Opportunities for youth: a selection of grants for the development of NGOs and cultural initiatives

In today's world, the active participation of young people in civic and cultural life is becoming an important link in building a strong society. In order to support and encourage proactive ideas and projects, a number of grant programmes are opening their doors to youth and children's civil society organisations, as well as to cultural initiatives. In this article we look at exciting opportunities to secure grants and support you in realising your potential and your ideas.

1) State competition of projects run by youth and children's civil society organisations

Who it's for: youth and children's CSOs and their separate subdivisions registered as legal entities no later than 6 months before the competition was announced, and which comply with the Law of Ukraine "On the Fundamental Principles of Youth Policy".

Competition proposals should help address the following priority tasks:

• raising young people's competencies in order to build a culture of entrepreneurship, professional and career development, encourage them to start their own business, and adapt to the labour market during the war and in the post-war period;

• raising young people's competencies for their harmonious mental development and forming a responsible attitude towards health and a culture of life safety;

• raising young people's competencies for their reintegration from territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation, as well as the adaptation and socialisation of young people within the Ukrainian public space;

• raising the culture of volunteering among young people.

Areas of activity:

• holding campaigns, meetings, seminars, trainings, gatherings, conferences, forums, tent camps, rallies, hikes and hiking gatherings;

• publishing informational and methodological materials;

• producing and placing social videos and social advertising.

Grant size: up to UAH 600,000

Deadline: 05.02.2024 by 23:00

2) Educational and grant programme "Strengthening Civic Activism Among Youth" from the NGO "Ukrainian Professional Development"

Who it's for: teams of 3+ people aged 18 to 35 who represent CSOs/charitable organisations that have existed for up to two years, or initiative groups that want to register an organisation.

As part of the programme, your team will:

• receive a lawyer's support in registering a CSO/charitable foundation;

• turn ideas into a ready-to-implement project with a mentor's support;

• be able to receive $1,000 to implement its project;

• attend a series of useful webinars;

• receive consultations on writing a grant application for organisational development.

Programme stages:

• from 27.02 to 15.03, active training, registration of organisations, project development;

• 15.03, project pitching;

• from 19.03 to 10.04, consultations on writing a grant application for organisational development.

*Training will take place online on weekdays, in the afternoon, for 2-3 hours.

Grant size: $1,000

Registration deadline: 11.02.2024, by 23:59

3) IOM is looking for implementing partners.

For a project to raise awareness among vulnerable youth about safe migration and employment in wartime conditions.

Who it's for: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is announcing a request for expression of interest (EOI) from Implementing Partners among qualified non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the further implementation of projects aimed at informing vulnerable youth about safe migration and employment in wartime conditions.

The main goals of these projects are to draw young people's attention to the problem of modern slavery, especially during the war, and to raise awareness of the risks of human trafficking and exploitation. An important aspect of these initiatives is informing the public about safe migration and employment, providing information on how to protect oneself in risky situations and where to turn for help for those affected by human trafficking and exploitation.

Application deadline: 7 February 2024.

4) State competition of national-patriotic education projects

Who it's for: civil society institutions registered as legal entities no later than 6 months before the competition was announced.

Competition proposals should help address the following priority tasks:

• increasing the number of young people ready to fulfil their duty to defend the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine;

• forming a Ukrainian civic identity among the population based on societal and state values;

• promoting and preserving the cultural heritage and cultural values of Ukraine;

• raising awareness of prominent figures in Ukrainian state-building and of those who fought for Ukraine's independence.

Areas of activity:

• holding campaigns, training seminars, trainings, camps, drills, tent camps and other events;

• developing and disseminating informational and visual materials, social advertising and methodological recommendations.

Grant size: up to UAH 600,000

Deadline: 05.02.2024 by 23:00

5) "Perform Europe" competition from the "Creative Europe" programme

Who it's for: any organisation and professional in the performing arts who legally operates in one of the Creative Europe Countries.

Perform Europe is a programme that supports partnership projects which rethink the way artists tour across borders.

5% of the funding will be directed to projects that involve partnership with Ukrainian partners or support initiatives in the Ukrainian performing arts sector.

Competition priorities:

• inclusion and diversity;

• tackling climate change.

*In addition, all proposals must focus on quality and innovation and be based on fair principles.

Application conditions:

• applications are submitted by partnerships, which must consist of at least 3 partners and 3 countries where the "Creative Europe" programme operates;

• each application must include at least 1 completed work of performing art (a finished production or artistic concept) ready to be presented in various contexts.

Grant size:

• small partnership projects, €12,000;

• medium partnership projects, €32,000;

• large partnership projects, €60,000.

Deadline: 31.03.2024 by 23:59 CEST

6) "European cultural and creative organisations" competition within the "Creative Europe" programme

Who it's for: representative, multinational, membership-based networks of European cultural organisations that span a wide range of Creative Europe participating countries.

The competition aims to strengthen the capacity of the European cultural and creative sectors to face common challenges and to develop talent, innovate, thrive, create jobs and grow.

Proposals should address the following priority challenges:

• artists and cultural workers: empowering the cultural and creative sectors;

• culture for people: increasing cultural participation and the role of culture in society;

• culture for the planet: unleashing the power of culture;

• culture for shared creative partnership: strengthening the cultural dimension of the EU's external relations;

• culture for digital transformation: helping the European cultural and creative sectors make full use of new technologies to boost their competitiveness.

Total competition budget for 2024: €9,925,000

Deadline: 07.03.2024 by 17:00 Brussels time

This selection of grants offers unique opportunities to develop and implement your ideas in the sphere of civic and cultural life. Consider each competition and determine which best matches your goals. Opportunities for young people await, and these grants can become the key to your success in bringing your own projects to life.