Station I Funding for Social Enterprises – Tunisia

Deadline: 30-Sep-26

The Station I funding and support program provides selected social enterprises with financial assistance, fundraising support, and strategic connections to help strengthen and grow their organizations. The program provides €10,000 in initial funding, with the opportunity to unlock an additional €15,000 grant by mobilizing at least €10,000 in eligible external financing. Selected social enterprises can also access fundraising opportunities and matchmaking with relevant financing partners.

About the Station I Funding Program

The program is designed to support the growth of social enterprises by combining direct financial assistance with access to fundraising opportunities and financing partners. The support aims to help selected social enterprises: - Obtain initial financial resources. - Mobilize additional external financing. - Strengthen fundraising capacity. - Connect with relevant financing partners. - Access physical and remote fundraising opportunities. - Build relationships through one-to-one matchmaking. The program therefore combines grant funding with practical support designed to help social enterprises access additional financial resources. How Much Funding Is Available? Selected social enterprises can receive €10,000 in initial funding. They may also unlock an additional €15,000 grant by mobilizing at least €10,000 in eligible external financing. This means that eligible recipients can potentially access up to €25,000 in total grant funding through the program. The additional funding is linked to the recipient’s ability to mobilize the required amount of eligible external financing. Fundraising and Financing Support In addition to direct grants, selected social enterprises receive access to fundraising support. The program provides opportunities through: - Physical fundraising rounds. - Remote fundraising opportunities. - One-to-one matchmaking with financing partners. - Connections to relevant financing opportunities. - Support for mobilizing external financing. These opportunities are intended to help social enterprises go beyond the initial grant and develop additional sources of financing. Who Can Apply? The program is intended for social enterprises that meet the applicable eligibility requirements. Eligible applicants must be legally established legal entities and must be nationals of a state, territory, or region declared eligible under the regulations applicable to the funding. Applicants should therefore confirm that their country, territory, or region is covered by the applicable funding regulations before applying. What Is the Purpose of the Program? The Station I program seeks to foster the growth and development of social enterprises by combining financial resources with strategic fundraising assistance. The program recognizes that social enterprises may require both initial funding and access to external financing partners to expand their activities. By providing an initial grant and creating opportunities to mobilize additional financing, the program can help selected enterprises strengthen their financial base and pursue growth opportunities. Eligible Beneficiaries The program specifically targets social enterprises. Applicants should be legally established entities and meet the nationality and geographic eligibility requirements established under the applicable funding regulations. The program is therefore intended for organizations operating as social enterprises rather than individuals applying in a personal capacity. Ineligible Costs Certain costs are not eligible for funding under the program.

Ineligible costs include:

- Debts and debt service charges. - Provisions for future losses. - Costs already financed by another European Union grant, unless different grants finance separate costs that are not covered elsewhere. - Purchase of land or buildings. - Exchange losses. - Credits granted to third parties. - Most contributions in kind. - Salaries of national administration staff. - Bonuses. - Negative interest charged or applied by banks. Contributions in kind are generally not eligible, although volunteer work may be accepted when expressly authorized under the applicable rules. Costs Already Funded by Another EU Grant Costs that have already been financed through another European Union grant are generally ineligible. However, different grants may finance separate eligible costs where those costs are not covered elsewhere. Applicants should ensure that the same expenditure is not financed more than once through different sources of EU funding. Contributions in Kind Most contributions in kind are not eligible under the program. An exception may apply to volunteer work when it has been expressly authorized. Applicants should therefore distinguish between eligible volunteer contributions that have received the required authorization and other forms of in-kind contributions. Land and Building Purchases The purchase of land or buildings is not an eligible cost under the program. Applicants should therefore focus their proposed use of funding on eligible activities and costs rather than real estate acquisition. Financial Support Linked to External Financing A distinctive feature of the program is the opportunity to unlock additional grant funding through external financing. Selected social enterprises initially receive €10,000. They can then qualify for an additional €15,000 grant by mobilizing at least €10,000 in eligible external financing. This mechanism encourages participating enterprises to develop fundraising strategies and establish relationships with external financing partners. Strategic Support for Social Enterprises The program goes beyond direct financial assistance by connecting recipients with fundraising and financing opportunities. One-to-one matchmaking can help selected enterprises establish relationships with potential financing partners that may be relevant to their future growth. Physical and remote fundraising rounds als