From its first days in office, the fourth government of Robert Fico framed a segment of Slovak NGOs – particularly those watchdogs active in anti-corruption, rule-of-law advocacy, and public policy – as politically biased and foreign-influenced. Organizations such as Transparency International Slovakia, Stop the Corruption Foundation and Via Iuris were repeatedly portrayed as actors operating “like political parties” but without public accountability. This narrative laid the groundwork for regulatory action.

The “Russian Law”

In 2024 and 2025, the coalition advanced an amendment to the NGO law with no expert discussion that soon became known domestically as the “Russian Law.” The original proposal required organizations receiving foreign funding of more than €5,000 to label themselves as “organizations with foreign support,” disclose donors publicly, and comply with expanded reporting obligations. Early drafts also considered classifying NGOs (and only NGOs, not businesses or other actors) as lobbyists. The parallels with Russian and Georgian legislation were widely noted, and international criticism swiftly followed. Under mounting pressure – including concerns raised at EU level – the government softened the terminology at the last minute, removing the explicit “foreign agent” label. Yet the core obligations remained, and Parliament passed the law in April 2025.

Civil society fights back

The proposal and ultimate adoption of the law triggered an immediate backlash. Civil society organizations coordinated across platforms, organized public protests, issued joint statements, and mobilized legal expertise to challenge the legislation. The response was unusually cohesive: NGOs formed broad coalitions, engaged European partners, and framed the issue as a constitutional matter rather than a sectoral dispute. Within days of adoption, opposition parties and the Public Defender of Rights filed a motion to the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic requesting constitutional review.

The most controversial element was the mandatory donor disclosure – with NGOs receiving significant contributions required to publish the names of donors above a €5,000 threshold. Critics argued that this endangered privacy, exposed donors to harassment, and created a chilling effect on philanthropy. Additional reporting and registry requirements also increased compliance burdens, particularly for mid-sized and smaller organizations.

Even before the Constitutional Court ruled, the political campaign translated into practice. Government-initiated financial audits targeted selected NGOs, presented publicly as evidence of systemic misuse of public funds. Yet the official audit findings revealed irregularities amounting to roughly 0.5% of the total controlled sum – hardly indicative of widespread abuse. Despite this, the narrative of suspected misconduct persisted. Within the sector, these waves of inspections and public statements were widely described as harassing and bullying – designed less to correct financial mismanagement than to intimidate and discredit non-governmental organizations.

Circumventing the Court ruling 

In December 2025, the Constitutional Court struck down the law as unconstitutional, holding that mandatory donor disclosure violated privacy and fundamental rights protected under the Slovak Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. The ruling rejected the framework in its entirety, and the law formally lost effect on 4 February 2026.

The government, however, did not abandon its approach. On 18 February 2026, it adopted a new resolution – this time not a law, but an executive directive – ordering intensified oversight of NGOs across multiple state authorities. District offices, tax authorities, labour inspectors, ministries, the Public Procurement Office, and the Data Protection Authority were instructed to expand controls over NGOs’ financial management, use of public funds, labour law compliance, and GDPR adherence. Annual reports from these inspections are to be consolidated and presented to the Cabinet each October.

Rather than labelling organizations as foreign agents, the state is mobilizing existing regulatory instruments to subject NGOs to heightened scrutiny. The formal justification remains transparency and proper use of public funds.

Further undermining of the sector

Other tactics are also being used to undermine the sector, including a deliberate strategy of defunding critical areas of civil society – designed specifically to limit and weaken nature protection, human rights protection, culture, and development aid. Analysis by the Platform for Democracy with the Open Society Foundation shows that funding losses in these areas reached €16m in 2024 and 2025. These were caused by a range of state interventions from administratively excluding NGOs from eligibility for the Green Education Fund (a loss of €823,000), to blocking approximately €5m from the European LIFE program by refusing mandatory co-financing, and negative intervention in the expert committees of 513 projects by the new Arts Support Fund Council (losing €3.5m).

For many in the sector, the cumulative effect of these measures constitutes a sustained campaign of pressure – intended not only to regulate but to intimidate.

