Demos – project funding for civil society organisations

• Demos funds 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 projects can include:

• joint collaborations, meetings, conferences, workshops, concerts, staff exchanges, courses, and training

• sharing resources and expertise for opinion-driven initiatives or working together on joint events
• the facilitation and exchange of ideas and knowledge between different civil society organisations in the Nordic Region
• 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. purchase of equipment and furniture, or payment of salaries that aren’t directly linked to the project or activities for which funding is being applied for).
• activities that commence earlier than 10 weeks after the application deadline.

Project duration

• Projects may commence no earlier than 10 weeks after the application deadline.
• Projects may run during the year in which the application is submitted and the following two calendar years (i.e. the application year plus two additional years).

Funding can be applied for by non-profit civil society organisations in all areas of society. These organisations include associations, foundations, charities, citizens organisations, interest groups, labour market organisations, religious communities, social enterprises, and NGOs.

• Demos funds projects with participation from at least three (3) different Nordic countries. Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Åland are considered as separate countries in this context.
• To be eligible, the applicant organisation must be established and registered in the Nordic Region. Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Åland are considered as Nordic countries in this context. Although the project may cover additional partners who do not operate in the Nordic Region, at least three 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 and partners must not pursue making a profit.
• The organisation must not owe taxes or fees to the state and must not have applied for bankruptcy or be in liquidation.
• Please note that individuals cannot apply for funding.
  

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

• If an organisation has been granted Demos administrative funding (a special initiative in 2024) the project application must clearly state how the application relates to the administrative funding in order to avoid duplicate funding.

Co-financing

Funding in addition to the amount applied for may consist of:

• monetary self-funding by the organisation itself
• funding from project partners
• funding from other financiers, such as funds
• in-kind funding (i.e. an estimated value of voluntary work, goods, or services). Please note that if staff time is included as income in the budget, the corresponding amount must also be recorded as an expenditure.
• 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.

Please note that the mandatory budget template must be used. Clearly specify the costs for which funding is being requested.

• The budget attachment must be prepared using the budget template provided via the relevant link. Replace the example figures in the appendix with realistic cost estimates for your project.
• Upload relevant documentation relating to the planned partnership, such as an agreement or letter of intent.

• Applications must include a clear definition of the project’s overall objectives, confirmed partners, activity plan and schedule, as well as a realistic budget.
• An overall assessment of the project will be made based on the above administrative criteria and the programme criteria below.

Long-term perspective and new collaborations

• The aim of the activities must be to develop collaboration and/or new ways of working together.
• It is seen as positive if the project contributes to new collaborations or interactions between civil society stakeholders.
• It is an advantage if the project lays the foundation for more long-term collaborations in Nordic civil society.

Nordic added value

• The projects must help the participating organisations and individual participants to forge a wider Nordic network of contacts in which they can learn from each other and gain greater knowledge of other Nordic countries and areas and their cultures and languages.

Our Vision 2030

• The project should contribute to achieving the Nordic countries’ shared Vision 2030 of making the Nordic Region the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030, particularly through the objective of increasing co-operation and knowledge exchange among civil society stakeholders in the Nordic Region.
• The project can also contribute to other sub-goals defined by the Ministers for Nordic Co-operation for the period 2025 to 2030.

Sustainable development

• Applications are also assessed on how the project addresses economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Sustainability underpins all work carried out by the Nordic Council of Ministers in pursuit of Our Vision 2030.

Make sure you always mention who funded your project in your project communication – together we demonstrate that a form of funding is required.

Projects that have been granted funding from Demos must use the Nordic Council of Ministers’ logo in their materials.

Download the logo and get tips on how you can refer to us in texts and on social media here.