Funding for the Establishment of a Citizens' Cooperative in the "STARKES DORF+" Program
Grant for the establishment of a community-oriented citizens' cooperative in rural areas of Hesse. Funding amount up to €7,500, own contribution 10%. Applications can be submitted digitally at any time until the budget is exhausted.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for initiatives with the founding costs of citizen cooperatives to sustainably secure public services and strengthen social cohesion in rural areas of Hesse.
Eligible expenses
- Costs for consulting and support (business plan, statutes, founding meeting)
- Expenses for the founding appraisal
- Fees for registration in the cooperative register
- Services of the Cooperative Association e. V.
Non-eligible expenses
- Costs for member recruitment
- Costs for informational events
- Retroactive costs prior to approval
- Ongoing personnel expenses
- Expenditures with profit-making intent (dividends)
Eligible to apply
- Cooperatives
- Non-profit Organizations
- Founders
- Interest Groups and Other Associations
Funding requirements
- Establishment of a registered cooperative (eG)
- Purpose and business model must be oriented towards the common good (no dividend distribution)
- Own contribution of 10% of eligible expenses
- Project impact in the rural area of Hesse
- No concluded advisory contract with the Cooperative Association prior to application submission
Documents required for application
- Project description
- Cost and financing plan
- Confirmation from the Cooperative Association e. V.
- Bank details of the initiative
- Photos of the project site
- Screenshot of the specific project location
- Owner's permission for the property
Evaluation criteria
- Relevance to the common good
- Sustainability of the establishment
- Quality of the project description
- Order of application receipt
Description
The program “STARKES DORF+” of the Hessian State Chancellery supports the establishment of community-oriented citizen cooperatives in rural regions of Hesse. Eligible for funding are cooperatives, non-profit organizations, start-ups, interest groups, and associations that, as registered cooperatives (eG), initiate a model for public services and social cohesion. A digital application, possible at any time, enables grants of up to €7,500 for consulting and support (business plan, statutes, founding meeting), founding expert reports, registration, and services of the Cooperative Association e. V. with a 90% funding rate; the applicant’s own contribution amounts to 10% of the eligible expenses. Essential prerequisites are a community-oriented business model without dividend distribution, project impact in rural areas of Hesse, and proof that no consulting contract with the Cooperative Association was concluded prior to the application.
The duration is up to 18 months, within which the funds must be drawn and the founding project realized. Evaluation criteria include relevance for the common good, sustainability, quality of the project description, and the application submission date. Eligible expenses include all services related to the founding process, while costs for member recruitment, informational events, retroactive costs, ongoing personnel expenses, and unpromising projects are excluded. Interested initiatives submit an informal application via the digital portal and provide a project description, cost and financing plan, confirmation from the Cooperative Association, bank details, photos, and permits if necessary. The Hessian State Chancellery issues a funding notice after review; upon project completion, proof of use must be submitted within six months.
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