The Fund is an international donor organization, established in 2000 by the governments of the Visegrad Group countries—Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia to promote regional cooperation in the Visegrad region (V4) as well as between the V4 region and other countries, especially in the Western Balkan and Eastern Partnership regions. The Fund does so by awarding €8 million through grants, scholarships and artist residencies provided annually by equal contributions of all the V4 countries. Other donor countries (Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States) have provided another €6 million through various grant schemes run by the Fund since 2012.
We seek organizations that aim to share knowledge, enhance innovation and engage citizens in the Visegrad region and across Central and Eastern Europe. We want to partner with those that can make a difference—no matter if you are a small civic group focused on the local community, or an experienced, nation-wide organization.
We provide funding to a diverse range of activities in all areas of life. From small cross-border projects that strive to improve mutual understanding in the border areas to multilateral initiatives with potential to benefit people across the whole region.
The Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (CM) is the supreme decision making body of the Fund. The conference consists of the Ministers of the Foreign Affairs of the Visegrad Group countries and meets at least once a year in a member state holding the annual rotating presidency. The CM determines the amounts of annual contributions from every V4 member state, approves the rules of procedure of the Fund’s secretariat, and approves the Fund’s budget
The Council of Ambassadors (CA) approves projects recommended for funding by the Fund. The council consists of Ambassadors of the V4 member states accredited to the member state which currently holds the presidency of the Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and meets at least once every six months. The CA drafts up programs and documents for the sessions of the Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, ensures monitoring, control, and evaluation of the Fund’s operations.