Strengthening Ukrainian NGOs
How Lightful is building digital resilience during response and recovery
Ukrainian nonprofits play a crucial role in response and recovery efforts.
Together with key stakeholders, Lightful has tailored our digital
programmes to provide local Ukrainian activists with the
essential tools they need to enhance their impact.
Empowering Ukrainian NGOs through digital skills
The ongoing war in Ukraine has led to a severe humanitarian crisis. Ukraine’s incredible network of local non governmental organisations (NGOs) have been steadfast in providing critical support throughout, providing aid and support to communities in need. The longer the conflict continues, the deeper and more complex the recovery efforts, and the clearer the need for long term, resilience building solutions.
According to Philanthropy in Ukraine’s recent report, training is one of the most relevant needs for these NGOs as the war enters its third year. Digital storytelling and online fundraising are essential skills for locally-led Ukrainian NGOs so that they can continue to raise awareness around the reality of life in Ukraine, and strengthen their resilience.
Another key outcome of digital resilience is the ability for NGOs to build trust—a vital component during crises. Discover key insights from one of our Ukrainian partners, The Zagoriy Foundation, in our blog How to Build Trust in a Crisis which they contributed to during their first partnership with Lightful.
Svitlana BakhshaliievaDigital Communications Coach, LightfulWhile active hostilities persist and cause large-scale challenges, the role of NGOs and civil society organisations in supporting their communities is more vital than ever. This time of transformation also brings a powerful opportunity—a chance to build a sustainable foundation for organisational growth that will ensure resilience through any crisis. By unlocking the strategic power of digital, the Lightful team is committed to help nonprofits amplify the voices of those who need support the most, and access new resources to strengthen their communities. Together with our supporters, we aim to transform today’s challenges into a future of enduring impact and hope.
Tailored support for Ukraine
Our vision is a future where nonprofits have the power to create more equitable communities and a healthier planet. Our award-winning BRIDGE (Building Resilience in Digital Growth and Engagement) programmes empower nonprofits to enhance storytelling, build trust, and increase fundraising.
Lightful’s tried-and-tested BRIDGE programme has already supported 3000+ nonprofits in 90+ countries, in partnership with the world’s largest foundations such as The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
After the conflict began, we worked together with key local stakeholders to launch our BRIDGE programmes in Ukraine, strengthening the digital capacity of Ukraine's nonprofit sector during a time of crisis.
We've delivered digital skills training, co-created with Ukrainian stakeholders, to over 300 NGOs since 2022 - thanks to the support of UBS Optimus Foundation, GlobalGiving, and The Zagoriy Foundation.
Our Ukrainian nonprofit BRIDGE participants have shared with us the incredible challenges they face while working in conflict zones. Using this insight, we have tailored our offering to address their specific and evolving challenges.
The Lightful team offers expertise in both English and Ukrainian, with Svitlana, our Digital Communications Coach from Kyiv, leading live sessions and providing 1-1 support to participants. In this interview, Svitlana discusses her journey, the importance of digital resilience for Ukrainian charities, and her vision for the sector.
All our communications, materials and digital tools are available in Ukrainian, and we use Telegram, Ukraine’s most popular app, to communicate with participants. We also promote peer-to-peer learning to help foster a sense of community.
Sector experts and nonprofit leaders are involved from the start in collaborative co-creation workshops to ensure we understand their needs as they support communities in Ukraine. We co-design curriculum adaptations to address their interests and contextualise success based on their input.
Source of Blessings Church, BRIDGE GraduateProvides spiritual and social support by aiding vulnerable groups, such as displaced persons and low-income families, while promoting community service and youth ministries.I feel more confident after completing the course. I understand better how to share the stories of our members, how to show the impact of our organisation to donors and partners, and how to effectively counteract hate. The sessions with guest speakers who have experience in Ukraine, in our realities, were very useful.
What we offer
Accelerator
Lightful’s two-week Digital Accelerator is the perfect building block for NGOs to start thinking strategically about their digital presence.
BRIDGE
BRIDGE provides 6 months of digital learning, AI-powered, tools, 1-1 coaching and expert advice to build the digital confidence and capacity of participants.
BRIDGE Advanced
BRIDGE Advanced expands into new areas to broaden the digital knowledge of participants and progress their proficiency and practice, leading to more resilient organisations.
The impact so far
DOBRO, BRIDGE GraduateProvides crucial financial and humanitarian aid to vulnerable groups, including children needing medical care and the military, through targeted fundraising efforts, significantly supporting local communities impacted by war and economic challenges.Thank you for the training, we have recently managed to raise more than 150,000 euros to equip bomb shelters in schools… [Did learnings from the BRIDGE program help?] Yes, we have attracted many partners through communications. The collection itself took place via SMS to our partners' accounts, and now communities are submitting projects to our crowdfunding platform which will raise additional funding online.
We're not stopping here. Our plan is to reach even more locally-led organisations who are looking to elevate their online presence and organisational resilience. Do you want to learn more about our work to strengthen Ukraine's NGOs?
Join Lightful for an exciting panel-style webinar - Strengthening Ukrainian NGOs: The Power of Philanthropy in Building Digital Resilience.
We will explore the evolving philanthropic challenges and possibilities in Ukraine, the pivotal role of capacity building and digital skills in amplifying nonprofit impact, and practical ways to empower locally-led Ukrainian NGOs to increase their resilience in times of response and recovery.
Date: Thursday, 10th October
Time: 10am ET / 3pm BST / 5pm EEST
Register hereContact us
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