Funding for Democracy & Social Cohesion

Democracy and social cohesion do not arise by themselves: they require people who take responsibility locally, address conflicts constructively, and enable participation. This is precisely where funding in Germany comes into play – for example, for democracy education and political education, prevention of extremism and radicalization, combating racism and anti-Semitism, as well as for local alliances, volunteer work, and participation formats in municipalities and rural areas.

Good ideas in this field often fail not due to lack of commitment, but because of resources: time for coordination, qualified personnel, safe spaces, professional public relations, or support for victim counseling and exit or distancing work. Funding programs help you build these structures, sustain offerings, and ensure quality – increasingly with a focus on media literacy, measures against disinformation, and digital civic courage. At the same time, “impact orientation” is becoming more important: those who consider goals, target groups, indicators, and evaluation early on significantly increase their chances of receiving funding.

The funding landscape is diverse: federal programs such as “Live Democracy!” or “Cohesion through Participation,” state democracy centers and municipal funds, EU funding like CERV, ESF+, or Erasmus+, as well as foundations with thematic calls. Which funding is suitable depends largely on whether you want to implement education, counseling, participation, or innovative digital approaches – and whether co-financing is necessary.

With the Reflecta Funding Compass, you can find suitable funding for your project faster, match requirements precisely, and receive structured support during the application process. Start with your project profile and check which funding windows are currently open for you.