Funding Conditions
Can I apply to the Toepfer Foundation for funding for my own plans or projects?
In its work, the Alfred Toepfer Foundation F.V.S. sees itself primarily as an operational foundation that initiates and implements its own projects and programmes within the framework of its statutory purpose. It is open to partnerships and co-operation in relation to the topics it works on, but does not usually support third-party projects.
However, in exceptional cases relating to three fields of our work under the motto ‘Small Change’, applications for funding may be considered where projects by others make a particular contribution to the Foundation's objectives and programme. The foundation sees the ‘Small Change’ funding funds as a search for initiatives or projects where ‘small money’ can have a big impact, i.e. where it can be expected to make a difference. A connection to the goals and programme of the foundation's work is mandatory.
If you would like to submit an application for funding for your own plans or projects, please note the following points:
Please read the general funding conditions carefully
Please complete the application form for the funding fund that matches your project (overview of programme-specific funding funds below)
Please provide us with a completed cost and financing plan via the application form (the templates can be found on the respective subpages of the funding funds)
Only fully completed applications can be considered
The three programme-specific development funds are:
- Small Change for Hamburg & Europe
According to its statutes, the Toepfer Foundation is particularly committed to European understanding and unification while preserving cultural diversity. In this context, projects are generally eligible for funding if at their core they promote dialogue and familiarity in Europe and bring people together across milieus and borders. The mere participation of people of different European origins in a cultural or scientific activity is not sufficient to justify the objective; even purely bilateral projects require additional justification with regard to the European dimension of the project.
The Toepfer Foundation feels equally committed to its "home port" of Hamburg and to social cohesion in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region. We welcome corresponding applications that are aimed at social dialogue, the coexistence of cultures, religions or milieus as well as the strengthening of a lively, discourse-open and pluralistic urban society. Here, too, it is not sufficient to justify an application on the grounds that the activities are taking place in Hamburg.
You can find more information and the application form here.
- Small Change for Transformative Change
Nature and landscape conservation, agriculture and forestry have traditionally been at the core of the Toepfer Foundation's activities. Since 2007, these "green activities" have been bundled under the title "Future-orientated land use". Against the backdrop of the climate and biodiversity crisis, the Foundation is interested in approaches that address the pressure for change on agricultural and food systems, landscapes, ecosystems and urban-rural relationships in a constructive way.
In this context, projects can be funded that make a contribution to the socio-ecological transformation towards sustainability, for example by testing innovative approaches to more sustainable and climate-friendly land use or by creating opportunities for transformative learning and democratic discourse on these issues. We particularly welcome projects that combine social and ecological issues - for example, projects that seek answers to how future-oriented land use can be organised more fairly and how the transformation towards sustainability can be shaped collectively.
Funding is focussed on northern to federal Germany, but projects in other European countries can also be funded in individual cases.
You can find more information and the application form here.
- Small Change for Culture & History
The Toepfer Foundation supports ideas and projects in the fields of culture and history with small contributions.
We see culture as a place of encounter and discourse and are particularly interested in the contributions that cultural initiatives make to this, as well as in reaching marginalised target groups. At the same time, we want to stimulate innovation and change on a small scale and therefore also provide funding for new, daring and unexpected projects.
A critical examination of its own history and the involvement of its founder in the National Socialist era is an ongoing task for the Toepfer Foundation. We are therefore particularly open to requests for funding that seek an active and critical engagement with the German and European history of the 20th century, projects that deal with the culture of remembrance and initiatives that use references to history to combat anti-Semitism, racism and marginalisation.
You can find more information and the application form here.
It follows from the requirements of Small Change that:
the applicants generally have non-profit status or cooperate with a non-profit organisation and make a demonstrable non-material or material contribution to the project. Where no non-profit status (yet) exists or individuals apply for funding, there is an increased requirement for transparency regarding the use of funds.
funding can be granted up to a maximum of € 5,000. An application for this maximum amount requires special justification; applications for smaller sums are more promising.
the Toepfer Foundation does not participate in projects with a total volume of more than € 25,000. This does not apply to start-up, preliminary or pre-project costs for larger projects.
the mere support of the regular operation of existing institutions or recurring, already established projects is excluded from funding, and
initiatives or projects can only be funded once and multiple applications by an institution within a financial year are excluded.
The following are generally excluded from funding on application:
Scholarships or individual aid within the meaning of Section 53 of the German Fiscal Code (charity)
covering subsequent budget gaps in existing projects as well as follow-up or shortfall financing
Grants for ongoing personnel costs
Grants for voluntary services abroad, school trips, school exchanges and participation in international school or student competitions (Model the UN, moot courts, simulations for the European Youth Parliament, etc.)
Regular activities within town twinning programmes
subsidies for printing costs or the funding of book, CD or film projects,
the purchase of capital goods for individuals or non-charitable organisations (film equipment, computers, vehicles, etc.)
Projects by independent artists or production costs for projects, provided they are not clearly related to the above-mentioned objectives.
Cultural education projects in schools. Hamburg initiatives in this area are referred to the ‘Culture & Schools’ project fund, in which the Toepfer Foundation participates.
The financial support of scientific conferences, symposia or conferences, doctorates or post-doctoral theses as well as other scientific research projects
The Foundation's funding to date has often taken into account projects that bring people together, are initiated or carried out on a voluntary basis and/or are innovative. In the application process, it is particularly important to state which target groups and effects are to be achieved with the activities applied for. The phrase ‘the general public’ does not constitute a target group description; the intended impact should also be described in concrete terms or by way of example.
Applications may only be submitted using one of the application forms provided below, which give you the opportunity to briefly describe your request and attach further documents. Please understand that we can only make a funding decision on the basis of fully completed application documents. Applications can only ever be submitted in one of the aforementioned categories; in the case of borderline cases or projects that pursue cross-fund objectives, applicants are requested to identify the focus of their activities themselves.
Without wishing to imply any entitlement to funding from the Toepfer Foundation, we would like to refer you to the Stiftung Mitarbeit publication, which may aid in formulating a funding application: Successfully Acquiring Funding.
We would also like to refer you to the “Ecological Sustainability Checklist” of Stiftung Niedersachsen and invite you to use the checklist to consider the ecological sustainability of your project (only available in German). You are welcome to enclose the results with your application (voluntary). Click here for the checklist: Stiftung Niedersachsen.
The foundation endeavours to respond to such requests within one month. Unsolicited documents will not be returned and there is no entitlement to funding or justification for rejection.
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