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Projects and Support for NGOs, Communities, and Active Citizens

The National Foundation of Civil Society (NFCS) is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment for Estonian civil society organizations (CSOs), communities, and active individuals through targeted programs and initiatives. Our commitment is reflected in the diverse projects and funding opportunities we offer, designed to empower collaboration and amplify the impact of civic engagement across Estonia.

Key Projects and Programs

  • Empowering civil society organisations to involve newcomers, people with different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and returning Estonians in community activities – From 2025 to 2029, KÜSK will pilot and implement a dedicated development programme / practical tool for NGOs to strengthen their capacity to engage people from diverse backgrounds in community life. The total budget for KÜSK’s activities during the period 1 October 2024 – 31 May 2029 is €535,000, of which: 70% is co-funded by the European Social Fund+ and 30% is national co-financing provided through the Ministry of Culture.
  • Increasing Civil Society Impact through Youth Engagement (ESF-SIM Program): Initiated in 2023, the ESF-SIM Project enhances youth participation, strengthens community resilience, and promotes equal opportunities by developing a systematic youth involvement model, providing regional training programs for CSOs, and addressing the needs of underrepresented youth, with a total budget of 2 million euros (2024–2028), 70% funded by the European Social Fund+ and 30% by the Estonian government, operating under the “Estonia 2035” strategic goals.
  • Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values (CERV) Program: As Estonia’s official CERV Contact Point, NFCS supports initiatives under the European Union’s CERV Program, dedicated to protecting and promoting the EU’s core values—fundamental rights, democracy, and equality, supporting national and international projects with a total EU budget of 1.55 billion euros from 2021–2027, and can cover up to 90% of eligible project budgets.

Grant Rounds and Opportunities

In addition to our core projects, NFCS supports a variety of grant rounds aimed at fostering the development and capacity of Estonian CSOs. Here’s a brief overview of key funding opportunities:

  • Development Leap Preparation Grant Round (AHE): Designed to help NGOs analyze their development needs and create action plans for growth or service/product offerings, this grant requires the submission of an action plan or business plan developed collaboratively with the NGO’s target group and stakeholders, and involves consulting a development expert; application rounds are typically announced annually in the KÜSK grant calendar.
  • Development Leap Grant Round (AH): Supports organizational development in areas such as management, planning, financial forecasting, process improvement, impactful communication, and service delivery, with the goal of enhancing the knowledge, skills, and experiences of individuals associated with the NGO; application rounds are typically announced annually in the KÜSK grant calendar.
  • Civil Society Innovation Fund (KIF): Supports cooperation between communities and local governments to enhance community-based governance and jointly improve community safety, with a budget of €875,000 in 2023 and a maximum grant amount allocated per local government area for NGOs and associations to apply for.
  • Community Leader Scholarship (KES): Aims to develop the skills, abilities, and knowledge of individuals who want to contribute to community development, defined as a group of people operating within a single municipality for a common purpose, requiring a mentor for the scholarship recipient and thoughtful cooperation with local partners, including the local government; scholarships have been awarded since 2022 and are available to private individuals.
  • Ingenious Solutions Incubator (NULA): Conducted in partnership, this program supports innovative and impactful ideas for solving critical social problems through a multi-stage incubator process, helping to develop comprehensive solutions from initial ideas, with KÜSK as the initiator and Heateo Sihtasutus as the partner, contributing to program structure, organization, and initiative consultation; detailed information can be found at www.nula.ee.
  • International Cooperation Development Grant Rounds: Designed to enhance the international cooperation capacity of NGOs, enabling them to travel abroad for knowledge exchange or invite experts to Estonia; more information can be found here.

By supporting civil society, NFCS ensures that individuals have the opportunity to contribute to a thriving community in Estonia.