CIVICUS digital resiliency grants: up to USD 20,000 for civil society organisations

The global alliance CIVICUS, through its Crisis Response Fund and Digital Democracy Initiative, offers digital resiliency grants to civil society actors confronting civic space restrictions. The funding aims to safeguard organisations that work towards inclusive democracy in the digital age and face threats that disrupt their regular operations.

Individual civil society organisations may receive up to USD 10,000, while joint applications submitted by two or more organisations are eligible for up to USD 20,000. All funded activities must be concluded within an implementation timeframe of under six months.

Applications are accepted year-round without a specific closing deadline and are reviewed on a rolling basis to address urgent and emerging threats in a timely manner.

What is funded

The grant funds interventions and resiliency measures that help civil society withstand, avoid, or mitigate imminent threats to civic space. Supported activities can address digital risks, infringements on digital civic rights, and broader civic restrictions that can be resolved or managed using digital technology.

Eligible activities include digital security assessments, digital security and skills training, digital well-being workshops, and the acquisition of protective equipment, tech tools, or licences. The grant also supports legal defense against online prosecution, psychosocial care for individuals facing online harassment, secure online mobilisation setups, and proactive strategies countering restrictive regulatory frameworks.

Practical tip. If applying as a coalition for the higher threshold of USD 20,000, ensure your work plan allocates concrete digital security responsibilities across both partners and fits strictly within the six-month execution window.

Who can apply

Eligibility is limited to local civil society organisations, groups, and social movements, whether formally registered or informal, that advance civic freedoms and inclusive democracy. The programme does not award funding to individuals.

Priority is assigned to underrepresented or marginalised groups, including women, youth, grassroots movements, informal civil society, and LGTBIQ+ communities. To qualify as local civil society, applicants must be established in their country of operation and remain primarily accountable to their local constituents.

Eligible entities must be based in countries that receive Official Development Assistance. The donor does not permit international organisations without local constituent leadership to access this mechanism.

Conditions and requirements

Funding is capped at USD 10,000 for single applicants and USD 20,000 for collaborative projects involving two or more entities. The requested budget must be spent entirely within a duration of under six months.

Proposed projects must directly respond to imminent civic space restrictions, barriers, or digital attacks. The applicant must show how the intervention will mitigate these risks and help the organisation safely continue its democratic mission.

How to apply

The call does not have fixed application rounds and operates on a rolling basis throughout the year. Submissions are processed continuously to facilitate rapid deployment of resources.

The donor text does not detail the exact online portal or form templates used for submission. Prospective applicants should prepare evidence of their local civil society status, risk assessment, and detailed activities that align with the rapid-response mandate.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: civicus.org.