Call for Applications: Democracy and Media Foundation Grant Program

Deadline: 14 May 2017

Do you have an initiative that stimulates independent and critical media or one that sustains or promotes a strong and just democratic state? Does your initiative match our pillars of truth-seeking, innovation in media, fundamental rights and liberties, vigorous democracy or commemoration and remembrance? Then submit a project proposal for The Democracy and Media Foundation’s Grant Program.

The Democracy and Media Foundation is seeking applications for its Grant program to counter all forms of totalitarianism in social and political life and to strive for a vigorous democracy and multifaceted, opinionating media.

Objectives

Objective 1: Stimulating independent, critical media

Pillar: Truth-seeking
- Priority: investigative journalism relevant for public interest, preferably aimed at reducing or dismantling threats to our fundamental rights
Pillar: Media innovation
- Priority: Developing innovative business and distribution models.
- Priority: Researching and/or responding to new power dynamics in today’s media landscape.
- Priority: Innovative approaches to journalism that garner a steady following of readers who are interested in stories supporting the objectives of the Democracy and Media Foundation.

Objective 2: Guaranteeing and upholding a strong, just constitutional democracy.

Pillar: Fundamental rights and liberties
- Priority: Initiatives concerned with freedom of speech.
- Priority: Initiatives concerned with the ban on discrimination and racism.
- Priority: Initiatives concerned with respect for (digital) privacy and civil rights.
Pillar: Vigorous democracy
- Priority: Developing new inclusive democratic practices in a way that suits the digital era of informed citizens with diverse backgrounds.
- Priority: Contributing to increasing accountability of governments, companies and social institutions.
Pillar: Commemoration and Remembrance (always with a direct and substantial link to today)
- Priorities for initiatives which pay attention to:
  - the history of resistance newspaper Het Parool
  - events that took place during the Second World War
  - the history of Dutch slavery and the colonial past of the Netherlands
  - resistance against totalitarian power in general

Funding Information

Grants within this call for applications are considered up to a maximum amount of €75.000 per project (year).
The average amount granted by the Democracy and Media Foundation per project is €15.000.
The foundation will request an audit report on the financial reports for projects that receive €50.000 or more.

Eligibility Criteria

The foundation welcomes individual initiators, groups, once only or structural partnerships and/or organisations.
The Democracy and Media Foundation only supports projects and initiatives that:
- meet a demonstrable need;
- are embedded in a broader strategy for change;
- are based on a clear and solid plan, and for which it is likely that (selfdefined) goals will be reached
- are embedded among the people the project pertains to (if applicable).
Applicants and/or initiatives that take an activating or mobilising role are preferred;
If the applicant is a corporation, the initiative must have a transparent governance structure with clearly separated functions;
Initiatives by individuals are welcomed, provided that the applicant has a demonstrable track record in the field in which they are requesting subsidy;
Each application should be accompanied by a clear and factual budget with a matching financing plan, including a realistic cost-benefit ratio.
The foundation prioritizes projects and organizations with clear added value in the Netherlands. Within the Netherlands, preference goes out to projects with an international or national outlook, as well as local initiatives that are part of a broader strategy for change.