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Organising a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) is an endeavour that requires a dedicated team, strategic planning and financial resources. Every phase of a transnational ECI campaign, from preparation to execution, can demand resources to ensure efficacy. Given Europe’s linguistic diversity, materials must be translated into multiple languages to reach supporters effectively in each locality. While volunteers often play a key role, securing dedicated staff for coordination, legal guidance, and outreach often becomes necessary. Additionally, building a strong presence through a website, social media and public events requires funding. Legal consultations, campaign materials, advertising - both digital and traditional - can further contribute to campaign expenses. Understanding these financial demands is crucial for ensuring a well-structured and sustainable campaign. 

Start early and strategically

Starting your fundraising efforts early is essential to securing the resources needed for your European citizens’ initiative. To set yourself up for success, focus on securing funding for initial activities, such as website development or partner mapping before officially launching your ECI. Ideally, fundraising should begin even before registering your initiative.  

You should also think ahead: align your fundraising efforts with special awareness days in the upcoming year that resonate with your ECI’s topic. Events like political festivals, or topic-related “Days”: International Women’s Day, Earth Day, World Health Day, or Human Rights Day provide excellent opportunities to raise funds and increase visibility. These occasions attract media attention, public participation, and provide a thematic fit for promoting your ECI. 

In addition, it’s valuable to define specific milestones throughout your campaign, such as launching fundraising appeals when reaching significant targets like 100,000 signatures. These milestones can serve as key moments to re-energise your fundraising and generate additional support as your ECI progresses. 

Think as a team: assign a fundraising role

Organisers of previous ECIs have reported that it is best to clearly assign roles within your ECI team. Having a dedicated fundraiser or fundraising team ensures that fundraising is not just an afterthought, but an integral part of your campaign goals. Tasks include: 

• Developing and maintaining relationships with funders. 
• Creating and managing fundraising campaigns. 
• Monitoring budgets and reporting requirements. 

Fundraising is more than soliciting donations or securing funds. A fundraiser is someone who can secure partnerships, build visibility, and contribute to community building and management. Support from partners can come in more ways than just money, such as support via in-kind donations, human resources, or dissemination. 

Tailor your campaigns

For an ECI to succeed, it must engage supporters across multiple countries which requires careful coordination and localised strategies. Since national languages, cultures, and funding landscapes vary, it’s crucial to design country-specific campaigns that resonate with each audience. 

Your social media presence should also be adapted to different demographics and regional preferences. Popular platforms vary by country and age. While younger audiences may primarily use Instagram and TikTok, others might be more active on Facebook or LinkedIn. Implementing a data-driven strategy across platforms will help you maximise engagement and outreach. 

Beyond online outreach methods, you should consider alternative community-based approaches. While digital campaigns can be cost-effective, don’t underestimate the power of in-person engagement. Depending on your target audience, you may find valuable support within hobby groups, social circles, local associations, workplaces, and community organisations. Though these groups may be harder to reach initially, they often show strong commitment once engaged and can play a crucial role in mobilising support for a cause they believe in. 

Finally, maximise your use of social media tools to streamline fundraising and engagement. Features like Instagram’s “Donate” button for example can facilitate contributions directly within the platform, making it easier for supporters to act. 

Identify your needs

Start by drafting a detailed budget outlining the resources required for your campaign. Previous organisers have named the following as among the core expenses:  

• Human resources: Likely the largest part of your ECI budget will be staff. If you have the financial capacity, consider hiring professionals for communications or IT support, in addition to campaign coordinators. Content and website creation, social media management, media coordination could need special attention. If you don’t have the financial capacity, don’t underestimate the power of volunteers! 
• Advertising: Digital advertising is especially impactful. However, depending on your topic, you may consider investing in both digital ads (social media or online ads) and traditional outreach (newspapers, TV, radio).   

• Outreach Materials: Printing leaflets, and merchandise for events for in-person visibility. 

