Erasmus+ for NGOs in Greece: eligibility, actions and how to apply

Greece has one of the most active civil society sectors in Southern Europe — NGOs, youth organisations, cultural associations and non-profit bodies working across education, youth, social inclusion, environment and community development. Many of these organisations are eligible for Erasmus+ funding but do not know where to start, which actions are open to them, or how to navigate the application process.

This guide covers everything a Greek NGO needs to know about Erasmus+ in 2026 — which actions are available, what the eligibility requirements are, how much funding is available, what the deadlines are, and what the application process looks like from start to finish.

Is my Greek NGO eligible for Erasmus+?

The short answer is almost certainly yes. The Erasmus+ Programme Guide defines eligible organisations broadly: any public or private body legally established in a programme country can participate in most Erasmus+ actions. This explicitly includes non-profit organisations, associations and NGOs.

The specific eligibility conditions vary by Key Action, but for most cooperation and mobility actions the requirements are straightforward:

• Legal status: Your organisation must be legally registered in Greece (or another programme country). This includes associations (σωματεία), civil law non-profit organisations, foundations (ιδρύματα) and informal youth groups (for some youth actions)
• Sector: NGOs active in education, youth, training, adult learning, culture, environment, social inclusion and civic participation are all eligible
• Years established: For KA220 Cooperation Partnerships, your organisation must have been legally established for at least 2 years before the application deadline. For KA210 Small-Scale Partnerships and most KA1 youth actions, there is no minimum age requirement
• OID number: Your organisation needs an Organisation ID (OID) registered on the EU’s Organisation Registration System before submitting any application. Registration is free and takes approximately 10 working days

One important distinction: informal groups of young people (παρέες νέων) are eligible to apply for Youth Exchanges (KA152) without being a formally registered organisation. A group of at least 4 young people with an adult group leader aged 18 or over can apply directly. This is the exception — all other actions require a legally registered organisation.

The Greek National Agency: IKY

In Greece, the Erasmus+ programme is managed by IKY — the State Scholarships Foundation (Ίδρυμα Κρατικών Υποτροφιών). IKY is the National Agency responsible for all NA-managed Erasmus+ actions in Greece — which covers the vast majority of actions relevant to NGOs, including KA1 mobility, KA210, KA220 and the Erasmus Accreditation.

You submit all applications to IKY through the EU’s online application system. IKY also manages your grant agreement, monitors your project, and releases your payments. All correspondence, grant agreements and reporting are handled through IKY and the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.

Note that some centralised Erasmus+ actions — including Alliances for Innovation, Capacity Building, Jean Monnet and Erasmus Mundus — are managed by EACEA in Brussels, not by IKY. For these actions you apply directly through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. However, for most NGOs in Greece the relevant actions are all IKY-managed.

Which Erasmus+ actions are available to Greek NGOs?

The actions available to your organisation depend primarily on what your NGO does — which field it operates in and what kind of activities it wants to carry out. Here is a breakdown of the most relevant actions for Greek NGOs:

KA210 — Small-Scale Partnerships (recommended starting point)

KA210 is the best entry point for Greek NGOs applying to Erasmus+ for the first time. It is explicitly designed for smaller and less experienced organisations, with simplified requirements and a lump sum grant model that removes the need to track and report individual expenses.

KA210 is ideal for Greek NGOs that want to develop a transnational project with one or two European partners — sharing practices, running joint training activities, developing educational materials or organising community events. The lump sum model means you receive the full grant if you deliver the activities described in your approved application, regardless of actual costs incurred.

The most common mistake first-time KA210 applicants make is choosing the wrong lump sum tier. The tier you select must be proportionate to the activities you are describing — a €60,000 application with a thin activity plan will be scored down. If you are a small NGO applying for the first time, starting with the €30,000 tier with a focused, realistic activity plan gives you a stronger application.

KA220 — Cooperation Partnerships

KA220 is the more ambitious cooperation action for organisations with some project experience. It offers significantly larger lump sum grants but requires a more complex application, a stronger consortium and a demonstrated capacity to deliver.

