host: Balkan Fund / Common Ground Program
Eligibility: CSOs, collectives & community groups in Western Balkans
apply-url: https://www.balkanfund.org/applications/cgp-opportunity-innovation-grants
The Common Ground Program (CGP) Opportunity & Innovation Grants offer civil society organisations, informal collectives, and community-based groups in the Western Balkans up to €4,500 to test new approaches to building trust and bridging social divides. These are deliberately small, fast-turnaround grants — designed to get promising ideas off the ground without the burden of lengthy applications or complex multi-year reporting requirements.
If your organisation has an idea for fostering dialogue, reducing polarisation, or bringing divided communities together in the Western Balkans, this is one of the most accessible grant programs in the region.
What the Grant Supports
The Common Ground Program specifically funds social cohesion work in the Western Balkans — projects that pilot new ways of bridging divides between communities separated by ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation. The emphasis is on experimentation and testing, not scaling proven models.
- Pilot activities and new approaches to bridging social divides at the community level
- Feasibility studies for more ambitious social cohesion interventions
- Community-driven initiatives that bring people across ethnic, religious, or political lines
- Genuinely experimental projects — the program values testing unproven ideas over repackaging existing activities
Who Can Apply
One of the CGP's most distinctive features is its openness around applicant type — you do not need to be a formally registered NGO to apply.
- Registered civil society organisations operating anywhere in the Western Balkans
- Informal collectives and community-based groups
- Groups from Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia
What Makes a Strong Application
The program selects proposals that are concrete, community-rooted, and genuinely innovative — not repackaged versions of activities your organisation already runs.
- A clearly defined social cohesion challenge in a specific community you are embedded in
- A novel or untested approach you want to pilot with this funding
- A realistic, focused plan for the €4,500 budget with an achievable timeframe
- Evidence that your group has genuine roots in the community where the project will happen
How to Apply
Submit your proposal through the Balkan Fund's online application portal (link in the quick facts above). Your proposal should describe the social challenge you're addressing, the activity you plan to run, who will benefit, and how you'll assess whether it worked. Applications are reviewed competitively, so clarity and specificity matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who runs the Common Ground Program?
The Common Ground Program is administered by the Balkan Fund (Balkan Civil Society Development Network), with support from international partners focused on reconciliation and civic development in the Western Balkans region.
How much can I apply for?
Up to €4,500. The program is designed for small, targeted activities — not large multi-year projects.
Do I need to be a registered NGO?
No. Informal collectives and community-based groups are also eligible. This is one of the program's most important features for grassroots organisations that lack formal registration.
Which countries are covered?
The Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.