Call for Small Grant Proposals to Advance Civic Freedoms in Thailand

Deadline: 15-Feb-2026

The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) is offering grants of up to USD 30,000 to civil society organizations in Thailand to strengthen civic freedoms, advocate for rights-respecting policies, and enhance civil society resilience. The program prioritizes locally led initiatives addressing restrictive laws, digital surveillance, and legal harassment while promoting gender inclusion and the participation of marginalized groups.

Overview

This small grants opportunity supports Thai non-profit organizations working to protect and advance civic freedoms, including freedom of association, peaceful assembly, expression, and participation. The initiative focuses on advocacy, legal reform, strategic engagement, and resilience-building for civil society under challenging conditions. Projects should be locally led, forward-looking, and contribute to an enabling legal and policy environment.

Key Focus Areas

Civic Freedoms and Legal Advocacy

• Promote laws, policies, and practices that protect civic freedoms online and offline

• Respond to restrictive legislative proposals and implementation practices

• Address legal harassment affecting civil society actors

Civil Society Resilience

• Strengthen coordination, collaboration, and strategic engagement at national, regional, and international levels

• Support organizations operating under restrictive legal, regulatory, or political conditions

• Enhance capacities to navigate limitations such as counterterrorism, anti-money laundering regulations, and digital surveillance

Gender and Inclusion

• Prioritize initiatives with a strong gender component

• Encourage projects led by women’s civil society organizations or marginalized groups

• Address disproportionate impacts of civic space restrictions on these actors

Funding and Eligibility

• Grant Amount: Up to USD 30,000 per project

• Eligible Applicants: Non-profit organizations based in Thailand

• Project Scope: Civic space advocacy, policy reform, legal support, and civil society resilience (projects focused on service delivery or humanitarian assistance are not eligible)

Objectives and Expected Outcomes

• Strengthen legal and policy protections for civic freedoms

• Enhance civil society coordination and resilience

• Increase capacity for advocacy and strategic engagement

• Promote inclusive participation, particularly for women and marginalized groups

• Contribute to an enabling environment for civil society operations

How to Apply

1. Confirm eligibility as a Thai non-profit organization.

2. Develop a project proposal outlining objectives, activities, anticipated outcomes, and methods for monitoring progress.

3. Emphasize relevance to Thailand’s civic space challenges and the applicant’s implementation capacity.

4. Include a gender and inclusion strategy if applicable.

5. Submit the application following ICNL’s official guidelines and deadlines.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Proposing projects focused primarily on service delivery or humanitarian assistance

• Omitting clear objectives, anticipated outcomes, or methods for measuring impact

• Failing to demonstrate relevance to Thailand’s civic space context

• Ignoring gender inclusion or the role of marginalized groups

• Submitting incomplete applications or missing required supporting documents

FAQs

1. Who can apply for funding? Non-profit organizations based in Thailand.

2. What is the maximum grant amount? USD 30,000 per project.

3. What types of projects are eligible? Advocacy, legal reform, civil society resilience, and civic freedoms initiatives.

4. Can projects focus on service delivery or humanitarian aid? No, these are not eligible.

5. Are projects led by women’s or marginalized groups prioritized? Yes, they receive particular attention.

6. What are the expected outcomes? Strengthened civic freedoms, enhanced civil society resilience, and inclusive engagement.

7. How should applicants demonstrate impact? Through clear objectives, activities, anticipated outcomes, and progress assessment methods.

Conclusion

The ICNL Thailand small grants provide critical support for civil society organizations working to advance civic freedoms and strengthen resilience under restrictive conditions. By funding locally led, inclusive, and advocacy-focused projects, the program aims to promote a more enabling environment for civil society, empower marginalized groups, and protect fundamental civic rights in Thailand.

For more information, visit ICNL.