Grant, project, and financial management: the fourth module of the “Action in Hope” program took place in Kropyvnytskyi

Day one: how to fundraise effectively

How to ensure that your idea receives funding? How to find donors who will support your initiative? And most importantly, how to convince them to invest in your project? The first day was devoted to finding answers to these questions. Mariana Kashchak, Director of the Ukrainian Educational Platform and a specialist with 15 years of experience in fundraising projects, dedicated her lecture to the topic “Fundraising: how to raise funds for your idea.”

“This is practical training for those who want to raise funds effectively and build long-term partnerships,” she said.

During this training, participants learned about where to look for funding and what donors pay attention to, what is important to include in a project to convince them, and how to build long-term relationships with them through trust and effective communication. The speaker also focused the audience’s attention on diversifying funding sources and analysing the effectiveness of fundraising campaigns.

“Her deep understanding of the topic and personal fundraising experience make her a true expert in this field. Every aspect of fundraising was revealed in such a way that we were able to better understand the essence of this important process. Such examples will help us pave the way to new opportunities and non-standard ideas in attracting resources,” shared program participant Natalia Liahul after the training.

Then she added: “Taking away new knowledge, we feel the energy and inspiration that open the door to change. Thank you for this incredible experience!”

Day two: how to write a project proposal correctly

“How to write and implement a social project” was the topic that the participants of the mini-MBA program focused on the second day, accompanied by the speaker Maryana Kashchak. According to her, the primary goal of this lecture was “to teach how to turn their ideas into real initiatives that should receive support and change people’s lives.”

The first step is to recognize the problem that needs to be solved. However, it is not only about seeing the problem itself but also about researching the context and the reasons for its occurrence. The second step is to find answers to a particular challenge.

“We talked about the art of creating a project proposal: how to make it convincing, clear, and effective. We learned how to find funding, allocate resources, and build a team that will help to implement the plan. We also looked at how to measure the results of our work so that it does not just sound good, but really has a real impact on your community,” said Maryana Kashchak.

Day three: what is financial management?

The lecturer of the third day was Oleh Yatsenko, an expert in financial management and credit analysis, with over 12 years of experience in the banking sector in risk management and project financing.

First, the participants of the meeting had the opportunity to get acquainted with the goals and tools of financial management. Further special attention was paid to the following aspects:

• Financial condition analysis — how to properly assess the current situation and identify strengths and weaknesses.
• Financial forecasting — why it is important to predict future cash flows and how to avoid unforeseen crises.
• Risk analysis — how to identify financial threats and minimize potential losses.
• Investment activity — defining financial goals, assessing opportunities, finding sources of financing and controlling the investment process.

Financial management is the basis of the success of any business. That is why it is important to understand how to effectively manage finances, avoid risks and build strategies for long-term development.