Deadline: ongoing
Open to: Roma and pro-Roma organizations, and nonformal groups, networks, or individuals from Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Spain
Grant: up to USD 15,000
Description
The Opportunity Fund supports urgent, action-focused grants of up to USD 15,000 to provide immediate support for seizing opportunities as they arise or making timely responses to crisis situations. While they support the strategic advancement of Roma with a long-term view, this fund will provide short-term support to the field at times when an unforeseen social or political event requires fast action or the adaptation of approaches.
While there are no specific priority areas for support, the Opportunity Fund will support short-term actions (up to four months) in two main categories. To receive a grant under this call, a proposal must fall under at least one of these categories:
- Seizing a window of opportunity for achieving change, including precedent setting at the legal, policy, or institutional level (Actions could also aim to protect good policies or legal frameworks that are under attack.);
- Responses to hate, violence, or politically volatile environments, including responses to hate speech.
Eligibility
Roma and pro-Roma organizations, and nonformal groups, networks, or individuals from Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Spain fulfilling the following criteria:
- Unexpected and time-sensitive: The action is a response to a specific event, social situation, or an opportunity that could not have been predicted and that requires immediate reaction;
- Strategic and policy-relevant: While we do not expect policy change to happen within a short time, the proposed action must be designed with a perspective for change in policies, practices, or public discourse in the long term. The action should be based on a strategy that would allow for adjustments according to new needs or shifts in the context.
- Roma-centered: While it is not necessary for the applicant organization to be a Roma NGO, applicants must demonstrate Roma leadership or partnership on an equal footing in all phases of the action. Roma should also benefit from the policy change targeted with the action.
- Location: The action must respond to an opportunity or crisis taking place in one of the eligible countries: Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, or Spain.
Grant
Grants of up to USD 15,000 per organization.
Application
Applicants should submit concept papers in English. Applications are accepted by:
- Online application: submit your concept paper, which should not exceed two pages;
- Video application: you can also choose to explain your action by filming a video (Please note that the video should not exceed 25MB.)
While there is no prescribed format for concept papers or videos, the following should be included:
- Description of the context, event, situation, or opportunity that has prompted your proposed action—what has happened unexpectedly?
- Brief description of the proposed action;
- Explanation of why an urgent response is needed and how the proposed action is strategic and policy relevant;
- Requested budget in USD (Please provide an itemized budget).
Applications may be submitted at any time during the year. If you encounter problems during the application process, please contact them at: roma@opensocietyfoundations.org.
For more information please visit the official website.
