Local services
The staff of the Deputy State Secretariat for Civil and Social Relations of the Prime Minister’s Office informed the citizens of Debrecen about this on the 27th of November 2024. Deputy State Secretary Vince Szalay-Bobrovniczky said that the problems of civil society organisations all stem from funding, so it is vital to support them.
There are more than 1600 NGOs in Debrecen. These associations and foundations often receive their income only from membership fees, donations or tenders.
“They can only raise the rest of their funds from tenders, and the same applies to their operations. If the organisation has a seat and an office, or if it wants to pay staff, it needs a salary, money, income, and they can finance all this from this grant money,” office manager of the Hajdú-Bihar County Civil Community Service Centre Margit Serfőzőné Bencsik said.
NGOs nationwide will receive information on the National Cooperation Fund (NEA in Hungarian) 2025 call for proposals. In Debrecen, the information session was organised by the Civilians for the Youth Association, which operates as a County Civil Community Service Centre. Almost a hundred people attended the event.
In her welcome speech, Deputy Mayor Diána Széles stressed the importance of the city’s NGOs. “It is essential for the city that people who really want to do something for the community can work together in a place independent of any organisation.”
Organisations can apply for National Cooperation Fund resources in two categories. The maximum amount that can be awarded is HUF 4.5 million in one category and HUF 400,000 in the other. Three conditions must be met to apply.
“A legal registration is required and approved by a court. Then, they must be a foundation or an association, so a non-profit limited liability company cannot participate in the NEA competition. These two classic forms are what are allowed. The third is that their income cannot exceed HUF 75 million,” Vince Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Deputy State Secretary for Civil and Social Relations of the Prime Minister’s Office, pointed out.
The organizations can submit the applications until mid-December 2024, and the grants will be awarded to the winners in March 2025.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
