The financing of adult learning in civil society in Europe was examined in an exploratory study that focused on the relationship between nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and the status of financing in the general field of adult learning. Adult education experts from the following countries were subcontracted to develop "country windows" on their nation's policies regarding public financing of NGOs supporting individuals' participation in organized adult learning: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Each country window included information on the following topics: the educational system and provisions for financing education; the legislative environment; the amount of public financial support; recognition and accountability; and supranational financial support. The country windows revealed that NGOs in the individual study countries are funded by combinations of the following funding mechanisms: (1) basic grants/general operational allocations; (2) project-bound operational grants; (3) fees from participants; and (4) private sponsoring by companies, foundations, or national lotteries. In most countries, public financing of NGOS was increasing, as was the role of NGOs on the adult learning scene. (Most of the country windows, which constitute approximately 60% of the document, include substantial bibliographies.) (MN)