Call No. 1 for proposals for NGOs to participate in capacity building and receive financial support

This EU grant opportunity is designed to strengthen regional civil society organizations (CSOs) in Lithuania, focusing on enhancing their capacity to protect and promote EU values. The program unfolds through a two-stage process, beginning with participation in the NGO Leaders’ Academy, followed by the opportunity to apply for project grants.

Eligible applicants are non-governmental organizations (NGOs) legally established and operating in Lithuania. To qualify, NGOs must be non-profit and independent from governmental, political, and commercial influences. Religious institutions, trade unions, and political parties are explicitly excluded. Additionally, eligible organizations must have an average annual budget of no more than €300,000 over the last three years, be registered for at least one year before the application deadline, and fulfill reporting obligations to the National Center of Registers. The program particularly targets NGOs outside major urban areas like Vilnius and Kaunas.

The funding mechanism consists of grants, with two financial phases. The first phase includes capacity-building support, and the second phase provides project grants up to €30,000 for implementation. The total funding pool for this initiative is €600,000.

The application type is a competitive open call with multiple cut-off dates, and the selection process occurs in two stages. The first stage involves selecting participants for the NGO Leaders’ Academy, where at least 40 CSOs will be chosen. Following completion of the Academy, these organizations may apply for project grants, with at least 20 expected to receive funding. While the overall success rate depends on the applicant pool size, there is a 50% progression rate from the Academy to grant funding.

There is no explicit requirement for co-funding in the application process. The entire initiative aims to enhance the capabilities of grassroots CSOs to influence decision-making and fortify their operational effectiveness, aligned with the principles of democracy, rule of law, and fundamental rights upheld by the EU.

Important application deadlines include a start date of June 10, 2025, with subsequent cut-off dates on August 20, 2025, and July 14, 2026. Each project funded through this program will have a duration of 10-12 months. Live information seminars will be conducted in various regions of Lithuania to assist potential applicants.

This opportunity thus not only aims to empower regional NGOs but also seeks to build a more robust civil society infrastructure capable of actively engaging with EU values and frameworks.

Call No. 1 for proposals for NGOs to participate in capacity building and receive financial support.

The call aims to strengthen the capacity and resilience of regional grassroots Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Lithuania to protect and promote EU values. The impact areas include a strengthened role for CSOs in integrating and promoting EU values, increased capacity to influence policy and decision-making, and more effective CSO operation and accountability.

The call follows a two-stage process. In the first stage, at least 40 regional CSOs in Lithuania will be selected to participate in the NGO Leaders’ Academy, a long-term comprehensive capacity building program. After successful graduation from the Academy, the CSOs will be invited to apply for project grants. In the second stage, at least 20 CSOs will be awarded project grants of up to EUR 30,000 each. The duration of these projects will be 10-12 months.

The opening date for the call is June 10, 2025. There are multiple cut-off deadlines. The deadline dates are August 20, 2025, at 00:59 (Brussels time) and July 14, 2026, at 00:59 (Brussels time). The call is currently open for submission. The expected duration of participation is 18 months. The total funding available is EUR 600,000. The project acronym is 2023-12-31T17:00:00.000Z. The full name of the EU funded project is Support for EU values through Civic Participation. The grant agreement number is 101187383. The topic is CERV-2024-CITIZENS-VALUES - Call for proposals for civil society organisations active on protecting and promoting Union values: call to intermediaries (giving financial support to third parties).

Eligibility requirements are as follows:

1. The applicant must be an NGO established and operating in the Republic of Lithuania, meeting the following definition: a non-profit voluntary organization established as a legal entity, having a non-commercial purpose, independent of the local, regional and central government, public entities, political parties, and commercial organizations. Religious institutions, trade unions, and political parties are not considered NGOs. This definition follows the NGO definition set forth in Article 2.3 of the Law on the Development of Non-Governmental Organizations.

2. The applicant must be a legal entity registered in the Republic of Lithuania for at least one year, i.e., no later than October 6, 2024.

3. The applicant's activities must not conflict with EU values and must actively contribute (or seek to contribute) to the promotion of EU values and fundamental rights.

4. The applicant's average annual expenses during the last three years (2022, 2023, and 2024) or since the establishment of the NGO must be no more than EUR 300,000.

5. The applicant must have submitted financial and annual activity reports to the National Center of Registers for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024, or since the establishment of the NGO.

6. The Open Lithuania Foundation must not be a shareholder of the applicant.

7. The applicant must not have completed the Open Lithuania Foundation’s organized long-term capacity building program over the past three years (2023, 2024, and 2025).

CSOs from all regions of Lithuania are eligible to apply, except for CSOs that operate exclusively in the cities of Vilnius and Kaunas.

Both stages of evaluation of the applications will consist of administrative checks and quality assessment of the applications by independent experts. The quality assessment of applications will consist of expert evaluation and review of applications by the Selection Committee and decision on funding.

Live information seminars will be held for potential applicants in 5 regions in Lithuania.

