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Funding and Support for CSOs in Estonia - National Foundation of Civil Society (NFCS)

NFCS provides funding and support to CSOs in Estonia, helping to build their capacity and shape the environment for civic action. Our grants and activities focus on operational capacity, local initiatives, and international cooperation.

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Funding and Support for CSOs in Estonia - National Foundation of Civil Society (NFCS)

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  1. Funding and supportforCSOs inNational Foundation of CivilSociety in Estonia (NFCS)Agu Laius, ExecutiveDirector of NFCSContact: agu@kysk.ee; phone +372 5082997http://www.kysk.ee/nfcs 2017

  2. Pre-story • in 1990s fundingforCSOscamemostlyfromthewest, butit ended • problems – fewstatefinancing; notforcapacitybuilding • 2002 – Estonian CivilSocietyDevelopmentConcept • 2007 – parliamentaryelectionsas a breakthroughforfounding NFCS • 2008 – NFCS wasfounded • HighhopesfromCSOs • Supportingthestrongerortheweaker end? • Biggergrantsto a few vs smallergrantstoeveryone • Focussetting? Uncoveredareas? • Therole of thefounder (theState)?

  3. Whatdoes NFCS do? Ourstatutesayswe are helpingto: • build the capacity of Estonian CSOs to develop civil society • shape the environment that fosters civic action • state financed (Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Finance) • carrying out Estonian Civil Society Development Concept, also Civil Society Development Plan 2015-2020 • annualbudget: about 3 million euros

  4. Whodowesupport? CSOsacting in public interest, organisationsencouraging their activity. RequirementsforCSOs (as a rule): • beingregistered in Estonia, at least 1 year • acting in publicinterest • following the Principles of Ethical Operation of Non-profit Org-s (see nextslide) • notunder the dominant influence of the state or local municipality • displayinginformation about themselves publicly on their webpage Eligible applicant is neither a political partynor employers’ association, business association, labour, professional or trade union

  5. Code of Ethics of Estonian NGOs Adopted in 2002 at the General Assembly of the Roundtable of Estonian NGOs. Sharing and acting on thebases of valuessuchas: integrity, equality, dignity, openness, solidarity, collaboration, diversity and reliability Principles of ethicaloperation: • Democratic governance • Civic courage and care • Sustainability and prudence in using funds and resources • Responsibility and accountability • Openness and transparency • Independence and avoiding conflicts of interest • Honouring commitments and recognition of authorship of ideas • Tolerance

  6. Ouractivities I Grants • focusedopencallsforraisingoperationalcapacity • localinitiative programme forsmall-scalelocaldevelopmentprojects • programme forinnovativesolutionsforsocietalproblems II Supportingactivities • CSO consultants in 15 CountyDevelopmentCentres (co-op contract) • list of manuals and tips on howtoplandevelopment, prepareprojects, • grants for activities developing a wide range of NGOs • grants for big civil society events in Estonia, research on civil society III International cooperation • Contact Point of EU programme „Europe for citizens“, • travel grantstoexchangegoodcivilsocietydelepomentexperience • othermeasurestoencourageintcooperation, participating in networks

  7. Ourgrants and supporttoCSOs I Grants • Open calls toraise CSOs` operational capacity (developmentleap!)e.g. capability of managing, communication, being better in advocacy, raising income (inclsocialentrepreneurship) • Grants for local initiative small-scale projects on grassroot-level(ca 800 projectsperyear) • New programme/incubator for smartsolutionstosocietalproblems(gatheringideas, incubator for 6 of them, starting grant for 3 of them)

  8. Ourgrants and supporttoCSOs II Supportingactivities • NGO consultantsin CountyDevelopmentCentres* • somedevelopment programmes (trainings for CSOs) • grants for activitiesdeveloping a wide range of CSOs • grants for bigcivilsociety Events (eghonouringvolunteersevent, Let´sDoItcleanupday, OpinionCulture festival) • research on civilsociety(afterevery 4-5 years a thorough CSO surveyetc) In addition: • mediatingdatabase of expertsin capacitybuilding • list of manuals, tips on howtoplandevelopment, writeprojectsetc

  9. NGO consultants in counties • 15 CountyDevelopmentCentres(all over Estonia) • free advice toCSOs on differentissues • trainings, networkingetc • managing „onlineadvisor“ websiteforCSOs • currently in progress: development programme for CSO managers/boardmembers

  10. Ourgrants and supporttoCSOs III Supportinginternationalco-operation • ContactPoint of EU programme „Europeforcitizens“ • travelgrants • grantstocoverself-financing in internationalprojects • grants for internationalbigeventsheld in Estonia • (grant programme to NGOs in Estonia's EU Council Presidencyperiod)

  11. Who are we in NFCS? • Ourofficeteam: 11 people (men and women of all ages) • TheSupervisoryBoard: 4 representatives of public sector, 5 of civil society organisations • The assessor team (16 members): commonlyeveryprojectisevaluated by 3 of them Thedecisionmakingprocessdiffersdepending on the grant.Strict division of responsibilities to avoid conflict of interests

  12. Being a smart, transparent grant-giver... • followingtheCode of Ethics of Estonian CSOs(honesty, transparency, involvement, cooperation, impartialityetc) • followingTheguidelinesforstatefundingforCSOs • involvingCSOs in grant-planning, givingfeedback • supportingactivities, constantcommunicationwithCSOs • impartialassessmentof projects • projectdatabaseon ourwebsite • closecontactwithother grant givers(Open Estonia Foundation, IntegrationFoundation, Government Office – regardingRepublic of Estonia 100, Ministry of Interior)

  13. Somefuturechallenges • Improvingmeasuringtheimpact of grants • Highdemand, lowsupply (moreCSOs, lessfunding) • Therole of NFCS shiftingtobeing a civilsocietycompetencecenter? • Sharingexperiencewithother grant givers

  14. Thankyou!  www.kysk.ee/nfcs E-mail: kysk@kysk.ee

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