Civil society organizations play an essential role in protecting human rights, supporting communities, and strengthening democracy. Yet they face growing challenges such as legal and administrative pressure, digital threats, and limited funding. This can make it increasingly difficult for them to sustain their work, support their communities, and safeguard the well-being of their teams.
RESIST aims to support civil society organizations and informal groups, primarily small and medium-sized ones, to navigate these challenges and build the resilience they need to sustain their work over the long term. Through practical support and opportunities to learn from experts and peers, they can develop new approaches to protect their values, strengthen their operations, and support their target group as well as their own team.
The program brings together organizations from Bulgaria, Hungary, and Slovakia to exchange knowledge and explore solutions to shared challenges. It combines transnational learning events, expert mentoring, peer exchanges, study visits, and digital-security training, enabling participants to develop practical skills and apply new approaches to their own organizational contexts.
RESIST is implemented by the Transatlantic Foundation (TF), together with the Alternative Communities Association (ACA) in Hungary, the Bulgarian Institute for Legal Initiatives (BILI), and Partners for Democratic Change Slovakia (PDCS).
The program runs from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 and is co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) program.
What does the program offer?
RESIST combines several learning and support opportunities to help organizations address their specific needs and apply what they learn in practice. Applicants may express interest in attending one, two, or all three events, depending on their needs.
Transnational learning events
Each of TF’s three partners will host a two-day in-person event that focuses on different aspects of organizational resilience and combines expert input, practical exercises, and peer exchange.
Financial sustainability and community support
Budapest, Hungary | February 23–24, 2027
Participants will explore ways to diversify funding, strengthen relationships with donors and supporters, and connect organizational values with fundraising, storytelling, and community engagement. Through practical exercises and peer exchange, they will identify approaches to sustaining their work in challenging financial, legal, and political environments.
Institutional and operational resilience
Sofia, Bulgaria | April 19–20, 2027
Participants will explore ways to prepare for legal and administrative pressure, protect against digital threats, and support the psychological well-being of staff and activists. The first day will combine expert input, practical exercises, and peer exchange to help organizations anticipate risks and strengthen their preparedness. The second day will feature a public forum on cooperation between public institutions and civil society, examining how partnerships can support democracy and protect civic space while preserving civil society’s independence.
Strategic communication and community engagement
Bratislava, Slovakia | June 2027
Participants will explore ways to strengthen strategic communication, reach new audiences, and build lasting relationships with their communities. The first day will focus on practical approaches to engaging communities, building public trust, and turning supporters into active allies and advocates. Through case studies, interactive exercises, and peer exchange, participants will identify strategies they can work for their organization. The second day will feature a public conference bringing together civil society representatives, experts, and wider audiences to discuss communication challenges and explore ways to strengthen civil society’s visibility, public legitimacy, and community support.
Expert mentoring
Following each transnational learning event, participating organizations will have the opportunity to further develop their learnings through an expert mentoring session tailored to their individual needs. Mentors will help them identify priorities, set achievable goals, and develop practical steps to strengthen their resilience.
Transnational study visits
Study visits will give organizations the opportunity to learn directly from peers in another participating country, exchange experiences, and explore practices they can apply in their own work.
Representatives who attend a transnational learning event may express interest in visiting another organization, hosting a visit, or both. Visits will be arranged based on participants’ interests and available funding, so expressing interest does not guarantee participation. Further information about the application process will be provided separately.
Online peer learning
Online peer learning will give organizations the opportunity to exchange experiences with national peers, learn from mentors and experts, and explore topics relevant to their needs. These activities will help participants adapt the knowledge and skills gained through transnational learning to their own national contexts, while building connections with organizations facing similar challenges.
Digital-security training
Participating organizations will have access to monthly online training and tests to strengthen their awareness of digital risks and develop safer everyday practices.
Participation in the program is free of charge. The program will cover travel costs for all in-person activities, including study visits. Organizations or groups hosting a study visit will receive a daily allowance to cover the cost of refreshments during the visit.
Who should apply?
RESIST is primarily intended for small and medium-sized civil society organizations and informal civic groups in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Slovakia that wish to strengthen their resilience and long-term sustainability.
The program particularly encourages applications from organizations that:
Work in rural or peripheral areas.
Face legal, administrative, political, digital, or organizational challenges.
Want to strengthen their financial sustainability, operational resilience, or community engagement.
Work with or represent vulnerable communities, including ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ communities.
Applicants should be able to identify their organization’s needs, explain how the program could support them, and demonstrate a willingness to learn from peers and apply relevant lessons.
Eligibility and selection
Applications are open to legally registered civil society organizations and other nonprofit associations in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Slovakia, as well as informal civic groups with stable operations in one of these countries.
Applicants must:
Demonstrate a commitment to fundamental rights and EU values.
Explain their organizational challenges and the relevance of their selected learning events.
Be willing to share experiences and learn from organizations in other countries.
Attend both days of each event they are selected for.
Communicate effectively in English.
Share relevant learning with colleagues and follow up on agreed actions.
Demonstrate interest in visiting another organization, hosting a study visit, or both.
Different staff members or volunteers may represent the organization at different events, with one representative per organization at each event.
Selection criteria
Applications will be assessed based on the following selection criteria:
Alignment with the program’s goals (5 points)
Relevance of the organization’s needs to the topics of the selected learning events (5 points)
Relevance of the organization’s experience to the topics of the selected learning events (5 points)
Commitment to EU values and fundamental rights (6 points)
Effective communication of EU values (4 points)
Total: 25 points
Bonus points will be awarded to applicants that:
Are registered and/or work in rural areas (2 points) or in towns and cities outside the capital (1 point)
Have gender equality as their main field of action (1 point)
Have minority rights as their main field of action (1 point)
Are woman-led organizations (1 point)
Maximum bonus: 5 points
How to apply
Submit one application per organization or informal group by filling out the following form: RESIST_Application form – Fill out form
Application deadline: December 7, 2026, 12:00 pm (CET)
Info session
An online info session will take place on November 26, 2026. Interested organizations will be able to learn more about RESIST, the available activities, and the application process, and ask questions.
Register here:https://gmfus.zoom.us/meeting/register/jdfLTo0tQOa74caoP-6PkA
Confidentiality and participant safety
RESIST recognizes that discussing organizational challenges can involve risks. The program is committed to protecting participants’ safety and respecting the sensitivity of their work.
Beyond obligatory visibility requirements, information will not be shared in a way that directly identifies beneficiary organizations without their explicit consent. All activities and communications will follow the do-no-harm principle.
Participation in RESIST does not constitute consent to public identification.
Disclaimer
“Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.”
