CASE STUDIES · Incubating new charities · Sustainability

Ukrainian Action

Helping friends and a community facing the unimaginable

From a truck to a movement – acting fast in the face of a crisis

Fund type

Collective Fund

Amount raised/granted

c.£500k

Years

2022–2024

Background

In early 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, Jeffrey Hartman sprang into action to support victims of the war by delivering and donating much needed vehicles filled with supplies to his friends in Ukraine, who he had met whilst serving in the US Peace Corps in Ukraine in 2002 - 2004. Successful initial crowdfunding quickly exceeded the initial £10,000 target for a pick-up truck filled with medical and humanitarian aid and Ukrainian Action (UA) was established. They had always planned to register as a charity in the UK but in the interim they needed a roof under which to operate. That’s when they came to Prism.

Problem

Given the urgent situation in Ukraine, speed was of the essence, and after being introduced to Prism, the next step was to set up a Collective Fund (CF). Through the CF, Prism was able to oversee the regulation and governance of the fund, and ensure that all activities were operating within UK charitable law. Importantly, the group were now also able to raise funds tax effectively, benefitting from Gift Aid where applicable.

Working with Prism allowed UA to focus on delivering on its objectives during a critical time: the practicalities of delivering aid to Ukraine, expanding its teams and programmes, and fundraising.

Aid loaded on trucks in Germany by UA founder Jeff Hartman.JPG

UA Co-Founders Jeff and Natasha Hartman on convoy in October 2022.jpg

UA founder Jeff Hartman loading aid on to pick up truck.JPG

Ukrainian Action donated vehicle in Kyiv, in front to St Michaels Cathedral.JPG

“People that I knew personally were forced into an unimaginable situation. They were accountants, lawyers, artists, hospitality workers, and were suddenly defending their homeland, their families were put in vulnerable positions, their cities were under attack, daily life was interrupted and the provisions that they had and relied on, things that you and I take for granted, they simply did not have. So I wanted to help as much as possible by bringing them the things that they needed.”

–– Jeffrey Hartman. Co-Founder, Ukrainian Action

Impact

Three years later Ukrainian Action has grown rapidly, having raised over £4 million and has since obtained its own registration with the UK charity commission.

The impact is clear: over 69 humanitarian aid convoys, UA has delivered and donated 350 vehicles filled with medical and humanitarian supplies to people in need in Ukraine. The vehicles have been driven by over 400 volunteer drivers from the UK to Ukraine.

UA supports local charities in Ukraine, municipalities and other organisations with vehicles for medical evacuation and the distribution of humanitarian aid to damaged regions. They have supplied generators and aid to hospitals, schools, shelters and orphanages.

In 2024, Ukrainian Action established a pioneering rehabilitation programme for injured Ukrainian veterans taking place in Ukraine’s Carpathian mountains where veterans participate in outdoor mountain sports alongside a programme of psychological support and wellness activities.

A core team of c.40 volunteers supports its activities across the UK, Poland, Ukraine and USA.