EU funding programmes

EU funding opportunities for the social economy

Find funding that is suitable for you

In this section you will find information about EU funding programmes for the social economy. Click here for broader information about EU funding.

The information about EU funding programmes of particular relevance for the social economy that is featured here is based on the work of Euclid Network (EN) - The European Social Enterprise Network. Their European Funding Toolkit, co-financed by the European Commission, serves as the basis for the content presented in this section. EN also contributed to reviewing the adjustments made for this website. For a downloadable PDF providing in-depth guidance on EU funding applicable to the social economy, access EN's European Funding Toolkit here.

European Funding Toolkit (direct link)

Information about non-financial support will be added to the resources section of this website later this year.

Social Services helpdesk

Social economy organisations working in the field of social services may be interested in the Social Services Helpdesk.

More information about the helpdesk & links to resources

Direct link:

Social Services Helpdesk

How does EU funding work?

In general, EU funding is managed through three different approaches:

• Shared management (around 70% of EU funding programmes): responsibility for running a given programme is shared jointly between the European Commission and national authorities in EU countries.
• Direct management: EU funding is managed directly by EU institutions.
• Indirect management (10% of the overall EU budget): the funding programmes are partly or fully implemented by third parties, such as national authorities or international organisations. Funding takes the form of subsidies, which you apply for at national level.

More information

Infographic about the budget available: Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 and Next Generation EU