NED grants for nongovernmental organisations: next deadline 27 January 2027

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is accepting proposals from independent nongovernmental organisations working to advance democratic goals. The programme funds local groups in more than 100 countries, including Ukraine and other nations undergoing political transitions or facing restrictive environments.

The donor does not specify an exact minimum or maximum budget amount per project in the announcement, though it awards more than 2,000 grants annually worldwide. The upcoming proposal submission deadline is 27 January 2027, which corresponds to the Board of Directors review meeting on 7 May 2027. A subsequent deadline is set for 28 June 2027.

What is funded

NED supports nonpartisan initiatives focused on human rights, the rule of law, and the development of civil society. Eligible efforts include projects that safeguard freedom of information, strengthen independent media outlets, and promote public accountability and transparency.

The grant call also finances projects designed to reinforce democratic political processes and institutions, encourage civic education, support democratic conflict resolution, defend freedom of association, and foster a broad-based market economy. All proposed activities must be consistent with the general goals set out in the NED Statement of Principles and Objectives.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants are limited to nongovernmental entities, which include civic organisations, associations, independent media groups, and similar civil society bodies. The call welcomes applications from groups operating in diverse contexts, ranging from nascent democracies to semi-authoritarian and highly repressive environments.

The donor does not award funding to individuals, governmental bodies, or state-supported institutions, such as public universities. Furthermore, projects implemented inside the United States or other established democracies are ineligible, although organisations based in those countries may apply if their project activities serve eligible target countries.

Conditions and requirements

Funding decisions are issued three times a year by the NED Board of Directors. Decisions depend on how well the proposal matches the Endowment’s overall priorities, the relevance of the project to specific local country conditions, and the democratic commitment and experience of the applicant organisation.

Practical tip. Align your budget lines strictly with the activities listed in the project narrative, using the provided spreadsheet template to avoid calculation discrepancies. If your organisation is not legally registered, draft a concise formal explanation regarding the circumstances or pending status of your application, as this is accepted in place of a registration certificate.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted through the donor’s online application portal, where applicants can choose their preferred application language. The submission package requires an Organizational Profile Form, an Application Proposal Form, a detailed Proposal Narrative, a Proposal Budget, and legal registration documents if available.

The narrative and project documentation may be prepared in English or in the applicant’s local language. Regional desks, including Europe and Eurasia, are available via designated email contacts to answer questions prior to submission. Applications received after the 27 January 2027 deadline are automatically deferred to the subsequent Board review cycle.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: ned.org.