ELSA Development Foundation
The ELSA Development Foundation (EDF) is a foundation created in 2000, by the name of ELSA Development Fund, posteriorly established with the current designation in 2009 by ELSA. This is a financial mechanism that provides economic support to ELSA members (both National and Local Groups, and even a combination of both), consisting of monetary support to overcome structural difficulties or challenges when organizing a project. It is designed to compensate losses (up to 1000 €).
The ELSA National and Local Groups can apply for financial support for certain events and activities according to the following modes of support:
Project Support (Mode of Support A)
(A.1) Financial assistance for events constituting a core activity of ELSA. A Core activity is any activity or project connected to the Key Areas according to the Decision Book.
(A.2) Financial assistance for regional cooperation events gathering more than one Member country.
Training Support (Mode of Support B)
(B.1) Financial assistance for international training events, or international events incorporating training sessions, organised to increase awareness of ELSA, or dealing in specific ELSA areas, To qualify as international, at least half of the participants shall not be from the country of the organising National or Local Group.
(B.2) Travel and/or accommodation expenses of trainers for training events or sessions organised by National Groups or Local Groups.
(B.3) Travel and/or accommodation expenses of National Board members for training sessions organised by ELSA International and National Groups.
Structural Support (Mode of Support C)
(C.1) Financial assistance for organising International Council Meetings, International Strategy Meeting and International Training Meeting.
(C.2) Financial assistance for internal events aimed at developing Officers’ Skills and knowledge.
(C.3) Financial assistance for the participation of the National Board members to Statutory Meetings. The contribution shall only cover travel and/or accommodation expenses.
*Only National Groups can apply.
General Support (Mode of Support D)
(D.1) Financial assistance for a National Group that is in danger of insolvency due to force majeure events if all other options have been exhausted.
(D.2) Financial assistance for the Network wherein the EDF can buy off the debts of a National Group towards ELSA International.
*Only National Groups can apply.
Exceptional Procedure
As an Exceptional Procedure, it is possible for the applicant to officially request the payment of up to 75% of the granted amount in advance.
The request shall include supporting documents to justify the need.
The Request will only be accepted if:
Receiving the grant beforehand is essential for the existence of the project;
The financial situation of the Group justifies such demand;
The National or Local Group requesting the exceptional procedure have no history of bad reporting or pending reports.
Members of the Board
The EDF is governed by a board of directors, composed of the President, Secretary General, and Treasurer of the International Board of ELSA, which are appointed at the beginning of the term.
Additionally, the International Board may open a call for an International Team, composed of Directors or Assistants for the EDF, in order to help with the activities and development of the foundation.
Financing of the EDF
The financing of the foundation comes from the EDF yearly contribution that each of the members of ELSA makes at the beginning of the financial year. This contribution is calculated as follows:
6% of all money fundraised in one financial year as a general sponsorship from external relations that are classified as international;
2.5% of all money fundraised in one financial year as a general sponsorship from external relations that are classified as national;
The Member National Groups shall pay a minimum of EUR 100,00 and a maximum of 3.000,00 per financial year.
EDF Cycles
The EDF yearly activity is divided into 4 ordinary cycles you can apply to.
These four cycles are established at the beginning of our operational year by the Board of Directors, within the first week of their term.
Currently, the EDF cycles are divided as follows:
1st July -31st September
1st October - 31st December
1st January - 31st March
1 April - 30th June