The Fund for Belarus Democracy makes support available to citizen initiatives, independent media, and human rights groups, enabling them to resist the pressures of a dictatorial regime and work towards its democratization. From 2005 to 2014, it supported some 650 projects with grants totaling $8.8 million. This volume has made the Fund for Belarus Democracy one of the largest support programs available to civil society in Belarus. Support under this program will be provided for as long as required for the democratization and European integration of Belarus.

Key Activities of the Fund for Belarus Democracy

• Small-Grants Support. The Fund makes up to 100 small to medium-sized grants every year to civic activists, citizen, and grassroots initiatives, as well as  registered nongovernmental organizations in Belarus. Funding primarily strengthens civil society’s infrastructure and capacity in the country, independent information available to citizens, alternative culture, and efforts by analysts and reformers to prepare for democratic reforms.
• Sharing of Transition Experiences. The Fund makes investments to build stronger links between Belarusian civil society and its counterparts in Central and Eastern Europe. Such bridges with other transition countries provide an international exchange of experiences, information, skills, best practices, and resources to advance civil society and democracy in Belarus.
• Capacity-building. The Fund develops training programs for segments of Belarusian civil society that represent a strong potential for democratic change, including youth and students, independent culture, social networks and new media, and local community activists. Capacity-building typically consists of year-long programs combining in-residence seminars, distance learning, in-country practice, and project phases, as well as international exchanges and study visits.
• International advocacy. FBD engages in analytical and policy-oriented work, provides input to international strategies to support democratic change in Belarus, and contributes to Western debate and international media.