Non-Profit Organizations on the Threshold of the EU: Support for Model Regional and Community Projects

• The Trust in the CR:

• Impacts and Achievements
  • Overall impacts
  • Meeting CEE Trust goals
• Program Map
• Program Components
  • Creating a Favorable Legislative, Fiscal and Philanthropic Environment
  • Creating a Favorable Environment for Advocacy and Public Policy
  • Institutional Support for Key Strategic NGOS
  • Knowledge Fund
  • The Consultants´ Guild
  • Strengthening Regional / Community Foundations
  • Non-Profit Organizations on the Threshold of the EU: Support for Model Regional and Community Projects
  • Ensuring Access to Information and Expertise Concerning EU funding
  • Increasing Support from the Private Sector
  • Increasing Support from Individuals
• Program In Spotlight
  • CEET in facts and figures
  • CEET in the eyes of grantees
  • CEET in stories
  • CEET in pics
• Annotated Summary of Grants( pdf 153 kB)

A program component implemented by the Open Society Fund Prague

This grant and assistance program aimed to strengthen the ability of community-oriented NGOs to create partnerships and projects, which will have the potential to apply successfully for financial support from EU sources. These projects should, at the same time, strengthen the role of NGOs at the local level and should become a source of information and knowledge for others.

Given the fact that EU funding has been perceived as the key future funding source by many Czech NGOs, the key criteria for selection of participants emphasised, among other aspects, the ability of the project to serve as a model for others.The 16 selected organizations received intensive technical assistance: A targeted training cycle consisting of 5 two-day seminars and complementary educational activities provided them with information regarding EU funding and proposal writing. The projects were then developed with assistance provided by expert consultants. Experience with building local partnerships and the development of projects was shared between participants through study trips, meetings and exchange visits. Additional tailored assistance was delivered by program managers, based on assistance visits and the evaluation of individual projects by an independent evaluator. The education cycle was concluded by a formal project evaluation by each participant, with the aim to eliminate any potential weaknesses before the project was to be submitted. In addition, the participants received grants ranging in size from $10,000 to $14,800.

Although the program activities continued in line with the planned schedule, the development of the individual projects was delayed due to external reasons - delays in opening the respective EU operational programs on the side of the state administration, ambiguous interpretation of EU documents by local governments, differing or ambiguous requirements for NGOs. Despite all the obstacles, 23 projects were submitted by program participants; 16 of which were approved and awarded grants totalling $3,430,000.

The know-how, lessons learnt and information gathered throughout the project development, technical assistance, evaluations and the development of 16 case studies has been summarized for broader use: A publication and CD called "Non-profit Organizations on Their Road to the European Union" (pdf, 2,90 MB) were disbursed through NGO internet sites and targeted mailings to a wide range of NGOs, local and regional administrations, as well as ministries distributing the EU funds and/or interested in cross-sectoral collaboration. The publication, that concludes with a set of concrete recommendations for both NGOs and public authorities, provides a broadly accessible tool for future applicants of EU funding.

The case studies of supported projects describe the complete process, starting from the development of the initial plan, through the formulation of approaches and methods in partnerships, up to the preparation of the project application. They pay attention to changes in both external relations (toward project partners and local authorities) and the internal structures that are required to increase the professionalism in order to ensure project management, while not undermining the organization´s own sustainability.

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