Are we eligible to apply?
How do we apply?
How often do you open a call for proposals?
Who decides on the applications submitted?
When do we receive an answer once we handed in our application?
What is the maximum granted amount?
Are there any limiting criteria?
Is it useful to address the Dutch foundations mentioned on the website directly?
What is meant by gender policy?
Why is participation considered important?

Q: Are we eligible to apply?

If you are a local grassroots, not-for-profit, registered NGO with a new project that structurally and innovatively improves the social situation of disadvantaged groups in your country, you are. The project should, however, preferably be an exponent of de-institutionalisation and inclusion, while explicitly including the beneficiaries of the project in its design and implementation. Investment costs should be included in the project budget.

Q: How do we apply?

Submit a short e-mail request for the CNF application package to the project co-ordinator in your country, visit their website, or download the English form from the CNF website. Subsequently you will receive the application forms and info material specifying our criteria and the mandate of the CNF, allowing you to apply according to our procedures before our first upcoming deadline. If your application misses a deadline it will automatically be transferred to the next upcoming deadline.

Q: How often do you open a call for proposals?

In Kaliningrad, Moldova and Ukraine project applications can be sent to the project co-ordinators all year round. 

Organisations from Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina are invited to deliver their project proposals four times a year, generally mid February, beginning of May, beginning of August and mid November. 

In Serbia the call for proposals opens in January, April, August and October and closes one month later.

In Montenegro the call for proposals is launched in February, May, September and November.

Please, check the exact dates with the respective project co-ordinators. 

Q: Who decides on the applications submitted?

If your application was submitted according to procedure it will be evaluated by the local CNF Advisory Committee in your country at its earliest convenience. In case this commission feels disallowed to formulate a comprehensive advice due to inconsistencies or unclarities in your application it might ask you to either clarify or reformulate parts of your application before proceeding. A visit of a local advisor to your organisation might be part of the application procedure.

The project co-ordinating offices in Serbia, Montenegro and Ukraine have a mandate to reject applications directly. In the other countries the country co-ordinator together with the advisory committee in the Netherlands decides on all proposals.

The Dutch foundations will proceed towards final decision making with regard to your application and inform you directly from the Netherlands with either a positive or negative response. Due to this procedure, and the large number of foundations cooperating in the CNF, this response might take quite some time before arriving at your doormat but all applicants will in due time receive an official reply.

The application procedure has various stages of decision making in your country and in The Netherlands. The whole process from first contact to final decision making might take up to nine months. CNF try to make the decision-making period as short as possible. All applicants will in due time receive an official reply.

Q: What is the maximum granted amount?

The budget should be realistic; there should be a balance between costs and results.

In Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Kaliningrad and Moldova there is no maximum amount per grant, as the amount differs per target group and depends on the type and size of activities.

The maximum grant amount for applications in Montenegro is € 15,000. 
For Serbia and Ukraine the maximum is € 20,000. 

Q: Are there any limiting criteria?

In Ukraine projects of a general nature are limited to the four Western oblasts of Transcarpathia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi. Projects for introducing and enhancing foster care arrangements, such as family type children’s homes and training of (future) foster families and foster children can be applied for throughout the country.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina the target groups are children and youth in disadvantaged positions.

Q: Is it useful to address the Dutch foundations mentioned on the website directly?

No, all applications from one country go to the offices of the project co-ordination and are sent to the CNF country co-ordinator of that particular country.

Q: What is meant by gender policy?

Foundations within CNF consider it important that projects offer a safe environment for men and women to equally participate in execution and preparation of a project and in decision making structures of organisations.

Q: Why is participation considered important?

CNF consider that a project can only be efficient if the needs of the target group are taken into account, and beneficiaries are, where possible, involved in execution of the project.