Funding of the Dr. Heio and Brita Steffens Foundation

The Dr. Heio and Brita Steffens Foundation is committed in Bavaria to strengthening science, research, and both general and vocational education – with a special focus on astronomy. Furthermore, it supports projects in monument protection and preservation, local heritage and regional studies, as well as traditional customs. Through financial and in-kind contributions, among others, the Sternenfreunde Dieterskirchen e.V. is supported in the realization of observation and educational offerings as well as the operation of a high-performance observatory, and the work of the Heimatverein Seebarn e.V. in the rural heritage museum Oberpfälzer Wald is promoted. Sustainability, regional anchoring, and alignment with the foundation’s purpose are central to the funding practice, which equally invigorates the educational and cultural landscape and enables interdisciplinary exchange between science, culture, and artisanal tradition.

Eligible for funding are non-profit organizations, public bodies, and educational institutions with tax-privileged status that are active in the aforementioned fields. Applications may be submitted on an ongoing basis and are evaluated according to the following criteria: alignment with the foundation’s purpose, regional relevance of the measure, and long-term orientation of the projects. Funding is provided in the form of a grant, which can be used both for investment projects in infrastructure and for ongoing educational and cultural activities. Interested organizations and institutions are always welcome to propose funding projects and thus contribute to the vibrant further development of science, culture, and heritage preservation in the Upper Palatinate.