NED Grants Program
NED Grants Program supports independent nongovernmental organizations’ nonpartisan projects in human rights, media, civic education, and other areas to advance democracy and strengthen its institutions.
This grant was recently updated
Deadlines changed from September 26, 2025, January 26, 2026, and June 2, 2026 to September 21, 2026, January 27, 2027, and June 28, 2027 (May 28 on Portuguese/French/Russian pages). Applications now use an online portal instead of email/post; other details also changed.
Funder: National Endowment for Democracy
Due Dates: January 22, 2027 (Board meeting) | January 27, 2027 (Proposal deadline) | May 7, 2027 (Board meeting) | June 28, 2027 (Proposal deadline) | September 10, 2027 (Board meeting)
Funding Amounts: Applicants submit a requested project budget in U.S. dollars
Summary: Supports nongovernmental organizations’ nonpartisan projects advancing democratic goals and strengthening democratic institutions worldwide.
Key Information: Projects implemented in the U.S. or other established democracies are ineligible, regardless of the applicant’s location.
Description
The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) makes more than 2,000 grants each year for nongovernmental groups working in more than 100 countries. The program supports local, independent organizations undertaking nonpartisan work, responding to country-specific needs across nascent democracies, democratic transitions, semi-authoritarian countries, and highly repressive societies.
Supported priorities include human rights and the rule of law, freedom of information and independent media, democratic ideas and values, accountability and transparency, and stronger civil society organizations. NED also funds work on democratic political processes and institutions, civic education, democratic conflict resolution, freedom of association, and a broad-based market economy.
