Donor Support for Media in Ukraine: Figures and Trends — A Study by Lviv Media Forum
The NGO Lviv Media Forum has released a study titled “The Donor Landscape of Media Support in Ukraine: Current State, Opportunities, Needs, Problems and Future Prospects.”
This research explores which organizations support media in Ukraine, the principles they follow, and their expectations from grantees. It also examines what support media outlets need and where their interests align or differ from those of the donors. Amidst the ongoing full-scale war, Ukrainian media survive and develop largely due to the support of foreign governments and international organizations. The study’s results provide an assessment of the significance of this support and its impact on the media landscape.
How the Study Was Conducted. The research team at the Lviv Media Forum compiled a list of 130 media outlets that have received or are receiving grant support, and 100 international and Ukrainian organizations that provide such support. These organizations were invited to complete a detailed questionnaire, to which 62 media outlets and 28 donor organizations responded. The next stage of the research included three focus groups with media representatives (one each for regional, national, and niche media) and in-depth interviews with representatives from ten donor organizations. The researchers also analyzed the public financial reports of the donors.
Key Figures. For half of the surveyed media outlets, grants accounted for half or more of their income at the time of the survey. Specifically, 38.7% reported that grants made up 75–100% of their funding. While 29% of respondents wanted to increase their share of grant funding, 25% preferred to reduce it. Additionally, 82.3% of the media surveyed indicated that donor priorities aligned with theirs, while 11.3% felt they did not.
Major Discrepancies. Donors typically aim to strengthen the self-sufficiency and capacity of media organizations to influence society and promote democratic values. However, for many media outlets, securing grants is the ultimate goal because their survival depends on this funding.
Media outlets primarily seek institutional support, meaning funds for their operations and expenses. In contrast, donors prefer to provide project-based support, which offers less flexibility.
Donors expect professional project management and diligent, timely reporting from media organizations. However, media outlets often wish for simpler reporting processes and frequently lack the resources to hire professional project and financial managers.
In their recommendations, the researchers from the Lviv Media Forum proposed steps to help at least partially align the interests of donors and media outlets in these and other areas.
The Main Conclusion. “The main conclusion we draw,” explains Otar Dovzhenko, Creative Director of the Lviv Media Forum and co-author of the study, “is that the primary focus should be on supporting viable media outlets. Donor support is not perpetual or boundless, so it’s most effective when directed towards media organizations willing to evolve, refine their practices, and explore economic models that could lead to long-term financial independence. Equally important is fostering dialogue — both between donors and media entities and within the donor community itself.”
Who Will Benefit from the Study and How. Olha Bilousenko, the head of the research team at the Lviv Media Forum, emphasizes that Ukrainian media will gain broader insights from the study. “During the desk research and compilation stage, we expected to gather data on approximately fifty organizations supporting Ukrainian media. Discovering that the list — albeit non-exhaustive — comprised over a hundred entities came as a surprise. I believe this list will be valuable for editorial teams seeking support opportunities, encouraging them to be proactive in exploring possibilities,” says Olha.
Donor organizations and media outlets can benefit from the study by gaining important facts and understanding motivations, which will facilitate better mutual comprehension and communication. “We aimed to highlight areas where the interests of media and donors diverge or where misunderstandings arise. I believe the results of this study can serve as a background for making informed decisions and developing effective media support practices,” comments Olha Bilousenko.