Strategic Alignment for Greater Impact: ESF Unveils New Funding Streams for 2026

The European Scout Foundation (ESF) is evolving its grant funding model to directly support the core priority of Scouting in Europe: Growth. In close collaboration with the European Scout Region (ESR), we have aligned our funding strategy with the Regional Scout Plan (RSP).

Clarity and Purpose

The goal of this strategic shift is to provide International Commissioners, NSOs, and local units with a clear understanding of the types of projects the ESF is looking to fund. We aim to make our resources a direct catalyst for the growth and modernization of Scouting across Europe.

While our “traditional” funding stream remains open, we are introducing four dedicated Funding Streams to proactively attract projects in high-impact areas:

Organizational Resilience & Capacity Building: Strengthening the foundations of scouting structures.

Diversity & Inclusion: Engaging underrepresented communities.

Innovative Education: Integrating technology and peace education.

Youth Event Participation: Support for young people to attend events leading to local development.

Focus on Local Impact

Our primary objective remains Local Group support (grassroots level). Support for NSOs will be maintained only as an exception for specific strategic needs. We specifically expect to see a higher volume of projects led by young people.

Application Process and Timeline

The application process remains unchanged; all proposals must be submitted through the Fluxx platform. These new funding streams provide additional guidance on the thematic areas we are prioritizing this year. For more information, step-by-step guides, and project resources, please visit our Knowledge Base.

Roadmap for 2026:

May: Circular distribution to NSOs with full guidance.

June – September: Implementation and support for local group execution.

October 2026: Evaluation conducted in partnership with the ESR.