Pearls Fund

The Perlenfonds of the Joachim Herz Foundation supports nationwide pioneering sustainability projects by young people at universities, vocational schools, schools, extracurricular learning locations, or within their own neighborhoods. Initiatives by students in bachelor's and master's programs, vocational school students, trainees, as well as students in secondary levels I and II are funded; the general public may be partially involved, provided the focus remains on the aforementioned target groups. Projects sought have a clear practical application: such as prototyping environmentally friendly products, social entrepreneurship projects, recycling initiatives, strengthening Green Offices, or hands-on Green Skills workshops. Funding is provided as a material cost subsidy of up to 25,000 euros over a maximum funding period of three years and allows for start-up, implementation, and follow-up financing. Applications can be submitted year-round, with legal entities under public law and non-profit organizations based in Germany eligible to apply.

Submissions must include a comprehensible content and financial plan of no more than five pages, a completed financial plan, a current tax exemption certificate, and the online application form. Evaluation criteria include, among others, the initiative of those involved, quality and creativity of content, exemplary function and transferability, efficiency in resource use, as well as long-term impact with clearly defined evaluation and documentation measures. Projects in the elementary and primary sectors, construction and building services engineering projects, initial furnishing of premises, participation in student competitions, scholarships for individuals, as well as political or artistic purposes are not funded. The Perlenfonds places great value on sustainability and demands creative concepts that create identity and provide impulses for a climate-friendly future.