On February 2, Russia opens its first 2026 application round for the Presidential Grants Foundation, the country’s largest state support mechanism for NGOs. According to Novaya Gazeta Europe, the results of the year’s first competition were announced in mid-January: out of 9,310 applications from 89 regions, 1,469 organizations won. The foundation will allocate 4.9 billion rubles to their projects, while winners say they plan to raise another 5.9 billion from other sources, since the fund does not fully cover project costs.
After reviewing about 1,500 approved applications, the outlet says the list includes not only projects tied to the war, “traditional values,” and state-centered patriotism. A large share concerns aid for people with disabilities, low-income groups, environmental work, education, the arts, and charity. At the same time, the impact of the war is visible in many applications, including rehabilitation programs for people wounded in combat.
Among the largest awards, nine projects received more than 30 million rubles each. The biggest grant, 43 million rubles, went to St. Alexius Hospital, affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church, for medical and social assistance to residents affected by military action in the conflict zone. Nearly 40 million rubles each were awarded to the Rus Food Bank, Doctor Lisa’s “Power of Mercy” foundation, and the Center for Missing People Search. Another 38 million rubles will fund the Total Dictation 2027 campaign in Russia and abroad.
One source from the NGO sector, whose organization has been labeled a “foreign agent,” said taking such money is now risky because of excessive regulation, burdensome reporting, and the threat of criminal accusations over alleged misuse of state funds.
Opinions within the nonprofit sector are divided. A representative of an organization helping people with disabilities said that themes linked to the “special military operation” and “traditional values” may help, but are not mandatory, and that the application system itself is clear. A regional cultural organizer described the foundation experience as generally positive, though he also pointed to extensive reporting requirements. He said one grant participant was under investigation at the same time over an anti-war criminal case, yet that did not prevent the project from moving forward.
Environmental activist Vitaly Servetnik, who commented openly from outside Russia, said presidential grants remain available in the environmental field even to initiatives that are not fully loyal, as long as they avoid systemic political criticism. In his view, with foreign funding now sharply constrained, such grants have become for some NGOs not only a source of money, but also a way to legitimize their work inside the country.