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1. Legal/policy framework for the functioning and development of youth organisations

2. Public financial support

3. Initiatives to increase the diversity of participants

Legal/policy framework for the functioning and development of youth organisations

Children's and youth organisations are formed under the same conditions as other civic associations in Slovakia. The citizens may establish associations, societies, unions, movements, clubs and other civic associations as well as trade unions and unite in them. An association shall start its existence upon its incorporation (registration). The conditions are defined and anchored in a special act (Act on Associations of Citizens/Zákon o združovaní občanov).

Public financial support

Most youth organisations' activities are financed from the diverse public as well as private sources, e.g.:

• public funding from the European Structural Funds, Erasmus+,
• financing from public sources at the level of subsidy mechanisms of individual ministries,
• public funding at the level of local governments,
• 2% of corporate and personal income tax,
• voluntary contributions (donations), public collections, membership fees, revenues from the NGO's own activities etc.

Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth, in cooperation with the National Institute of Education and Youth, manages a grant scheme or the youth work support. Several consultations were held on the creation of the schéme with organizations implementing or supporting youth work.The system of support for youth work is divided into 7 thematic areas:

• a year-round regular and systematic work with youth of a supraregional character;
• representative structures for youth participation;
• volunteer opportunities for young people
• youth information and counseling services
• helplines for youth
• low-threshold youth programs
• current priorities in youth work. 

List of all youth organizations supported on a yearly basis within particular programmes can be found on the National Institute of Education and Youth website, organization responsible for administration of the MESRS grant programmes.The financial contribution is mostly focused on institutional support of the youth organisations, which must fulfil both, formal and quality criteria. 

Initiatives to increase the diversity of participants

Youth organizations are encouraged to involve young people with fewer opportunities both in their regular and project activities through calls within the national grant scheme of the Ministry of Education or Erasmus+ for Youth and Sports programme calls.