News Archives - The Possible

From Competitive Selection to Project Implementation

On 27 July, representatives of the selected organisations met at the Veterans’ Space in Voznesensk.

The teams learned more about the project implementation requirements and the approaches to assessing their social impact. They also discussed the next steps, potential risks, and opportunities for cooperation.

For The Possible, it is important to help organisations develop sustainable solutions that respond to the specific needs of veterans, deliver measurable results, and continue operating after the grant funding ends.

Following the open competitive selection process, five organisations will receive grants across three areas of support. The programme’s total funding amounts to UAH 5.15 million.

Veteran Entrepreneurship Support — UAH 2.1 Million

The winner of the first lot is the Voznesensk Community Foundation.

The organisation will create a comprehensive support programme for veterans and members of their families who plan to start or develop their own businesses.

The Foundation has worked in the community since 2004 and has experience implementing programmes in entrepreneurship, non-formal education, adaptive sports, professional integration, and support for veterans and their families.

According to the selected organisation’s plan, participants will complete an Entrepreneurship School and gain knowledge in business idea development, business planning, accounting, taxation, marketing, and sales.

The most active participants will take part in a study visit to the Carpathian region, where they will learn from successful veteran-owned businesses and exchange experience with their founders.

Throughout the programme, aspiring entrepreneurs will receive individual consultations and mentoring support. Following a business project competition, at least five initiatives will receive financial support to launch or develop their businesses.

Veteran Employment — UAH 2.3 Million

The winner of the second lot is the Economic Development Agency NGO.

The project will involve comprehensive work with veterans seeking a new professional path after completing military service, as well as with local employers.

Veterans will take part in career training designed to help them identify their professional goals, translate their military experience into skills relevant to the civilian labour market, and prepare for employment.

A separate area of work will focus on local employers. They will receive training on working with veterans, adapting the workplace, and creating conditions that support people with military experience as they return to professional life.

The programme will also provide subgrants to employers to create or adapt workplaces and employ veterans.

“Sustainable employment is not simply about having a vacancy available. It is important that the job corresponds to a person’s health, experience, life circumstances, and professional goals, while the working environment supports their transition back into civilian life,” says Alina Tokmylenko, Programme Lead at The Possible.

The project aims not only to help people find employment, but also to create the conditions necessary for their long-term and successful professional integration.

Development of Services for Veterans — Three Grants of UAH 250,000 Each

Under the third lot, three organisations will receive support to develop physical and emotional recovery services for veterans in the community.

Living Heart Charity

The organisation will launch an emotional well-being support service for veterans, combining art therapy sessions with relaxation and therapeutic massage.

The project will be implemented in partnership with the Voznesensk City Primary Health Care Centre and the Veterans’ Space.

Art therapy activities will involve psychologists, psychotherapists, social support specialists, and body-oriented practitioners.

At least 100 participants are expected to take part during the pilot period. The service is expected to continue operating through cooperation between the charity, the healthcare institution, and the Veterans’ Space after the grant funding ends.

Voznesensk City Swimming Federation NGO

The organisation will develop a physical and sports-based recovery service for veterans using gym facilities and adaptive sports programmes.

Veterans will be offered group and individual sessions focused on strength, mobility, balance, coordination, and the restoration of movement.

Training programmes will be designed according to participants’ health conditions and will involve safe and gradual increases in physical activity.

The project will also fund specialised equipment for recovery sessions. The facilities and equipment created through the project will allow the service to continue operating after the grant period ends.

Mood Factory NGO

The organisation will develop the “Slid” Clay Workshop, a craft therapy space for veterans.

The project will combine clay modelling, pottery wheel practice, psychological techniques, peer support groups, and activities supporting participants’ social integration.

Over four months, two ceramics courses will be delivered. Participants will learn the basics of working with clay, modelling and decoration techniques, ceramic firing, and pottery wheel practice.

The workshop is intended to become a safe space where veterans can restore their inner resources, develop new skills, communicate with others, and gradually return to active community life.

The skills acquired may also create opportunities for future creative fulfilment, professional development, or self-employment.

Next Steps

The selected teams will now take part in training, implement their planned activities, and have the projects’ real impact on veterans’ lives assessed by an independent evaluator.

The evaluation, to be conducted by the Restart Urban Planning Agency, will consider actual changes, including businesses launched, veterans employed, improvements in physical and emotional well-being, stronger social connections, and new opportunities for self-realisation.

The implementation of these five projects is expected to become an important step towards building a sustainable support ecosystem for people with military experience in the Voznesensk community.

If the impact indicators are successfully achieved, the city will reinvest funds in the programme to support veterans in 2027.

We congratulate the selected organisations and thank all the teams that took part in the competitive selection process, shared their ideas, and continue to work every day for veterans and members of their families.

The Supporting Veterans through Entrepreneurship, Employment and Service Development programme is implemented by The Possible in partnership with the Voznesensk City Council, with support from Robert Bosch Stiftung.

The Possible is a platform supporting the sustainable recovery of Ukraine through impact entrepreneurship, investments, and innovative financial mechanisms. The Possible previously conducted The Possible Lab in the Voznesensk Community in 2024. This was a six-month mentoring and grant program supporting micro and small businesses in frontline cities.

Open Call for NGOs of the Voznesensk Community within the Grant Program
“Support for Veterans through Entrepreneurship, Employment, and Service Development”

The Possible announces an open call for non-governmental organizations of the Voznesensk City Community working in the field of veteran support within the grant program “Support for Veterans through Entrepreneurship, Employment, and Service Development.”

