Civic Innovation Fund

The Civic Innovation Fund (CIF) is a European initiative launched by THE CIVICS Innovation Hub to support new and creative projects in the field of civic education across Europe. Its core mission is to pioneer innovative approaches in civil society, enhance the visibility of these initiatives, and integrate them into NECE, a wide-reaching pan-European network of civic educators. CIF specifically targets young NGOs (less than three years old) and young civic educators (under 35), encouraging them to develop start-up projects that strengthen democratic competencies such as participation, cohesion, and resilience. Eligible projects must operate in partnerships with at least two organizations from different European countries and embrace diversity, interdisciplinarity, inclusivity, intersectionality, and intergenerational exchange. The types of supported activities are broad, including workshops, cultural events, exhibitions, research studies, apps, and digital storytelling. Each selected project receives between €10,000 and €12,000 for a 12-month period, focusing on piloting, incubation, or scaling up new ideas. To qualify for funding, projects should address the thematic areas of NECE and involve cross-sector collaboration, with at least one partner from the civic education sector. Recent funded projects gain opportunities to present their work at the NECE Festival and participate in further activities, amplifying their impact and visibility within the European civic education landscape. The program is open to applicants from EU countries, the Balkans, and several other European states.

The Civic Innovation Fund (CIF), operated by THE CIVICS Innovation Hub, is designed to support new, interdisciplinary ideas in civil society, particularly those enhancing civic education, democracy, resilience, and collaboration. The fund provides early-stage financial support, typically offering between €10,000 and €12,000 for piloting, incubation, and upscaling innovative projects over a 12-month period. Eligible candidates include young NGOs (under three years old) and primary civic educators under the age of 35. Funded projects also gain increased visibility through participation in NECE (Networking European Civic Education) activities and can become designated NECE Impact Spots, amplifying their reach across Europe. For an initiative like the European Housing Cooperative (EHC), which aims to stitch together a pan-European network of citizens, impact investors, and local partners to tackle sustainable and affordable housing, CIF’s programs are well aligned. CIF’s calls prioritize collaborative, inclusive, and innovative approaches—values that are central to EHC’s mission to reimagine European housing through mutual ownership and cross-border cooperation. The EHC’s focus on social cohesion, environmental sustainability, and member-driven governance fits well within CIF’s themes of resilience and diversity. Past recipients of CIF funding have included startups and nonprofit initiatives promoting new forms of civic engagement, democratic participation, and social innovation, particularly those led by young people or new organizations. While none were specifically housing cooperatives, their range—from digital democracy tools to local civic empowerment platforms—demonstrates CIF’s openness to pioneering, scalable solutions that strengthen European civil society. For EHC, CIF could act as a catalytic funder, helping develop pilot projects, community engagement campaigns, or proof-of-concept activities that attract broader investment and support across Europe.