A unique fund for youth-led initiatives by youth organisations

The European Youth Foundation (EYF) is a fund that provides grants to youth organisations to promote and enhance Council of Europe values, standards and priorities with young people (aged 15 to 30).

Our mission is to promote peace, understanding and international co-operation between young people in Europe and beyond, in a spirit of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The EYF was established in 1972 following the Committee of Ministers Resolution (72)17, as a Council of Europe instrument for ensuring the participation of young people in democratic societies.

 The Council of Europe

The Council of Europe (CoE) has its headquarters in Strasbourg, France. With 46 member states and a combined population of over 700 million people, the Council of Europe was set up in 1949 to ensure that the atrocities of WW II never happen again. Its work is unique in that everything it does is based on its core values: human rights, democracy and rule of law. The Council of Europe is a separate organisation from the 27-member European Union.

 What does the Council of Europe do

 The Youth Department at the Council of Europe

 Our principles

In our day-to-day work,

• we create spaces and resources for young people to play an active role in revitalising democracy and safeguarding human rights,
• we build partnerships with youth organisations based on trust,
• we support youth organisations’ independence of organisation, autonomy of action, and voluntary nature of youth activities at European level,
• we remain agile to the needs of young people and youth organisations and adapt our ways of working to best fulfil our mission.

 Our strategic aims

We fund non-governmental youth organisations that organise initiatives with young people for democracy and human rights. To apply, youth organisations need to be established in one of the 46 member States of the Council of Europe.

Our current priorities are focused on supporting young people’s initiatives, in the context of:

• revitalising democracy, civic space, and protecting the environment
• learning about and for human rights
• bringing a contribution to peace, equality, and the inclusion of different groups
• having opportunities for quality youth work.

All our grants support the autonomy of young people, their learning in non-formal settings, the development of their European awareness, solidarity and co-operation with other young people.

In 2024-2025, the EYF has underwent a reform of its grant making, engaging in consultative processes that are reflected on this page. 

 Our grants

The EYF has a programme of calls for proposals to which organisations can apply.

There are regular calls for proposals open for:

• One-off international youth activities like camps, seminars, conferences, training courses, and study visits. These events bring together young people from at least 7 countries.
• Long-term youth projects that include campaigns, advocacy, education, research, and local actions. These projects involve young people from at least 7 countries.
• Support for international youth organisations and networks that have already organised projects funded by the EYF and study sessions at the European Youth Centres of the Council of Europe. This also includes support for sub-regional networks that want to grow internationally.

Additionally, the EYF launches calls for ad hoc initiatives to address emerging needs, priorities and societal phenomena affecting young people, under the guidance of the statutory bodies of the youth sector of the Council of Europe.

All the grant decisions are taken by the Programming Committee on Youth, within the unique form of co-management, that brings together governmental representatives and young people from youth organisations.

Check the current calls on the EYF website.

 Our support for youth organisations

The EYF provides developmental support to help youth organisations to improve their proposals, their sustainability and resilience. The EYF team does this by sharing expertise, time and skills with youth organisations. Youth organisations can benefit from this support at any time upon request. Read more here.

 More facts about us

• The EYF has an annual budget of approximately 5 million euro
• The EYF works in English and French

• The EYF has 8 staff members based in Strasbourg, France.

 Annual reports

Review the achievements of the European Youth Foundation throughout the years by consulting our annual reports below.

 2024;  2023;  2022;  2021;  2020;  2019;  2018;  2017;  2016;  2015.

 Meet the team

The Foundation team:

• Gordana Berjan, Head of the Foundation
• Mara Georgescu, Programme manager
• Nino Kheladze, Administrative assistant
• Katalin Lerch, Financial officer
• Marilyn Horst, Administrative and financial officer
• Olga Baltag, Project officer
• Margit Barna, Project officer
• Samir Heco, Project officer.

 Give us your feedback

Have you been in contact with the EYF, either through email inquiries, interactions on the online granting system or simply through in-person exchanges? If yes, then we want to hear about it ! Please fill out the anonymous feedback form and help us improve our services.