Supporting the sustainability and development of the NIOK Foundation

The project aims to address the key challenges affecting the effective, sustainable and resilient operation of civil society organisations in Hungary. The civil society sector faces a rapidly changing environment shaped by uncertainties in funding opportunities, evolving relationships with public institutions, changing patterns of civic participation, human resource challenges and the accelerating development of digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.

One of the main challenges is the financial sustainability of civil society organisations. Many organisations depend heavily on project-based funding and lack diversified, predictable income sources. They need stronger fundraising capacities, more effective communication with supporters and better tools to build and maintain communities of donors, volunteers and activists.

Another significant challenge is the limited organisational and human capacity of civil society organisations. Changes in the sector may lead to a shortage of experienced leaders and professionals, while newcomers often lack the management, leadership and project management skills required to operate organisations effectively.

The rapid digital transformation also creates new challenges. Smaller and rural organisations are particularly vulnerable to digital inequalities and often lack the knowledge, resources and skills needed to use emerging technologies effectively. At the same time, artificial intelligence is transforming how organisations access information, learn and communicate, creating a growing need for reliable, accessible and regularly updated knowledge resources.

The project also addresses weaknesses in civic participation and cooperation between civil society and public institutions. Opportunities for meaningful public consultation have declined over recent years, resulting in reduced institutional capacities, limited experience with participatory methods and insufficient mechanisms for incorporating civil society perspectives into policymaking and public decision-making.

Furthermore, the sector faces challenges related to the availability of reliable information, knowledge sharing and cooperation among organisations, researchers and development professionals. Strengthening professional networks, particularly beyond Budapest, and improving access to practical knowledge and capacity-building opportunities are essential.

Through the institutional development of the Nonprofit Information and Training Centre (NIOK) Foundation and the improvement of its services, the project seeks to respond to these interconnected challenges. It aims to strengthen the long-term sustainability, adaptability, professional capacities and societal impact of civil society organisations while ensuring that they continue to have access to reliable information, effective fundraising infrastructure, relevant training and opportunities for cooperation and participation.

The project aims to strengthen the long-term sustainability, adaptability and effectiveness of civil society organisations in Hungary by developing the institutional capacities, services and professional activities of the Nonprofit Information and Training Centre (NIOK) Foundation. Over the four-year implementation period (2026–2030), NIOK seeks to ensure that civil society organisations have access to reliable information, relevant knowledge, effective fundraising tools and professional support, enabling them to respond successfully to a rapidly changing social, political, financial and technological environment.

A central objective is to improve the financial sustainability and fundraising capacities of civil society organisations. Through the further development of the Adjukössze.hu donation platform, targeted training, consultancy and knowledge-sharing activities, the project will help organisations diversify their funding sources, strengthen their relationships with donors and supporters, increase regular donations and build sustainable communities of volunteers and activists.

The project also aims to strengthen organisational and human capacities within the civil society sector. Through the NIOK Academy, it will provide training, webinars, e-learning materials and practical guidance in leadership, organisational management, project management, communication and fundraising. Particular attention will be given to newly established organisations, emerging civil society leaders and organisations facing shortages of experienced professionals.

Another major objective is to support the digital transformation of civil society organisations and their adaptation to artificial intelligence. NIOK will modernise and continuously update the Nonprofit.hu knowledge platform, develop new learning formats and provide guidance on the effective and responsible use of digital technologies. Through its CivilTech programme, it will also seek opportunities to reduce digital inequalities, particularly among smaller and rural organisations.

The project seeks to strengthen civil society networks, partnerships and knowledge exchange at national and international levels. It will support cooperation among civil society organisations, researchers, development professionals and public institutions, with particular emphasis on expanding partnerships and improving access to services outside Budapest. Through initiatives such as the Civil Award, Stronger Roots and other capacity-building programmes, NIOK will promote good practices, organisational development and the visibility of civil society achievements.

An important objective is to improve civic participation and cooperation between civil society and public institutions. The project will develop and disseminate methodologies for meaningful public consultation, strengthen evidence-based policy dialogue and support the inclusion of civil society experiences and recommendations in public decision-making. Research, sectoral analyses, policy papers and professional publications will contribute to a better understanding of the sector and more effective advocacy.

