- Program Civil Society
- Program Area Strengthening Civic Space
- Grant Amount $200,000
- Grant Period January 1, 2003–December 31, 2004
- Location Brussels, Belgium
- Geographic Focus Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine
About this grant
The mission of the Orpheus Programme of the European Foundation Centre is to provide a public record and information service on foundations and corporate citizen programs throughout Europe. The Civil Society Project, functioning within the Orpheus Programme, enables resource centers serving foundations and associations in Central/Eastern Europe and Russia to have access to assistance and network with other regional resource centers and Western European organizations.Multiyear funding will enable the project to build the capacity of both the network and its individual members. Specific objectives include shaping European Union policymaking; developing effective cooperation among non-governmental organizations and public authorities; supporting the development of national federations; building the sustainability of information and resource centers; expanding network membership; providing access to existing knowledge and expertise; and facilitating information flow within the network.Since its creation in 1994, the Orpheus network has grown from a core group of less than 10 centers to 36 actively participating centers. The Civil Society Project has contributed to strengthening the nonprofit sector through networking; establishing and strengthening legal frameworks; carrying out leadership and staff training activities; improving resource development; and developing databases throughout Central/Eastern Europe and Russia.