The CIVICUS Crisis Response Fund (CRF) and the Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) offer rapid-response digital resiliency grants of up to USD 10,000 for one organisation applying alone and up to USD 20,000 for joint applications between two or more organisations. Applications are received at any time throughout the year and reviewed on a rolling basis. At Youth Works Hub, we read the official programme page and set out every detail below.
This is a civil society grant programme run by CIVICUS. It is not part of Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps (ESC).
What the Grants Are For
The CRF and the DDI offer rapid-response resiliency grants, especially for local civil society actors facing imminent civic space restrictions, struggles, threats and barriers that prevent them from continuing their work towards more inclusive democracy in the digital age. The grants support resiliency responses or activities that proactively avoid and mitigate imminent civic space restrictions, struggles, threats and barriers and/or help civil society continue to do its work. These responses can focus on mitigating digital threats, threats to digital civic rights, threats to civic engagement and inclusive democracy in the digital space, and broader civic space threats (including offline threats) that could be countered or mitigated by using digital technology and building digital resilience.
How Much You Can Receive
💵 Single organisation: up to USD 10,000 (ten thousand United States dollars)
🤝 Joint application: up to USD 20,000 (twenty thousand United States dollars) for applications between two or more organisations
⏱️ Time limit: the grants must be used in under six months
What Can Be Funded
Prospective resiliency responses or activities under the grants could include (but are not limited to):
📡 Mobilising online safely: help civil society actors at risk for their in-person activities start mobilising safely in online spaces so they can continue their work, including training, creating online spaces and other infrastructure work in the digital space
🔐 Training: digital security, digital skills and other training
🛡️ Assessments: digital security assessments
💻 Equipment: equipment, licenses and other tech tools
⚖️ Legal responses: legal and other responses
🧠 Psychosocial support
♿ Access and equality: responses to promote digital access and equality
📜 Regulatory threats: strategies to respond to legal and regulatory threats
➕ More: other responses that fit the goal of the grants
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for a CRF-DDI digital resiliency grant, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
🏛️ Who: applicants must be a local civil society organisation, group or social movement
🌐 Where: applicants must be based in a Global South country receiving Official Development Assistance (ODA)
🚨 Need: applicants must be facing a verifiable imminent civic space threat or emergency
🛠️ Proposal: proposals must be for resiliency responses or activities
📆 Timing: responses and proposals should be implemented in or under six months
🏦 Bank account: applicants must have an organisational bank account
📊 Financial management: applicants must be able to plan and track the use of CRF-DDI grant funding
🔁 Past funding: applicants should not have received funding from the CIVICUS Crisis Response Fund in the last two years
You can submit an application only if you meet all of the eligibility criteria, so read them carefully before you start.
Application Process
You can submit a funding application at any time throughout the year, following this process:
1️⃣ Read the criteria: read the eligibility criteria carefully
2️⃣ Download the templates: the application form as a Word file to draft your answers offline, and the budget template as an Excel file to prepare your budget proposal
3️⃣ Prepare your submission: answer the questions offline and then copy-paste them into the online form; once you start filling out the online form you cannot stop and save it to continue later, and if your internet or computer fails you could lose what you wrote; the budget must be prepared with the Excel template and uploaded when you submit
4️⃣ Submit online: copy-paste your answers into the designated fields, making sure nothing is left empty, upload your budget proposal and click submit
5️⃣ Fallback by email: the online portal is the preferred channel; if you experience challenges accessing or using it, send your completed application form and budget proposal to the email address listed in the Links section
Response and Turnaround Time
The CIVICUS team reviews applications on a rolling basis and does its best to contact applicants within one month to acknowledge receipt of the application and, if possible, provide initial feedback. If the application abides by the protocols and the partner verification process is not hindered, partners can expect a 6 to 8 week turnaround in processing their application, contracting and initial disbursement of funds.
Looking for more programmes like this? Browse the Others category on Youth Works Hub, and read how we verify opportunities in the Youth Works Hub verification guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can an organisation receive from the CRF-DDI digital resiliency grants?
A single organisation can receive up to USD 10,000. Joint applications between two or more organisations can receive up to USD 20,000. The grants must be used in under six months.
When is the deadline?
There is no fixed deadline. Applications are received at any time throughout the year and reviewed on a rolling basis.
Who can apply?
Local civil society organisations, groups or social movements based in a Global South country receiving Official Development Assistance (ODA) that face a verifiable imminent civic space threat or emergency.
Can I save the online form and finish it later?
No. Once you start filling out the online form you cannot stop and save it, so CIVICUS recommends drafting your answers offline in the Word template and then copy-pasting them into the form.
Can I apply if my organisation received CIVICUS Crisis Response Fund money recently?
Applicants should not have received funding from the CIVICUS Crisis Response Fund in the last two years.
How long does the decision take?
CIVICUS aims to contact applicants within one month to acknowledge receipt. Partners can expect a 6 to 8 week turnaround in processing their application, contracting and initial disbursement of funds.
Deadline
⏳ As soon as possible!
Links
🌐 Official page and online application: https://www.civicus.org/index.php/what-we-do/enabling-and-resourcing/digital-democracy-initiative/digital-resiliency-grants
📘 Grant guidelines (PDF): https://www.civicus.org/documents/crf-ddi-grants-guidelines-2025_en.pdf
📝 Application form template (Word): https://www.civicus.org/documents/crf-ddi-resiliency-grants-application-form-template.docx
📧 Email (if the portal cannot be used): ddiresiliencygrants@civicus.org
