Call No. 2 for proposals for NGOs to participate in capacity building and receive financial support

This EU grant opportunity is aimed at strengthening the capacity and resilience of regional grassroots Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Lithuania to promote and protect EU values. The initiative targets NGOs established and operating specifically outside the major cities of Vilnius and Kaunas, recognizing the need for support among regional organizations.

Eligible applicants are defined as non-profit voluntary organizations that are independent of public entities, political parties, and commercial organizations. These NGOs need to be registered in Lithuania for at least one year before September 18, 2024, and must demonstrate average annual expenses of no more than EUR 400,000 over the past three years. Notably, religious institutions, trade unions, and political parties are excluded.

The funding mechanism consists of project grants of up to EUR 30,000 for successful applicants who complete an initial capacity-building phase through the NGO Leaders' Academy. The total available funding for this initiative is EUR 300,000, aimed to support at least ten project grants. The program is structured as a two-stage process: first, 20 CSOs will be selected for the capacity-building program, after which they can apply for project funding.

Applications open on September 23, 2025, with cut-off dates set for November 18, 2025, and June 2, 2026. Each project is expected to last between 10 to 12 months, contributing to the overall duration of participation of 18 months. The initiative aligns with the EU's Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) program, focusing on civic engagement, democracy, and human rights advocacy.

The application assessment involves both administrative checks and quality evaluations by independent experts, with a notable success rate of at least 50% for organizations graduating from the Academy eligible for project funding. There is no explicit co-funding requirement stated for applicants.

This opportunity is designed to foster the development of skills and resources necessary for civil society organizations to effectively engage in promoting EU values and participating in democratic processes at various levels.

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 call's impact areas include strengthening the role of CSOs to better integrate and promote EU values, increasing their capacity to influence policy and decision-making at various levels, and enhancing the effectiveness of CSO operations and accountability to their target groups.

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

The opening date for the call is September 23, 2025. There are multiple cut-off deadlines. The first deadline is November 18, 2025, at 23:59 (Brussels time), and the second deadline is June 2, 2026, at 23:59 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is 18 months. The total funding available is EUR 300,000. The project acronym is 2023-12-31T16:00:00.000Z. 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, according to the NGO definition 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 September 18, 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. During the last three years (2022, 2023, and 2024) or since the establishment of the NGO, the applicant's average annual expenses must not exceed EUR 400,000.

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

CSOs from all regions of Lithuania are eligible to apply, except for CSOs that operate exclusively in the cities of Vilnius and/or 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 2 regions in Lithuania.

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

In summary, this opportunity is a call for proposals targeting regional grassroots CSOs in Lithuania. The goal is to strengthen their capacity and resilience to promote EU values. The program involves a capacity-building academy followed by project grants for the most successful participants. The call aims to enhance the role of CSOs in integrating and promoting EU values, influencing policy, and improving their operational effectiveness. The funding is specifically for organizations outside of Vilnius and Kaunas, and there are strict eligibility criteria related to the organization's structure, financial status, and alignment with EU values. The evaluation process includes expert assessment and review by a selection committee. This initiative is designed to empower local NGOs to become more effective advocates for EU values and contribute to civic participation in Lithuania.

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.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant. The call also includes a capacity building program (NGO Leaders’ Academy) which can be considered a non-monetary service.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to be targeted towards single applicants, specifically individual NGOs. There is no mention of consortiums or partnerships being required or encouraged.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is limited to NGOs established and operating in the Republic of Lithuania. However, CSOs that operate exclusively in the cities of Vilnius and/or Kaunas are not eligible.

Target Sector: The program targets the civic sector, specifically civil society organizations (CSOs) active in protecting and promoting EU values. The thematic areas include strengthening the role of CSOs, increasing their capacity to influence policy and decision-making, and improving their operational effectiveness and accountability.

Mentioned Countries: Lithuania is the only country explicitly mentioned.

Project Stage: The project stage is aimed at strengthening existing CSOs, implying they are already operational. The call focuses on capacity building and providing grants for projects that promote EU values, suggesting a development and implementation stage.

Funding Amount: The funding amount for project grants is up to EUR 30,000 per CSO. The total funding available for the call is EUR 300,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, with multiple cut-off dates.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive both money (grants up to EUR 30,000) and non-monetary services (participation in the NGO Leaders’ Academy capacity building program).

Application Stages: The application process involves two main stages. First, at least 20 regional CSOs will be selected to participate in the NGO Leaders’ Academy. Second, after successful graduation from the Academy, these CSOs will be invited to apply for project grants, with at least 10 CSOs being awarded grants. The evaluation process includes administrative checks and quality assessment by independent experts, followed by a review by the Selection Committee.

Success Rates: At least 20 CSOs will be selected for the NGO Leaders’ Academy, and at least 10 of those will receive project grants. This suggests a success rate of at least 50% for receiving a grant after completing the Academy, but the initial success rate for getting into the Academy is unknown.

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 CSOs in Lithuania, excluding those operating exclusively in Vilnius and/or Kaunas. The call aims to strengthen the capacity and resilience of these organizations to protect and promote EU values. The program consists of two stages: participation in a long-term comprehensive capacity building program called the NGO Leaders’ Academy, followed by an invitation to apply for project grants. At least 20 CSOs will be selected for the Academy, and at least 10 will receive grants of up to EUR 30,000 for projects lasting 10-12 months. The eligibility criteria include being a registered NGO in Lithuania for at least one year, having average annual expenses below EUR 400,000, and not having previously completed the Open Lithuania Foundation’s long-term capacity building program. The call is part of the CERV-2024-CITIZENS-VALUES program and seeks to support EU values through civic participation. The opening date for submissions is September 23, 2025, with multiple cut-off dates, including November 18, 2025, and June 2, 2026. The total funding available is EUR 300,000.