The “NGO Incubator” established by the Society Integration Foundation (SIF) in mid‑2025 has been completed by 52 organizations, according to a statement published on the SIF website on 30 December. In six months, the NGO incubator has become a development platform for more than 100 organizations across Latvia.
In the first NGO incubator cycle, 52 organizations participated, while in the second cycle, which has just begun, 58 organizations have been admitted through a competitive selection process. “Looking back at their experience in the incubator, participants particularly highly valued the opportunity to receive individual mentor consultations on organizational management, fundraising and governance, communication, building civil dialogue and strategic development. But an even more important gain, which cannot be measured in numbers, is the confidence that their work is professional, needed and capable of creating lasting impact both in the community and in the wider region,” the SIF statement says.
The “NGO Incubator” is run by three associations: “Impact Hub”, the association “NEXT” and the “Latvian Rural Forum”. The Impact Hub association is headed by Liepāja City Council member Salvis Roga from the Latvian Regional Alliance. The “NEXT” association is represented by moderator and discussion host Vilis Brūveris, who previously ran in elections from the Liepāja Party, while the “Latvian Rural Forum” employs, for example, Tālis Linkaits, and the main contact person is the “Progressives” representative Āris Ādlers, who also serves on the “Memorandum Council”. The Latvian Rural Forum has also established a Rural Community Parliament Council, which includes, for example, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saeima MP Zanda Kalniņa‑Lukaševica, as well as Cross‑Sectoral Coordination Centre representative Sanita Kalnača, European Commission Representation in Latvia representative Linda Jākobsone, head of the Latvian Civic Alliance Kristīne Zonberga, Ministry of Welfare and Movement For! representative Liesma Ose, and other specialists.
“During the first cycle we saw, and still see, several examples that clearly illustrate the incubator’s impact. In Zemgale, the “Krustpils Senior School” association involves seniors from its community in activities that promote civic participation and strengthen the community – concerts, excursions and various get‑togethers are organized. In Kurzeme, the “Kaļķupes” association has become a confident municipal partner in the development of its neighborhood, organizing events and creating activities that bring together and engage local residents. In Latgale, during the incubator the “Nerium” association strengthened its financial capacity by creating an online store offering products created by the local community, and continues to carry out engaging and educational activities that promote community activity and development. Meanwhile, the Liepāja board game club “Meeple Cave”, inspired by mentoring sessions, has created a youth space – a place where young people can gather, spend their time meaningfully and develop their interests. The organization implemented this initiative with its own forces and resources, proving that the financial and organizational skills gained in the incubator provide the confidence to launch and sustain projects that are important to the community,” the statement says.
“Another essential contribution of the NGO incubator should be mentioned here – for several organizations it has helped on the path to attracting funding, allowing them to implement large‑scale, sustainable projects. Thus, the “Jelgava Children’s Support Fund” foundation has attracted 450 thousand euros in funding for the creation of a rehabilitation center for children with special needs – a project that will significantly expand the availability of social services in the region. Meanwhile, the “Aizvējā” association in Liepāja has received more than one million euros in support for the creation of a day center for persons with mental disabilities. Although these organizations were already on the way to obtaining funding, participation in the incubator helped them structure their ideas, improve documents and move towards their ambitious goals with greater confidence,” the statement says.
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Originally published at https://inc-baltics.com/vairak-nvo-iemacisies-apgut-naudu-sif-izveidoto-nvo-inkubatoru-absolvejusas-pirmas-52-organizacijas/
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