting training sessions to strengthen advocacy skills among community foundation teams.

Creating and monitoring platforms where representatives of community foundations can present their advocacy prioritie

Developing a favourable environment for local philanthropy

Bringing innovation to communities through community foundations, promoting social entrepreneurship via training and grant competitions, and advocating for community centers as spaces for communication between businesses, authorities, and local residents.

*Only for members of the network, youth banks of initiatives and communities where they work

Our values

Independence

The ability to make decisions and act independently while staying true to one's values and taking responsibility for outcomes.

Freedom

Justice and freedom of choice. Respect for the choices of others. The ability to freely express your thoughts and ideas

Meaningful work

Our work has a positive social impact, and our projects are focused on the needs of the beneficiaries.

Balance

Gratitude in the team. Mutual support, honesty, trust and respect for each other. Ability to contribute to the team, balance and share roles.

Discipline

Continuous self-improvement, which leads to confidence in one's knowledge and skills, understanding of weaknesses and strengths.

Ambition

Creativity, curiosity, enthusiasm, pleasure. Striving for development and growth.

Peace

Harmony, trust, and tolerance in communication. Empathy for others. The decision to pass through the filter “does it harm someone”

Catalog of the network of community foundations

Gratitude in the team. Mutual support, honesty, trust and respect for each other. Ability to contribute to the team, balance and share roles.

Daria Rybalchenko

Public activist, fundraiser and organizational development consultant.

info@philanthropy.com.ua

She has over 5 years of work and volunteer experience in the public sector. She has skills in working with projects in the social sector, managing partnerships, controlling and monitoring projects. She has extensive experience in working with grant programs, organizing training events, conferences, and consultations.
She has participated in international volunteer projects and has intercultural communication skills. She has held the position of Vice President of Talent Management and is able to coordinate teams, motivate and provide quality recommendations.
She is an honorary alumnus of the international youth organization AIESEC.
She is a graduate of the K. Adenauer Foundation.

Network actors

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Khrystyna Kinash

Project Manager of the Resource Hub project

She is a master’s student in the Business Administration program at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.

Over the past year, she worked as a Communications Manager at the VILNYY co-living network, focusing on community development, increasing co-livers, and building effective communication strategies.

In 2024–2025, she was Vice President of the Public Relations and Events Department at AIESEC in Ternopil.

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Tania Soloviova

Project Manager, Ukraine Pooled Fund

Over 5 years of experience in managing social and educational projects. She has worked with government agencies, international partners, and community initiatives. She leads non-profit organizations and implements volunteer and accessible programs aimed at supporting vulnerable groups and fostering community development.

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Viktoriia Konovalova

Сontent manager

A director of television projects, lecturer, and founder of the creative studio “Patronus”

She works at the intersection of cultural and media processes: producing live broadcasts, developing educational formats, and supporting cultural initiatives. She has directed the TV projects “Abzats” and “Zarobitchany” on Novyi Kanal. She teaches acting at the Ivan Karpenko-Karyi National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television.

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Larysa Verbytska

Community development expert, mentor, and CEO of the social startup “Nash Vsesvit”

Over 20 years in project management and 10 years in the civic sector. Member of expert groups for U-LEAD and PROMIS in strategic community planning. Developed compliance programs and integrity assessments for NGOs and government bodies. Leads interagency teams of 12–24 experts.

Since 2019, has implemented gender-sensitive approaches in local strategies and programs, and promoted women’s entrepreneurship in cooperation with UN Women, the Association of Local Self-Government, and the U.S. and Canadian Embassies. Twice recognized as the author of Top 10 Local Self-Governance Best Practices in Ukraine.

Since 2021 — mentor for NGOs and social startups. Since 2023 — CEO of Nash Vsesvit in Bern. Since 2024 — advisor to SECO on Ukraine’s recovery.

