Session: Fundraising Under Fire: Lessons from Ukraine for a World in Crisis

Fundraising today demands more than creativity — it demands courage. Rising geopolitical tensions, economic instability, and escalating global uncertainty are placing unprecedented pressures on organisations everywhere. 

Yet in Ukraine, these challenges aren’t new: non-profits there have spent over three years navigating the turmoil of the largest military invasion since WWII, learning firsthand how to sustain fundraising when the world around them falls apart.

In this bold and reflective session, leaders from three Ukrainian NGOs — working in pediatric cancer care (Svitlana Pugach), animal welfare (Olga Chevganiuk), and military resilience (Kate Leschyshyn) — share their experiences navigating one of the most complex fundraising landscapes in recent history. 

What Ukraine can teach us all about leading through the next era of global instability.

Learn what it truly takes to sustain donor engagement, effectiveness, and resilience when donor attention fades, resources become scarce, and traditional fundraising strategies no longer apply.

You'll gain insights on:

• Innovating quickly when the old playbook no longer applies.
• Crafting authentic, compelling appeals that cut through noise and fatigue.
• Keeping donors engaged when crises drag on and headlines move on.

Whether you’re part of a grassroots initiative or an international NGO, these frontline lessons will give you a renewed sense of courage, strategic clarity, and vision for what leadership in fundraising must look like in the years ahead.

Kate Leschyshyn

Kate is the Head of International Partnerships and Donor Relations at Come Back Alive Foundation, which Forbes Ukraine ranked as the #1 nonprofit supporting the Defense Forces of Ukraine. Since 2022, the foundation has raised over 400 million Euro in private donations. 

Kate was once the head of the local chapter of the international NGO before starting corporate IT sales career. The blend of 12 years of corporate sales expertise with a 3-year non-for-profit background helped her when she joined “Come Back Alive” to both rapidly develop strategic partnerships in Norway and then build a new team of international fundraisers to scale their operations globally.

Today, Come Back Alive covers a wide spectrum of donors and partners: from governmental organizations to private businesses, local NGOs, and individuals.