CMSengage!

CMSengage! is a nationwide sponsorship program of CMS Stiftung GmbH that supports non-profit organizations with pro bono legal advice and legal training provided by experts from the law firm CMS Germany. The goal is to strengthen civil society actors in the field of community engagement as well as in the areas of access to justice and legal empowerment. By providing expert legal know-how, clubs, law clinics, and other non-profit initiatives are enabled to prioritize their limited personnel and financial resources primarily for their core social tasks. Support is provided continuously throughout the calendar year and includes both one-time and longer-term assistance on matters of association and tax law, compliance issues, or the structural development of non-profit projects.

Only organizations with recognized non-profit status whose projects have a direct connection to Germany and fall within one of the funding areas of advice, engagement for social cohesion/democracy, education & training, corporate financing, or work & social affairs are eligible for funding. Application requirements include a completed funding application in the specified PDF format as well as a current tax exemption notice or proof of non-profit status. Selection is based on alignment with the CMS Stiftung’s field of activity, demonstrable need for legal support, and the potential for sustainable impact in civil society engagement. Successful organizations benefit from a collaborative partnership and gain access to the legal expertise of one of Germany’s leading commercial law firms without having to bear any financial costs themselves.