As part of the project, a Social Impact Bonds model is being implemented — an approach where the long-term impact on the lives of veterans is the key indicator.

The project is implemented by The Possible team in partnership with the Voznesensk City Council with the support of Robert Bosch Stiftung.

SUPPORT AREAS AND EXPECTED RESULTS

For non-governmental organizations ready to launch a support program for starting veteran-owned businesses.
Maximum grant amount: UAH 2,100,000
Objective: to increase access to veteran entrepreneurship support programs for veterans planning to start their own businesses; to build a sustainable ecosystem supporting veteran entrepreneurship at the local and national levels through collaboration among NGOs, mentors, the business community, and veterans.

Expected results:
- conducting a competitive selection process among veterans planning to launch their own businesses, in accordance with The Possible methodology;
- providing financial support for the launch of at least 5 veteran-owned businesses;
- active participation in the independent social impact assessment of the project, including data collection processes, participation in surveys, provision of supporting documents, interaction with independent evaluators, and regular reporting.

*Administrative and operational management costs may not exceed 10% of the total grant funding.

*Applicants who pass the first selection stage (application form and online interview) must submit a project budget using the provided template, which will be shared after the interview.

For non-governmental organizations that have their own programs or work together with local businesses to promote sustainable employment of veterans.
Maximum grant amount: UAH 2,300,000
Objective: to increase access to employment opportunities for veterans in the Voznesensk Community.

Expected results:
- conducting an open competitive selection of employers for the grant program. The program may include partial salary compensation, workplace adaptation, mentoring for employers, and support for veterans during the adaptation process;
- as a result, employment of at least 10 veterans with guaranteed jobs for at least 3 months on a full-time or part-time basis;
- monitoring program implementation and veteran employment, maintaining contact with beneficiaries throughout project implementation, and participating in the independent social impact assessment.

*Administrative and operational management costs may not exceed 10% of the total grant funding.

*Applicants who pass the first selection stage (application form and online interview) must submit a project budget using the provided template, which will be shared after the interview.

For non-governmental organizations that create or improve services for veterans in the fields of psychological support, reintegration and adaptation, mental health, adaptive sports, craft therapy, social support, and the development of veteran spaces.
Maximum grant amount: UAH 750,000
Objective: to increase access to high-quality and comprehensive services for veterans in the Voznesensk Community and to develop the local ecosystem of veteran support through cooperation among NGOs, professionals, communities, and partners.

Expected results:
- launch or development of at least 3 services for veterans in the fields of psychological support, reintegration and adaptation, mental health, adaptive sports, craft therapy, social support, or veteran spaces;
- ensuring the sustainability of the created or improved services and prospects for their continued operation after the end of grant support.

*Applicants who pass the first selection stage (application form and online interview) must submit a detailed description of the service or program, a project implementation plan, a budget using the provided template, as well as a brief explanation of the approach to ensuring sustainability and evaluating project results.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Non-profit organizations that:

operate in the Voznesensk Community in the fields of reintegration, adaptation, veteran support, or social entrepreneurship;

were established no later than June 2025;

are included in the Register of Non-Profit Institutions;

are registered in the Unified State Register (USR) in territory controlled by Ukraine.

KEY DATES

Application submission deadline

June 19, 24:00

Online interviews with applicants*

June 24 – July 3

Announcement of results

by July 17

Contract signing

by July 24

Meeting of winners in Voznesensk

July 27–31

Project implementation

August 1 – November 30

Results evaluation

December 2026

From the grantees, we expect:

signing a grant agreement;

participation in a training workshop provided by The Possible;

adherence to the principles of transparency and openness;

full implementation of the proposed project;

collection and transfer of data for the independent social impact assessment of the project (for example, conducting surveys, interviews, and sample visits to program participants, as well as preparing reports).

HOW TO APPLY?

1. Prepare the following documents:

- Current NGO extract from the Unified State Register (USR);

- Organization’s charter;

- Extract from the Register of Non-Profit Organizations;

- CV or short biography of key NGO representatives.

2. Prepare a budget according to template.

Fill in the form by June, 19th 24:00 (Kyiv time)

Apply

FAQ

Yes, if your organization operates in the communities of Rakove village or Novohryhorivka village.

Desirable, but not a strict requirement. A clear implementation plan and understanding of the needs of the veteran community are more important.

No, please choose the lot which is the most relevant for your activity.

You will receive notification of the first-stage results by email by June 24. Final results will be announced by July 17.

This will be followed by a technical review of the documents. If everything is in order, we will invite you to a short online interview.

The program does not cover:
purchase of land plots, real estate, or vehicles;
alcohol and tobacco products;
debt repayment;
expenses for international travel;
pharmaceutical products;
military equipment and items that may ultimately be transferred to military use;
surveillance equipment;
luxury goods;
gambling equipment;
high-risk items (chemicals, explosive materials, fuel);
environmentally harmful goods (ammonium nitrate);
other expenses not directly related to project implementation and support of final beneficiaries, except for administrative and operational expenses within lots where such expenses are allowed under the competition conditions.

Social Impact Bonds are an innovative financial instrument in which investors or donors provide upfront funding for projects, while the state or community repays the funds only when specific, measurable social impact outcomes have been achieved. If the impact indicators are successfully met, the city will reinvest funds into the program to support veterans in 2027. For more information about the instrument, please visit the Foundation → Social Impact Bonds page.

Please, don't hesitate to contact our Project Lead Alina Tokmylenko alina.tokmylenko@civic.co

Looking forward to your applications

Apply