1. Are we eligible to apply as a newly established organization? In 2025, we had no funding, but starting in 2026 we have been funded by local institutions and international donors.
We would like to inform you that there is no restriction regarding the length of time an organization has been established, nor is there any requirement for prior funding in order to apply under this call. Consequently, newly established organizations are eligible to apply, provided they meet the other criteria specified in the call.
For more detailed information on the categories of NGOs that qualify for application, we encourage you to consult the application guidelines.
2. We are a newly established organization currently in the early stages of development and are interested in applying for the Organizational Development Grant to strengthen our internal systems and organizational documentation. We would appreciate information on the mandatory application forms and supporting documents, as well as any additional instructions or requirements that applicants should take into account when preparing their application. Any guidance would be highly valuable to our team.
Please refer to the open call: Organizational Development Grants Call, where you can find detailed information about the application process, eligibility criteria, required forms, and supporting documents.
Application instructions are included in the Guideline for Application, which is available through the same link.
We recommend reviewing the guidelines carefully, as they contain all relevant information and clarifications regarding the application process.
3. In cases where a question specifies, for example, a limit of 6,000 characters, should the response be approximately up to 6,000 characters, i.e. not exceed that number, or is it expected that the response be as close as possible to that limit?
The specified limit represents the maximum number of characters that may be used and cannot be exceeded. You may provide shorter responses, as long as they address the relevant question clearly and comprehensively. It is not necessary for the response to be as close as possible to the maximum character limit.
4. Should the cost of the audit be planned and included in the project budget by the applicant organization, or is the audit provided and covered separately by KCSF/EJA Kosovo?
For proposed budgets exceeding €5,000, the cost of the audit €800 must be included in the project budget.
5. Regarding staff salaries, it is essential for us to have one person budgeted under this grant who will be responsible for grant implementation. Is it permissible to budget for this position?
Yes, it is permissible to budget a staff member responsible for coordinating and overseeing the implementation of the organizational development grant. However, human resource costs, staff salaries, together with administrative expenses, must not exceed 20% of the total grant amount.
6. Our project foresees one person responsible for grant management. Is it allowed to engage an assistant to the project manager, with defined roles and responsibilities within the project, in addition to the project manager?
According to the Application Guideline, Section 3: Eligibility of Operations and Costs, under the Organisational Development Grant, only one person responsible for managing the grant activities may be supported through the grant. Therefore, the engagement of a project manager’s assistant or any additional implementation staff is not eligible under this grant.
7. Regarding equipment for the organization, is the purchase of laptops allowed, considering that until now we have operated solely with our own resources? Also, could you guide us on which areas we should focus on as an organization, or should we decide ourselves what we aim to achieve and what our needs are?
Laptops are an eligible expense under this grant. However, their purchase must be justified and should demonstrate how equipping the organization with laptops contributes to its organizational development.
As for the organization’s focus, we cannot suggest specific intervention areas. The organization should identify and clearly define its own objectives and needs, based on its current situation and the results of the self-assessment, which is addressed in Chapter 5 of the application form.
8. As a newly established organization, founded in August of last year, during the self-assessment process we identified needs in almost all areas. If we require intervention in multiple areas, can we prioritize those with the greatest need, even though we have needs across all areas? Could this be considered exclusionary or result in penalties?
The priorities for intervention should be determined by the organization itself. In this case, needs and priorities should be identified based on the results of the self-assessment and your analysis of the areas in which this call and grant can have the greatest impact.
The purpose of the self-assessment is to help the organization determine its priorities. Even if the organization has improvement needs in many areas, it is entirely acceptable to identify and address only a number of priority areas. This is neither penalizing nor exclusionary.
9. Which documents must be attached at this stage of the application?
At this stage of the application, the mandatory documents that must be uploaded to the online system are:
In addition, applicants must accept:
10. I was a member of a political party, but I have not been a member for more than four years and I am no longer involved in political activities. In my private time and through my personal accounts, I occasionally meet with various public officials and politicians, without having any official role or political affiliation with them. Considering these circumstances, do I fall under the category of a Politically Exposed Person, PEP?
Based on your description, since you have not been involved in political activities for more than four years, you would not be considered a PEP. Furthermore, the fact that you occasionally meet public officials or politicians in your private capacity and through your personal accounts does not automatically make you a PEP, provided that you do not currently hold, and have not held, senior public functions or positions that are considered PEP roles under the criteria established by KCSF.
Please note that PEPs are considered only those individuals who are part of the governing or management structure of the organisation, or who exercise decision-making and representative roles on its behalf, and who have held public or political positions within the last four 4 years.
The organisation should ensure that its activities are not linked to the promotion or support of political parties, including through its official communication channels and social media accounts, regardless of the personal preferences or individual activities of those involved.
However, eligibility for KCSF grants is not determined solely by PEP status. We also encourage you to carefully review the Core Values document, which requires organisations and individuals involved in their activities to act in accordance with the principles of transparency, integrity, respect for human rights, non-discrimination, democratic values, and civic participation.
We recommend that you carefully review both the Declaration on Politically Exposed Persons, PEPs, and the Core Values for Grant Beneficiaries, which are available in the information package for the Organisational Development Grant on the KCSF website: https://kcsfoundation.org/en/open-call/institutional-grants-2/
11. If we are currently beneficiaries of a Grant for volunteerism within KCSF and are still in the process of implementing it, are we eligible to apply for the Organizational Development Grant call as well?
Yes, you may apply for the Organizational Development Grant under the EJA Kosovo program, even if you are currently a beneficiary of, or are in the process of implementing, a grant for volunteerism supported by KCSF.
