International Renaissance Foundation: support for socially significant initiatives outside open calls
Verified by the editorial team 28 October 2026
Added to the catalogue Added to the catalogue from the GetGrant database, terms verified on the International Renaissance Foundation Contests and Tenders page and in the foundation's guide to submitting a non-competition project
Summary
The International Renaissance Foundation reviews not only competition projects but also non-competition ones: a socially useful initiative can be submitted at any time if it fits the priorities of one of the foundation's five programmes. There is no fixed deadline or announced amount; applications are submitted in Ukrainian through the Electronic Competition system and review usually takes 1-2 months.
About the call
Each year the International Renaissance Foundation announces dozens of thematic calls, but it also keeps a separate mechanism open for non-competition proposals. It exists so that socially significant ideas that do not fit current calls by topic or timing can still receive support. The key condition is alignment with the foundation's strategy and the priorities of one of its five programmes: Civic Resilience (IDPs, veterans, families of the fallen), Social Capital, Human Rights and Justice, Democracy and Good Governance, and Europe and the World.
The foundation advises first briefly describing the idea, target audience and goal to staff of the relevant programme, then completing the standard application form, the same one used for calls. It is accompanied by a detailed budget, a state register extract and charter, CVs of external experts and letters of support if the project involves cooperation with a community or authorities. If another donor already covers part of the costs, you can request co-funding only for the remaining items. If supported, the content of the application becomes part of the grant agreement.
For NGOs and charitable foundations this is one of the few Ukrainian mechanisms where you can submit your own idea without being tied to a deadline. Competition is high, though: foundation staff assess the application first, then the programme Expert Council and sometimes the Board, and reasons for refusal are not shared. So it is worth showing clearly how the project advances the programme's priorities and not delaying the submission.
Who can apply
- Civil society organisations registered in Ukraine with founding documents (state register extract, charter)
- Organisations with an idea that fits the foundation's strategy and the priorities of one of its five programmes
- Organisations that already have partial funding from other donors and seek co-funding for the remaining costs
What the funds are for
- Protection and support of IDPs, war veterans and families of the fallen, and community cohesion
- Building communities and public dialogue based on democratic values
- Holding Russia accountable for war crimes, justice reform and protection of fundamental freedoms
- Resilient democracy and transparent, accountable governance
- European integration and reforms in human rights and the rule of law
Documents required
Forms and templates are on the call page
- Standard International Renaissance Foundation application form (application package on the Contests and Tenders page)
- Detailed project budget using the foundation's form
- Organisation's founding documents: state register extract and charter
- CVs of implementers, if external experts are involved
- Letters of support or memoranda, if the project involves cooperation with a community, authorities or other organisations
How to apply
- 1Read the foundation's strategy and programme priorities in the Programmes section of irf.ua
- 2Briefly describe the idea, target audience and goal to staff of the relevant programme (contacts in the Team section)
- 3Download the application and budget forms from the Contests and Tenders page and complete them in Ukrainian
- 4Register the organisation and submit the project through the Electronic Competition system at contests.irf.ua; email or paper applications are not accepted
- 5Receive a registration notice within a week and await the Expert Council decision, usually within 1-2 months
Questions and answers
- Can I submit a project to the International Renaissance Foundation when there is no suitable call?
- Yes. The foundation reviews non-competition proposals with no fixed deadline if the idea fits its strategy and the priorities of one of its five programmes. Submission is through the Electronic Competition system.
- How long does the review of a non-competition application take?
- Usually one to two months. Foundation staff assess the application first, then the programme Expert Council and sometimes the Board; the foundation does not explain refusals.
Change history
- Added: Added to the catalogue from the GetGrant database, terms verified on the International Renaissance Foundation Contests and Tenders page and in the foundation's guide to submitting a non-competition project
