Fundraising Committee entity

The Fundraising Committee made a list of funds that are accesible to students in Europe. This can give organisers some idea what possibilities are out there. Next to a short description there is some additional information about the level of difficulty and the contactwebsite

1. Cohesion Fund

Short description
The Cohesion Fund is aimed at Member States whose Gross National Income (GNI) per inhabitant is less than 90% of the Community average. It serves to reduce their economic and social shortfall, as well as to stabilize their economy. It supports actions in the framework of the Convergence objective. It is now subject to the same rules of programming, management and monitoring as the ESF and the ERDF.

For the 2007-2013 period the Cohesion Fund concerns Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Spain is eligible to a phase-out fund only as its GNI per inhabitant is less than the average of the EU-15.

The Cohesion Fund finances activities under the following categories:
• trans-European transport networks, notably priority projects of European interest as identified by the Union;
• environment; here, Cohesion Fund can also support projects related to energy or transport, as long as they clearly present a benefit to the environment: energy efficiency, use of renewable energy, developing rail transport, supporting intermodality, strengthening public transport, etc.

The financial assistance of the Cohesion Fund can be suspended by a Council decision (taken by qualified majority) if a Member State shows excessive public deficit and if it has not resolved the situation or has not taken the appropriate action to do so.

Accessibility - difficult
Website - http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funds/procf/cf_en.htm

2. European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Short description
The ERDF aims to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the European Union by correcting imbalances between its regions. In short, the ERDF finances:
• direct aid to investments in companies (in particular SMEs) to create sustainable jobs;
• infrastructures linked notably to research and innovation, telecommunications, environment, energy and transport;
• financial instruments (capital risk funds, local development funds, etc.) to support regional and local development and to foster cooperation between towns and regions;
• technical assistance measures.

The ERDF can intervene in the three objectives of regional policy:
• convergence;
• regional competitiveness and employment;
• european territorial cooperation.

Accesibility - difficult
Website - http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funds/feder/index_en.htm

3. The European Social Fund (ESF)

Short description
The ESF sets out to improve employment and job opportunities in the European Union. It intervenes in the framework of the Convergence and Regional Competitiveness and Employment objectives.
The ESF supports actions in Member States in the following areas:
• adapting workers and enterprises: lifelong learning schemes, designing and spreading innovative working organisations;
• access to employment for job seekers, the unemployed, women and migrants;
• social integration of disadvantaged people and combating discrimination in the job market;
• strengthening human capital by reforming education systems and setting up a network of teaching establishments.

Accesibility - difficult
Website - http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/esf/

4. The European Union Solidarity Fund

Short description
The European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) was set up to respond to major natural disasters and express European solidarity to disaster-stricken regions within Europe. The Fund was created as a reaction to the severe floods in Central Europe in the summer of 2002. Eight years later, it has been used for 33 disasters covering a range of different catastrophic events including floods, forest fires, earthquakes, storms and drought. 20 different European countries have been supported so far for an amount of more than 2.1 billion euros.

Accesibility - difficult
Website - http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/regional_policy/provisions_and_instruments/g24217_en.htm

5. European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation (EGTC)

Short description
The EGTC is a new European legal instrument designed to facilitate and promote cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation. Unlike the structures which governed this kind of cooperation before 2007, the EGTC is a legal entity and as such, will enable regional and local authorities and other public bodies from different member states, to set up cooperation groupings with a legal personality.

The EGTC is unique in the sense that it enables public authorities of various Member States to team up and deliver joint services, without requiring a prior international agreement to be signed and ratified by national parliaments. Member States must however agree to the participation of potential members in their respective countries.

Jaspers-Jeremie-Jessica-Jasmine

In the context of cohesion policy, enhanced cooperation between the European Commission and the European Investment Bank Group and other International Financial Institutions on financial engineering, has several dimensions:
• providing additional loan resources for business formation and development in the regions of the EU,
• contributing financial and managerial expertise from specialist institutions such as the EIB Group and other International Financial Institutions,
• creating strong incentives for successful implementation by beneficiaries by combining grants with loans,
• ensuring long-term sustainability through the revolving character of the European Regional Development Fund’s (ERDF) contribution to financial engineering actions.

• JASPERS: Joint Assistance in Supporting Projects in European Regions: http://www.jaspers-europa-info.org/

• JEREMIE: Joint European Resources for Micro to medium Enterprises: http://www.eif.org/jeremie/activity/index.htm

• JESSICA: Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas: http://www.jessica.europa.eu

• JASMINE: Joint Action to Support Micro-finance Institutions iN Europe: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funds/2007/jjj/micro_en.htm

Accesibility - difficult

6. Lifelong Learning Program (LLL)

Short description
As the flagship European Funding programme in the field of education and training, the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) enables individuals at all stages of their lives to pursue stimulating learning opportunities across Europe. It is an umbrella programme integrating various educational and training initiatives. LLP is divided in four sectorial sub programmes and four so called 'transversal' programmes.

