Demos – project funding for civil society organisations

Demos funds Nordic projects and networks that enable stakeholders in civil society to meet, forge contacts, and work together. Funding can be granted for most forms of collaborative project in all areas of society. Please note that only civil society organisations can apply for funding. The project period must start no earlier than 10 weeks after the application deadline and may last for the subsequent two calendar years.

The projects can include:

• joint collaborations, concerts, meetings, conferences, workshops, staff exchanges, products, courses, and training;
• the facilitation and exchange of ideas and knowledge between different civil society organisations in the Nordic Region;
• the sharing of resources and expertise for opinion-driven initiatives or co-operation around joint events and similar;
• operating costs, provided that these relate to the project.

The programme does not grant funding for:

• commercial projects or activities intended to generate a financial profit
• regular operations, that is to say operating expenses necessary to run the organisation (e.g. production costs, purchase of equipment and furniture, or payment of salaries that aren’t directly linked to the project or activities that form part of the application)
• activities started within a 10-week period after the application deadline

Funding can be applied for by nonprofit civil society organisations in all areas of society. Funding can be applied for by associations, foundations, charities, civic organisations, interest organisations, labour organisations, faith communities, social enterprises and other forms of NGOs.

• Demos funds projects in which at least three (3) different Nordic countries are participating.
• Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Åland are considered as separate countries in this context.
• To be able to apply for funding, the organisation must be established and registered in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Åland).
• Although the project may cover additional partners who do not operate in the Nordic Region, at least three (3) Nordic countries must be represented. The partner is considered to represent the country or area in which the organisation is registered.
• The organisation and partners must have a democratic structure and operations
• The organisation must not owe taxes or fees to the state and must not have applied for bankruptcy or be in liquidation
• Partners must be non profit organisations
• Please note that individuals cannot apply for funding.

A project can be granted a maximum of EUR 50,000 in funding through Demos. A minimum of 15% of the total project funding must come from another source.

• The maximum amount of funding from Nordic co-operation (e.g. Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordic Culture Fund, NAPA, Nordplus, Nordisk Film og TV Fond and Nordic Culture Point) may not exceed 85% of the project’s total budget. Bilateral or national funding does not count as pan-Nordic in this context.
• Co-funding can consist of in-kind financing, i.e. the value of goods or services can be taken into account in the budget. Voluntary work may also be credited in the budget as in-kind financing. The calculations must be itemised in the application’s budget, and the amount must be considered reasonable in relation to the project as a whole. Please observe that the same amout of In kind should be both in the income and expenses section and clearly explained.
• If an organisation has been granted Demos administrative funding (a special funding call made in 2024 ) the project application must clearly state how the application relates to the administrative funding in order to avoid duplicate funding.
• Use the mandatory budget template