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.

Olga Chevganiuk

Olga Chevganiuk is a public activist advocating for animal rights in Ukraine. With her education in management and after gaining experience in entrepreneurship, she joined the humane movement, UAnimals.

Since the start of the full-scale war, UAnimals' efforts have focused on rescuing animals from the frontline regions. However, even before that, UAnimals has tirelessly advocated for the humane treatment of animals, their protection from exploitation, and an end to animal abuse. 

Since 2018, Olga has been working with UAnimals, starting from its informal initiative phase to its current position as the largest animal rights movement in Ukraine. Throughout this journey, she has held various roles, adapting to the organization's changing needs.

Currently, Olga heads the Department of Strategic Initiatives at UAnimals. In her role, she works with strategic partners to empower the movement and ensure the protection of animals and nature amidst the war in Ukraine. She also leads the advocacy department to push for systematic changes in Ukrainian legislation to improve animal rights.

Olga is an active speaker at international conferences. She also organized UAnimals' participation in COP28 in 2024 as part of the Ukrainian hall, representing Ukrainian environmental concerns on a global stage.