WBF Matching Grants is a rolling co-financing scheme run by the Western Balkans Fund for regional projects already backed by another donor. It helps legal, non-profit organizations established in the WB6 turn local or ongoing work into cross-border initiatives.
Supported actions must align with cultural cooperation, education and scientific exchange, or sustainable development. Projects normally take place within the WB6 and must involve a lead applicant plus at least one partner from another WBF Contracting Party; in limited cases, WBF may consider activities that promote the Western Balkans beyond the region.
Benefits & funding
- WBF provides up to €10,000 and no more than 50% of a project’s total eligible costs.
- At least 50% must be secured from other donors, and provisionally selected applicants must provide the signed co-funding contract.
- Projects last from 2 to 4 months, including the reporting period and any non-cost extension.
- Recipient organizations manage the grant through their own institutions; WBF does not offer an applicant relocation program.
Eligibility
- The lead applicant and partner must be legal, non-profit entities established in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, or Serbia.
- Eligible organizations include civil society organizations, local or regional public bodies, business or media associations, educational institutions, and cultural or sports institutions; natural persons cannot apply.
- The partnership must include the lead applicant and at least one project partner, with the parties established in at least two different WBF Contracting Parties.
- Applicants need prior donor-funded project experience, confirmed co-funding, and capacity to manage a regional project; the scheme sets no individual nationality, degree, age, or gender criterion.
- The action must already have another donor’s support, must not be funded under another WBF grant, and must not have been rejected under another ongoing WBF call.
- Activities should normally take place in the WB6 and cover cultural cooperation, education and scientific exchange, or sustainable development.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Residence required
Albania · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Kosovo · Montenegro · North Macedonia · Serbia
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Application process
- 1Download and complete the application form, budget template, project timeline, and applicant declaration from the program page.
- 2Confirm the project has secured at least 50% from another donor, includes an eligible cross-border partner, and will start at least three months after submission.
- 3Email the full application to info@westernbalkansfund.org with the subject “WBF MATCHING GRANT APPLICATION”; handwritten applications are not accepted.
- 4If provisionally selected, provide legal registration, the latest financial statement, the applicant declaration, partnership agreement, signed co-funding contract, finalized budget, and a list of recent projects.
Program timeline
Year-round
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
At least three months before the planned start
Submit the complete application.
WBF schedules quarterly approval rounds.
April, September, and December
Within 20 working days after submission
WBF indicates the funding decision.
Within 15 working days after the decision
Contracting is scheduled.
August 31, 2026
The Summer 2026 evaluation window closed.
WBF reported 19 summer applications under evaluation.
September 2, 2026