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What is the purpose of the competition?

There is a significant demand for change in small towns, and local residents are best aware of what is needed to create a comfortable urban environment.

The "Grants.FM" program by the Melnychenko Foundation is specifically designed to engage with local communities, seeking ideas that can have a systemic impact on the quality of life for every citizen and the community as a whole.

The competition welcomes initiatives that promote the service economy, which involves creating and developing new, unique services for the competition area and expanding the service sector. It is expected that projects enhancing the service economy can be implemented across all seven categories:

• “ART.FM”: Support for cultural initiatives

• “MOVEMENT.FM”: Development of sports and physical culture

• “GOOD.FM”: Social support and protection for citizens

• “HEALTHY.LIFE.FM”: Promotion of a healthy lifestyle

• “ENVIRONMENT.FM”: Development of urban environments

• “TALENTS.FM”: Support for talents and projects in science and education

• “ECO.FM”: Environmental protection and animal welfare

“During the second wave of the 'Grants.FM' competition, we, along with the Expert Council, decided to form a pool of anchor projects, which the Foundation will further promote by providing additional consulting and organizational support for implementation. We want vibrant success stories to emerge in cities that inspire new active citizens to take bold initiatives,” noted Tatyana Zhuravleva, General Director of the Melnychenko Foundation. Among the projects supported by the Foundation in 2024, the "Dream Run" became an anchor project that, thanks to organizational support, was able to scale to 15 locations and gather over 1,500 running enthusiasts (compared to 1 city and 300 people the previous year).

Winners of the "Grants.FM" competition for 2024. Photo: Press Service of the Melnychenko Foundation.

Who can submit ideas for the competition?

Applications can be submitted by non-profit and commercial organizations, government and municipal institutions, local public organizations of territorial self-governance, as well as initiative groups of citizens, individual entrepreneurs, and self-employed individuals.

Participants can access the educational course "Project Factory," which will help prepare applications for the competition, learn about the fundamental principles of project management, and receive initial feedback from the competition organizers and peers.

You can register for the course today via the link.

Who is expected to see changes?

As in the previous year, applications are accepted from participants from all regions of Russia; however, winning projects will be implemented in 45 settlements across 18 regions of Russia from May 2025 to December 2025:

• Altai Krai – Barnaul, Biysk, Rubtsovsk;

• Republic of Buryatia – Sagan-Nur;

• Volgograd Region – Kotelnikovo;

• Transbaikal Krai – Borzinsky District, Nikolsk, Uletovsky District;

• Kemerovo Region – Leninsk-Kuznetsky, Kiselevsk, Prokopyevsk, Kemerovo, Myski, Novokuznetsk, Belovsky Urban District, Polysayevo;

• Krasnodar Krai – Belorechensk, Tuapse;

• Krasnoyarsk Krai – Borodino, Minusinsk, Nazarovo, Sharypovo, Kansk, Krasnoyarsk;

• Leningrad Region – Kingisepp, Ust-Luga;

• Murmansk Region – Kovdor, Murmansk;

• Novosibirsk Region – Kuibyshev, Novosibirsk;

• Perm Krai – Berezniki (Usolie);

• Primorsky Krai – Novoshakhtinsk, Luchegorsk, Nakhodka;

• Republic of Tuva – Kyzyl;

• Republic of Khakassia – Chernogorsk, Abakan, Altai District, Kirba, Ust-Abakan District;

• Sverdlovsk Region – Reftinsky;

• Stavropol Krai – Nevinnomyssk;

• Tula Region – Novomoskovsk;

• Khabarovsk Krai – Chyegdomyn, Vanino.

Winners of the "Grants.FM" competition for 2024. Photo: Press Service of the Melnychenko Foundation.

How did it go last time?

The Melnychenko Foundation is holding the urban environment development competition for the second time. The 84 winners from the first wave of the competition, which took place in the fall of 2024, are already turning their ideas into reality – they have been allocated 88 million rubles for all developments. However, the total investment in winning projects will exceed 142 million rubles, as most competition participants managed to attract co-financing totaling over 54 million rubles.

The initiatives of the competition winners are being implemented in 38 municipalities. The most active participants include Berezniki (Perm Krai), Abakan, Krasnoyarsk, Chernogorsk (Khakassia), Prokopyevsk (Kemerovo Region), and Nazarovo (Krasnoyarsk Krai). The leaders in regional statistics are Krasnoyarsk Krai, Kemerovo Region, and Khakassia.

The majority of the winning applications were related to proposals in the fields of culture and arts, education and enlightenment, sports, and the service economy. Several grant recipients were ready to implement their projects across multiple locations.

The application period for the new "Grants.FM" competition will last until March 23. The winners will be announced on April 25.

Detailed information about "Grants.FM 2025," participating regions, and the educational program is available on the official website www.grantsfm.ru.