ILGA-Europe Threat & Opportunity Response Fund

Main information about the Fund

• The Fund is to resource LGBTI organisations to act quickly and strategically when faced with unforeseen and urgent situations, such as legal, political or other threats or opportunities.
• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until August 1, 2027.
• Grant amount: Up to 10,000 EUR per grant.
• Grant duration: Up to 6 months.
• Eligible applicants: LGBTI organisations in Europe and Central Asia.[1]

Purpose and Scope

Across Europe and Central Asia, changes are moving fast, with big setbacks and attacks, as well as unexpected openings. Both require quick and thoughtful action.

ILGA-Europe continues to stand with LGBTI groups in these moments not only through advocacy, but also through direct financial support.

In 2025, many urgent support structures have significantly weakened or collapsed. This Fund is our contribution to rebuilding that support system.

It is here to help LGBTI organisations respond to sudden and far-reaching developments, whether negative or positive, in ways that are timely and strategic.

The Fund provides rapid grants for time-sensitive political, legal, or social developments. It aims to help organisations act effectively when it matters most.

The Fund supports time-sensitive, urgent activities that respond to unexpected political, legal, or social developments with far-reaching consequences for LGBTI people and organisations. This includes both threats and unexpected windows of opportunity.

What activities are supported?

Supported activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Urgent advocacy, campaigning, or mobilisation in response to a specific threat or opportunity;
• Strategic communications and crisis-response messaging, including countering disinformation;
• Rapid coordination and convening, including meetings, consultations, or joint actions;
• Other responses to sudden legal, political, or institutional developments.

NB: Activities addressing existing or emerging digital and physical security threats are outside the scope of this Fund.

If you are asking yourself questions, you are welcome to reach out to us at svetlana@ilga-europe.org to discuss if this Fund is a good match. Here are some questions that might be relevant to you:

• We are facing a sudden political or legislative threat. Can we get urgent support to respond?
• We need to act quickly to counter a harmful narrative or disinformation campaign. Can this be funded?
• An unexpected opportunity has opened. Can we get rapid resources to engage?
• We need urgent help to coordinate with allies or organise a rapid meeting/action. Is this eligible?
• We want to mobilise our allies and supporters around specific time-sensitive threat or opportunity. Can the fund help? 

What support is offered?

The Threat & Opportunity Response Fund offers urgent grants to LGBTI organisations and groups:

• In the amount of up to 10 000 EUR;
• For a period of up to 6 months;
• An easy application procedure, with decisions made quickly;

Eligibility

The Threat & Opportunity Response Fund is reserved for situations where:

• The applicant is an LGBTI organisation/group based in Europe or Central Asia.
• The applicant needs to address a sudden and immediate development with far-reaching consequences for LGBTI rights and the situation of LGBTI people or organisations in the country.
• There is a clear sense of urgency, and the required response is time-sensitive.
• The organisation does not have other available resources to address this need or take the proposed action.
• The proposed actions can be implemented within six months.
• The total budget for the proposed activities does not exceed 10,000 EUR. To be eligible costs have to be necessary for the implementation of the approved activities; reasonable and proportionate; incurred during the project period; properly documented and auditable. [2]

How to apply?

Requests for support are received and funds are issued on a rolling basis until August 1, 2027. Applying does not guarantee that funding will be provided.

The Fund is highly selective, as we are committed to allocating these resources to the most urgent and large-scale developments. Over the two-year period, we anticipate awarding between 10 and 14 grants.

• Before contacting ILGA-Europe, please make sure you can answer the questions in the Initial Request Checklist. These questions will help determine whether your situation falls within the scope of the Threat & Opportunity Response Fund, and what information you will need to apply.
• You can get in touch with us by emailing svetlana@ilga-europe.org to discuss your request and ask any questions. We strongly encourage this as a first step, to help ensure that the Threat & Opportunity Response Fund is a good fit. This conversation can support your decision on whether to apply and provide initial guidance.
• Or you can apply directly by filling in and submitting Request Forms provided with this call.
• While applying, please send your request to both svetlana@ilga-europe.org and andrei@ilga-europe.org

Applications will be assessed based on the urgency of the situation, the relevance of the proposed response to hostile political or social developments, the absence of alternative sources of funding, and the potential impact.

We aim at responding to requests within one week. In some cases, requests might need to be fine-tuned before the grant is issued. We will support organisations in doing this.

[1] Applications are welcome from both registered and unregistered organizations, provided that unregistered organizations apply through a fiscal sponsor. If you have any doubts regarding eligibility, please contact Svetlana Zakharova by email svetlana@ilga-europe.org.

[2] Typically, eligible costs are staff costs (proportionate to time dedicated to the activities), external expertise and consultancy, travel and accommodation, event costs, communications costs.