Diversifying to build resilience

At the same time, the pressure has generated an unintended consequence: rising resilience within the sector. Many organizations have accelerated diversification of revenue streams, strengthening individual fundraising to reduce dependency on state resources. Crowdfunding campaigns, small-donor programs, and community-based giving have expanded. The process is exhausting, but also empowering.

For fundraisers and philanthropy leaders across Europe, Slovakia illustrates how restrictions on civic space can unfold incrementally – through rhetoric that reframes NGOs as political adversaries, through legal experiments that probe constitutional limits, and through administrative escalation when courts intervene. The Slovak case shows how civic space can be pressured inside the European Union without formally dismantling democratic institutions, testing not only constitutional safeguards but also the resilience of activists and organizations, donor trust and independent fundraising ecosystems.

Eduard Marček

EFA now invites fundraisers, campaigners, activists, and nonprofit professionals to share their success stories in advancing civic space and democracy. As part of our upcoming online tour, we are looking for short, engaging presentations that showcase innovative, impactful campaigns.

What we’re looking for:

• Short case studies (7–10 minutes) of successful campaigns that address shrinking civic space,
• Fundraising strategies that empower citizen-led change or defend democratic freedoms,
• Community organizing tactics, advocacy campaigns, or donor engagement efforts with civic impact.

Call for presentations is open until 30 April. Submit your idea now through this form.

EFA European Fundraising4Democracy Tour is a fast-paced showcase of 7–10 minute campaigns designed to inspire and motivate.

With civic freedoms under pressure across Europe, this event brings together leading voices from the worlds of fundraising, crowdfunding, advocacy, and activism to present short, powerful stories of campaigns that made a difference. From grassroots mobilisation to innovative donor strategies, we’ll explore how fundraising, crowdfunding, and civic engagement can help defend democratic values.

Help us spotlight the power of fundraising to protect democracy and drive civic engagement across Europe.

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL BY 30 APRIL HERE

#Fundraising4Democracy

The findings come from research commissioned by Open Society Institute Sofia, published in November, and are, the Bulgarian Donors Forum notes here, ‘a strong indicator that engagement with NGOs is associated with higher civic courage and democratic attitudes.’

The findings show that support is highest among people with higher education (73%) and residents of large cities, while attitudes are divided in villages – 41% “for”, 43% “against”. Two-thirds of respondents believe that Bulgaria will continue to develop democratically in the coming years.

Although 85% approve of fair elections as the basis of governance, 50% support the idea of a “strong leader who rules without parliament and elections,” and 58% would accept rule by technocrats. A military regime has minimal support (14%), with the Institute also saying that the fact that a significant portion of society tolerates authoritarian decisions is a signal of distrust in institutions and a search for alternative models.

Overall, 33% would risk their personal safety to defend democracy, with 20% ready to volunteer in the event of war. Civic activism remains significant – 44% are willing to join petitions, and the same percentage to take part in rallies and marches when dissatisfied with the government.

When looking for examples of good governance, Bulgarians primarily point to democratic countries: Germany (11%) and Switzerland (9%) lead the way, while Russia is mentioned by only 2%. Support for democracy is twice as high among people who support Bulgaria’s membership in the EU and NATO.

At the same time as the report launch, the Bulgarian Parliament announced the decision to create an “anti-Soros” commission – a move widely criticised by CSOs. The Forum states that ‘the report shows Bulgarians want more democracy, more fair elections and functioning institutions, not a witch hunt against organizations that have transparently and sustainably supported causes and needs for years where the state has been absent.’

It adds that ‘such actions do not solve problems – they deepen them by replacing the agenda with political spectacle.’ In response, Bulgarian civil society organisations have come together to create the Position Statement: a declaration that CSOs will resist any tactics to intimidate or restrict them, which currently lists more than 600 signatories.

Photo by Element5 Digital on Pexels

Civic space is being eroded across Europe, and with this civil society is increasingly under attack. Threatening the foundations of democracy, this crisis is unfolding against a global backdrop marked by rising inequality, wars, and the escalating impact of climate change. At the same time, we see the rise of the far-right, nationalism, and polarisation, truth becoming harder to discern, and nonprofits being portrayed as ‘agents of evil’. To survive, civil society must regroup, and rethink strategies to find ways of responding to these new and challenging realities.

Here’s some inspiration, with six key takeaways from EFA’s recent European Fundraising4Democracy Tour.

