In your opinion, how often do people turn to entrepreneurs for help and how much do entrepreneurs invest in the development of social projects and charity? According to surveys, micro and small entrepreneurs invest from UAH 5,000 to charity and from UAH 50,000 per year to medium-sized enterprises in Kherson region. Read more about the experience of studying the topic by Viktoriia Kulakova, Director of the It's Craft Foundation, expert of the Regional Development Agency of the Tavrian Association of Territorial Communities

Opportunities for the development of Ukrainian socially-oriented business

The survey was conducted by experts from the Regional Development Agency of the Tavria Association of Territorial Communities to measure the effectiveness of their own charitable activities. The main problem was the lack of consistency of actions and the fact that no one really monitors the impact of charity, as entrepreneurs' main goal is to develop their business. Ukrainian business does not see any changes from the resources it invests in charity and often sees that the funds do not reach those to whom they were provided. Next, Victoria Kulakova, Director of the It's Craft Charity Foundation, which provides revolving funding for startups and existing businesses, shares her vision of how to address the situation and her experience.

Do you know why it is so nice to live in Ukraine? We have a lot of opportunities, we just need to make a leap, work hard, and we can change the course of history in a short time, although we need to do it together to reach a critical mass for fundamental changes. Most of the solutions to economic progress have been found in other countries, and many innovations are invented by Ukrainians. If this experience is imposed on our Ukrainian mentality and good nature, and if we increase consistency and responsibility for our actions, most communities will be able to achieve in 3-4 years what other countries have been doing for decades.

It's Craft Foundation - the background of its creation

I will try to share my background as briefly as possible. Since 2011, I have worked for an international financial company researching financial markets, mutual funds and investment programs. In 2015, I started my career as a community activation trainer for the British Council's Active Citizens program, and my colleagues and I traveled almost all over Ukraine to train activists in civic engagement and grant management. In 2016, I started conducting business planning trainings and in 2018 received certification as a social entrepreneurship trainer. Since 2018, I have been helping startups plan as a mentor in various projects.

As part of the Regional Development Agency, we created projects on youth entrepreneurship and protection of entrepreneurs' interests. But like every project, they had to be completed. Therefore, around 2019, there was an acute question of the consistency of our actions, since grant funds usually cover only part of the activities, and we wanted long-term sustainable results. And that's when It's Craft was born as a platform for supporting entrepreneurs. After all, it is business that develops territories, creates jobs, provides salaries, and local budgets are formed from business taxes, which pay for hospitals and schools, repair local roads and water pipes. While conducting business planning trainings in international projects in eastern Ukraine, I talked to entrepreneurs and those who wanted to become them. And the main thing they said was "give me money to start". And so we did.

We have created a charitable revolving fund and are now providing repayable interest-free loans and grants for product prototypes. I am convinced that this is the best solution. As an entrepreneur and coach, I see a long way to go for this initiative. The experience of foreign countries confirms that a revolving fund is the most optimal: by providing funds, we foster the responsibility of microbusinesses, and through repayment, we achieve sustainability. We invite everyone who dreams of starting their own business, and especially if you live in small communities, to participate in the It's Craft competitions.

Revolving Fund and grants for the development of craftsmen and artists

What else can we do to develop our territories? The team of the Regional Development Agency of the Tavrian Association of Territorial Communities conducted a business survey to study how corporate social responsibility works in Ukraine and what has been achieved abroad. CSR is something we usually do, but don't analyze: when entrepreneurs do something like charity or social projects, but don't see loyalty to their business or at least to themselves. The It's Craft platform offers one of the solutions. We will continue to operate as a revolving fund, providing funds for business development, and this is our responsibility, which we invite you to join.

Today, we offer small, medium-sized entrepreneurs and large businesses a partnership and membership in the supervisory board of the It's Craft Foundation. We urge you to become an investor in the territories by investing in business projects in Kherson region. The It's Craft Foundation operates throughout Ukraine, but investments from Kherson region businesses will be distributed on a competitive basis only here, in the South, where together we can grow a new generation of successful people and make our communities stronger.

WHAT WILL A BUSINESS GET IF IT BECOMES A PARTNER OF THE CRAFT FUND? THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF SIMILAR FUNDS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE IN OUR VISION:

  • The status of an investor and philanthropist for the leader and team of your business will lead to recognition and subsequently loyalty and increased sales of your goods and services.
  • The funds you invest will not "disappear" into the past, as is the case with charitable activities, because the revolving fund method creates an added value effect every year: funds are invested in the business, "scrolled" and transferred to another business in a year. Your investments will work for decades.
  • Annual reports on the corporate social responsibility of your business are prepared by the It's Craft team, which officially reports on funds and non-financial assistance every year. We take care of this work for you, and you get the results.
  • Membership in the Supervisory Board gives all partners the right to be in the middle of the Foundation's processes. The Supervisory Board is advisory in nature and can influence strategic issues.
  • Unlike traditional corporate philanthropy, which involves "signing checks" to charity without any specific plan or structure, This is Craft brings the business sector closer to a more advanced and strategic approach to this area, which allows for efficient and transparent allocation of available resources and ensures long-term results for organizations that are important to the partner.
  • Evaluation of the Foundation's competitions is carried out by a competition commission, the composition of which is reviewed annually.
  • The partners of the Tse Kraft Foundation are setting a precedent in Ukrainian history that has never been seen before. We are not a public private all-Ukrainian foundation that unites the interests of a large territory and representatives of the corporate and private sectors for the joint development of our communities through the development of human potential.

We invite everyone who cares to engage in a dialog. If you have any proposals for partnership, cooperation or questions about our activities, please contact us at info@itscraft.com.ua or tel. 066-8982224. Learn more about social responsibility and entrepreneurial support competitions on our website:

The study of social entrepreneurship support organizations was conducted as part of the House of Europe Personal Project with the financial support of Goethe-Institut Ukraine and the European Union.

Viktoriia Kulakova, director of the "It's Craft" charity foundation.