Registrations for the HLF programme will be accepted from 17 to 25 November 2025.
The HLF Registration Phase (2nd round) on the HLF platform will open on 17 November 2025 and close on 25 November 2025. From the date of your successful registration (between 17 and 25 November 2025) until 7 December 2025, you can complete the Due Diligence with our partner, Philanthropy in Ukraine.
STEP 1: HLF Platform: Register and submit
The registration takes only 15–30 minutes.
- There is only one question on the registration form you may want to consider in advance: “If you were to receive an HLF grant, how would you use the funding?” Since the answer is capped at 200 words, please keep your preparation short.
- Please ensure all required fields on the HLF Platform are filled in and that you press the “Submit” button; otherwise, you will not be considered for the HLF fund.
STEP 2: Philanthropy in Ukraine website: Register and complete
The sooner you fully complete and submit your HLF registration, the sooner you can begin the more time-intensive Due Diligence Questionnaire.
- Only after you fully complete and submit the registration form on the HLF platform will you receive an email with a link to the Philanthropy in Ukraine website, where you must also register and complete the Due Diligence Questionnaire.
- After the deadline (7 December), you will no longer be able to edit the Due Diligence Questionnaire.
- Once the Due Diligence process is complete, there is nothing further you need to do. Philanthropy in Ukraine will send all materials and results directly to the HLF.
- Only after you have completed and submitted the Due Diligence Questionnaire will you be considered for funding.
| IN SHORT: HLF Registration Phase (2nd round): 17–25 November 2025 Complete the HLF registration form and press „Submit“ to receive the Due Diligence link. HLF Due Diligence Phase (2nd round): until 7 December 2025 Complete and submit the Due Diligence Questionnaire by 7 December 2025. |
For eligibility of your organisation see below under „Eligibility at a Glance: Who We Fund and Who We Don’t“.
To register on the HLF Platform, please follow the https://hlf.grantplatform.com/
Before registering, please read the terms and conditions below carefully.
Eligibility at a Glance: Who We Fund and Who We Don’t
Under the HLF, an organisation is eligible if it meets all of the following criteria:
- It is a domestically registered, non-profit legal entity under the civil law of its country of registration (Ukraine), with its principal place of operations in that country (Ukraine).
- It was established by individuals who are citizens or legal residents of the country of registration (Ukraine).
- It operates in its country of registration (Ukraine).
- It complies with the humanitarian principles (humanity, neutrality, impartiality, independence) and upholds the humanitarian imperative (the duty to act to prevent/relieve suffering wherever it is found).
- It operates as an institutionally and operationally fully independent organisation:
- It is independent of any international entity, including but not limited to INGOs, networks, confederations, affiliated structures, and franchises, and is not a branch, affiliate, chapter, or franchisee of an international NGO, donor agency, multilateral institution, or international initiative.
- Distinct from this is participation in international or regional networks—for example, for knowledge exchange, joint advocacy, or strategic collaboration.
- It is independent of government:
- It is not established by, owned by, controlled by, or affiliated (de jure or de facto) with any government body.
- It is independent of politics, political parties, political movements, and elected political representatives by meeting all of the following requirements.
- It does not maintain any formal or informal affiliation with them.
- Individuals in leadership, governance, or decision-making positions within the organisation must not hold, nor have recently held, any political office, party membership with leadership responsibilities, or active campaigning roles.
- The organisation must not engage in activities intended to support, endorse, or oppose political parties, candidates, or partisan agendas.
- The organisation’s mission, strategies, and programmes are designed and implemented independently of political influence.
- It is independent of any military agenda:
- It maintains strict separation from military forces or actors and does not provide material, logistical, strategic, informational/IT, communications, or any other support—direct or indirect—to military operations or objectives, including to ministries of defense, intelligence or security services, or state-owned defense entities.
- Distinct from this is engagement with military forces or actors for coordination where it safeguards humanitarian principles and enhances civilian protection and/or humanitarian access.
- It is independent of any religious agenda:
- It is not established by, owned by, controlled by, or affiliated (de jure or de facto) with any religious institution or denomination.
- Assistance is provided without discrimination, including on grounds of religion or belief, and without religious messaging, proselytization, or any conditionality tied to religious belief or participation (including in humanitarian services).
- Distinct from this is cooperation with faith-based actors (e.g., use of facilities, participation in inter-faith platforms), which is permissible where humanitarian principles are safeguarded, and no religious conditionality is introduced.
Eligibility is further based on the following
Organisations must have been operational for at least two years and demonstrate experience in specific areas of humanitarian response.
Organisations must have an established team of at least two staff members with clearly defined functional roles (excluding consultants and private entrepreneurs/FOPs), and their CVs demonstrate a minimum of two years’ experience in a relevant field.
Their team needs to include at least one person with responsibility for MEAL. This does not need to be a full-time MEAL position; it may be a staff member who carries MEAL responsibilities alongside other tasks, in recognition of the limited capacity of smaller organisations to allocate dedicated staff for this function.
