Crowdstarter - training program

CrowdStarter is a crowdfunding training program for civil society organizations and grassroots initiatives, created by the My City team. The program is designed to strengthen the capacity of local and regional NGOs to implement socially impactful projects, while also providing expert guidance and financial support.

Crowdfunding is a way of raising funds collectively, where people contribute to projects they care about. It works by gathering small donations from a large number of supporters. Through the My City platform, 297 community projects have already been successfully funded and implemented.

During the program, you will learn how to:

• plan and deliver projects effectively
• set clear goals and adapt to change
• communicate your idea and impact clearly
• develop and run communication strategies
• launch and manage a crowdfunding campaign
• analyze available resources and attract new ones
• implement projects and prepare reports

You’ll go through the full journey — from shaping your project idea to launching a fundraising campaign and bringing your project to life.

• Learning phase, including:

  • A 3-day offline intensive.
  • One month of expert consultations.
• Crowdfunding campaign launch, including an online pitch session with a chance to receive co-funding.
• Project implementation and reporting.

The total duration is 6 months + project implementation period.

Yes, attending offline events is a required part of the program.

The program will select 23 teams, each consisting of 2–3 participants. Your project team may include more people, but only 2–3 members can take part in the training program.

Yes, you should already have a project idea. You can come with a draft concept, and we’ll help you refine it during the program. What matters most is your motivation to improve your community.

1. Your team consists of 2–3 members.
2. The team leader is at least 18 years old.
3. Your project idea fits one of the program’s priority areas.
4. Experience in project management, crowdfunding, or volunteering is a plus.
5. You have a registered NGO or at least one team member is a sole proprietor. We operate transparently, so all funds can only be transferred to official accounts.

1. Build your team and choose a team leader.
2. Align on your project idea or the problem you want to solve.
3. Fill out the application form.

Participation is free of charge, but selection is competitive due to limited spots.

We cover accommodation and meals during offline events and reimburse travel costs.

As part of the program, you will design and run your own crowdfunding campaign on the My City platform and raise funds using the skills you gain during training.

Yes. During the program, teams will present their projects at an online pitch session evaluated by independent experts. As an incentive, 5 top-scoring teams will receive a mini-grant of $1,000 (in UAH equivalent), covering up to 50% of the project budget.

Important:

To be eligible, your team must independently raise at least 20% of the planned budget.

A pitch is a short presentation designed to convince others of your project’s value. It includes a 10-minute presentation followed by a Q&A session with the expert jury.

Yes, you can receive a certificate and a recommendation letter from My City if you:

• complete all stages of the program and attend offline events
• successfully run your crowdfunding campaign and submit a final report on time

Yes. You’ll have access to:

• expert consultants
• the My City team
• peer support from other participants

You can reach out via email: m.mazhak@mycity.one.

During the program, you can also contact the project manager directly.