Funding of the Social Foundation NRW

The Social Foundation NRW supports innovative projects with its funding program that improve the living conditions of people in North Rhine-Westphalia. The funding is exclusively aimed at non-profit organizations from the independent welfare sector that are active in the social field. The program offers a variety of grants to realize exemplary new developments and sustainable approaches – ranging from scientifically accompanied project work to investment funding, start-up financing, and special programs. The continuous allocation of funds enables sponsors to respond to current social challenges and set impulses for future standards in social work.

The funding requirements ensure that only projects providing genuine added value are supported. Only initiatives that have not yet been implemented and for which financing through other sources is not sufficiently secured are eligible. To pass the selection process, organizations must be members of one of the leading umbrella associations of welfare in North Rhine-Westphalia, such as AWO, German Red Cross, Diakonie, Caritas, Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband, or the Jewish Community. Furthermore, it is required that the applying legal entity is non-profit and has its registered office in North Rhine-Westphalia. The evaluation criteria place particular emphasis on the level of innovation, sustainable impact, and the immediate relevance of the project to the target group.

Applications are submitted in several clearly structured steps that enable transparent and comprehensible project evaluation. In the first step, applicants clarify their plans together with their respective umbrella association to benefit from a well-founded recommendation. Subsequently, in a consultation meeting attended by experts from the Social Foundation NRW, the project's potential is examined in detail. Several documents must be submitted for the application, including the application form, a cost breakdown according to DIN 276, as well as specific expenditure and financing plans for start-up funding and model projects. This thorough documentation supports the evaluation by the responsible committees and contributes to transparent decision-making. Overall, the funding from the Social Foundation NRW offers an interesting opportunity for organizations wishing to develop their social commitment sustainably and innovatively.