Funding eligibility is additionally based on your annual organisational budget: Organisations that are eventually invited to submit a proposal for a €100,000 grant are expected to have an annual budget in the last calendar or fiscal year 2024 of 11,000,000.00 UAH at minimum and 27,000,000.00 UAH at maximum.
Under the HLF, an organisation is ineligible—regardless of its local registration, governance structure, operational autonomy, or local staffing—if:
- It is dependent of any international entity, including but not limited to INGOs, networks, confederations, affiliated structures, and franchises, and is a branch, affiliate, chapter, or franchisee of an international NGO, donor agency, multilateral institution, or international initiative.
- It is dependent of an international or umbrella entity that holds formal or informal authority to influence the organisation’s governance, strategic direction, or programmatic decisions — even if the organisation retains some operational autonomy and in the absence of legal subordination.
- It is dependent of government, of politics, of any military and/or religious agenda.
- It shares mission, branding, identity, strategic and/or policy frameworks, which are defined in whole or in part by an international, transnational, confederated, or affiliated entity, resulting in e.g. unified branding, missions, or common policy frameworks.
- It benefits from, or is subject to, central oversight or joint/global representation by an international or umbrella entity—including situations where such an entity acts or could act on behalf of multiple local entities within the same network, e.g. in funding or policy fora.
- It draws on funding that is routed through an affiliated international entity that also may retain approval/sign-off on budgets, contracts, or reports.
Hang On a Second – This Part Really Matters and Deserves Your Attention!
The HLF process begins with the HLF Registration and Due Diligence Phase, followed by a pre-Selection of organisations to be invited to enter the HLF Dialogue Phase with the HLF team.
The HLF Dialogue is designed to foster meaningful, genuine conversations that pave the way for an equal partnership. The self-assessment and meeting adopts a holistic, organisation-wide perspective on each partner and intentionally opens space for capacity strengthening that extends beyond donor-driven priorities.
Only after completing these phases, selected organisations will be invited to submit a full proposal during the HLF Proposal Development Phase and eventually proceed to the HLF Project Selection Phase.
For the HLF pilot phase, which runs until December 2026, successful applicants selected for a grant should not assume automatic or ongoing support and are encouraged to plan accordingly. Receiving funding a second time within the pilot phase will not be possible.
Please note that successfully completing the HLF Registration and Due Diligence Phase does not guarantee automatic entry into the HLF Dialogue Phase or an invitation to submit a full proposal. For this reason, you are not expected to have a complete project proposal prepared for the HLF Registration and Due Diligence Phase.
After having completed the Registration and Due Diligence Phase, please stay tuned for further communication from us – either an invitation to continue in the HLF process or a notice of non-selection.
Funding at a Glance: Where and What We Support and What We Don’t
Needs-Based Funding That Extends Beyond Geographic Priorities
Staying true to its locally led model, the HLF in its pilot phase running until December 2026, prioritizes funding according to needs identified by partners. Severe needs may exist among conflict-affected populations in areas that are not fully reflected in national or international data. Therefore, in line with the principles of impartiality and a needs-based approach, the HLF will provide funding across all geographic areas of Ukraine where humanitarian needs are clearly demonstrated and substantiated by credible, context-specific information provided by the partner.
Flexibility That Goes Beyond, While Including the Cluster System
The HLF embraces a flexible approach that values the diverse ways in which, especially, smaller civil society actors contribute to humanitarian response—often in coordination with, but not limited to, formal structures. While strict alignment with the humanitarian cluster system is not required, the HLF recognizes its central role in humanitarian coordination.
Accordingly, the five HLF priority areas for the pilot phase—all of which can be supported by Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) or Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) as a cross-sectoral modality—have been informed by the cluster system to ensure both relevance and complementarity.
However, the HLF allows flexibility—projects do not need to strictly align with cluster classifications and may span different thematic areas. Local and national actors are encouraged to engage with the priority areas based on their expertise and understanding of local needs, even beyond the cluster system. Funded interventions should be as self-contained as possible, with a clear plan to ensure their continued functionality beyond the implementation period.
Priority area 1: Safe, Protected and Healthy Lives
Within the framework of the HLF, ‘Safe, Protected, and Healthy Lives’ plays a lifesaving and life-sustaining role. It encompasses essential interventions that safeguard and protect the life, health, and physical and mental well-being of people affected by crisis—grounded in the principles of the Sphere Humanitarian Charter.
- In Ukraine’s humanitarian cluster system this priority area is linked, among others, to the Health, Protection and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Clusters as well as to the Child Protection and Gender-Based Violence Sub-Clusters.
Priority area 2: Safe and Dignified Temporary or Transitional Accommodation for Displaced and Vulnerable populations
This area plays a life-sustaining and protection-enhancing role for people in need by safeguarding rights, promoting inclusion through meaningful participation in decision-making, and supporting stability, recovery, and social cohesion in challenging environments. Potential projects could aim to improve the management and quality of temporary or transitional accommodation settings—such as transit or IDP centers, or shelters for vulnerable groups. These efforts align with the Sphere Standards and global CCCM guidelines.
