The Civitates Steering Committee, which meets twice a year, is Civitates’ board. It adopts strategic decisions, approves annual budget allocations, and guides the Secretariat’s work. It also approves the creation of any new lines of work.

The Executive Committee is a sounding board to the Secretariat, helping it make sound decisions regarding any issues the fund might face. It is composed of three to six members, including the Chair.

The Chair represents Civitates externally. He or she presides the Steering Committee and promotes excellent relationships amongst all actors involved in Civitates. For the first three years of Civitates existence (2018-2022) the position of the Chair is held by the King Baudouin Foundation.

The Working Groups are the bodies that have been delegated by the Steering Committee to oversee the strategy and implementation of a specific line of work. There are as many Working Groups as there are lines of work, each focussed on a specific issue related to democracy and solidarity in Europe. Amongst others, the Working Groups approve the grants and make recommendations for changes in the strategy or approach to the Steering Committee.

The Secretariat drives the collaborative’s work forward. It implements the strategies developed together with the Working Groups and agreed on by the Steering Committee. It is responsible for the grantmaking and serves as a key point of contact for all organisations seeking and receiving Civitates funding, as well as for the foundations working with Civitates. It does so in collaboration with NEF, the fiscal sponsor of Civitates.