The sectorial sub programmes focus on different stages of education and training and continuing previous programmes:
Comenius for schools
Erasmus for higher education
Leonardo da Vinci for vocational education and training
Grundtvig for adult education

The transversal programmes aim to complement the sectorial sub programmes and to ensure that they achieve the best results possible. They aim to promote European cooperation in fields covering two or more of the sub-programmes. In addition they seek to promote quality and transparency of Member States' education and training systems.

LLP has a budget of nearly €7 billion for the period 2007 to 2013.

Accesibility - medium
Website - http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/llp/index_en.php

7. Erasmus Mundus

Short description
Erasmus Mundus is a cooperation and mobility programme in the field of higher education that aims to enhance the quality of European higher education and to promote dialogue and understanding between people and cultures through cooperation with Third-Countries. In addition, it contributes to the development of human resources and the international cooperation capacity of Higher education institutions in Third Countries by increasing mobility between the European Union and these countries.

Erasmus Mundus 2009-2013 is a cooperation and mobility programme in the field of higher education for:

the enhancement of quality in European higher education;
the promotion of the European Union as a centre of excellence in learning around the world;
the promotion of intercultural understanding through cooperation with Third Countries as well as for the development of Third Countries in the field of higher education.

Accesibility - difficult
Website - http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/index_en.php

8. Tempus

Short description
Tempus is the European Union’s Programme which supports the modernisation of higher education in the Partner Countries of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Western Balkans and the Mediterranean region, mainly through university cooperation projects.
It also aims to promote voluntary convergence of Partner Country higher education systems with EU developments in the field of higher education. In addition to institutional cooperation Tempus also promotes a "people to people" approach.

The overall objective of Tempus is to contribute to the creation of an area of cooperation in the field of higher education between the European Union and Partner Countries in the countries neighbouring the EU.

Accesibility - difficult
Website - http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/tempus/index_en.php

9. Bilateral Cooperation with Industrialised Countries

Short description
The European Commission has set up bilateral agreements between the European Union and some industrialised countries outside Europe to fund innovative projects that focus on academic cooperation and student mobility. The programmes under these agreements give support to consortia of higher education and training institutions working together to improve their educational services, to compare and modernise curricula and to develop joint study programmes with recognition of credits and qualifications.

Accesibility - difficult
Website - http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/bilateral_cooperation/index_en.php

10. Media

Short description
The MEDIA 2007 programme (2007-2013) is the fourth multi-annual programme since 1991 (previous programmes) and has a budget of € 755 million. It simplifies the programme's administration but certainly not its objectives:

■ to strive for a stronger European audiovisual sector, reflecting and respecting Europe’s cultural identity and heritage
■ to increase the circulation of European audiovisual works inside and outside the European Union
■ to strengthen the competitiveness of the European audiovisual sector by facilitating access to financing and promoting use of digital technologies

Accesibility - medium
Website - http://ec.europa.eu/culture/media/programme/index_en.htm

11. Culture

Short description
The aim of the multi-annual Programme is to encourage and support cultural cooperation within Europe in order to bring the European common cultural heritage to the fore. The Programme proposes funding opportunities to all cultural sections and all categories of cultural operators contributing to the development of cultural cooperation at European level, with a view to encouraging the emergence of European citizenship.

The programme mainly promotes:
trans national mobility of cultural players;
trans national circulation of artistic and cultural works and products;
intercultural dialogue and exchanges.

With a total budget of 400 million EUR for 2007 – 2013 the Programme allows to co-finance around 300 different cultural actions per year.

Accesibility - medium
Website - http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/culture/index_en.php

12. Europe for citizens

Short description
This programme supports a wide range of activities and organisations promoting “active European citizenship”, especially the involvement of citizens and civil society organisations in the process of European integration.

The programme "Europe for citizens" with a total budget of EUR 215 millions starts on 1 January 2007 and ends on 31 December 2013.

Accesibility - medium
Website - http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/citizenship/index_en.php

13. Youth in Action

Short description
Youth in Action is the Programme the European Union has set up for young people. It aims to inspire a sense of active European citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among young Europeans and to involve them in shaping the Union's future.

It promotes mobility within and beyond the EU's borders, non-formal learning and intercultural dialogue, and encourages the inclusion of all young people, regardless of their educational, social and cultural background: Youth in Action is a Programme for all.

Every year, thousands of projects are submitted by promoters in order to get financial support from the Programme; a selection process aims at granting the best projects.

Accesibility - medium
Website - http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/youth/index_en.php

14. Trust for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe – CEE Trust

Short description
The mission of the CEE Trust is to support the long term sustainable development of civil society and non-governmental organizations in Central and Eastern Europe, including cross-border and regional activities in which they may engage.

The CEE Trust definition of civil society is based on a broader understanding, including registered non-profit non-governmental organizations (NGOs), but also other formally and informally organized citizens, groups, coalitions, movements, representatives of the media and educational institutions, working for the advancement of the public good.

