Supports pro-democracy initiatives and civil society funding.
The European Endowment for Democracy (EED) is an independent grant-making organization established in 2013 by the European Union and EU member states to foster democracy in the European Neighbourhood and beyond. It focuses on supporting pro-democracy actors, civil society organizations, independent media, and human rights activists who may struggle to obtain funding from other sources. EED operates primarily in the European Neighbourhood, Western Balkans, and Turkey, but also considers applications from adjacent regions. Its key areas of support include anti-corruption efforts, civic activism, human rights, women's participation, youth engagement, and independent media. The organization provides flexible, rapid-response funding to adapt to challenging local contexts. EED's grants are typically around €60,000 on average, often for short durations of 6-12 months. Since its inception, EED has provided over 2,500 grants totaling approximately €200 million. To receive funding, applicants must demonstrate adherence to democratic values and human rights principles. EED prioritizes initiatives that are difficult to fund through other channels and accepts applications on a rolling basis. Recent beneficiaries include Donetsk Hromadske TV in Ukraine, GALA TV in Armenia, and various independent media outlets and civil society groups across the Middle East and North Africa region.