European Endowment for Democracy (EED)
An independent grant-maker set up by the EU and its member states: flexible grants for CSOs, media, activists and unregistered groups.
About the fund
The European Endowment for Democracy (EED) is an independent grant-making organisation established in 2013 by the European Union and EU member states, following an initiative of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU. It is a private law foundation with its seat in Brussels.
EED supports actors of democratic change in the Eastern Partnership, the Western Balkans, the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. Its distinctive feature is the ability to fund those who struggle to access large donors: unregistered groups, individual activists and journalists, and new initiatives without grant experience.
In Ukraine, EED provided emergency grants to independent media and journalists from the first weeks of the full-scale invasion, and it also supports civil society organisations, youth groups and human rights initiatives. Applications can be submitted in Ukrainian.
Focus areas
- Civil society and grassroots initiatives
- Independent media and journalists
- Human rights and human rights defenders
- Youth groups and emerging leaders
- Unregistered initiatives and individual activists
- Emergency support in crisis situations
Interesting facts
Established in 2013 by the EU and its member states; all EU member states sit on its Board of Governors.
Typical requests range from EUR 10,000 to EUR 150,000, with an average grant of EUR 40,000-60,000.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the form can be completed in Ukrainian.
How to apply
NGOs, informal and unregistered groups, independent media and individual activists from Ukraine can apply. Applications are accepted year-round via the online form in Ukrainian at apply.democracyendowment.eu, together with a budget template.
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