National Endowment for Democracy: Providing Grants to NGOs working to Advance and Strengthen Democracy!

Deadline: 1 April 2016

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) invites civic organizations, associations, independent media, and other similar non-government organizations around the world to apply for its 2016 grant funding. NED yearly funds hundreds of projects of organizations that are working to advance democratic goals and strengthen democratic institutions.

The foundation provides more than 1000 grants per year to NGOs promoting democracy in more than 90 countries. Funding decisions are made on a quarterly basis by the NED Board of Directors. Grant amounts vary depending on the size and scope of the projects, but the average grant lasts 12 months and is around $50,000.

Objectives

• To encourage free and democratic institutions throughout the world through private-sector initiatives, including activities which promote the individual rights and freedoms (including internationally recognized human rights) which are essential to the functioning of democratic institutions;
• To facilitate exchanges between United States private-sector groups (especially the two major American political parties, labor, and business) and democratic groups abroad;
• To promote United States nongovernmental participation (especially through the two major American political parties, labor, business, and other private-sector groups) in democratic training programs and democratic institution-building abroad;
• To strengthen democratic electoral processes abroad through timely measures in cooperation with indigenous democratic forces;
• To support the participation of the two major American political parties, labor, business. and other United States private-sector groups in fostering cooperation with those abroad dedicated to the cultural values, institutions and organizations of democratic pluralism; and
• To encourage the establishment and growth of democratic development in a manner consistent both with the broad concerns of United States national interests and with the specific requirements of the democratic groups in other countries which are aided by programs funded by the Endowment.

Focus Areas

NED is interested in proposals from local, independent organizations for nonpartisan programs that seek to:

• Promote and defend human rights and the rule of law
• Support freedom of information and independent media
• Strengthen democratic ideas and values
• Promote accountability and transparency
• Strengthen civil society organizations
• Strengthen democratic political processes and institutions
• Promote civic education
• Support democratic conflict resolution
• Promote freedom of association
• Strengthen a broad-based market economy

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants can be civic organizations, associations, independent media, and other similar non-government organizations.
• Applicant organizations should be working in diverse environments including newly established democracies, semi-authoritarian countries, highly repressive societies and countries undergoing democratic transitions.
• Individuals, governmental bodies, or state-supported institutions such as public universities are not eligible for the fund.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can send their application forms either online, via mail or by post at the address given on the website.

For more information, please visit National Endowment for Democracy.