Building your network and combine resources

A strong network of partners is a huge help in the efficient allocation of a limited budget, and it can also unlock new funding sources. When looking for partners, target like-minded entities with similar goals. This could include:  

• NGOs: Identify the leading organisations working on your topic at local, regional, national, European or international level.   
• Previous ECI Supporters: Research funders or partners of past ECIs using public information on the ECI webpage. 
• Industry Associations: Look for public or private sector entities whose objectives align with your initiative. 
• Public Authorities: Consider seeking partnerships with local governments or municipalities especially for ECIs having a local or regional importance. 

When reaching out to potential partners, emphasise how your collaboration could lead to mutual benefit and sharing key competencies, abilities, and resources. A diverse network enables you to engage citizens across different regions and demographics. Well-established partners can lend their expertise to your campaign, increasing trust among potential funders and supporters. When cooperating, the use of your partners’ logos in your material reinforces legitimacy of your campaign. 

For more information building your network, refer to the ECI Forum’s section on ‘How to look for partners’ 

From supporter to donor: Your supporters can themselves be multipliers for your campaign and be a powerful source of funding. Engage them through: 

• Donations: Provide clear options for how to donate and support your campaign. Be transparent about how funds will be used. 
• Milestone-Based Campaigns: Use campaign achievements (e.g., reaching 10,000 signatures) to launch fundraising appeals to supporters. 
• Crowdfunding: Leverage platforms to reach a broad audience. Encourage supporters to share your campaign within their networks. 

Identify potential funders

Identifying potential funders is a crucial step in securing financial support for your European Citizens’ Initiative. To maximise your chances of success, you should focus on donors who have a natural interest in your cause: those who work in the same area as your ECI, share your values, and pursue similar goals. 

A great starting point is researching past funders of similar ECIs. Look at previous initiatives that tackled related issues and examine where their funding came from. The ECI website provides public information that can help you identify organisations or individuals who have already supported similar causes. You could also analyse reports and acknowledgments from successful ECIs to uncover potential leads. 

Beyond past ECIs, you should explore broader funding databases. The European Commission’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme is a funding programme that regularly publishes calls for projects related to citizens’ engagement, safeguarding diversity and civil rights, and empowering citizens in democratic life, among other topics.  

Additionally, the EU Transparency Register, or national transparency portals can help you identify NGOs, foundations, and corporate sponsors that focus on your ECI’s topic.  

To refine your search further, it’s essential to map key stakeholders across EU member states who are involved in your ECI’s topic. Many funders publish their priorities in annual reports or list their recent grants on their websites. By reviewing these sources, you can assess whether your ECI aligns with their funding strategies and determine the best way to approach them. Establishing connections with relevant organisations, advocacy groups, and networks will also help you better understand the funding landscape and create potential collaboration opportunities. 

Finally, don’t overlook individual donors. Many philanthropists actively support social and political causes and therefore may have a personal interest in your ECI’s objectives. To identify potential individual funders, research their previous donations, affiliations, and any public statements or actions that indicate their commitment to similar issues. Engaging with them through professional networks like LinkedIn, events, or even social media can help you establish valuable connections and make a compelling case for their support.  

Don’t Forget: Transparency is essential to building trust with supporters, funders, and partners. All contributions exceeding €500 must be disclosed publicly, along with details of in-kind support.

For more information, refer to the ECI Forum’s section on How to report financial support

Diversify your funding sources

Garnering support from multiple different funders provides safety for the campaign. Explore the following options: 

• NGOs or civil society organisations: As the most common funder of ECIs, they are most likely to align with and support an ECI cause. 
• Corporate sponsorships: Approach companies whose values align with your initiative. Highlight the benefits of supporting your campaign, such as positive brand association and access to new audiences. 
• Public partnerships: Seek support from local governments, particularly for initiatives tied to local interests (e.g., transport or environmental issues).   
• Foundations or public grants 
• Industry associations 
• Individual donors and philanthropists   

What do funders look for?

When seeking funding for your ECI, it’s essential to understand what funders prioritise. Knowing their expectations will help you tailor your approach and increase your chances of securing support.

