Active Citizens – Regional Fund Program

Deadline: 17-May-21

The Active Citizens Fund invites non-governmental organizations to submit applications, for its Regional Fund Program to permanently strengthen social organizations in Poland and to develop the civil society for which social diversity, equal treatment and dialogue are of particular value.

The Active Citizens – Regional Fund program is implemented by a consortium composed of: Foundation for the Development of Local Democracy (leader), the Education for Democracy Foundation and the Information Society Development Foundation. The program is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through EEA Grants.

Focus Areas

• Protection of human rights;
• Action for social diversity and counteracting exclusion;
• Building a democratic culture and civic involvement at the local level;
• Support for the development of the social sector.

Funding Information

• The amount allocated to grants in the first call for proposals is EUR 11,955,000, broken down into individual areas of support:
  • Area 1. Human rights protection (including gender equality): EUR 2,850,000,
  • Area 2. Action for social diversity and counteracting exclusion: EUR 2 950 000,
  • Area 3. Building a democratic culture and civic involvement at the local level (including issues related to environmental protection): amount of EUR 4,155,000,
  • Area 4. Support for the development of the social sector (implemented as a module in projects from areas 1-3): the amount of EUR 2,000,000.
• In the competition, applications can be submitted in the path for small or large grants.
  • Small grants:
    • minimum grant amount: EUR 6,000,
    • maximum grant amount: EUR 23,000,
    • delivery time: from 6 to 18 months,
    • own contribution: optional,
    • for organizations operating for a minimum of 6 months (from the date of announcement of the call for applications, i.e. March 17, 2021),
    • the need to demonstrate at least one person with experience in the selected subject area in the team,
    • possibility of obtaining additional funds for bilateral cooperation with entities from the Donor States: up to EUR 3,450 (maximum 15% of the grant amount),
    • the possibility of obtaining additional funds for the institutional development of the Applicant: up to EUR 5060 (maximum 22% of the grant amount).
  • Large grants:
    • minimum grant amount: EUR 23 001,
    • maximum grant amount: EUR 84,000,
    • delivery time: from 12 to 24 months,
    • own contribution: optional,
    • for organizations operating for a minimum of 12 months (from the date of announcement of the call for proposals, i.e. March 17, 2021),
    • the requirement for the Applicant to demonstrate the experience of implementing at least 3 projects in the selected thematic area in the last three years (implemented and – in the case of projects financed by subsidies – settled by the date of announcement of the call for proposals, i.e. March 17, 2021),
    • possibility of obtaining additional funds for bilateral cooperation with entities from the Donor States: up to EUR 12,600 (maximum 15% of the grant amount),
    • the possibility of obtaining additional funds for the institutional development of the Applicant: up to EUR 18,480 (maximum 22% of the grant amount).

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants, i.e. entities that can apply independently or be leaders of partnerships applying for grants, may be:
  • associations, foundations and unions of associations;
  • social cooperatives;
  • non-profit companies;
  • rural housewives’ clubs;
  • Church legal persons, provided that their statutory objectives include public benefit activities, are registered in the National Court Register, have the option of incurring liabilities on their own.
• The applicant may implement the project independently or in cooperation with the Partner or Partners. The program encourages cooperating as part of projects with Partners and using each other’s knowledge and experience. Partners in the project may be:
  • non-governmental organizations, public and private entities, non-commercial and commercial (excluding sole proprietorship) with:
    • Poland,
    • other Beneficiary States of the EEA Funds (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary),
    • Donor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway),
    • neighboring countries, ie countries outside the European Economic Area bordering on Poland (Belarus, Russian Federation, Ukraine),
  • international organizations, their bodies or representations,
  • informal groups from Poland, as long as they act for the public good, are voluntary and non-discriminatory, independent of local, regional and national authorities as well as other public authorities, political parties, religious institutions and commercial entities.

For more information, visit https://aktywniobywatele-regionalny.org.pl/zloz-wniosek-i-uzyskaj-dofinansowanie-w-pierwszym-konkursie-grantowym/