CFAs: Small Projects for Civil Society Organisations (Portugal)

The Small Projects Grant Call supports civil society organisations (CSOs) in Portugal by strengthening their organisational capacity, sustainability, collaboration, and role in democratic society. The programme provides grants of €25,000 to €37,500 for projects lasting 6 to 18 months, focusing on staff development, governance, financial sustainability, networking, advocacy, and improving the enabling environment for civil society.

What is the Small Projects Grant Call?

The Small Projects Grant Call is a funding opportunity designed to strengthen civil society organisations in Portugal by improving their internal capacity and supporting collaboration across the sector.

The programme helps CSOs become more:

Sustainable
Effective
Transparent
Resilient
Collaborative
Capable of creating long-term social impact

The initiative supports organisations working to strengthen democracy, human rights, citizen participation, and the overall role of civil society.

Objectives of the Small Projects Grant Programme

The main objective of this call is to strengthen civil society organisations and improve their long-term sustainability.

The programme focuses on two main outcome areas:

Organisational Development Supported
An Enabling Environment for Civil Society Supported

Outcome Area 1: Organisational Development Supported

This area focuses on improving the internal capacity of civil society organisations.

Projects should help strengthen:

Staff knowledge and skills
Volunteer capabilities
Organisational systems
Governance practices
Financial sustainability
Strategic planning capacity

Supported Activities Under Organisational Development

Eligible activities may include:

Training and Capacity Building

Examples:

Professional training programmes
Skills development workshops
Staff and volunteer learning activities

Mentoring and Consulting Support

Projects may provide:

Organisational coaching
Expert consulting
Strategic guidance

Improving Internal Systems

Activities may support:

Better administrative processes
Transparent financial management
Accountability systems
Monitoring and evaluation frameworks

Strengthening Volunteer Management

Projects may improve:

Volunteer recruitment
Volunteer engagement strategies
Volunteer coordination systems

Financial Sustainability

Activities may include:

Fundraising strategy development
Diversification of funding sources
Social entrepreneurship initiatives

Outcome Area 2: Enabling Environment for Civil Society Supported

This area focuses on strengthening the wider civil society sector by improving coordination, recognition, and collective action.

Projects may support:

Umbrella organisations
Civil society networks
Knowledge-sharing platforms
Cooperation mechanisms
Sector-wide collaboration

Key Goals

This outcome area aims to:

Increase recognition of civil society organisations
Strengthen collective voice
Reduce fragmentation within the sector
Improve cooperation between CSOs and stakeholders
Increase collective impact

Key Focus Areas of the Grant

The programme supports projects related to:

Organisational Sustainability

Projects can improve:

Strategic planning
Governance structures
Internal management
Institutional resilience

Good Governance and Accountability

Supported activities may focus on:

Transparent decision-making
Financial accountability
Evaluation systems
Responsible management practices

Collaboration and Networking

Projects may develop:

Partnerships between CSOs
Cooperation platforms
Knowledge exchange networks

Democracy, Human Rights, and Citizen Engagement

Activities may strengthen:

Democratic participation
Civic engagement
Human rights awareness
Community involvement

Advocacy and Sector Recognition

Projects can support:

Advocacy strategies
Public awareness campaigns
Recognition of the civil society sector
Collective representation

Legal and Regulatory Improvements

The programme also supports initiatives that promote:

Better legal frameworks for CSOs
Reduced administrative barriers
Stronger legal protections for civil society organisations

Funding Details

The Small Projects Grant Call provides:

Total available funding: €450,000
Grant amount per project: €25,000 to €37,500
Project duration: 6 to 18 months

Funding is intended to support practical activities that improve organisational capacity and sector development.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

Eligible applicants are:

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)
Established in Portugal
Non-profit entities
Voluntary organisations
Private organisations serving public interest or common good purposes

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

Be legally established in Portugal
Operate without commercial objectives
Be independent from government bodies
Be independent from political parties
Be independent from commercial organisations

Who is Not Eligible?

The following organisations cannot apply:

Political organisations
Political parties
Religious institutions

Additionally:

Civil society organisations with an average annual turnover of €2,000,000 or more are not eligible for capacity-building projects under Outcome 3 where the organisation itself is the primary target of capacity-building activities.

Eligible Project Activities

Projects may include:

Training Programmes

Examples:

Leadership development
Staff training
Volunteer education
Skills-building workshops

Strategic Development Activities

Examples:

Strategic planning
Organisational reviews
Capacity assessments

Communication and Outreach

Examples:

Marketing strategies
Public communication plans
Citizen engagement activities

Governance Improvement

Examples:

Governance frameworks
Accountability systems
Evaluation tools

Fundraising and Sustainability

Examples:

Fundraising strategies
New funding models
Social enterprise approaches

Sector Collaboration

Examples:

Networking events
Knowledge-sharing activities
Partnership development

How to Apply for the Small Projects Grant

Applicants should follow these steps:

Step 1: Develop a Project Concept

Organisations should identify:

Capacity challenges
Sector needs
Expected improvements
Target beneficiaries

Step 2: Design Project Activities

Applicants should explain:

Planned activities
Implementation timeline
Expected outcomes
Sustainability approach

Step 3: Prepare Budget Information

The proposal should include:

Project costs
Use of grant funds
Financial planning

Step 4: Submit Application

Applicants must submit their proposal according to the call requirements and provide all required organisational documents.

Assessment Criteria

Applications will likely be assessed based on:

Organisational Need

Reviewers will consider:

Current capacity challenges
Development needs
Potential for improvement

Project Quality

Assessment includes:

Clear objectives
Practical activities
Feasible implementation plans

Sustainability Impact

Projects should demonstrate:

Long-term organisational benefits
Improved resilience
Continued impact after funding ends

Sector Contribution

Projects supporting collaboration and collective impact may receive stronger consideration.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants should:

Clearly identify organisational challenges
Connect activities with long-term sustainability
Include measurable outcomes
Demonstrate community benefit
Show how improvements will continue after the project
Highlight collaboration opportunities

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Proposing projects unrelated to civil society capacity building
Providing unclear objectives
Ignoring sustainability planning
Submitting incomplete documentation
Failing to explain expected organisational improvements

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Small Projects Grant Call?

It is a funding programme supporting civil society organisations in Portugal to improve their capacity, sustainability, and collaboration.

2. How much funding can organisations receive?

Eligible projects can receive grants between €25,000 and €37,500.

3. How long can projects last?

Projects must have a duration of 6 to 18 months.

4. Who can apply?

Legally established nonprofit civil society organisations in Portugal can apply if they meet eligibility requirements.

5. What types of activities are supported?

The programme supports training, mentoring, consulting, governance improvements, fundraising strategies, networking, advocacy, and organisational development.

6. Can political parties or religious institutions apply?

No. Political organisations, political parties, and religious institutions are not eligible.

7. What is the total funding available?

The total available budget for the call is €450,000.

Conclusion

The Small Projects Grant Call provides important support for civil society organisations in Portugal by improving organisational capacity, strengthening cooperation, and promoting a stronger civic sector. Through funding for training, governance, sustainability, and collaboration initiatives, the programme helps CSOs become more effective contributors to democracy, human rights, and community development.