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Viktoriia Zablotska

Project Manager

Fellow of the 2024 CUNY International Fellows Program on Community Philanthropy

Graduate of the William Davidson Institute’s NGO Leadership Workshop 2023 program

AIESEC Vice President of Marketing in Ternopil 2021 – 2022

Trainee of the program “Closer to TV” in “1 + 1 media”

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Natalia Kovalchuk

Head of Communication

6 years of experience in media, including STB and TC Kyiv

Film director, blogger

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Maryna Mazur

Accountant

Experience in the financial sector: 31 years.

Experienced in handling grants and reporting for international funds such as USAID, IREX, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the Eastern Europe Foundation, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

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Victoria Kuksinovich

Clerk

An expert in technical inventory and legal registration of real estate with 20 years of experience. She worked for 17 years in a municipal BTI and 3 years in a private BTI, holding a managerial position.

She specializes in preparing notarial agreements, processing title documents, and overseeing transactions, with extensive experience in real estate documentation.

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Svitlana Kuts

Chair of the Board

An expert in organizational capacity building and strategic planning with over 15 years of experience. She has worked on strengthening civil society organizations through projects such as Nonprofit Builder, “Women of Ukraine…” (funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada), and the ITOCA program, which supported women’s activism through five regional hubs in Ukraine.

She led the Ukrainian office of WWF Ukraine, managing a team of 18 people while focusing on organizational development, strategic management, and fundraising.

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Anastasia Siphers

Public activist, expert in education, gender equality, regional and local self-government. President of the NGO “European Assembly of Women MPs”. Officer of the Rotary Club Kyiv International. She is a current expert of the USAID Women in Government project. She was awarded by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for “Services to the Ukrainian People”.

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Kateryna Syvyryn

Project Manager

Project manager of the Resource Hub and the School of Community Foundations

Graduate of the NGO Leadership Workshop 2023 program from the William Davidson Institute

Head of the local AIESEC chapter in Ternopil in 2022-2023.

She is engaged in the development of community foundations by conducting trainings and creating documents for a better understanding of the organization’s functioning.

Five years of experience in project management in the public sector.

Oksana Hodis

SMM manager

More than 3 years of experience in SMM

Graduate of the Ukrainian Leadership Academy. Student of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

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Olga Nikolska

Head of the direction “Development of the culture of philanthropy” ISAR Unity

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Natalia Kovalchuk

Head of Communication and Content Manager

6 years of experience in media, including STB and TC Kyiv

Film director, blogger

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Balzer Victoria

She is a member of the city council. She has 10 years of experience in community development and cooperation between NGOs and local authorities.

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Makovsʹkyy Petro

Public figure in the Stryj region of the Lviv region, expert on cooperation.

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Bronyuk Victor

Ukrainian musician, leader of the band TiK. During the Russian-Ukrainian war, he was a volunteer, organized support for internally displaced persons, and, together with his colleagues, created the “Crimea SOS” resource based on the band.

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Veronika Olena Marchuk

President of the International Embassy of Women Entrepreneurs in Ukraine. Member of the Regional Chamber of Legal Advisers in Warsaw. Member of the Supervisory Board of the Polish-Ukrainian Foundation for Cooperation PAUCI. Member of the Polish Film Academy. Owner of the production company “Sting Communication”. Organizer of many important Polish-Ukrainian events: Theater Festival of Ukrainian Theater in Poland, concerts of Okean Elzy, Kozak System, other artists, match OBU NARODÓW at the National Stadium in Warsaw at Euro 2012, Charity and social projects against violence against women and actions for children, public campaign in Ukraine “LOVE – DON’T FIGHT!” 2013/2014. Writer.

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Gennadiy Nadolenko

Ukrainian diplomat, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine. Director of the Diplomatic Academy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. For 10 years he was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the State of Israel. Prior to that, he was the head of the trade and economic mission of the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States. policy of the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine, as well as the second and first Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States, Attaché of the US and Canada Department of Europe and America of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and others.