“Action in Hope” continues: UGCC experts support entrepreneurs in idea implementation

The next phase of the project, “Creating economic opportunities in 3 frontline communities,” involves individual support from specialists at the UGCC Consulting Center.

The first training stage of the “Action in Hope” mini-MBA program for participants from Kropyvnytskyi has concluded. Activists ready to implement their ideas and projects are now transitioning to the next crucial project stage: mentorship by Consulting Center specialists.

Purpose of ongoing support

“The project’s goal isn’t just to impart knowledge, but to help participants apply it practically to develop their existing business or create a new one,” explains Maryna Danyliv, Director of the Consulting Center.

According to her, the team of the Patriarchal Foundation “Mudra Sprava,” which organizes the training, aims for each participant to be able to:

• Confidently submit a grant application with an understanding of donor logic.
• Systematize their activities.
• Develop or scale their business.
• Create jobs in their community.

The Consulting Center team

A team of specialists from the Consulting Center is involved in the ongoing support. Specifically:

• A financier who assists with budgets, financial forecasts, and substantiating project sustainability.
• A marketer who works on positioning, promotion, product development, and marketing strategy.
• A lawyer who consults on legal matters and business formalization.
• A fundraiser who focuses on identifying grant opportunities, writing applications, and providing recommendations on how best to present the project.

“These areas fully align with the structure of a typical grant application, so our support is not ‘just advice’, but targeted assistance in preparing real applications,” Maryna Danyliv adds.

Work with Kropyvnytskyi community representatives

Maryna Danyliv states that the Kropyvnytskyi community was the first with whom the center began providing support. Moreover, initial results are already evident: several grant applications have been submitted, and participants are actively working on developing their business ideas.

The work format involves online consultations, divided into group and individual sessions. “Group consultations are for discussing general principles (e.g., how to create a budget or describe a business idea). Individual meetings, on the other hand, are one-on-one sessions with a specialist or several, depending on the participant’s needs,” explains the Consulting Center Director.

“Our support is dynamic and adaptive — it responds to participants’ real needs. Because often, the main reason people don’t apply for grants is fear and a lack of understanding of the process,” she adds.

Main goals of the support

Regarding the goals, Maryna notes that the Consulting Center team strives to ensure that program participants:

• Are not afraid to submit their grant applications.
• Can persuasively describe their ideas.
• Know how to calculate finances.
• Understand what a donor expects.
• And, most importantly, believe in themselves and their capabilities.

“We are here to provide support — with knowledge, experience, and human presence. Because only together can we build strong communities with vibrant initiatives, sustainable businesses, and economic growth,” Maryna Danyliv concludes.