Call for Microgrants to Advance Emerging Organisations

Deadline: 8-May-23

The Operator of the Active Citizens Fund – Regional Programme (ACF Regional, ACFR), i.e. the consortium made up of the Foundation in Support for Local Democracy (leader), the Education for Democracy Foundation, and the Information Society Development Foundation, issues this call for microgrants to advance emerging organisations.

The Active Citizens Fund – Regional Programme is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants and Norway Grants.

Microgrants are funds awarded to less experienced organisations for on-going activities connected with team building and work organisation, recognisability, and cooperating within local communities. The objective behind this call is to provide optimal conditions for the development and proper functioning of emerging organisations and entities which have yet to adopt internal rules and procedures, agree on workplace culture, and find ways to effectively reach out to the recipients of their activities.

The legal framework for the Programme is provided by:

• Agreement between the Kingdom of Norway and the European Union on the Norwegian Financial Mechanism
• Memorandum of Understanding on the Implementation of the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014–2021 between Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway and the Republic of Poland,
• Memorandum of Understanding on the Implementation of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014–2021 between the Kingdom of Norway and the Republic of Poland,
• Programme Implementation Agreement on the implementation of the Active Citizens Fund – Regional Programme in Poland financed from the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014–2021 and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014–2021 between the Financial Mechanism Office affiliated with the European Free Trade Association and the Foundation in Support of Local Democracy,
• Manual for Fund Operators of the Active Citizens Fund

Areas of Support

• All initiatives financed from microgrants for emerging organisations should contribute to achieving Area 4 outcomes, that is they should foster the development of the social sector.
• Area 4 Support for social sector development.
  • Area 4 actions ought to aid organisations in:
    • clearly defining their mission (what they intend to change by taking grant-funded actions, how they intend to implement change, and how their actions differ from those of other organisations) in response to diagnosed needs of specific beneficiary groups, development plans of local governments or specific sectors (e.g. social services, education, etc.);
    • fulfilling their mission in a flexible way which allows for adjusting to evolving conditions, basing their mission on an ongoing reflection about long-term goals which exceeds the timelines of individual projects;
    • diversifying their budgets, i.e. reducing dependence on a single source of financing/a single funder to the highest degree possible; decreasing the share of citizen donations in the overall budget so as to ensure that the organisation has the resources for ensuring stable operations, as well as independent formulation of goals and the methods of their achievement;
    • implementing effective fundraising strategies – increasing financial independence by pursuing business activity, for-profit public benefit activity and establishing non-profit Polish limited liability companies
    • improving management by effectively using digital tools for project implementation, team work, and communications with beneficiaries;
    • enhancing partnerships and cooperation networks which bring together other organisations, informal groups, as well as public institutions and business;
    • offering staff and volunteers stable and attractive work conditions, along with opportunities for continuous competence improvement, boosting their motivation to become involved in a given organisation’s mission by giving them a say about the organisation’s future development;
    • ensuring transparency; strengthening the efficiency of advocacy measures that help others understand the benefits ushered in by a given organisation’s activity and the role it plays in advancing civil society;
    • communicating effectively to spread information about its actions, reach selected beneficiary groups, and successfully satisfy their needs.
    • Under this call, microgrants for emerging organisations will be awarded only to entities whose founding documents list activities aligned with at least one of the ACF-Regional outcomes. Microgrant-funded mandatory actions aimed at external beneficiaries must also be congruent with at least one of the four support areas:
      • Area 1 Increased support for human rights.
        • In Area 1 – actions aiming to:
          • raise awareness about human rights and equal treatment;
          • counteract and prevent human right violations and all other forms of discrimination;
          • provide support to those suffering from human right violations and/or discrimination.
      • Area 2 Vulnerable groups empowered.
        • In Area 2 – actions aiming to:
          • raise awareness about the needs of minority group members and those at risk of social exclusion;
          • raise awareness of social inequalities;
          • accelerate social integration;
          • empower minority group members and people at risk of social exclusion.
      • Area 3 Strengthened democratic culture and civic awareness.
        • In Area 3 – actions aiming to:
          • show how non-governmental organisations impact the development of local communities and democratic culture;
          • strengthen and build trust towards civil society;
          • increase the significance of citizenship education;
          • expand cooperation and partnerships at local level;
          • enhance critical thinking skills;
          • strengthen watchdogs;
          • disseminate knowledge on climate change;
          • facilitate advocacy for social causes.

Funding Information

• The total allocation earmarked for this call is EUR 360,000 and comes from Norway Grants. The entire call envelope will support actions related to Outcome 4: Supporting the development of civic sector.
• There is one type of microgrant available:
  • minimum grant amount: EUR 10,000
  • maximum grant amount: EUR 12,000
  • implementation period: 6 to 8 months,
  • co-financing: optional,
  • for organisations registered not earlier than on 28 February 2020 and not later than on 28 February 2023

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants, i.e. entities who intend to submit applications, must meet the following criteria:

• they are registered with the National Court Register (KRS), entered into the register of ordinary associations or the register of Rural Housewives Circles maintained by the President of the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture (ARiMR);
• they have not been registered before 28 February 2020 or after 28 February 2023;
• the objectives stated in their founding documents are aligned with at least one ACF-Regional support area (Increased support for human rights, Vulnerable groups are empowered; Strengthened democratic culture and civic awareness; Support for social sector development);
• they have not received any grant under calls organised by the Active Citizens Fund – Regional Programme or the Active Citizens Fund – National Programme;
• they are capable of presenting their financial statements prior to signing the grant contract or, if they are not required to draft financial statements, a comprehensive summary of revenue and expenditure for the last reporting year.
• they are independent of local, regional and central authorities, public entities, political parties and for-profit entities;
• they do not seek to generate profit, and – if they pursue business activity – any profit made is allocated to the objects and aims listed in their memorandum of association;
• they act for the common good, not only to the benefit of its members;
• they act for the public interest, are driven by democratic values, and respect human rights;
• no application for declaring bankruptcy has been filed against the Applicant, the Applicant is not in liquidation or receivership, has not suspended activity and there are no similar proceedings pending against the Applicant;

For more information, visit Active Citizens Fund.