Impact

Lessons on EU Grant Writing with Dijana Pejić and Lisa Ringhofer

Recently, NGO Academy Member Dijana Pejić from Bosnia & Herzegovina shared a story with us that we think is a great example of what is possible in EU fundraising. We figured that her success is a great chance to compile a few learnings and a mini toolkit on EU grant writing for all of you.

Through a Regional Programme workshop by and with guidance from our long-standing Faculty Member Lisa Ringhofer (TripleMinds), Dijana learned how to prepare and submit proposals to the EU. Their first big success was UPSHIFT, a youth empowerment programme that equips adolescents with life skills and entrepreneurial tools. Soon after, they received funding for Joyful Minds, which addresses adolescent mental health through resilience training based on humour. Both projects were approved for € 300.000 each, a remarkable outcome in calls where success rates were as low as 6%.

What can others learn from that?

Behind these achievements lies a lot more than good fortune, as persistence and hard work are the key to success here. Dijana and Lisa’s story includes several lessons for NGOs that are considering EU grant applications:

  • Partnerships matter. Collaboration with trusted peers strengthens proposals and ensures broader impact. Dijana has partnered up with several organisations from different countries, among them NGO Academy Member Ana Majko from Albania.

  • Seek expert input. Technical guidance on how to frame and structure applications can increase your chances of success. Dijana has used her chance and deepend her connection with Lisa after attending the Workshop.

  • Stay close to EU priorities. Both projects aligned with Erasmus+ themes such as inclusion, youth participation, digital transformation, and mental health.

  • Aim for excellence. In a highly competitive environment, every detail of a proposal needs to be clear, evidence-based, and convincing. This takes time, but with good partners and experts to support you, it is doable.

Mini Toolkit for EU Grant Writing

Together with Lisa and Dijana, we collected some guiding questions that you can use when preparing your own applications:

  • Partnerships: Who are the right allies in other countries or sectors to strengthen the proposal?

  • Expertise: Who can provide mentoring or review your application to ensure the application meets EU standards?

  • Priorities: How does the project align with EU strategies and frameworks?

  • Impact: What clear outcomes, methods, and evaluation measures demonstrate the project’s effectiveness?

  • Sustainability: How can the project continue or scale after EU funding ends?

Closing Thought

EU grant writing can feel overwhelming, especially with low success rates and high competition. But stories like this show that with persistence, strong partnerships, and careful preparation, you can access opportunities and bring lasting impact to your communities as well. Plus, not every call has such low succes rates. Thank you Dijana and Lisa, for sharing these learnings with the NGO Academy community and for making EU funding more accessible!