Unique educational activities and grants worth over €3 million will be provided to civil society organizations in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland. This is a result of the significant support that we have received for the second time from the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Program.

In the spring of 2025, we will launch the third round of the Stronger Roots financial and expert and peer support program, which strengthens civil society organizations by helping them grow and build broad communities of supporters and partners. With the renewed EU funding from the CERV program, we will allocate over €3 million in grants over the next three years, complemented by an intensive educational and experience sharing program. In addition to supporting organizations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary—where we have been running this program with partners since 2019—we will now also support organizations in Poland.

“The Stronger Roots program enhances both the internal development of organizations and their external relationships. We help organizations engage the people around them, involve them in their work, and together build strong and active communities that improve all of our lives,” explains Marie Peřinová, Program Director at the Open Society Fund Prague. 

Over the next three years, we will support approximately 90 organizations and 20 platforms across four countries. In addition to financial aid for their projects, participating organizations will receive support from experienced mentors and experts in key areas such as fundraising, communication, and management. The educational program will also include workshops and networking events where organizations can share experiences and learn from each other.

„The Stronger Roots program is a unique opportunity for civil society organizations to focus on their own development and strengthen themselves and their supporters. We need organizations to be stable, effective, and resilient so they can contribute to democracy and defend it in times of crisis.“

– Marie Peřinová, Program Director

In the Stronger Roots program, the Open Society Fund Prague n is a leader of an international consortium, which includes the Czech think-tank Glopolis, the Slovak Open Society Foundation Bratislava , the Hungarian NIOK Foundation, and now also the Polish Stefan Batory Foundation. Together, we work to enhance the resilience and stability of civil society organizations in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. The program is funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Program.

The Stronger Roots program is co-funded by the European Union. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the grant donor is responsible for the use of the provided information.