Funding of the Lukas Podolski Foundation (Sports & Education / Equal Opportunities)

The Lukas Podolski Foundation supports non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and public entities nationwide with sports- and education-based grants to open up new opportunities for disadvantaged children and youth. Continuous funding is provided for projects that promote equal opportunities, foster integration, and combat child poverty—whether through creative leisure activities, career preparation workshops, or intercultural exchange formats. The focus is on long-term support for participants as well as the imparting of social skills and values through sports. The foundation emphasizes demonstrable success in practice and excludes individual case assistance, commercial providers, and material prize distributions.

Projects are funded in the areas of sports, education, culture & media, migration, as well as commitment to social cohesion and democracy. A prerequisite is that the project addresses disadvantaged children and youth, ensures sustainable support, and aims at sports-based competence development. Applications can be submitted on an ongoing basis, allowing project sponsors to respond flexibly to needs. Selection is based on alignment with the foundation’s objectives, practical effectiveness, project duration, and the quality of value transmission. The funding helps to overcome structural barriers and enables young people to pursue a self-determined path—regardless of origin or social background.