Local Ecosystem Developers - Call for financial support to third parties (FSTP) now open!
Impact Hub Network is inviting eligible for-profit members in Portugal, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium to join the Local Ecosystem Developers (LED) project. Selected organisations will receive up to €31,450 in EU funding, with €5,550 in co-financing, to implement a predefined package of activities that strengthens local social economy ecosystems and contributes insights to the wider Network and EU policy dialogue.
- Impact Hub Network
About LED project
Local Ecosystem Developers (LED) is a European initiative designed to strengthen the Impact Hub Network’s strategic and operational role as a key ecosystem builder and credible EU-level partner.
LED connects locally rooted data, capacity building, ecosystem development, and policy engagement to generate actionable intelligence and strengthen social economy ecosystems across Europe. Through activities implemented in 15 countries, the project supports Impact Hubs in better understanding local needs, developing data-informed services, strengthening local ecosystems, and bringing practical insights into national and EU-level policy dialogue.
The project is implemented by Impact Hub Network and its members, together with ICLEI Europe and the University of Trento, with Erste Social Finance as an associated partner.
About the FSTP Call
As part of LED, Impact Hub Network is launching a Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) mechanism to involve additional Impact Hub Network members in the implementation of project activities.
While 11 Impact Hubs already participate in LED as affiliated entities, the FSTP mechanism enables the participation of additional for-profit Impact Hub members that were not eligible for direct affiliation under the project structure.
The mechanism aims to broaden LED’s implementation capacity, outreach, and geographical coverage, with selected organisations contributing to activities across Data Intelligence, Capacity & Upskilling, Ecosystem Building, and Engagement & Policy.
Selected organisations will not develop separate projects. Instead, they will implement a predefined package of activities directly linked to the LED work plan, with an agreed scope, budget, deliverables, and reporting requirements.
Activities will include areas such as stakeholder engagement, local ecosystem mobilisation, outreach and communication, implementation support, data-related activities, peer collaboration, and reporting.
Through the FSTP mechanism, LED will bring additional Impact Hubs into the project, strengthen participation across local ecosystems, and extend the project’s reach and impact in additional European regions.
The call is open to eligible Impact Hub Network members in Portugal, the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium.
At a glance
- Call deadline: September 24th 2026
- 4 countries: Portugal · Netherlands · Germany · Belgium
- Call budget: Up to €37,000 per Hub (€31,450 grant – EU contribution + €5,550 co-financing)
- Join the LED ecosystem: Access capacity building, peer collaboration, methodologies and European-level exchange.
- Create local & European impact: Strengthen your local social economy ecosystem while contributing evidence and experience to the wider Impact Hub Network and EU policy dialogue.
- Eligible applicants: Financial support may be awarded only to legal persons that are for-profit members of the Impact Hub Network, legally established in one of the eligible target countries — Portugal, the Netherlands, Germany or Belgium — and that are not already participating in the LED project as affiliated entities.
Expected duration of projects: 30 months (Oct 2026-April 2029)
Contact: [email protected]
Interested in joining LED?
Explore the call documents, eligibility criteria, activities, financial support, and application process below.
- Guidelines for applicants.
- Annex 1 – LED Activities for Impact Hubs
- Annex 2 – Expression of Interest Form
- Annex 3 – Budget Template
- Annex 4 – Declaration of Honour, Eligibility and No Double Funding
- Annex 5 – Eligibility Checklist
- Annex 6 – Evaluation Criteria and Scoring Grid
- Annex 7 – Declaration of impartiality, confidentiality and conflict of interest for evaluators
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