ICNL Small Grants: Strengthening Civic Freedoms & Civil Society Resilience in Philippines

Deadline: 15-Feb-2026

The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) offers grants of up to USD 30,000 to civil society organizations in the Philippines to strengthen civic freedoms and civil society resilience. The program supports advocacy, legal reform, and strategic engagement under challenging civic space conditions, prioritizing women-led and marginalized group initiatives.

Overview

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

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, administrative burdens, and legal harassment affecting civil society

• Strengthen organizational capacity to navigate legal and regulatory challenges

Civil Society Resilience

• Enhance coordination, collaboration, and strategic engagement among civil society actors

• Support engagement with accountability mechanisms at national, regional, or international levels

• Build organizational preparedness and sustainability under restrictive conditions

Gender and Inclusion

• Prioritize initiatives with a strong gender component

• Encourage projects led by women’s 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 the Philippines

• Project Scope: Civic freedoms advocacy, legal reform, resilience-building, and coordination (projects focused primarily on service delivery or humanitarian aid are not eligible)

Objectives and Expected Outcomes

• Strengthen legal and policy protections for civic freedoms

• Improve coordination and resilience among civil society actors

• Enhance engagement with national, regional, and international accountability mechanisms

• Promote inclusive participation, particularly for women and marginalized groups

• Contribute to a more enabling environment for civic action

How to Apply

1. Confirm eligibility as a non-profit organization based in the Philippines.

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

3. Emphasize relevance to the Philippine civic space environment and the organization’s capacity to implement the project.

4. Include gender and inclusion strategies if applicable.

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

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Proposing projects focused primarily on service delivery or humanitarian assistance

• Omitting clear objectives, outcomes, or methods for assessing impact

• Failing to demonstrate relevance to civic space challenges in the Philippines

• Ignoring gender inclusion or marginalized group participation

• Submitting incomplete applications or missing supporting documentation

FAQs

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

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 coordination initiatives.

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

5. Are women-led or marginalized group initiatives prioritized? Yes, they are particularly encouraged.

6. What outcomes are expected? Strengthened civic freedoms, enhanced civil society coordination, and improved engagement with accountability mechanisms.

7. How should impact be demonstrated? Through clearly defined objectives, activities, expected outcomes, and progress assessment methods.

Conclusion

The ICNL Philippines small grants provide essential support for civil society organizations working to protect civic freedoms and build resilience under challenging legal and policy conditions. By funding locally led, advocacy-focused, and inclusive projects, the program aims to strengthen civil society, empower marginalized groups, and create a more enabling environment for civic action in the Philippines.

For more information, visit ICNL.