Educational Project "From an Early Age"
The GELSENWASSER Foundation provides financial support to kindergartens and schools for projects focusing on "transitions" (e.g., daycare to school, changing schools). The deadline for project applications is March 20, 2026; the jury meets three times a year.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Financial support for projects at kindergartens and schools to optimally prepare children and adolescents for transitions in their educational pathways and to sustainably strengthen their learning biographies.
Non-eligible expenses
- Excursions
- expensive circus projects
- therapeutic riding
- projects in the under-3 age group
- honorarium costs
Eligible to apply
- Public Institutions
Funding requirements
- The activity to be funded must be scheduled for the future and the application must be fully completed
- Exemption notice for corporate tax of the applying institution or corresponding confirmation from the municipality or the church sponsor
- The same application may be submitted a maximum of three times per institution, no more than once per year
- Projects must not primarily include circus programs, therapeutic riding, excursions, school festivals, under-3 projects, or fee-based costs
Documents required for application
- Online project application
- Exemption notice or confirmation from the municipality or the church authority
- Digital final documentation (text and photos) within 6 months after completion
Evaluation criteria
- Sustainability of the project idea
- Involvement of the children
- Future orientation and preparation for transitions
- Solid remaining financing
- Complete documentation of past projects
Description
The GELSENWASSER Foundation enables public kindergartens and schools in North Rhine-Westphalia to implement innovative projects on the topic of "transitions" – for example, the transition from daycare to primary school or between different school types. Non-profit institutions can apply for a grant of up to €2,500 for a duration of up to six months to implement pedagogically sustainable concepts that actively involve children and young people in shaping their educational path and prepare them for future challenges. Applications can be submitted until March 20, 2026; a jury decides on funding projects three times a year. Criteria such as sustainability, participation of the children, and solid co-financing are considered in the selection process.
Eligible to apply are public institutions from the 76 selected municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia that submit a current exemption certificate or a corresponding confirmation from the municipality or the church sponsor. Each institution may submit the same project up to three times, but no more than once per year. Circus programs as a main focus, excursions, therapeutic riding, projects in the under-3 age group, and fee costs are excluded. In addition to the fully completed online application, an exemption certificate and a digital final report (text and photos) six months after the project’s completion must be submitted. The funding sustainably strengthens learning biographies and optimizes transitions in educational careers in the long term.
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