In Odesa, Participants of the “Action in Hope” Mini-MBA Program Studied the Art of Grant Management

The course attendees included active community leaders, educators, medical workers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, as well as representatives of the charitable and volunteer sectors aiming to scale their projects and effectively secure funding for them.

Key Insights of the Lecture: From Applications to Strategy

The speaker dispelled the stereotype that grant management is merely about writing applications. In reality, it is part of global strategic fundraising built on reputation, trust, and long-term engagement with donors.

Maryana Kashchak highlighted key guidelines for successful resource mobilization:

• Transparency and openness in communications.
• Purposefulness and systematic persistence.
• Community engagement and a non-standard (creative) approach.
• Gratitude — mandatory recognition of every donor’s contribution.

Modern donors do not simply provide funds for abstract ideas. They invest in viable solutions that bring social value: job creation, environmental or social changes, business recovery during wartime, innovation, and economic development in communities.

Practical Work: Searching for Uniqueness

During the practical session, participants learned to formulate the value proposition of their initiatives. They analysed the uniqueness of their own projects and calculated the benefits for potential partners.

Before launching fundraising, the expert advised project creators to clearly answer three questions for themselves:

• What specific problem does this project solve?
• Why is it relevant right now?
• What benefit will it bring to society?

Grants are not a way to get “quick money,” but a strategic lever to implement an organisation’s mission and build a sustainable partnership. Winning initiatives are those that offer effective answers to modern challenges and can clearly forecast their positive impact on the future.

Press Service of the Patriarchal Foundation “Mudra Sprava”