Community philanthropy during a “hybrid war”

Ukraine has been experiencing what has been dubbed by many commentators as a “hybrid war”, but it is no less real for those people that have been bereaved, injured or displaced as a result of the very real violence that has been taking place in its eastern regions. Alongside those who died, over 1.5 million people have fled their homes, and that is considered an under-estimation of the true numbers. Some 60% of registered IDPs (Internally Displaced People) are elderly and almost 13% are children. The pressures on the host communities are considerable, as reflected in the discussion during the seventh international conference of Ukrainian Philanthropists’ Forum, held in Kyiv in February.

Avila addressing the Ukrainian Philanthropists’ ForumRepresentatives of some 20 Ukrainian community foundations also spoke about the needs of IDPs, and how local communities are in danger of seeing the displaced people as a burden, when they met together the day after the conference. They were keen to exchange views about the possible role of community philanthropy in a society under pressure. Supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, ISAR Ednannia, has been working with community foundations from across Ukraine to support their growth and development. Oksana Ruda explained that there are now 23 members of the network that has been established, with a great variety of size and programme experience. Oksana accompanied representatives of the Irpin Community Foundation and the Community Fund of Dolyna on a learning visit to Slovakia last year. 

Growing Community Foundations

The modern office block where we met with the community foundations was in downtown Kyiv and seemed far removed from the war. Not so, I was told, there was at least one participant that had himself been displaced from Donetsk, and many others that were working in communities affected by the consequences of the conflict. The community foundations echoed the view expressed by Anna Gulevska-Chernysh, CEO of the Ukrainian Philanthropists’ Forum, that the current crisis has unleashed a whole new level of volunteer activism. The challenge is to engage both organized and informal activism in longer-term productive and progressive strategic initiatives. Recent research shows that volunteer activism has grown from 9% to 23% of the population, particularly amongst the 16-35 year old age group. 

The Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) agrees that Ukrainian civil society is alive and flourishing. Seeing this increased activism as “a clear opportunity”, it calls for enhanced capacity in community relations and conflict resolution skills. A new USAID programme on Conflict Mitigation and Reconciliation seems designed to respond to this need. Oksana pointed out that community philanthropy was increasingly been seen as a sensible sustainability strategy by NGOs and existing charitable foundations. When ISAR Ednannia put out its first call for organizations interested in community philanthropy, it received 87 applications and accepted 12. A second call resulted in 11 successful applicants out of a field of 80. Shifting thinking from single organizational fund raising to community based fund development around local priorities is always challenging, but a number of the community foundations are already experienced in grantmaking. The power of small grants to raise the confidence and service provision by community-based organisations was not only recognized, but experienced in practice.

Seven hours drive away in the Black Sea city of Odessa, the Moloda Gromada Charity Foundation, is operating from a basement premises that is decorated with children’s art work. It is a Saturday morning and a children’s karate class is in full swing in the adjacent hall. Two interns from the local college are getting to grips with the work of the foundation. Board members explain that the emphasis on the welfare and developmental potential of children and young people comes from many years of work in this area. Odessa has a very successful Youth Civic Council which is elected every two years to provide a youth perspective on council policies and programmes. Work is undertaken with children through local schools through the foundation, and plans are well advanced to develop YouthBank in the Odessa region. Although not directly on the front line, the political tension that wracks Ukraine is also apparent in Odessa, and yet life goes on in the bright, brittle sunshine of a late February morning.

“More careful than The Pope and Mother Teresa” combined…

This was the warning flagged up by a panel speaker during the concluding session of the Ukrainian Philanthropists’ Forum conference; he was addressing civil society activists and donors, calling on the latter to support those organizations that were best placed to help others. However, the choice of what issues to prioritize, and who to help, all carry political connotations in a society facing divisive violent conflict. Natalia Karbowska, Chairperson of the Ukrainian Women’s Fund spoke not only of the rapid response grants provided by the Fund, but also noted how issues such as HIV/AIDS, breast cancer screening and domestic violence against women are in danger of being starved of funds given the immediate pressure of conflict related needs. Natalia recognizes the importance of looking to the future in order to ensure that essential reforms are implemented and that women feature in decision-making. She would like to see the formation of a Think Tank to keep a focus on the nature of future society and to encourage broader discussion and awareness. 

Equally, however, she is acutely conscious of the need for community philanthropy to make local links in order to ensure an inclusive conversation. As Vaclau Havel once said “Real democracy begins not with elections but with conversations”; these crucial conversations are clearly taking place within Ukrainian community philanthropy organisations. People may well be careful about what they say, but that is understandable, and even welcome, in a still fluid situation where it is more important to pose questions rather than jump in with too many ready-made answers. 

Avila Kilmurray

GFCF Director, Policy & Strategy