Information for Applicants
Two-stage application procedure of the Mercator Foundation for project funding without fixed deadlines. Project outlines can be submitted at any time; a positive decision leads to an invitation to submit a full application.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for projects with social impact in the areas of action of the Mercator Foundation through an efficient and transparent funding process.
Eligible to apply
- Non-profit Organizations
- Companies
- Cooperatives
- Foundations
- Educational Institutions
- Public Institutions
- Founders
- Individuals
Funding requirements
- Two-stage procedure: project outline and full application upon positive preliminary review
- Project outline with title, description, reference to funding criteria, and budget indication
- For full application: application form, detailed project description, financial plan, timeline and milestone plan, evaluation and sustainability concept
Documents required for application
- Project outline (Name, position, institution, address, phone, email)
- Project title
- Brief project description (1,000–3,000 characters)
- Explanation of compliance with funding criteria
- Budget information
- Application form of the Mercator Foundation
- Detailed project description
- Specifically measurable project objectives
- Information on societal impact
- Detailed financial plan (template of the Mercator Foundation)
- Time and milestone schedule
- Information on evaluation
- Information on sustainability
Evaluation criteria
- Fulfillment of the funding criteria of the Mercator Foundation
- Societal impact of the project
- Sustainability aspects
Description
The Mercator Foundation offers a nationwide open, two-stage funding procedure for non-profit organizations, companies, cooperatives, foundations, educational institutions, public entities, start-ups, and private individuals who wish to implement projects in the fields of research & innovation, commitment to social cohesion/democracy, digitalization, climate protection, work & social affairs, as well as energy efficiency & climate protection. A project outline can be submitted at any time without a fixed deadline. After a positive preliminary review, an invitation to submit a detailed full application will follow. The goal is an efficient and transparent process that supports projects with clear societal impact and places sustainability aspects at the forefront.
In the first phase, an informal project outline suffices, including the title, a brief project description (1,000–3,000 characters), justification of the fulfillment of funding criteria, and budget indication. After a preliminary review period of up to six weeks, a request for the full application will be issued upon positive evaluation. This full application includes, in addition to the outline details, the official application form, a detailed project description, concretely measurable objectives, information on societal impact, project participants, as well as a comprehensive financial and time/milestone plan. Furthermore, concepts for evaluation and ecological sustainability must be submitted in accordance with the underlying guidelines. The final decision is made by the advisory committee or, for funding amounts up to 100,000 euros, by the management in coordination with the chair of the commission. This procedure ensures a swift, transparent selection and promotes forward-looking initiatives with long-term benefits.
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