Deadline Date: February 16, 2026
The Civic Innovation Fund (CIF) 2026 invites innovative projects that connect financial and economic literacy with civic education, democratic participation, inclusion, and social resilience.
The focus areas of this call include financial and economic literacy, civic education, strengthening democratic competencies, promoting inclusion and social cohesion, innovative educational approaches, transnational partnerships, youth-led initiatives, startups in civic education, diversity, interdisciplinarity, and inclusiveness. Across Europe, understanding economic systems and managing personal finances has become essential for active citizenship, social cohesion, and democratic resilience, particularly in times of rising living costs, increasing inequality, the digitalisation of finance, and growing distrust in institutions. Financial and economic literacy goes beyond budgeting or saving, empowering people—especially young individuals and vulnerable groups—to understand the impact of economic policies on daily life, how financial systems operate, and how to participate more confidently in society. Well-designed initiatives can strengthen autonomy, reduce exclusion, and foster critical thinking about economic choices at both individual and societal levels.
Selected projects under this CIF 2026 round will receive €10,000 to pilot new approaches, incubate innovative educational formats, and scale successful practices for implementation until December 2026. Project ideas can include workshops, training courses, cultural or community-based interventions, eyewitness talks, exhibitions, scientific studies, scenario methods, apps, or augmented reality storyboards. All projects should incorporate principles of diversity, interdisciplinarity, and inclusiveness, and the implementation period for this CIF round is eight months, from 1 April to 1 December 2026. Applicants are encouraged to consider this timeframe carefully when preparing their proposals.
Eligible projects should be carried out in transnational partnerships with at least one partner from Europe in addition to the lead partner. The main implementing organisation must be based in a European country, and partnerships can span multiple sectors, but should include at least one organisation from the formal or non-formal/informal civic education sector. Preference will be given to projects led by startups in civic education established within the last three years and youth-led organisations.
For more information, visit THE CIVICS Innovation Hub.
