The Ukrainian Media Fund joins forces with the German Marshall Fund of the United States as a new operational partner

For the past 17 months, the Ukrainian Media Fund (UMF) has delivered substantial aid to Ukrainian journalists and publishers to help them continue to perform their vital mission under extremely challenging conditions caused by the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Founded by several Nordic media associations, Bonnier News, and the Gazeta Wyborcza Foundation in March 2022, the UMF is dedicated to directly supporting journalists and publishers in the war zone.

From the UMF’s founding, the Gazeta Wyborcza Foundation has ensured the timely delivery of funds and equipment to our Ukrainian partners. As UMF’s work to foster an independent Ukrainian news media ecosystem continues to evolve, beginning in October 2023, the UMF has shifted partnership from the Gazeta Wyborcza Foundation to begin a collaboration with the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) as the operational partner.

As a leading transatlantic grant-making institution working with extensive experience in Ukraine and throughout the Black Sea region, GMF provides comprehensive support for civil society, democracy activities, independent media, and Euro-Atlantic integration. At GMF, the Ukrainian Media Fund will be led by Joanna Krawczyk, Deputy Managing Director of GMF East. “Our work to secure and build a free and independent

Ukrainian news media is as important as ever and is possible to continue thanks to the generous contributions from Nordic media companies and governments,” notes Mads Brandstrup, CEO of the Danish Media Association. “Therefore, I am happy, and excited that the German Marshall Fund of the United States has agreed to take over as a new partner. At the same time, I want to extend my warm gratitude to the Gazeta Wyborcza Foundation for their indispensable work.”

Jarosław Kurski, President of the Gazeta Wyborcza Foundation, and 1st Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Gazeta Wyborcza observes, “After 17 months of hard but very needed work, the Gazeta Wyborcza Foundation will be transferring responsibility for direct running of the UMF to a larger international organization which, among other things, specializes in providing versatile aid to Ukraine and creating effective development models for that country.”

“GMF believes in the importance of strong, independent media as a fundamental democratic building block,” remarks Heather A. Conley, President of The German Marshall Fund of the United States. “And we believe that Ukraine represents one of the most important building projects in our lifetime.

We thank the Gazeta Wyborcza Foundation for their valuable work and look forward to this new partnership with UMF. Together, our organizations can more fully support Ukrainian democracy and civil society at this critical moment in history.”