The topic of the diploma thesis is the role of public administration in the civil society activities. The aim of the thesis is to provide insight into the meaning of free association of citizens, civil society association, with emphasis on associations as the most important organizational form of civil society and the ways of financing their programs and projects. Civil society associations are increasingly faced with a lack of financial resources without which their work, activities, and thus their survival is questionable, and they become dependent on public grants. The concrete example of the City of Varaždin shows the procedure of announcing the „Public tender for Financing Programs/Projects of Civil society associations that are of public need for the City of Varaždin", the formal conditions that need to be met in order to be able to apply for the public tender, what problems the applicants face and what the city administration officials face. For the purpose of research and study of the topic of the diploma thesis, available scientific and professional papers, relevant laws and positive legal regulations and bylaws were used as sources. A review of the research found that Civil society associations are an important factor in the development of civil society and the local community. The example of the City of Varaždin confirmed this thesis, supported by the number of Civil society associations funded by the City of Varaždin and the importance of Civil society associations as important actors in the development of city policies, which can most clearly express the needs, requirements and expectations of the social group they represent. In conclusion, with the amendments to the existing normative frameworks related to the operation and financing of Civil society associations, cooperation of regional self-governments and Civil society associations should continue through funding their programs/projects and support partnerships, monitoring digitalization trends brought by modern times. The diploma thesis presents the importance of public administration for the development of civil society from the discourse of public administration as a creator and implementer of public needs, while protecting the interests of society as a whole.