Greek NGOs that have already delivered a KA210 project (or other EU-funded projects) and want to scale up their European cooperation should consider KA220 as their next step. The evaluation criteria are more demanding — evaluators expect evidence of genuine innovation, systemic impact and a complementary consortium where each partner brings something distinct to the table.

KA152 — Youth Exchanges

For Greek youth organisations and NGOs working with young people aged 13–30, Youth Exchanges are one of the most accessible and impactful Erasmus+ actions. Groups of young people from two or more countries meet for a structured non-formal learning programme — typically 6–21 days.

Youth Exchanges are particularly well-suited to Greek NGOs working on topics like democratic participation, intercultural dialogue, environmental awareness, media literacy and social inclusion. The 2026 Programme Guide places strong emphasis on inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities — projects that demonstrate a genuine commitment to reaching disadvantaged young people are prioritised in the evaluation.

KA153 — Youth Worker Mobility

KA153 funds professional development for youth workers, trainers and educators working in the non-formal education sector. If your NGO employs or works with youth workers, facilitators or community educators, this action supports their learning and development through seminars, training courses, study visits and job shadowing placements abroad.

KA154 — Youth Participation Activities

For NGOs working on civic engagement and democratic participation, KA154 funds activities that encourage young people to participate actively in democratic life. Projects can be national or transnational. This is the most flexible youth action — covering a wide range of formats from local civic initiatives to cross-border participation projects.

KA122-ADU — Short-term Mobility Projects for Adult Education

Greek NGOs active in adult learning — literacy programmes, skills training for unemployed adults, community education, digital inclusion for older adults — are eligible for KA122-ADU. This action funds staff professional development through learning visits, job shadowing and training courses abroad. It is the entry-level adult education mobility action, designed for organisations without an Erasmus Accreditation.

How much funding can a Greek NGO receive?

The amount your NGO can receive depends entirely on which action you apply for and, in the case of KA1 mobility actions, how many participants you plan to send abroad and to which countries.

The 2026 deadlines for Greek NGOs

All deadlines are at 12:00 Brussels time. Always verify with IKY (erasmus.iky.gr) before submitting — IKY may publish national deadline adjustments after the Programme Guide is released.

How to apply: the step-by-step process for Greek NGOs

Step 1 — Register your organisation and get your OID. Before you can apply for any Erasmus+ action, your organisation must be registered on the EU Organisation Registration System and have an Organisation ID (OID). Go to the EU Academy portal, create an account and register your organisation. You will need your organisation’s legal name, address, registration number and a brief description of your activities. Processing takes approximately 10 working days.

Step 2 — Develop your project idea. Before you start filling in the application form, you need a clear project concept — what problem does your project address, who are your target participants, what activities will you carry out, what outputs will you produce and what impact do you expect. A structured project concept is essential before you approach potential partners or start writing the application narrative.

Step 3 — Find your partners. For KA210 and KA220 you need partners from other programme countries. You can search for partners through EPALE (the European Platform for Adult Learning), the Erasmus+ project results platform, eTwinning (for schools), or through direct outreach to organisations in your network. Your National Agency IKY also maintains partner search resources.

Step 4 — Write and submit your application. Applications are submitted online through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal for EACEA-managed actions, or through the Erasmus+ application system for NA-managed actions. The application form asks you to describe your project’s relevance, quality, partnership and impact against the official evaluation criteria for your chosen action.

Step 5 — Wait for results. IKY typically notifies applicants of results within 3–4 months of the deadline. If successful, you sign a grant agreement with IKY and receive an initial pre-financing payment (typically 80% of the total grant for lump sum actions).