Alignment with funders’ values and goals

Funders are far more likely to support ECIs that closely align with their mission and values. When drafting your proposal for them, consider the following tips:

• Clearly demonstrate how your ECI contributes to outcomes similar to those of the funder’s projects, and how it aligns with their goals or values. 
• Explain why your initiative matters and how it aligns with broader themes funders support, such as democracy, animal welfare, fundamental rights, or sustainability. 

Key Factors in Funding Decisions

Understanding what donors prioritise can make all the difference when securing funding. Key factors donors consider are:

• Topic and scope of the ECI – funders want to support initiatives that are relevant to their focus areas.
• Detailed budget plan – crucial in demonstrating feasibility. A clear breakdown of how funds will be used strengthens credibility.

Clear mission, structure and a strategic plan

When reading your funding proposal or interacting with you, funders expect to see: 

• A well-defined mission that explains what your ECI aims to achieve. 
• Specific objectives that link directly to the broader mission. 
• A communications plan outlining how you will engage supporters, political stakeholders, and the media to reach the signature threshold.  

Common mistakes to avoid

When approaching funders, many ECI organisers make avoidable errors. Here are the most common ones: 

• Overestimating potential supporter numbers. 
• Lacking international partnerships, which funders often value. 
• Providing insufficient detail in the initial communication. 
• Failing to present a clear and realistic communications plan. 

Monitoring and accountability

Funders want to know how their contributions will be used and the impact they will have. They typically assess ECIs based on:

• Number of signatures collected - which serves as a primary indicator of public engagement.
• Media and social media reach - demonstrates visibility and influence.
• Detailed reporting - crucial to provide funders with regular updates on fund utilisation and campaign progress.
• Impact on EU decision-making - tracking policy discussions and responses from policymakers.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to fundraising, whether you’re aiming for big funders or gathering support from many small contributors, both strategies can be effective. Consider combining both methods to diversify your funding sources. Big funders can provide substantial backing, while smaller donors can create a broad base of support and foster a sense of community around your ECI.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a powerful way to reach many people who care about your cause. This is a method by which many individuals give money - usually in small amounts - to finance a project or initiative. It uses broad networks of people reached through social media and specialised crowdfunding websites to collect funds that allow you to collect small contributions from a broad audience.

Peer-to-peer fundraising

This approach takes crowdfunding to the next level by enabling your supporters to fundraise on your behalf. Everyone can create their own fundraising page, share it with their networks of family, friends, and colleagues to help bring in donations. It’s a great way to expand your reach and tap into personal connections. 

Merchandising

Selling campaign-branded merchandise is a creative way to both raise funds and create a brand and community around your ECI. Merchandise can serve as a tangible symbol of your campaign, creating a sense of community among supporters.  

Items like awareness-raising bracelets, T-shirts, leaflets, cards, caps, scarves, and other merchandising material can help raise awareness and money for the campaign. 

Organise a fundraiser event 

Hosting a fundraising event, whether virtual or in-person, can create excitement and give donors a chance to engage directly with your cause. Consider organising a themed event, charity auction, or community gathering that brings people together while raising funds for your ECI.

An exact budget of an ECI varies widely depending on regional differences, campaign priorities, and outreach strategies. A general framework based on past successful ECIs illustrates how funds might be distributed. See the sample budget below: 

Campaign organisers can consider consulting previous ECIs to refine their own cost estimates and account for regional pricing differences. Having flexible budget ranges allows for adjustments as campaign needs evolve. Note that many campaigns have extensively relied on volunteer work. 

• Designate a fundraiser or fundraising sub-team among your campaigners 
• Draft a budget detailing anticipated costs   
• Outline possible alliances and partnerships with like-minded organisations or campaign partners 
• Map potential donors starting from previous ECI funders and leaders in your topic’s field 
• Identify milestones and corresponding fundraising campaigns 
• Prepare your pitch  

Securing funding for your ECI can seem like a challenging journey, but you're on the right path! Remember, you're not alone in this process. If you need more tailored fundraising advice, don’t hesitate to reach out to the ECI Forum for expert guidance. You can also schedule a Campaigner Training call to get personalised tips and strategies that will help your ECI reach success.