East Europe Foundation

What East Europe Foundation does

East Europe Foundation is a Ukrainian non-profit development foundation, established in 2008, that operates as an intermediary channeling international donor funding into civil society strengthening, public administration reform, and digital government transformation in Ukraine. It serves multiple stakeholder groups including civil society organizations (CSOs), national and local government agencies, educational institutions, vulnerable populations (internally displaced persons, veterans, and conflict-affected communities), and Ukrainian territorial communities.

Its core product portfolio centers on digital government services and civic-technology platforms built in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transformation. Key technical components include the EGAP Program (E-Governance for Accountability and Participation, 2015-2023) that supports the Diia digital government platform, the Mriia educational ecosystem for K-12 digital learning, the USESCS construction permitting system, the Zrozumilo! educational platform (800,000+ users), and recently launched products such as CDTO Campus, GovTech Lab Ukraine, the e-Notary System, e-Excise, and an AI Assistant on the Diia portal powered by Google Gemini. The foundation also operates grant-making programs (Phoenix: Power of Communities, Impulse Project, Capable and Resistant) and humanitarian/recovery initiatives (Shelter, eRecovery, Inclusive Employment).

The foundation operates a grant-based, donor-funded business model with no commercial revenue. Since 2008 it has invested $66 million in development programs, including more than $17 million in over 1,000 sub-grants to local NGOs and businesses. Major institutional donors include the European Union, Switzerland (Swiss Confederation/SDC, with approximately 60 million francs for EGAP), Germany (GIZ), USAID, Norway, Sweden, Ireland, and Google.org ($2 million grant). It reaches beneficiaries through direct program implementation with government partners, competitive grant programs for CSOs, training and capacity-building workshops, a partner network spanning 500+ CSOs and 831 territorial communities, and self-service digital platforms.

Name

East Europe Foundation

Legal name

East Europe Foundation

Website

https://eef.org.ua

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

East Europe Foundation is a Ukrainian non-profit development foundation established in 2008 that channels international donor funding into civil society strengthening, digital government transformation, and public administration reform, serving CSOs, government agencies, and communities across Ukraine through programs such as EGAP, Diia, and Phoenix.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Society Development Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Democratic Governance & Public Administration Reform (BPADAGAJ), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), STEM, Digital Skills & Innovation Partnerships (EDADALAJ)

Keywords

• Civil society development
• E-governance platforms
• Digital transformation programs
• Public administration reform
• Non-profit grant programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyiv

HQ country

Ukraine

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Foundation/Grant Funding: East Europe Foundation operates as an international charitable organization funded primarily through grants and donations from international development partners, governments, and foundations. The foundation does not generate commercial revenue but rather distributes funds to civil society organizations through grant programs and implements development programs in partnership with government agencies.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

East Europe Foundation is a Kyiv-based non-profit development foundation that designs and implements programs to strengthen civil society, support public administration reform, and advance digital transformation in Ukraine. It operates flagship initiatives such as the EGAP Program, Zrozumilo!, Mriia, eRecovery, and CDTO Campus, and channels international donor funding (EU, Switzerland, USAID, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Ireland, Google.org) into Ukrainian government, civic, and educational beneficiaries.

Product overview

East Europe Foundation is a development foundation that operates as a multi-program portfolio organization rather than a single-product company. Its core digital products include the EGAP Program (e-governance for accountability and participation), Zrozumilo! educational online platform, Diia digital government services ecosystem (implemented in partnership with Ministry of Digital Transformation), Mriia educational ecosystem, USESCS (electronic construction sector system), and SVOI community platform. These are complemented by grant programs including Phoenix: Power of Communities, Impulse Project, and Capable and Resistant Program. The Foundation also operates GovTech Lab Ukraine (civic tech innovation), CDTO Campus (digital transformation officer training), and eRecovery (housing reconstruction platform). The portfolio spans digital government services, educational technology, civic tech, and civil society strengthening.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Zrozumilo!: Educational online platform offering free online learning for civil sector representatives, government agencies, educators, and general public interested in personal development.
• EGAP Program
• Diia
• Phoenix: Power of Communities

Products and services

• EGAP Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 million Ukrainians have used e-services introduced by EEF
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major and minor.

• MastercardflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026EEF and Mastercard signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate Ukraine's digital transformation. The partnership focuses on supporting digital payment solutions and fintech innovations in Ukraine's public sector.
• International Renaissance FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint implementation of the Impulse Project to strengthen civil society and support Ukraine's recovery. The partnership combines resources and expertise from both foundations.
• Ministry of Digital Transformation of UkrainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner for digital transformation programs including Diia platform, e-governance services, and CDTO Campus initiative.
• Innovabridge FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EGAP Program implementation alongside EEF and Ministry of Digital Transformation.
• Zentrum Liberale ModernemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin-based think tank partnering on Ukraine in Europe: Parliamentary Dimension project funded by German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• State Emergency Service of UkrainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner for mine safety campaigns, training programs, and humanitarian response initiatives.
• EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEEF President Victor Liakh joined the EBRD Civil Society Steering Committee, a permanent advisory body to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
• Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned Understanding Memorandum for cooperation on humanitarian demining initiatives and knowledge sharing.
• Eurasia FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for UK DIGIT program (Digitalization for Growth, Integrity and Transparency) alongside BRDO.
• BRDO (Better Regulation Delivery Office)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in UK DIGIT program for digitalization and transparency initiatives in Ukraine.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pact: INGO that builds local capacity, strengthens civil society, and improves governance in transitional and developing countries. Comparable because both organizations operate grant programs to local CSOs and partner with USAID and other EEF donors in overlapping geographies.
• Eurasia Foundation: US-based non-profit implementing the UK DIGIT program alongside EEF and BRDO. Focused on governance, civil society, and economic development across the post-Soviet space — closely overlapping with EEF's mission in Ukraine.
• Counterpart International: US-based INGO focused on civic participation, civil society strengthening, and good governance with active Ukraine programming. Comparable to EEF because both deliver capacity-building grants to local CSOs and partner with USAID on governance reform.
• International Renaissance Foundation: Ukrainian non-profit foundation and EEF's joint implementing partner on the Impulse Project for civil society strengthening and Ukraine's recovery. Operates with a near-identical mandate, donor base, and program portfolio, making it the most directly comparable peer.
• IREX: US-based INGO focused on education, governance, and independent media in transition countries, with active operations in Ukraine. Highly comparable to EEF because both run donor-funded capacity-building programs targeting CSOs, educators, and government counterparts in Eastern Europe.
• Innovabridge Foundation: Swiss-based foundation that co-implements the EGAP Program with EEF and the Ministry of Digital Transformation. Closely comparable in mission (e-governance and civil society) and donor relationships, particularly with SDC.

Regional players

• British Council Ukraine: UK cultural and development organization with active Ukraine programming on education, civil society, and EU integration. Comparable to EEF because both receive UK-government-aligned donor funding and run capacity-building programs, though British Council operates across more countries.

Broad incumbents

• Open Society Foundations: Global grantmaking foundation that funds International Renaissance Foundation and broader civil-society work in Ukraine. Operates the same grantmaking model as EEF but at significantly larger scale and across many more geographies, functioning as a strategic backer rather than direct competitor.
• Chemonics International: Large US development contractor implementing USAID-funded governance and economic-growth programs globally, including in Ukraine. Comparable to EEF in donor base and program themes, but operates at much larger scale and through a for-profit contracting model.

Emerging players

• BRDO (Better Regulation Delivery Office): Ukrainian think tank implementing the UK DIGIT program with EEF on regulatory reform and digitalization. Comparable to EEF on regulatory and digital-governance mandate, but with a narrower, think-tank-style delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/eef.org.ua
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/east-europe-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about East Europe Foundation