Success Stories

This is a dedicated space for informing our partners on the activities so far implemented. We also gladly share some of the success stories of Choose Love grantees where Organizational Development Support helped.

Leaders of Tomorrow

Training program focusing on leadership development and issues and opportunities unique to the non-governmental sectors across Central and Eastern Europe, costume-tailored to leadership development in non-profit organizations working with Ukrainian refugees. It was organized by the Czech Fundraising Center.

A year-long self-development program, which beginned with an orientation session and a four-day intensive experiential learning training program held in an appropriate and accessible facility in the Czech Republic. The participants progress through their own individualized leadership development program, with the help and support of dedicated mentors. The culmination of the program includes a Leadership Summit, conducted one year after the initial leadership training.

The Program features leading senior international leadership and fundraising experts, who offer and share their rich experiences and inspirations for participants‘ own leadership development.

18 participants from the grantees of Choose Love from Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Greece, Serbia, UK took part in this event.

Have a look at short testimonials from the participants:

CEE Leaders of Tomorrow Testimonial - Ana Lukacs (RO)

CEE Leaders of Tomorrow Testimonial - Isobel Wolff (GB)

CEE Leaders of Tomorrow Testimonial - Bálint Halász (HU)

CEE Leaders of Tomorrow Testimonial - Florence Creedy Smith (RS)

CEE Leaders of Tomorrow Testimonial - Diana Grosu (MD)

CEE Leaders of Tomorrow Testimonial - Basia Psiuk (PL)

Training on essentials of humanitarian practice

Kyiv, Ukraine 20-21 January 2023

Consultant RedR (Ukraine) for Integra (Slovakia)

RedR UK designed and delivered a bespoke two-days in-person training on essentials of humanitarian practice with a focus on human rights approach to protection of conflict affected persons, safeguarding, personal safety and well-being. Target audience: 20 staff and volunteers from civil society organisations (CSOs) in Ukraine/implementing partners of Integra Foundation. Training was delivered in Ukrainian by RedR UK Ukrainian trainer. Many participants noted the content covered by the training was new to them, and while the specific learning objectives set for this training were achieved, there needs to be a conversation with CSOs to identify the areas of strength and where they need further support.

From participants feedback:

Best aspects - the interactive nature of the training, principles of humanitarian aid, I liked practical tasks
Learnings - PSIA oversight of workforce, volunteer safety, health care, on the course, I learned how to assess my psychological health

Tourist guesthouse that would hire vulnerable people from rural areas and Ukrainian refugees

Consultant Nicolai Loghin (Moldova) for Association for Human Rights Lex XXI (Moldova)

The business plan was developed in November 2022 and consultant helped the organization to apply for the grant to built the guesthouse.

At the initial stage, the social enterprise will create 4 jobs. The employees will be involved in all the company's processes - from management and reception, to housekeeping, technical service and catering, and will be selected from the vulnerable groups the Association works with (NEET youth, people with disabilities, former drug users, etc.).

The company's employees will benefit from a competitive salary from 7 thousand to 10 thousand MDL, in accordance with the duties they will exercise. Likewise, the company will offer reduced prices for services for associations that support people from disadvantaged groups.

All the net profit obtained will be redirected to activities promoting the rights and well-being of people from vulnerable groups in the North of the Republic of Moldova, especially the provision of legal assistance to these people (approximately 300 people/year).

Fundraising webinars

Series of online seminars on fundraising essentials for non-profits followed by one-on-one consultations.

Consultants Svitlana Pinchuk (Ukraine) and Miriam Wagner Long (Germany)

29 grantees participated.

We organized 4 online seminars (3 hour duration each) covering topics: readiness for fundraising, developing a strategy and a fundraising plan, different methods of fundraising and other topics (based on participants' needs). After the webinar participants had a chance to dive deeper in the topic during the one-on-one consultations.

Data management and CRM webinar

The webinar helped you exploit your data and build donor journeys.

The trainer is Andrea Sczigel. Organized in February 2023.

How to fundraise through a database?
How to handle a big amount of data?
What tools can you use to handle mass mailing?
What is a CRM system?

Communication webinar

Online seminar in Communication and donor base building followed by series of one-to-one consultations for non-profits to build a stronger presence in their social and follower base. Consultant Andrea Szígel (Hungary)

Attended by 13 grantees.

Based on the needs assessment survey we found, that appr. 2/3 of the registered organisations declared themself as beginner or nearly beginner organisation in communication and activities connected to donor base building. 1/3 of them said that they are experts, though they also have deep interests in communication tools and strategy.

The training module gived a deeper dive in communication, especially communication related to fundraising activities, while grantees showed their interest in donor base building as well.