Assisting a Ukrainian Non-Profit digitally transform their operations

Introduction

Setting up a non-profit in zero time to respond to an urgent need at scale.

Velocity Partners, a global consulting firm, was approached by "StandUP Ukraine", an emerging Ukrainian non-profit organization. StandUP Ukraine's mission is to provide resources and support to marginalized communities in Ukraine, but they were struggling with their establishment, volunteer engagement, and securing donations from businesses. Recognizing the potential for positive societal impact, Velocity Partners took up the challenge to transform StandUP Ukraine into a self-sustaining entity.

Imagine waking up and not knowing when the war will reach your neighbourhood. Now imagine you're one of the millions of displaced Ukrainians forced to flee their country to places unknown.

Working with local merchants, retailers and manufacturers, Velocity is helping StandUP Ukraine to reach out to corporations globally to solve the pressing issues that face Ukraine and its people today.

Challenges

StandUP Ukraine, despite having a commendable mission, was a startup in need of a full array of consulting services. The non-profit organization faced three primary issues:

1. Establishment: StandUP Ukraine had an urgent need to establish itself as a non-profit organization with an international charter and mandate.
2. Volunteer Engagement: Despite the numerous individuals willing to contribute their time, StandUP Ukraine was struggling to attract and retain volunteers.
3. Business Donations: Their approach to securing donations from businesses was ineffective, leading to a paucity of resources and inability to expand their reach.

Assignment

Velocity Partners adopted a three-fold approach to address these issues:

Streamlining the Establishment Process: Utilizing our extensive knowledge of non-profit operations and market dynamics, Velocity Partners helped StandUP Ukraine craft a compelling brand narrative and robust business strategy. We developed clear goals and key performance indicators to guide their actions and measure their progress.

Volunteer Engagement Strategy: Understanding the importance of volunteers in non-profit operations, Velocity Partners implemented a comprehensive volunteer management program. We instituted an outreach campaign to attract potential volunteers and created an engaging onboarding process. Regular appreciation events and constructive feedback mechanisms were introduced to retain the engaged volunteers.

Securing Business Donations: Velocity Partners leveraged its vast network and reputation to connect StandUP Ukraine with potential business donors. We developed a strong fundraising strategy that clearly outlined StandUP Ukraine's mission, plans, and the benefits for businesses. We trained StandUP Ukraine's team to negotiate and maintain relationships with these business donors.

Services Rendered

We assisted in establishing a platform and acquired products and services from a wide range of vendors including:

• Microsoft
• Sangoma
• Countable
• AirBNB

Providing temporary housing with AIRBNB.

Airbnb.org gives refugees access to seasoned hosts willing to put up their listings free of charge or at a significant discount. It also makes it easy for people with extra space to make those rooms available for refugees.

Airbnb.org gives refugees access to seasoned hosts willing to put up their listings free of charge or at a significant discount. It also makes it easy for people with extra space to make those rooms available for refugees.  

‍

Results

Over six months, Velocity Partners closely collaborated with StandUP Ukraine. We organized strategic workshops, training sessions, and continuous mentoring to equip the StandUP Ukraine team with the necessary skills. We also provided ongoing support to ensure a smooth transition and execution of the new strategies including:

• The establishment of StandUP Ukraine as a non-profit organization , with a solid framework in place for future growth and development.
• The Establishment of a communication platform that continues to serve the Ukrainian Diaspora;
• The provisioning of a Video Conferencing and Learning Platform that can supports skills retraining.‍
• ‍Over 20 businesses pledged their support in the form of time and products after the initial outreach campaign.

StandUP Ukraine was able to solicit and receive support from the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Conclusion

Velocity Partners' holistic and strategic support allows StandUP Ukraine to transcend its initial challenges. Today, StandUP Ukraine operates as a non-profit organization in Ukraine, making significant strides towards achieving its mission. This case study illustrates the power of effective consulting and the transformation that can be achieved with the right guidance and strategies.

Through this partnership, Velocity Partners once again demonstrated its commitment to societal betterment and proved its capability to drive significant transformation, even in the most challenging of circumstances.

‍

‍