The European Youth Foundation (EYF) is a fund established by the Council of Europe to provide financial support for European youth activities. It encourages co-operation among young people in Europe by providing financial support to youth activities promoting peace, understanding and co-operation in a spirit of respect for human rights, democracy, tolerance and solidarity.

 

There are four kinds of grants open to different types of organisations: international activities (open to international, national, regional, NGOs/networks), annual work plans (open to international NGOs/networks), pilot activities (open to local, national, regional NGOs/networks), structural grants (open to international and regional NGOs/networks).

Projects must fall under the Council of Europe’s Youth Sector Priorities for 2022/2025.

1. Revitalising pluralistic democracy
2. Young people’s access to rights
3. Living together in peaceful and inclusive societies
4. Youth work
5. Intergovernmental co-operation on youth policy.

 

The EYF may support the following operations:

A. International activity – including meetings of young people or youth leaders in Europe to promote participation and intercultural learning. Participants must represent at least 7 Council of Europe member states. It has to be run by an international team (4 nationalities represented in the project team). The EYF will cover up to two-thirds of the total cost. Maximum grant: € 25,000.

B. Annual work plan – including a series of activities over one year, interconnected and which contribute to the same broader aim. Each activity/element should contribute to the aim of the work plan and the accomplishments of the work plan as a whole should contribute to the global purpose of the organisation. These activities would be part of and support your NGO’s strategy or action plan for the coming years. Maximum grant: € 60,000.

C. Structural grant for 2 consecutive years – The European Youth Foundation may, every 2 years, grant international non-governmental youth organisations or networks a contribution to cover part of the general administrative costs involved in running their activities at European level. Maximum annual grant: € 30,000 per year for 2 years (i.e. a maximum of €60,000 for 2 years).

D. Pilot activities – including youth meetings, capacity building sessions, awareness raising actions, meetings with experts, local workshops, local actions, visits, campaigns, workshops in schools, festivals etc.  The maximum duration of a pilot activity project can be up to one year. The project must start at least 3 months after the deadline. The maximum grant is €15 000.

 

Who can apply

International non-governmental youth organisations, international networks of youth NGOs, regional networks of youth NGOs, national non-governmental youth organisations , from the European Cultural Convention (the 46 member states of the Council of Europe plus Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Holy See and the Russian Federation).

 

 

Deadlines:

1 April (midnight CET) for:

– International activities taking place between 1 January and 30 June (1st half of the following year)

– Annual Work plan for following year 

1 October (midnight CET) for:

– International activities taking place between 1 April and 31 December (2nd half of the following year)

– Annual Work plan for following year 

– One-off structural grants for following year (regional network)

1 October 2025 (midnight CET) for:

– 2-year structural grant for 2026-2027 (international NGOs/networks)

Cut-off dates for pilot activities

The next deadline date for pilot activities applications: 15 January 2024, 15 May 2024.

 

The EYF will not process any new NGO registrations 2 weeks before the deadlines of April and October.

 

Find out more here.