The CEE Trust's task is to encourage them to become more efficient and sustainable, to expand their constituencies and consider the future of their work in times when global, European, and local concerns define the environment.

Accesibility - medium
Website - http://www.ceetrust.org

15. The German Marshal Fund of the US

Short description
Grantmaking is one of GMF's core missions, and through this process, GMF supports a wide range of institutions and individuals working on transatlantic policy issues. GMF awards grants primarily through six major grantmaking programs -- the Balkan Trust for Democracy, the Black Sea Trust, Economics, Germany-Related Grants, Immigration & Integration, and Strategic Grantmaking.

Grantmaking is one of GMF's core missions, and through this process, GMF supports a wide range of institutions and individuals working on transatlantic policy issues. GMF awards grants primarily through six major grantmaking programs -- the Balkan Trust for Democracy, the Black Sea Trust, Economics, Germany-related, Immigration, and Strategic.
Immigration, Germany-related, and Strategic Grantmaking are by invitation only.

Balkan Trust for Democracy
The Balkan Trust for Democracy (BTD) is a 10-year, $30-million grantmaking initiative that supports democracy, good governance, and Euroatlantic integration in Southeastern Europe. This award-winning public-private partnership was created in 2003 by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation
A public-private partnership modeled on the successful Balkan Trust for Democracy (BTD), the Black Sea Trust (BST) works in collaboration with a range of donors to provide grants to indigenous organizations working to foster and strengthen regional cooperation, civil society, and democratic foundations. BST will be operated as a 10-year initiative, though GMF remains open to considering a longer-term effort.

Congressional Study Groups
GMF sponsors study groups that connect Members of the U.S. Congress together with foreign legislators providing the opportunity for lawmakers from around the world and the United States to speak candidly with each other about matters of mutual importance.

Germany-related Grantmaking
The Germany-related Grantmaking Program provides support to institutions and programs dedicated to strengthening the U.S.-German relationship. In July 2009, grants were awarded to the American Council on Germany, the American Political Science Association, the Association of Former Members of Congress, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Auswaertige Politik.

Immigration
The GMF Immigration and Integration Program recently launched an annual, large-scale grantmaking initiative, the Transatlantic Study Teams. Its objective is to link the transatlantic debate on international migration flows with its consequences for sending and receiving regions.

Strategic Grantmaking
The Strategic Grantmaking Program fosters policy research across the range of transatlantic issues. GMF will focus on specific issue areas each year and invite individual proposals to be submitted. Examples of recent strategic grants include:

Italian Institute for International Affairs Strategic Partnership
The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with the Italian Institute for International Affairs (Istituto Affari Internazionali - IAI), Italy's major research center in the fields of international politics, security and economy.

The partnership will leverage each institution's intellectual expertise, convening capabilities, and networks in Washington and across Europe focusing on southern Europe, North Africa and the Mediterranean. This effort will focus on an enhanced program of research and analysis spanning key areas such as new actors in the Mediterranean, maritime security issues, and emerging opportunities and challenges for Euroatlantic cooperation.

Bruegel Strategic Partnership
The German Marshall Fund has entered into a strategic partnership grant agreement with Brussels-based think tank Bruegel, a premier European economic policy institute. The partnership will leverage each institution's intellectual expertise, convening capabilities, and networks in Washington and across Europe, and across possible program areas, some of which are listed below for 2009. Another topic may still be added.

GMF and Bruegel intend to collaborate over three years through a variety of means, including the development of research products, organizing conferences and seminars, written publications for external audiences, programming for fellows, staff, and other important visitors.

Accesibility - medium
Website - http://www.gmfus.org/

16. The Open Society Foundation

Short description
The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve this mission, the Foundations seek to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights.

On a local level, the Open Society Foundations implement a range of initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. At the same time, we build alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information. The Foundations place a high priority on protecting and improving the lives of people in marginalized communities.

Accesibility - medium
Website - http://www.soros.org/grants/

17. USAID

Short description
USAID is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. Their work supports long-term and equitable economic growth and advances U.S. foreign policy objectives by supporting:
economic growth, agriculture and trade;
global health; and,
democracy, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance.

With headquarters in Washington, D.C., USAID's strength is its field offices around the world. We work in close partnership with private voluntary organizations, indigenous organizations, universities, American businesses, international agencies, other governments, and other U.S. government agencies. USAID has working relationships with more than 3,500 American companies and over 300 U.S.-based private voluntary organizations.

Accesibility - medium
Website - http://www.usaid.gov/

18. Balkan Incentive Fund for Culture

Short description

Balkan Incentive Fund for Culture (BIFC) Grants help support collaborative artistic and cultural projects conceived by organisations within, or cooperating with, the countries of the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia). In doing so, long-term partnerships of equal exchange are (re-)built across the region and with the rest of Europe. The average award given is €15,000 with a maximum of €30,000

Accesibility - medium
Website - http://www.eurocult.org/home

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