In parallel, the project will strengthen NIOK's own institutional sustainability and operational efficiency. This includes improving human resource and capacity planning, introducing an integrated CRM system, modernising financial administration, strengthening monitoring, evaluation and learning processes, developing staff competencies and responsibly integrating AI-based tools into internal operations. NIOK will also explore opportunities to increase income independent of project funding.

Overall, the project aims to maintain and further develop essential civil society support infrastructure while making NIOK and the organisations it serves more resilient, financially sustainable, professionally capable and better equipped to contribute to democratic participation and positive social change.

The project aims to achieve lasting improvements in the sustainability, effectiveness, adaptability and societal impact of civil society organisations in Hungary. Through the institutional development of the Nonprofit Information and Training Centre (NIOK) Foundation and the modernisation of its services, the project will strengthen the support infrastructure available to civil society and improve organisations' ability to respond to changing financial, social, political and technological conditions.

The primary beneficiaries are Hungarian civil society organisations, particularly small and medium-sized organisations, newly established organisations, rural organisations and those facing financial, organisational or human resource challenges. Additional beneficiaries include civil society leaders, staff members, volunteers, activists, donors, researchers, development professionals and public institutions involved in cooperation with civil society.

One of the main expected results is improved financial sustainability and fundraising capacity among civil society organisations. Through the development of the Adjukössze.hu platform, training and advisory services, organisations will gain better access to fundraising knowledge, digital tools and practical methods for attracting and retaining supporters. The project aims to support at least 200 organisations annually through the donation platform and facilitate at least HUF 250 million in donations per year, while promoting regular giving and diversified funding sources.

Another important result will be stronger leadership, management and professional competencies within the civil society sector. Through the NIOK Academy, new training materials, webinars and e-learning opportunities will be developed, helping civil society professionals improve their organisational management, leadership, project management and communication skills. At least 50 new or emerging civil society leaders are expected to strengthen their professional capacities, contributing to more effective and legally compliant organisational operations.

The project will also improve access to reliable, up-to-date information and knowledge. The Nonprofit.hu platform will be modernised and its knowledge base reorganised to respond to changing information needs and the growing influence of artificial intelligence. The project plans to publish at least 1,100 new pieces of content annually and regularly review existing materials, ensuring that civil society organisations continue to benefit from accessible, trustworthy and relevant information.

In the field of digital development, the project aims to improve organisations' ability to use emerging technologies effectively and responsibly. Particular attention will be given to reducing digital inequalities affecting smaller and rural organisations. NIOK will also strengthen its own digital capacities and develop an organisational approach to the safe and effective use of artificial intelligence.

The project is expected to strengthen cooperation, professional networks and knowledge exchange across the civil society sector. Through partnerships, capacity-building programmes, research, professional events and the Civil Award, it will increase the visibility of successful civil society initiatives, facilitate the sharing of good practices and support cooperation between organisations. Particular emphasis will be placed on reaching organisations outside Budapest, with a target of involving at least 200 new rural organisations or clients in NIOK's direct services by the end of the project.

Another expected result is improved civic participation and more effective dialogue between civil society and public institutions. The project will develop and disseminate practical methodologies for public consultation, produce research and policy recommendations, and strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations to contribute to public decision-making. These results will benefit both civil society actors and public institutions seeking more effective and inclusive forms of cooperation.

At the institutional level, NIOK will become more efficient, flexible and sustainable through improved human resource planning, monitoring and evaluation, integrated client management, modernised financial systems and increased staff competencies. The project also aims to strengthen NIOK's financial resilience by developing income sources independent of individual project grants, ensuring the continued availability of its essential services beyond the funding period.

Ultimately, the project will benefit the wider Hungarian society by contributing to a stronger, more independent, professionally capable and sustainable civil society sector. Better-equipped organisations will be able to mobilise resources, engage citizens, represent community interests and contribute more effectively to democratic participation and positive social change.