The 2026 priorities: what Greek NGOs should focus on

Every Erasmus+ application is evaluated against the programme’s horizontal priorities. In 2026, the four priorities that must be addressed in every application are:

• Inclusion and diversity — reaching and involving people with fewer opportunities, including people with disabilities, migrants and refugees, people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and young people facing social barriers
• Digital transformation — developing digital skills, using digital tools in learning and community work, and addressing digital exclusion
• Environment and climate change — promoting green practices, environmental education and sustainable approaches in organisational and project activities
• Democratic participation and active citizenship — supporting civic engagement, media literacy, critical thinking and European values

Greek NGOs working on social inclusion, community education or youth civic participation are naturally well-aligned with at least two or three of these priorities. The key is not just to mention these priorities in your application — evaluators want to see how they are genuinely integrated into your project design, activities and expected outcomes.

Common mistakes Greek NGOs make when applying

Applying for KA220 without any EU project experience. KA220 is a competitive action and evaluators expect to see that your organisation has the capacity to manage a project of this scale. First-time applicants almost always get higher scores — and better results — by starting with KA210 and building their track record before attempting KA220.

Not having an OID before the deadline. OID registration takes up to 10 working days. Many organisations leave this too late and miss the deadline. Register your OID as soon as you decide to apply — not the week before the deadline.

Choosing partners based on existing friendships rather than complementarity. Evaluators assess whether your partnership makes strategic sense — whether each partner brings something distinct and whether the consortium is genuinely stronger together than individually. A partner in Italy who does exactly the same work as your Greek NGO adds less value than a partner who works with a different target group or brings different expertise.

Selecting the wrong lump sum tier for KA210. Choosing €60,000 when your activities only justify €30,000 — or vice versa — is one of the most common reasons for low scores. Your tier selection must be proportionate to the scope, ambition and duration of the activities you describe.

Describing activities without connecting them to outcomes. Evaluators do not just want to know what you will do — they want to know what will change as a result. Every activity should be connected to a clear expected outcome for participants, organisations or the wider community.

Frequently asked questions

Can a newly registered Greek NGO apply for Erasmus+?

Yes, for most actions. KA210 Small-Scale Partnerships and all youth actions (KA152, KA153, KA154) have no minimum age requirement for the organisation. KA220 Cooperation Partnerships requires the coordinator organisation to be established at least 2 years before the application deadline — so a recently registered NGO can participate as a partner in KA220 but cannot coordinate.

Do I need to speak English to apply for Erasmus+?

The application form is available in all EU languages including Greek, and IKY provides support in Greek. However, your application narrative is typically written in English or another common language so that it can be evaluated by assessors from different countries. Most Greek NGOs write their applications in English — or work with a consultant who does.

Can an informal youth group in Greece apply for Erasmus+?

Yes, specifically for KA152 Youth Exchanges. An informal group of at least 4 young people aged 13–30 with an adult group leader (aged 18 or over) can apply directly without being a registered organisation. For all other actions, a legally registered organisation is required.

How long does it take to hear back after submitting?

IKY typically notifies applicants of results within 3–4 months of the submission deadline. For a 5 March deadline, results are usually communicated in June or July. For the October round, results typically arrive in January or February of the following year.

What is the success rate for Greek NGOs applying to Erasmus+?

Success rates vary by action and by call. For KA210, success rates across Europe typically range from 25% to 40% depending on the national budget allocation and the number of applications received. For KA152 Youth Exchanges, success rates are generally higher. The quality of the application is the primary differentiating factor — well-structured, relevant applications from organisations with realistic activity plans have significantly higher success rates than generic applications.

Can I apply as a coordinator and as a partner in the same call?

Generally yes, but with limits. For KA220, an organisation can be involved in a maximum of 10 applications per deadline as either coordinator or partner. For KA210, the limit is 5. These limits rarely affect small Greek NGOs applying for the first time but are worth being aware of as your European network grows.

All programme information in this article is based on the official Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026 (Version 1, published 12 November 2025). Deadlines and eligibility conditions are subject to confirmation by IKY — always verify current information at erasmus.iky.gr before submitting an application. GrowthProjects.eu is an independent consultancy and is not affiliated with IKY, the European Commission or EACEA.