Mini-Grants

Through a targeted grant program offering $1,000–$5,000 awards, WOF-UA has been effectively supporting the women-owned small businesses that make up over half of all new enterprises in Ukraine. These grants help lift families out of poverty while enabling recipients to pay taxes, hire employees, and reinvest in their communities. Early recipients included a displaced dentist needing a new patient chair, a beeswax cosmetics maker from Bucha, and a dairy farmer who fled with her children and livestock but lost her cheesemaking equipment. To date, WOF-UA has awarded $507,703 to 216 women-owned businesses across sectors such as agriculture, eco-friendly home gardening, organic production, crafts, construction materials, food, fitness and rehabilitation, photography, medical services, and high-end artisanal goods. These businesses not only generate economic activity but also create ripple effects: 82% of recipients become self-sufficient, 90% hire other displaced or unemployed women, and 100% give back to their communities through personal philanthropy.