1. Turn crisis into opportunity

Some nonprofits are successfully turning attacks into opportunities, using them to mobilise supporters and open doors. For example, Greenpeace International has been targeted by multiple SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) from oil giants. It’s used these attacks to rally support, with a responsive global campaign team and centrally produced fundraising and mobilisation materials that can be adapted locally helping Greenpeace organisations raise millions and strengthen solidarity. Consequently, it’s currently using the EU’s new anti-SLAPP law to challenge one oil giant, Energy Transfer, in the Dutch courts.

“We’ve aligned our fundraising with the spikes of public attention that come with the big verdicts and media coverage, and by combining those earned media moments with rapid, coordinated fundraising, we’ve seen the strongest engagement,” said Global New Supporters & Fundraising Lead Russell Harvey. “Every SLAPP, every attack, is meant to silence us, but we’ve shown that people power can turn intimidation into fuel. When we’re under attack, our movement doesn’t shrink, it grows stronger.”

2. Mobilise & build momentum

Successful campaigns share four key traits: a clear call to action, resonant storytelling, collaboration, and tangible goals. As Rally’s Paul de Gregorio said: “To combat the threats we all face, we need to be able to inspire action from as many people as possible. One way to do this is to focus heavily on our target action, to think about how we can create entry-level actions that appeal to a broad set of people with values in common.”

Finland’s first large-scale Women’s Day March in 2025 saw three feminist NGOs collaborate, led by Finnish Women’s Association Unioni. Uniting people to fight the gender backlash, they inspired action by drawing on changes taking place under the Trump administration and sharing stories of surviving harassment. Aiski Ryökäs, Finnish Women’s Association Unioni, said: “This took place when Google had removed dates like Women’s Day from its calendar. We tapped into this with messages like ‘you can erase calendars, but you cannot erase a movement, are you with us?’, and worked our socials to build this idea of a movement and build the momentum.”

Combining the three NGOs’ resources and ensuring a strong social media presence helped achieve reach and engagement. Over €16,000 was fundraised in just over a month for the march, while 131 organisations and 10,000 people took part.

Similarly, the ‘Slovakia is Europe’ movement mobilised 100,000 people in 50 cities and raised €220,000 by turning frustration against the Fico government into collective action. The key to this movement’s success was showing people that together, their individual actions had a big impact. “Instead of weakening us, attacks open doors – to greater media reach, invitations to protest. We have something stronger than fear: trust, vision and support,” noted Lucia Štasselová, Peace for Ukraine Civic Association.

3. Turn short-term action into long-term support

Attacks on democracy can spark waves of public support that result in ‘revenge giving’. But this surge often fades as emotions cool, particularly when donors are motivated by a cause rather than a specific organisation.

Some Polish NGOs working on democracy, human rights, and minority support have successfully transformed this short-term momentum into steady, long-term support. Andrzej Pietrucha from Fundacja Akademia Organizacji Obywatelskich (FAOO) explained how: “It requires clear systems and processes to collect donor data with proper consents and to encourage regular giving; and defining the problem your organisation addresses in the long run. It’s very important to frame the cause beyond one emotional moment.” Poland’s Batory Foundation achieved this with a clear message: “If you support the foundation, you support democracy.” This framing helped them turn an initial investment of under €22,000 into an annual return of €440,000–€550,000.

Encouraging longer-term support also requires relationship building, as ComingOut discovered when it launched a storytelling campaign to share the lives of LGBTQ+ people in Russia. The campaign reached 700,000 people but collected just €280, with ComingOut’s Georgy Kalakutskii noting, “We learned that fundraising takes time. It’s about building a lasting relationship with the audience. You’ve got to build a foundation, to make sure that people know and understand you, and only then start asking for money and other input.”

4. Shift from defence to vision

Activism is often about reacting, but there must also be a focus on driving longer-term positive change. Civil society needs safe spaces to imagine these new possibilities. Unhack Democracy’s REWIRE incubator in Hungary is doing just that – leveraging the collective wisdom of citizens, and using neuroscience, art, and entrepreneurship to help activists move from defending democracy to reimagining it.

