Deadline: 5 September 2015
Open to: Roma organizations from Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia
Grants: cover wide scale of expenses
Description
The Roma Initiatives Office (RIO) invites applications for institutional-development support from Roma-led start-up organizations in Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Spain that share the ambition of making an impact on EU and government decisions made on behalf of Roma. The Roma Initiatives Office offers grant for start-up organizations which supports Roma organizations that play four different roles:
- Grassroots organizer of Roma voters able to engage Roma in the democratic process as informed citizens before and after elections, and to help restore trust between constituencies and democratically accountable representatives;
- Producer of evidence-based policy critique able to create and promote policy, practice, and service alternatives as well as to engage in policy debates;
- Public-opinion shaper able to engage in Roma-related advocacy campaigns and initiatives for change in policies, practices, and service delivery;
- Formal or informal partner with policymakers – most frequently through the implementation of EU and bilateral funds – able to generate advocacy support and use leverage with key decision makers to pursue change in policies, practices, and service delivery.
Eligibility
- Informal groups or Roma organizations from Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Spain;
- Start-up Roma NGOs that have been in formal operation from six months to two years and have an established track record, or organizations that have operated informally for several years grassroots movements, for example—but have recently become formal nonprofit organizations (The latter might have a record of programmatic success during the period of informal operation, but no established track record in management, administration, and governance processes.);
- Existing or prospective Roma-led organizations in which at least 50 percent of the membership (in the case of associations), or the governance body and senior management (in the case of foundations) openly declare their Roma ethnic origin;
- Groups or organizations with leaders who hold neither political or public-administration posts nor political party membership.
Grants
Grants may cover the following:
- Human resources development – learning opportunities for new skills and knowledge for staff;
- Board and staff retreats, including coaching and training;
- Membership and volunteer outreach, recruitment, and development;
- Facilitated support for the development of organizational strategies;
- Travel expenses for advocacy, outreach, and fundraising activities;
- Hiring of new staff to support organizational capacity needs—e.g., fundraising support, financial manager, public relations officer, advocacy officer;
- Training on fundraising strategies;
- Translation costs—e.g., for applications or reports;
- Partial core salaries, especially for managers and administrative staff;
- Administrative costs and overhead;
- Equipment.
How to apply?
The deadline for applications is 5 September 2015. For successful application you have to register at Open Society Foundations Grant Portal and fill the application form.
If you have any questions please write e-mail at edlira.majko@opensocietyfoundations.org.
For more information, please check the official web-page.