Civil Society on a New Foundation Coalition – Civil Society on a New Foundation

Background

The National Cooperation Fund (NEA), which distributes an amount equivalent to more than 30 million euros annually, could be one of the most important state funds for the Hungarian civil society sector. However, in its current form, it does not fulfill this role. A complete rethinking and fundamental restructuring of the system is inevitable, while, of course, retaining the relevant solutions, methods, and best practices.

In the fall of 2025, members of the ’Civilek Új Alapon’ (Civil Society on a New Foundation) coalition launched a program aimed at evaluating the NEA’s operations and developing a concept for a state fund that is transparent, professionally, widely accepted, and credible to civil society organizations, and then communicating this concept to decision-makers. In addition to the evaluation and the development of the concept, the program also aims to implement the activities within a unique participatory process that can later serve as a model for similar initiatives.

The program is currently underway: the phases of situation analysis, data collection, and needs assessment were completed by the end of August 2026. Citizens’ Assembly, advocacy actions, and activities will take place in the fall.

The Participatory Process

Hungarian civil society organizations (private foundations, associations) and informal groups were and are eligible to participate in the participatory process. In designing the participatory process, the coalition took care to ensure that the widest possible range of civil society organizations could participate (through surveys and forums), while also incorporating elements of representativeness into the process. The elements of the participatory process employed by the coalition are as follows: situation analysis, needs assessment, Citizens’ Assembly, consultation on the concept, fostering professional and public discourse, and advocacy process.

Evaluation and Needs Assessment

After reviewing the available analyses in the literature, as part of the evaluation, the Civil Society on a New Foundation coalition launched a nationwide online survey in February 2026 to assess civil society organizations’ experiences and opinions regarding the NEA’s operations. A total of 665 civil society organizations completed the questionnaire, which is a significant achievement in the Hungarian context. In parallel with the survey, the coalition and its partner organizations also organized seven regional forums for civil society organizations. The purpose of these events was to provide local organizations with an open forum to express their opinions on the NEA’s operations and to make suggestions regarding potential changes.

In addition to the questionnaire-based survey and the forums, the coalition also conducted three expert interviews with individuals who had previously gained direct and insider experience with the operations of the National Cooperation Fund in various roles. The purpose of the interviews was to gain a deeper understanding of how the grant system operates, as well as to explore decision-making mechanisms, organizational operations, and potential areas for improvement. The study concluded with an analysis of the grant models in two European countries that are similar to Hungary’s national civil society fund.

The survey results clearly showed that civil society organizations primarily view three main areas as problematic: lack of transparency in the NEA’s operations, neglection of civil society needs, and political influence. At the same time, they consider the existence of the NEA or a similar state fund to be necessary. The organizations would like to see a state fund that operates transparently, free from political influence, on a professional basis, secure funding, to which civil society organizations (associations and foundations) are eligible to apply; one that provides both operational and program support; one that takes the needs of civil society organizations into account when determining the forms and objectives of support; and one that ensures more extensive and predictable funding than is currently available.

Remaining Tasks: Citizens’ Assembly, Advocacy

Results of the needs assessment process provide a solid basis for the civil society organizations participating in the fall community assembly organized by the coalition to develop a detailed, relevant reform concept. During the citizens’ assembly, representatives from 50 Hungarian civil society organizations will come together over two two-day sessions to work with the help of experts and facilitators. The coalition selected the 50 participants (representing their organizations) by lottery from a database, considering representativeness in terms of geography, size, and areas of activity.

The project will conclude with an advocacy process. The coalition will present the concept to decision-makers and use various means to ensure that it is considered during the reform process of the NEA. Contact has already been established; representatives of the coalition met with the state secretary responsible for relations with the civil sector, who expressed openness to cooperation.

The coalition’s work is supported by the Association of Alternative Communities, the Civilization Coalition, the EEA and Norway Grants Civil Society Fund in Hungary, the Power of Humanity Foundation, the Roots and Wings Foundation, MagNet Bank, and the Nonprofit Sector Analysis Association.