ILGA-Europe launch a new call for proposals for LGBTI organisations in Ukraine, for a partnership and funding throughout June 2026 – May 2028.
The deadline for applications is 12 April 2026, 23:59 Brussels time.
Join an online Q&A session on 17 March at 2 pm to 3 pm Brussels time/ 3 pm to 4 pm Kyiv time. Register in advance to attend at this link. The session will be conducted in English and is only open to LGBTI organisations from Ukraine.
- Apply by: 12 April 2026, 23:59 Brussels time
- Geography: Ukraine
- Intended applicants: LGBTI organisations based and working in Ukraine
- Funding period: 1 June 2026 – 31 May 2028, with renewal in spring 2027
- Grant size: 50,000 euro across 24 months, fixed at 25,000 euro per year
- Number of partners: 4 organisations
- Contact for questions and applications: anastasia@ilga-europe.org
Purpose and scope
Every day, LGBTI organisations in Ukraine are both protecting communities and keeping democratic life alive amidst Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, working to ensure that equality and human dignity remain part of Ukraine’s present and future.
For well over a decade, ILGA-Europe has been a close partner to LGBTI organisations in Ukraine through earmarked funding, advocacy, and movement-strengthening support. Since 2022, this engagement adapted in response to full-scale war by offering humanitarian and other urgent support and funding, and longer-term funding and structured partnerships.
As funding cuts take hold elsewhere, we continue with our commitment to support Ukrainian LGBTI organisations. This new cycle of our programming is designed to contribute to strong public, civic and political presence and efforts to ensure that equality, rule of law and human dignity remain central within Ukraine’s present and future.
Across 2026-2028, we offer a two-year partnership framework that combines financial support with co-created strategic, advocacy and movement-strengthening support.
We do not set specific thematic priorities and eligible activities for the funded work. LGBTI organisations in Ukraine are best placed to determine where to focus their leadership and strategic effort to ensure that equality, rule of law and human dignity remain central and better protected. Overall, ILGA-Europe seeks to support strategies that:
- Strengthen the civic and political voice of the LGBTI movement in Ukraine;
- Contribute to positive legal and policy reform or more inclusive public institutions;
- Nurture social acceptance and networks of support for LGBTI equality;
- Help wider civil society efforts to maintain democratic space and bring together and engage various communities and sectors of society for civic and political action.
Four organisations will be selected for a two-year partnership to strengthen the strategic impact and long-term positioning of the LGBTI movement in Ukraine.
Programme approach
This programme is structured as a partnership. Each selected partner organisation will receive:
- Up to 50,000 EUR over two years (fixed at 25,000 EUR per year), with the second year subject to a grant renewal process;
- Participation in a cohort of 4 peer LGBTI organisations for exchange and strategic alignment, incl. online and in-person convenings;
- Access, where relevant, to tailored accompaniment and knowledge-building support (e.g. legal or campaigning expertise, organisational development support, thematic training or consultancy opportunities);
- Continued connection to and cooperation in ILGA-Europe’s other regional initiatives, as well as advocacy and policy engagement at European and international levels.
Funding is one component of the programme. Equally important is the relationship and exchange across the group of partner organisations. The aim is to ensure that organisations are not working in isolation and that the whole is bigger than the sum of its parts.
What we support
Overall, ILGA-Europe seeks to support strategies that strengthen the civic presence, public voice, and institutional and social engagement of the LGBTI movement in Ukraine.
The programme does not prescribe specific thematic and activity priorities.
Instead, we invite applications from LGBTI organisations that can clearly articulate where their leadership, effort, relationships, and expertise are most needed and impactful in the next two years, and what change they realistically contribute to.
This may include, for example:
- Advancing or safeguarding legal and policy reforms;
- Strengthening engagement with public institutions at national or local level;
- Monitoring violations and implementation of existing legal protections and supporting accountability;
- Expanding social acceptance through work with various sectors of society, opinion leaders, or communities;
- Working in alliances with broader civil society actors towards shared agendas;
- Strengthening LGBTI organisations’ or communities’ long-term positioning within the civil society and society.
Proposed work should demonstrate:
- A clear understanding of the organisation’s role within the wider contexts – movement, civil society, society and/ or institutions;
- Focused and achievable objectives and realistic, clear planning within a two-year timeframe;
- Vision of what is needed for a strong, coordinated, and impactful LGBTI movement in Ukraine beyond a specific organisation.
Community support remains an essential part of many organisations’ work, particularly in wartime conditions. This programme does not exclude such components. However, priority will be given to proposals where this work connects to longer-term structural change, public positioning and/ or institutional or social impact.
Who can apply
This call is open to LGBTI organisations (incl. organisations focused on the rights of specific subcommunities within the LGBTI umbrella), based and working in Ukraine that:
- Are well-rooted in LGBTI communities (incl. specific subcommunities), demonstrating meaningful community engagement and accountability;
- Have strong connections and collaboration with other LGBTI organisations, as well as links with broader civil society actors in Ukraine;
- Play a clear role within the LGBTI movement and the LGBTI equality agenda, and articulate a clear vision for the work they are best placed to do over the next few years;
- Demonstrate sufficient organisational and management capacity, including the ability to manage a grant of this size and plans for a 2-year horizon;
- Are interested in being part of a group of partners, committed to collaboration, shared learning, and contributing to movement-wide efforts.
How to apply
- To apply, please use only the provided application form and budget templates.
- Please apply in English. We welcome the use of automatic translation tools of your choice.
- Completed applications should be sent:
- to anastasia@ilga-europe.org, with cc to Andrei@ilga-europe.org
- by 23:59 Brussels time on 12 April 2026 the latest.
Key dates
- All applicants will be informed of the outcome of the selection process in the first week of May.
- Contracts will be signed by the end of May 2026.
- Partnership and grants will launch on 1 June 2026, will be renewed in April-May 2027, and will complete by 31 May 2028.
Questions?
- Join an online Q&A session on 17 March at 2 pm to 3 pm Brussels time/ 3 pm to 4 pm Kyiv time. Register in advance to attend at this link. The session will be conducted in English and is only open to LGBTI organisations from Ukraine.
- Reach out with questions to anastasia@ilga-europe.org
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the EVZ Foundation, which makes this call for proposals possible.