- In Ukraine’s humanitarian cluster system this priority area is linked, among others, to the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster.
Priority area 3: Winterisation and Seasonal Vulnerability
‘Winterisation and Seasonal Vulnerability’ interventions play a lifesaving, life-sustaining, and risk-reducing role in humanitarian response, protecting crisis-affected populations from the harsh impacts of extreme weather—particularly during winter months. These efforts are essential for ensuring physical safety and health in environments where exposure to cold, damp, and seasonal hazards can rapidly escalate into life-threatening conditions.
- In Ukraine’s humanitarian cluster system this priority area is primarily addressed, among others, under the Shelter and Non-Food Items (SNFI) Cluster. While the SNFI Cluster leads winterization efforts, other clusters also contribute: Health Cluster, WASH Cluster and Protection Cluster.
Priority area 4: Inclusive Learning and Education in Emergencies
‘Inclusive Learning and Education in Emergencies’—both formal and non-formal—plays a vital role. It empowers learners, fosters resilience, reduces barriers for marginalised groups, provides safe and equitable access to education, and offers stability during times of crisis. It also lays the foundation for recovery and long-term development—regardless of gender, age, ability, ethnicity, legal status, or displacement situation. These efforts are grounded in the Sphere Humanitarian Charter and the INEE Minimum Standards for Education. 1
- In Ukraine’s humanitarian cluster system this priority area is linked, among others, to the Education Cluster.
INEE and partner agencies often refer to the full 0–24 age range when discussing the scope of education services in emergencies, depending on the context and type of learning provided (formal, non-formal, or vocational)
Priority area 5 and cross-sectoral modality: Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) and Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA)
HLF prioritises CVA and/or MPCA, unless clear reasons exist for it not being appropriate, as a cross-sectoral modality to address diverse needs in a flexible, dignified, and efficient manner. CVA and MPCA empowers crisis-affected individuals, households, (and communities in the form of Group Cash Transfers) to make informed choices based on their own priorities, circumstances, and preferences—supporting autonomy and promoting more locally appropriate outcomes.
Funding at a Glance: The HLF Approach to Grantmaking
Under the HLF, partners can access both Programmatic Funding for their humanitarian project activities and Organisational Capacity Strengthening Funding for their organisations. Capacity strengthening funding is intentionally built into each grant as an optional component. Together they make up the total grant amount—plus an additional 7% for programme support costs.
Wait a Moment – This Could Make All the Difference!
Within the HLF, Organisational Capacity Strengthening Funding is considered an integral part of humanitarian response, aimed at supporting more sustainable outcomes for people in need.
Organisational Capacity strengthening funding is intentionally built into each grant as an optional component. Because the HLF is grounded in trust and power-sharing, it is not only up to our partners to decide whether to include it—and which areas to focus on, but also to determine how much of the total grant should be allocated to it. The decision-making power rests fully with our partners – in keeping with our core principle of ‘working at eye level’.
In this spirit, we do not assess the relevance of the work proposed by you as long as it is clearly supporting the overall humanitarian mission of the organisation and is in a healthy balance with programmatic funding. Our focus is on whether your proposal in the Capacity Development Plan is technically sound and realistic within the project duration —both in terms of its expected outcomes and learning potential. That said, HLF staff will provide support and advice as needed throughout the process.
The HLF respects partner autonomy and will not impose specific spending choices, trusting organisations to allocate resources in a way that aligns with their long-term vision and priorities.
The HLF wholeheartedly encourages you to invest in your own organisation.
This is the chance to build strength from within, to dream big and make it count. This funding can serve as a powerful strategic investment: to strengthen internal systems, enhance sustainability, deepen impact on people in need, spark innovation, and build long-term resilience.
Local and national actors deserve it!
Please rest assured that not using Organisational Capacity Strengthening Funding will in no way affect your chances of accessing HLF funding.
Organisational Capacity Strengthening funding specifically covers the following areas:
- Strengthening Humanitarian Programming
- Strengthening the Organisation and Organisational Functions
- Strengthening Financial Management
- Strengthening Financial Sustainability
- Strengthening Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)
- Strengthening Visibility and Communications
- Strengthening Safeguarding
- Strengthening Protection
- Strengthening Inclusion
- Strengthening Staff Safety, Security & Organisational Duty of Care
- Strengthening the Local Ecosystem, the capacity of other local and national actors or improving your own organizational capacity in relation to peers and partners with the aim to strengthen the wider ecosystem of local and national actors
- Strengthening Essential Equipment
- Other: To be defined by you and then reviewed in consultation with HLF staff
- Strengthening capacity through the consortium
Excluded from this are:
- Personal development without organisational relevance
- Costs related to excessively high standards
Evaluating Grants at a Glance: What We Are Looking For and What Falls Short
This table outlines the criteria the HLF Grants Committee will use to assess your project, should you proceed to the HLF Project Selection Phase.
