CGP: Opportunity & Innovation Grants

About the opportunity

The Opportunity and Innovation Grants are designed to enable civil society organizations (CSOs) to leverage modest funding into larger impacts and to incubate promising new approaches, topics, methodologies, and formats for fostering dialogue between local communities in the Western Balkans. The program supports initiatives such as preparing applications for larger funding opportunities, conducting pilot projects or feasibility studies, reacting to political developments within communities, or taking proactive action in response to anticipated developments. Applicants must specify the local community and the type of divide they intend to address, which may include national, ethnic, racial, religious, gender, or sexual orientation identities.

Funding and benefits

• Maximum grant amount of €4,500.
• Support for incubating new approaches, pilot projects, feasibility studies, and proactive community interventions.

Who can apply?

• Civil society organizations working on peace, dialogue, and social cohesion in the Western Balkans.
• Organizations must be registered in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, or Serbia.
• Informal (unregistered) organizations, collectives, or ad hoc groups may apply in a coalition with a registered organization or with a fiscal host.

Required documents

• Application form
• Budget template (XLSX)
• Valid registration documentation of the applicant or fiscal host
• Statute of the applicant or fiscal host
• List of staff members and their roles within the applicant or fiscal host
• For coalitions or entities using fiscal hosts: a duly signed Memorandum of Understanding between the relevant parties regarding roles, responsibilities, and fund usage

When to apply

• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
• Final deadline for submission is November 2, 2026, at 23:59 CET.
• Deadline for activity implementation is November 1, 2026.
• Deadline for final narrative and financial reporting is December 1, 2026.

How to apply

• Complete the application form and required budget template.
• Prepare all necessary supporting documentation, including registration papers and statutes.
• Submit the application through the official portal.
• Decisions are generally communicated within five working days of submission.

Additional information

• There are a total of 20 grants available in 2026.
• Applications are reviewed internally by at least two EFB staff members based on strategic fit, innovation, estimated impact, and feasibility.
• All types of costs are admissible, provided they are argued as contributing specifically to the opportunity or innovation rather than everyday work.