“There can be no change without a new mindset and radical imagination. We need to break the rules like artists and build a new system like entrepreneurs because we cannot just keep fighting for the status quo of democracy as it is,” said Unhack Democracy’s Zsofia Banuta. “By 2030, we aim to help 100 nonprofits in Europe activate 1 million citizens to become engaged community members and resources of intelligence, imagination, and money for democracy.”

Projects incubated by Unhack Democracy in 2025 include Impossible Conversations – a workbook for navigating difficult dialogues, and CrossCover – a cultural collective tackling social issues.

5. Inspire participation & engagement

When budgets are limited, nonprofits must find creative ways to activate interest and participation. Social media amplifies calls to action and inspires support as shown by the Finnish Women’s Day March and Slovakia is Europe. Other successful strategies include using humour, influencers, and authentic voices: as used by Slovakia’s Donio platform in campaigns that have successfully raised over €2m for Ukraine, and over €46k in support of the Slovak Media Monitor. “We can use humour to build emotional connection and to fight misinformation, and public figures to help draw attention. We can also ask influencers to multiply our voice and donations,” said Donio’s Zuzana Suchová.

It also pays to think laterally. Familiar fundraising methods like crowdfunding can bring in more than donations – providing a route to building awareness, trust, and participation. “Crowdfunding is a way for us to engage and activate, to build awareness about a topic or project, to fund projects – and to do it all transparently,” said Valeria Vitali, Rete del Dono.

6. Build resilience & sustainability

Restrictive laws, reduced funding, and challenging environments make bolstering organisational resilience and sustainability essential. Diversifying funding, forming new partnerships, and working with supporters and beneficiaries helps with both.

While some funding streams are shrinking or disappearing altogether, significant opportunities remain – including through foundations abroad that support democracy and make funding available to organisations operating elsewhere. “Don’t rely solely on local funding,” said Erik Detiger, Philantropia BV. “There are 200,000 foundations in the US and 170,000 in Europe – plus many more worldwide. Some fund democracy, and it doesn’t all stay in-country. This international perspective can provide security – funding from other countries may not be as easy to influence by the government where you work.”

Partnerships and alliances are vital for amplifying collective influence and providing protection and legitimacy. By working together – pooling expertise, resources, and advocacy power – CSOs can strengthen their collective voice and resilience against political or financial pressure. Detiger added: “Not only is there strength in numbers but what’s also important is the protection this offers – partners can provide a shield.”

Listening to donors, and co-creating projects with supporters and beneficiaries from the outset also brings better results. This approach transforms project ideas into impactful movements that attract donor and community support as well as funding, build relevance, and strengthen democracy from the ground up. “Deliberative processes lead to stronger decisions and greater legitimacy, so we need real listening, co-creation, and to show results,” said Eva Mejtová, GrantHub. “Then participation becomes real, and outcomes last.”

The way forward

As the world changes, so too nonprofits have to change. This means restructuring the narrative to nonprofits as defenders of solidarity, democracy and human rights. Fundraising can no longer be just about raising money – now it’s about empowerment, and strengthening organisations, especially the small, the marginalised and the emerging.

By necessity then, nonprofits must also become more political: to campaign for democracy and rights, and defend truths under attack.

“Democracy is easier to defend than to rebuild once destroyed,” said Martin Georgi, Deutscher Verband Fundraising. “Civil society must regroup, respond and reimagine itself in order to empower people, sustain organisations, and defend democracy. We are all facing a situation where we need to think anew. It’s time to take on new tasks and challenges, to find new people, partners, and techniques to strengthen fundraising as a method not just to raise money, but to empower organisations.”

For more insights and actionable takeaways from EFA’s European Fundraising4Democracy Tour, catch up with the presentations here.

Picture by Derek French on Pexels

The Tour is an unmissable opportunity to hear inspiring real-world examples of how nonprofits are confronting the threats and mobilising support, and to gain new strategies to implement in your own organisation.

Key details

When: 18 September

Time: 14.00-16.00 CEST

Where: Zoom

Cost: €49

Who it’s for: Fundraisers, campaigners, nonprofit leaders, and civic innovators across Europe and beyond.

The event will provide:

• 7-10-minute lightning case studies from across Europe – concentrated, practical, and immediately usable.
• Tactics to rally supporters, raise funds, and build momentum under challenging conditions.
• Connections with peers working at the intersection of fundraising, advocacy, and civic action.

