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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant aims to strengthen the capacity and resilience of regional grassroots Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Lithuania. It involves a two-stage process: first, selected NGOs participate in a comprehensive capacity-building program (NGO Leaders' Academy), and subsequently, they are invited to apply for project grants to protect and promote EU values. - Target recipient: Regional grassroots CSOs/NGOs. - Size: Smaller CSOs with average annual expenses no more than EUR 300,000. - Designation: SECTOR-AGNOSTIC (projects must align with EU values, but specific sector is not limited). - Geographic scope: Republic of Lithuania, excluding CSOs operating exclusively in the cities of Vilnius and Kaunas. - Key filtering criteria: Applicant must be a Lithuanian NGO registered for at least one year, meet a specific NGO definition, have limited annual expenses, and operate outside Vilnius/Kaunas exclusive areas. - Grant frequency: 'Call No. 1' indicates this is part of a recurring program (CERV 2024 program context).

Financial Structure

This call initiates a two-stage process: capacity building, then eligibility for project grants.
Project grants awarded at the second stage will be in the amount of up to EUR 30,000 per CSO.
The duration for the implementation of these project grants will be 10-12 months.
The overall budget for the intermediary project (Open Lithuania Foundation's initiative) is EUR 600,000.
The applying NGO's average annual expenses must not exceed EUR 300,000 (this is an eligibility criterion for the applicant).
Details regarding eligible/ineligible costs, matching fund requirements, co-financing, payment schedule, financial reporting, audit requirements, or indirect cost policies for the project grants are not specified in the provided information.

Eligibility Requirements

Organization Type & Legal Status

Applicant must be a non-governmental organization (NGO) established and operating in the Republic of Lithuania.
NGO definition: 'A non-profit voluntary organization established as a legal entity, having a non-commercial purpose, independent of the local, regional and central government, public entities, political parties, and commercial organizations'. This definition follows Article 2.3 of the Law on the Development of Non-Governmental Organizations.
Exclusion: Religious institutions, trade unions, and political parties are not considered NGOs for this call.
Applicant must be a legal entity registered in the Republic of Lithuania for at least one year (i.e., registered no later than 2024-06-10).

Financial & Operational Capacity

Applicant's average annual expenses for 2022, 2023, and 2024 (or since establishment) must be no more than EUR 300,000.
Applicant must have submitted financial and annual activity reports to the National Center of Registers for 2022, 2023, and 2024, or since establishment.

Alignment & Exclusions

Applicant's activities must not conflict with EU values and must actively contribute (or seek to contribute) to the promotion of EU values and fundamental rights.
The Open Lithuania Foundation must not be a shareholder of the applicant.
Applicant must not have completed the Open Lithuania Foundation’s organized long-term capacity building program in the past three years (2023, 2024, and 2025).

Geographic Location

CSOs from all regions of Lithuania are eligible to apply.
Exclusion: CSOs that operate exclusively in the cities of Vilnius and Kaunas are not eligible.

Application Process

Application Process Overview

This call is for initial selection to participate in a long-term comprehensive capacity building program, the 'NGO Leaders’ Academy'.
At least 40 regional CSOs in Lithuania will be selected for the Academy in the first stage.
After successful completion ('graduation') from the Academy, the CSOs will be invited to apply for project grants.
At least 20 CSOs will be awarded project grants following the Academy phase.

Application Deadlines

The latest application deadline for this call is 2026-07-14 00:59:00+0000. The call operates on a 'multiple cut-off' deadline model, meaning earlier submission windows may exist.

Required Documentation

Applicants must demonstrate prior submission of financial and annual activity reports to the National Center of Registers for 2022, 2023, and 2024 (or since establishment) as an eligibility requirement.
Specific documents required for the initial application to join the 'NGO Leaders’ Academy' are not detailed in the provided information.

Support Provided

Participants will receive access to a long-term comprehensive capacity building program, the 'NGO Leaders’ Academy'.
Financial support will be available in the form of project grants (up to EUR 30,000) for those who successfully complete the Academy.

Information Sessions

Live information seminars for potential applicants will be held in 5 regions in Lithuania.

Project Implementation (for awarded grants)

The duration of projects funded through subsequent grants will be 10-12 months.
Details on reporting schedules, key milestones, or post-award compliance for project grants are not specified in this document.

Evaluation Criteria

Application Quality & Administrative Checks

All applications will undergo administrative checks to ensure compliance with formal requirements.
A quality assessment will be conducted by independent experts.
The selection committee will review applications and make final funding decisions based on expert evaluations.
Specific scoring factors, detailed quality benchmarks, or weighting criteria for expert evaluation are not provided in the grant document.

Project Relevance & Impact (Inferred from call objectives)

Demonstrated alignment with promoting EU values and fundamental rights.
Potential for the CSO to increase capacity and influence policy and decision-making at various levels.
Evidence of effective CSO operation and accountability to target groups.
The ability of proposed projects (after the Academy) to contribute to the call's impact areas.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory & Legal Compliance

Applicants must be a legal entity registered in the Republic of Lithuania.
The definition of NGO adhered to by this call is specifically outlined in Article 2.3 of the Law on the Development of Non-Governmental Organizations.
Compliance with national reporting obligations, evidenced by submission of financial and annual activity reports to the National Center of Registers, is mandatory.

Ethical Standards & Values Alignment

Applicant activities must be fully aligned with EU values and fundamental rights, actively contributing to their promotion, and must not conflict with them.

Specific Exclusions & Limitations

CSOs that operate exclusively within the cities of Vilnius and Kaunas are specifically excluded from eligibility.
NGOs that have previously completed the Open Lithuania Foundation’s long-term capacity building program in 2023, 2024, or 2025 are ineligible.
The Open Lithuania Foundation must not hold any shareholder stake in the applicant organization.

Unique Program Aspects

This funding opportunity features a distinctive two-stage approach: initial selection for a capacity-building academy, followed by eligibility to apply for project grants.
The focus is specifically on strengthening regional grassroots CSOs, aiming to foster their role in democratic life and value promotion.

Grant Details