Small Grants

EPSD environmental grant programs are designed to be fast, flexible, non-bureaucratic and transparent. Small grants of up to USD 8,000 but averaging USD 2,400 backed by technical assistance have proven very effective in enabling non-profit organizations and communities to mobilize local resources and initiate environmental reform. The programs have provided invaluable support that has enabled tens of thousands of people through out the region to take practical action to clean rivers and polluted sites, organize recycling campaigns, identify and protect endangered species, fight against environmentally destructive and illegal development, create parks and green spaces, reduce energy consumption in schools and participate in environmental decision making. They also have been a key factor in nurturing a strong and stable network of organizations.

Since their inception in 1991, the Environmental Partnership foundations have invested over €20 million  in support of more than 8,000 individual projects and initiatives in six countries and are currently the most significant private source of funding for community-based environmental initiatives in the region. In 2007, 631 grants were awarded in total value of €1,919,172 or $2,629,268.

Areas of support include but are not limited to:

Protection of biodiversity and endangered species, heritage interpretation and protection, urban ecology, tree planting and forestation, waste management, land stewardship, energy alternatives, organic agriculture, public spaces and green space, greenways development, environmental advocacy and watchdog activities and NGO capacity building.
A few examples of how our small grants make big differences:

A few examples of ow are grants make a difference

Bulgaria: Dragonflies Become the Symbol of Protection of a Threatened Wetland

The Bulgarian Environmental Partnership has supported the creation of a Dragonfly Reserve near the village of Debelt not far from the Black Sea coast. The “Arpa Dere” – the dragonfly reserve was established in a wetlands protected area, however with no limitations on importing species and building habitats. A coalition of local people purchased the land where the reserve is now located and have begun to preserve it to show future generations, while at the same time creating a place with recreational and educational value. Dragonflies are now used as one of the most expressive symbol of natural wetlands.

Czech Republic: Wolf Patrols in the Beskydy Mountains:

Through on-gong support of the Czech Environmental Partnership “Wolf Patrols” have been running in the Beskydy Mountains in the border region between Czech Republic and Slovakia since 1998. The program is designed to monitor and protect Europe’s last large carnivores, the gray wolf, the lynx and the brown bear. Patrols of trained volunteers monitor and their presence and migration, take action against poaching, remove traps, and map the movement of these animals. The program also focuses on education and raising public awareness about wolves, bears and lynx and the invaluable role of large mammals to the mountain ecosystem.

Hungary: Closing the Centre of Budapest for Protest and Fun

Thanks to on-going support of the Hungarian Environmental Partnership, the Hungarian Young Greens Association is one of the most dynamic and active organizations of the new generation of environmental NGOs. For their 5th birthday they (legally) closed the Budapest Tunnel and junction which, is often so jammed that a sign warns pedestrians not to enter due to the high level carbon monoxide. For an afternoon they turned the Tunnel into a picnic area and invited passers-by to participate in their birthday celebrations: to eat, drink, listen to music, relax and play games in this otherwise dangerous place. The event raised awareness to the unbearable air pollution in Budapest in an amusing and fun way, instead of the ‘normal’ protests and demonstrations which by now often go unnoticed.

Poland: Creating a model environmentally-friendly hamlet in the Carpathians

The small community of Zawoja Przysłop at the foot of the Babia Góra Mountain, in the Beskidy Mountains in the Carpathians has succeeded in revitalizing and reenergizing the village by putting environmental concern at the heart of local affairs. A local partnership called „Babia Góra Unites Us” coordinates a wide range of micro-projects to capitalize on natural and cultural assets, link the old ways with the new and providing economic, social and environmental benefits for all. When the local school was to be closed, local inhabitants decided to expand it into a tourist information and environmental education centre for nature education, looking after the land and renewable energy, thereby saving the school. The community has begun to explore and utilize renewable energy such as wind and solar. As a result the Association for Sustainable Development „Przysłop” was created with the ultimate goal of creating a model environmentally-friendly hamlet, which will serve as an example for other such places in the Carpathian region.

Romania: Communities rebuild traditions and ecosystems

Through support of the Romanian Environmental Partnership, the Monks’ Bath and surrounding pilgrimage garden was reconstructed based on the principles on organic landscape design through a traditional week-long “kaláka” or community volunteer event. Several grassroots organizations, the local community and more than 150 local and international volunteers took part. The Monks’ Bath, located in one of the most famous pilgrimage spots of Central Europe, is the 7th rehabilitated traditional mineral water spa along the „Mineral Water Trail” greenway over the last five years. Over 300 families supported the initiative, by hosting foreign volunteers, direct work or donations of money, materials, tools and food. Over 30 local small and medium size companies contributed funds and materials as well.

Slovakia: Restoration and conservation of a devastated natural treasure

The Sucha Dolina National Nature Reserve in the western reaches of the Tatra National Park covers 1,586 hectares of 200 year-old Beach-fir forests. It is an exceptionally diverse forest that is home to wolves, bears, lynx, golden eagles, wood grouse, owls plus, endemic Carpathian plants. These forests are important to Europe as a source of regeneration for the heavily damaged landscape of other European countries as well as the Tatras themselves after the catastrophic wind storm of 2004 that levelled 12,000 hectares of the park. These forests are for Europe what old-growth rain forests are to the rest of the world. Despite its protected status, logging was to begin on 160 hectares of the park. A grassroots NGO located in Tulcik, a small village in eastern Slovakia close to the Polish and Ukrainian borders came to agreement to lease the forests with support of the Slovak Environmental Partnership for 40 years effectively stopping the logging.