Further information, including a detailed description of the call procedure, can be found here (in Lithuanian): Prisijunk prie NVO lyderių akademijos! Kvietimas teikti paraiškas - ALF.

In summary, this opportunity is a call for proposals targeting regional grassroots CSOs in Lithuania. It aims to strengthen their capacity and resilience to promote EU values. The call involves a two-stage process: participation in a capacity building program (NGO Leaders’ Academy) followed by the opportunity to apply for project grants. The total funding available is EUR 600,000, with individual project grants up to EUR 30,000. The call has specific eligibility requirements related to the NGO's legal status, financial situation, activities, and previous participation in similar programs. CSOs operating exclusively in Vilnius and Kaunas are not eligible. The evaluation process includes administrative checks and quality assessment by experts. The ultimate goal is to empower regional CSOs to better integrate and promote EU values, influence policy, and operate effectively.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) that meet specific criteria. The definition of an NGO for this call is "A non-profit voluntary organization established as a legal entity, having a non-commercial purpose, independent of the local, regional and central government, public entities, political parties, and commercial organizations". Religious institutions, trade unions, and political parties are explicitly excluded from being considered NGOs for this opportunity. The NGO must be established and operating in the Republic of Lithuania.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant. The call also includes a capacity building program (NGO Leaders’ Academy) as a preliminary stage, which can be considered a non-monetary service. The project grants are awarded after successful graduation from the Academy. This can be considered cascade funding, as the EU funding is being channeled through an intermediary (Open Lithuania Foundation) to the final beneficiaries (the NGOs).

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to be targeted towards single applicants, specifically individual NGOs. There is no mention of a consortium requirement.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is limited to NGOs operating in the Republic of Lithuania. However, CSOs that operate exclusively in the cities of Vilnius and Kaunas are not eligible to apply. Therefore, the scope is regional within Lithuania, excluding the capital and the second largest city.

Target Sector: The program targets the civil society sector, specifically focusing on strengthening the capacity and resilience of regional grassroots CSOs to protect and promote EU values. The thematic areas include promoting EU values and fundamental rights, influencing policy and decision-making, and improving CSO operation and accountability.

Mentioned Countries: Lithuania is the only country explicitly mentioned.

Project Stage: The project stage is aimed at capacity building and project implementation. The initial stage focuses on strengthening the capacity of NGOs through the NGO Leaders’ Academy. The subsequent stage involves the implementation of specific projects by the NGOs, with a duration of 10-12 months. This suggests that the projects are likely at the development or implementation stage.

Funding Amount: The funding amount for the project grants is up to EUR 30,000 per CSO. The total funding available for the call is EUR 600,000.

Application Type: The application type is a two-stage process. The first stage is an open call for participation in the NGO Leaders’ Academy. After successful completion of the Academy, the selected CSOs are invited to apply for project grants. The deadline model is multiple cut-off.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive both non-monetary services (capacity building through the NGO Leaders’ Academy) and money (project grants of up to EUR 30,000).

Application Stages: The application process involves two main stages. Stage 1: Application and selection for participation in the NGO Leaders’ Academy. Stage 2: Application for project grants after successful graduation from the Academy. Therefore, there are 2 stages.

Success Rates: At least 40 regional CSOs in Lithuania will be selected to participate in the NGO Leaders’ Academy. After graduation, at least 20 CSOs will be awarded project grants. This suggests that the success rate for receiving a project grant after participating in the Academy is around 50% (20 out of 40). The success rate for the initial application to the Academy is not explicitly stated, but it is likely to be competitive.

Co-funding Requirement: The information provided does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals targeting regional grassroots Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Lithuania, excluding those operating exclusively in Vilnius and Kaunas. The call aims to strengthen the capacity and resilience of these CSOs to protect and promote EU values. The program is structured in two stages. In the first stage, at least 40 CSOs will be selected to participate in a comprehensive capacity building program called the NGO Leaders’ Academy. After successfully graduating from the Academy, these CSOs will be invited to apply for project grants. In the second stage, at least 20 CSOs will be awarded project grants of up to EUR 30,000 each, with project durations of 10-12 months. The total funding available for this call is EUR 600,000.

To be eligible, applicants must be NGOs established and operating in the Republic of Lithuania for at least one year, with average annual expenses of no more than EUR 300,000 during the last three years. They must also have submitted financial and annual activity reports to the National Center of Registers for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024. The NGO's activities must align with EU values and contribute to the promotion of fundamental rights. The Open Lithuania Foundation cannot be a shareholder of the applicant, and the applicant must not have completed the Open Lithuania Foundation’s organized long-term capacity building program over the past three years.

The evaluation process involves administrative checks and quality assessment of the applications by independent experts, followed by a review by the Selection Committee. Live information seminars will be held in 5 regions of Lithuania for potential applicants. The opening date for submissions is June 10, 2025, and there are multiple cut-off dates for submissions, including August 20, 2025, and July 14, 2026. The expected duration of participation is 18 months.

In essence, this call provides a pathway for Lithuanian regional CSOs to enhance their capabilities and implement projects that promote EU values, with a combination of capacity building and financial support.