Presentations include:

• Beyond Digital Fundraising: Building Power Online That Creates Change — Paul de Gregorio (Rally, GB)
• Fundraising in the Face of Intimidation — Russell Harvey (Greenpeace International, GB)
• Small Foundation, Big Impact: Crowdfunding for Civic Regeneration & Local Democracy — Valeria Vitali (Rete del Dono, IT)
• Crowdfunding for Democracy — Zuzana Suchová (Donio, SK)
• From Stigma To Support: How Polish NGOs Mobilized Donors Against The Odds — Andrzej Pietrucha (Academy of Civic Organizations Foundation, PL)

Eduard Marček, EFA’s executive director said:

“Democracy and civic space are under threat right across Europe. But fundraisers have the power to push back. The European Fundraising4Democracy Tour is your chance to discover proven strategies and inspiring real-world examples from across the continent. For Third Sector professionals seeking practical, effective solutions, this is a must-attend event.”

View the full programme and register here.

Streamed live from 14.00-16.00 CEST, the online tour will spotlight 7-10 minute campaign stories, each highlighting how fundraising powers civic space and democratic resilience.

Speakers include:

• Russell Harvey, global new supporters and fundraising lead at Greenpeace International – Fundraising in the Face of Intimidation
• Paul de Gregorio, founder of Rally – Beyond Digital Fundraising. Building Power Online That Creates Change
• Valeria Vitali, founder of ASSIF – Small Foundation, Big Impact: Crowdfunding for Civic Regeneration and Local Democracy
• Georgy Kalakutskii, public advocacy lead at Coming Out – Queer Stories Went Viral — The Fundraising Didn’t
• Zuzana Suchova, fund manager at Donio – Crowdfunding for Democracy

The European Fundraising4Democracy Tour will be free to attend for EFA members and speakers, and €49 for external participants.

Find the full programme here – and registration here.

EFA now invites fundraisers, campaigners, activists, and nonprofit professionals to share their success stories in advancing civic space and democracy. As part of our upcoming online tour, we are looking for short, engaging presentations that showcase innovative, impactful campaigns.

What we’re looking for:

• Short case studies (7–10 minutes) of successful campaigns that address shrinking civic space,
• Fundraising strategies that empower citizen-led change or defend democratic freedoms,
• Community organizing tactics, advocacy campaigns, or donor engagement efforts with civic impact.

Call for presentations is open until 15 July.
Submit your idea now through this form.

EFA European Fundraising4Democracy Tour is a fast-paced showcase of 7–10 minute campaigns designed to inspire and motivate.

With civic freedoms under pressure across Europe, this event brings together leading voices from the worlds of fundraising, crowdfunding, advocacy, and activism to present short, powerful stories of campaigns that made a difference. From grassroots mobilisation to innovative donor strategies, we’ll explore how fundraising, crowdfunding, and civic engagement can help defend democratic values.

Help us spotlight the power of fundraising to protect democracy and drive civic engagement across Europe.

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL BY 15 JULY HERE

#Fundraising4Democracy

The Fundraising4Democracy hub can be found on the EFA site, and brings together essential articles, toolkits, and case studies, as well as listing key events. It invites fundraising professionals to explore the materials to learn, act, and advocate.

Many of the resource materials are accessible to all. They include links to EFA’s own Spotlight on civic space series, reports such as Philea’s 2025 Democracy Briefer for Funders: What’s Happening to European Democracy and What Funders Can Do About It; and Mapping Shrinking Civic Space In Europe (Giada Negri, Filip Pazderski).

A members’ only section of resources is also being created.

Events highlighted include forthcoming webinars on the topic from EFA, and wider sector events such as June’s International Conference Fundraising in Challenging Times.

Resources and events will be added to the hub on an ongoing basis, with an invitation to share relevant materials and dates with EFA for possible inclusion.

Commenting on the new resource, EFA executive director Eduard Marček said:

“Democracy and a free civil society are under pressure across much of the world and Europe. In response, public mobilization and fundraising remain powerful tools in the hands of active citizens. EFA aims to be a hub for sharing resources and inspiration — empowering fundraisers, leaders and civic actors to take meaningful action and defend our democracies.”