The Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation (DIF)

The Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation (DIF) is a Ukrainian non-governmental analytical, advocacy and educational organisation based in Kyiv. Founded in 1992 by Ilko Kucheriv, it began as a civic organisation and from 2000 developed into a full analytical and research centre that studies public opinion, analyses state policy and develops evidence-based proposals for decision-makers and the public in the field of Ukraine's democratic transformation and its integration into the community of European democracies. In 2010, after Kucheriv's death, the foundation was renamed in his honour. DIF works in three connected roles: as a think tank conducting policy analysis and advocating reforms that meet society's demand for European standards; as a research organisation tracking the main trends in public opinion; and as an educational institution informing and teaching the public and stakeholders about the most pressing socio-political issues. Its research output includes nationwide and regional surveys, exit polls, analytical reports and the long-running bulletin "Political Portrait of Ukraine", published since 1993. The foundation has been involved in election exit polling in Ukraine since 1998, and by 2007 it had conducted 50 all-Ukrainian and around 40 regional surveys. Its staff have also advised exit-poll participants abroad, including during the 2008 presidential elections in Georgia. Since 2010 DIF has been a member of PASOS, the international network of think tanks. In 2020 it ranked 52nd among think tanks in Central and Eastern Europe in the Global Go To Think Tank Index compiled by the University of Pennsylvania. DIF is led by a small leadership team. Ilko Kucheriv directed the foundation from 1992 until 2010; the sociologist Iryna Bekeshkina headed it from 2010 to 2020; and since 2020 the political scientist Oleksiy Haran has served as its academic director. The foundation is funded mainly by grants from international donors and embassies; according to its 2020 annual report it spent 10.1 million hryvnias, of which 8.9 million came from grant-makers, with the largest donors being the international organisation Pact and the British Embassy in Ukraine. DIF publishes its financial reports and maintains an active public profile through surveys, expert commentary, events and media appearances.

The Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation was founded in 1992 in Kyiv as a civic organisation. According to the Russian-language Wikipedia entry, it was initially established as a public organisation supporting Ukraine's accession to the NATO military-political bloc, with Ilko Kucheriv as its founder. In 2000 the foundation began operating as an analytical and research centre, initiating conferences such as "Analytical and Research Centres and Government" and "Dialogue and Cooperation" that brought together experts from think tanks and government. From 1998 the foundation took part in conducting exit polls in Ukraine. By 2007 it had carried out 50 all-Ukrainian and around 40 regional surveys, and its staff advised participants in exit polling during the 2008 presidential elections in Georgia. Since 1993 it has published the bulletin "Political Portrait of Ukraine". In 2010 it joined PASOS, an international network of think tanks. Ilko Kucheriv died in 2010, and the foundation was renamed in his honour. He was succeeded as director by the sociologist Iryna Bekeshkina, who led the organisation from 2010 to 2020 and became a symbol of objective Ukrainian sociology. In 2015 the political scientist Oleksiy Haran, a professor at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, joined the team and became its academic director; since 2020 he has headed the foundation's leadership. In 2020 the foundation ranked 52nd among think tanks in Central and Eastern Europe in the Global Go To Think Tank Index produced by the University of Pennsylvania. Its 2020 annual report showed expenditures of 10.1 million hryvnias, with 8.9 million received from grant-makers; the largest donors were the international organisation Pact (2.9 million hryvnias) and the British Embassy in Ukraine (1.9 million hryvnias). The foundation continues to publish surveys, analytical reports and expert commentary on Ukrainian politics, public opinion and democratic reform.

• 2020

  Ranks 52nd among Central and Eastern European think tanks in the Global Go To Think Tank Index.

• 2020

  Oleksiy Haran becomes head of the foundation's leadership.

• 2015

  Oleksiy Haran joins the team and becomes academic director.

• 2010

  Ilko Kucheriv dies; the foundation is renamed in his honour and joins the PASOS network.

• 2010

  Iryna Bekeshkina becomes director, leading the foundation until 2020.

• 2008

  Staff advise exit-poll participants during Georgia's presidential elections.

• 2007

  Has conducted 50 all-Ukrainian and around 40 regional surveys.

• 2000

  Transforms into an analytical and research centre, initiating conferences for think tanks and government.

• 1998

  Begins participating in election exit polls in Ukraine.

• 1993

  Begins publishing the bulletin "Political Portrait of Ukraine".

• 1992

  Foundation established in Kyiv by Ilko Kucheriv as a civic organisation.

One of Ukraine's leading non-governmental think tanks, combining public-opinion research with policy analysis and civic education, and advocating Ukraine's democratic transformation and European integration.

• Ukrainian Democratic Barometer

  A recurring survey series tracking public opinion on democracy and governance in Ukraine.

• Political Portrait of Ukraine

  A bulletin published by the foundation since 1993.

• Exit polls

  Election-day surveys conducted in Ukraine since 1998.

• Analytical reports

  Policy and research reports on Ukrainian politics, society and reform.

1. 1Головна - Фонд «Демократичні ініціативи» ім. Ілька Кучеріваdif.org.ua
2. 2Про нас - Фонд «Демократичні ініціативи» ім. Ілька Кучеріваdif.org.ua
3. 3Wikidata: The Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation (DIF)wikidata.org
4. 4Демократические инициативы — Википедияru.wikipedia.org