Funding requests

Funding agreements with organisations outside Europe are not concluded due to the increased administrative effort involved.

Project outlines (see application procedure below) can be submitted at any time to info(at)schoeck-familien-stiftung.de

Next application and decision deadlines

If the complete application documents are submitted by 31.01.2025, the notification of the advisory board resolution will be given by 31.03.2025.
If the complete application documents are submitted by 31.10.2025, the notification of the advisory board resolution will be given by 31.01.2026.

The above deadlines apply both to first-time applications for project funding and to follow-up or subsequent funding.
Please pay close attention to the deadlines in order to ensure the continuation of funding in the event of a positive assessment of the application forms.

Funding guidelines

The funding guidelines provide information on the criteria of the Schöck-Familien-Stiftung gemeinnützige GmbH (hereinafter referred to as “SFS”) for assessing funding applications.

Goals and funding priorities

The SFS was founded in 2012 by Sabine Schöck and has been supporting projects in Germany and abroad ever since. In Germany, the SFS focuses on funding in Baden-Württemberg and abroad currently on funding in India (mainly in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya), Sri Lanka, Nepal, Uganda and Ethiopia.
It is important to the family to give disadvantaged people the chance to lead a self-determined life through personalised support, good education and training.

The thematic focus of the SFS in the area of development cooperation lies primarily in the promotion of basic education and vocational training, the creation of livelihoods, organic farming and inclusive initiatives.

In Germany, SFS supports social development projects primarily in the areas of socio- educational support, inclusion and integration, often in combination with organic farming or art.

Application procedure

Funding will only be granted on the basis of written applications using the application forms provided by the SFS.

The current deadlines for the two-stage application procedure are published on the SFS website.

The above deadlines apply both to first-time applications for project funding and to follow-up or subsequent funding.

Please pay close attention to the deadlines in order to ensure the continuation of funding in the event of a positive assessment of the application forms.

The following applies to applications for new project funding:

Please send us in advance an informative project outline, a preliminary cost estimate /financial estimate in euros and your organization’s latest annual report to: info(at)schoeck-familien-stiftung.de

The project outline (max. 2 DIN A4 pages, informal) should summarize all relevant aspects and contain the following minimum information:

  • Project location
  • Planned overall project period and intended funding period
  • Initial situation (relevant for the project)
  • Target group
  • Goals and measures
  • Information on the applicant project partner
  • Information on the local organization (including last annual budget and website, if applicable) and beginning of the partnership

Project outlines and a brief budget overview must be submitted for applications for follow-up and subsequent funding (max. 1 DIN A4 page informal).

If the short preliminary review is positive, you will receive our application forms within 14 days, which must be submitted complete by the published deadline.

Eligibility requirements

The projects funded by the SFS are committed to non-profit status.

Applicants can be corporate bodies (e.g. associations, foundations or gGmbHs) based in Germany, Austria and Switzerland that are recognized as non-profit organizations, as well as municipalities, parishes and educational institutions. Funding agreements with large organizations (annual volume over € 5 million) and organizations based in other countries are only concluded in exceptional cases. Funding agreements with organizations outside Europe are not concluded due to the increased administrative burden.

The following applies to project funding abroad:
Cooperation with a local registered and audited organization in the target country is a prerequisite for project funding.
The applicant project partner only cooperates with local organizations that are sufficiently well known to it and can plan, implement, monitor and account for the project professionally.
In the case of the applicant project partner, the SFS expects a contact person with whom fundamental questions regarding the content of the project or reports can be discussed directly.
Before passing on the funding to the local organization in the target country, the applicant project partner is obliged to conclude a project contract with the organization.

Further requirements

  • Target group-oriented project realization and participation of the target group/beneficiaries in planning and implementation
  • Sustainable projects, at the end of which integration into local structures takes place
  • Development of local ownership
  • Sustainable partnership and cooperation between the applicant and the local implementing organization
  • Financial contribution and initiative on the part of the applicant and local organization as well as the beneficiaries
  • Reasonable and comprehensible administrative costs
  • Transparent content and financial planning of projects,
  • Efficient use of resources
  • Role model function of the projects
  • Maximum possible involvement of the authorities
  • Consideration of cultural and traditional conditions and production methods, maximum use of local materials
  • Implementation of the measures in local institutions and organizational structures
  • Environmental and nature compatibility
  • Impact, project goals and measures must be defined realistically and comprehensibly
  • Remuneration of the appropriately trained staff required for the realization of the project according to local rates
  • It is desirable not to take on “government tasks”, but rather to carry out complementary, empowering projects at the individual level. In the case of infrastructure projects, there should at least be co-operation or financial participation by public

Funding amount

Funding is equivalent to shortfall financing, i.e. the funding is intended to cover a financing gap between the planned expenditure and the company’s own and, if applicable, the project’s own funds and third-party funds (co-financing).

The amount of possible funding depends on the project content and should be in the range of around €10,000 – €50,000 per year. Exceptions are possible in the case of extensive investments. We welcome the funding of entire projects and not just partial funding of large projects, which is why
the funding amount should generally correspond to the project costs (minus own contribution).

The own contribution should be at least 10% of the project volume.
Own funds are the funds financed by the applicant project partner or by the local organization. Personal contributions can also be specifically recognized as financial contributions.

Funding period

A project should be a completed project in terms of its objectives. However, binding funding commitments can only ever be issued by the SFS for 2 years, regardless of the time actually required.
A longer project duration of 4–6 years, which structures the project in several phases, is viewed extremely favourably in terms of sustainability and the usually required implementation period of more than 2 years.
It is recommended that the application specifically for the first 2 years and to present the entire program as an ongoing project. If one phase is successfully completed, the subsequent phases are likely to be approved with minimal administrative effort, considering the availability of funds.

The funding period applied for (= period for eligible project costs) may begin retroactively from the month in which the application deadline ends (e.g. funding period from 1 January if the application deadline is 31 January).   

Exclusion of funding and ineligible costs

The following are not supported:

  • Projects whose content lies outside the thematic and geographical focus areas,
  • Projects that pursue political or religious goals,
  • Applications for the exclusive financing of administrative costs,
  • Applications from private individuals who – for whatever reason – are in need,
  • Applications for projects/programs whose funding would result in the public sector, which previously funded these projects, withdrawing,
  • Applications for loans, guarantees, barter

Principles of the funding decision

As an independent gGmbH, the SFS reserves the right to decide on the funding applications received at its own discretion and based on the funds available to it. The funding decision is made by the SFS Advisory Board.
The SFS reserves the right to revoke its willingness to accept funding applications or to change its funding guidelines at any time. The principles laid down in these funding guidelines serve solely to ensure the transparency of activities. No claims of any kind can be derived from them against the SFS. The type and amount of funding is set out in the separate funding agreement to be concluded with the SFS.

There is no entitlement to justification for rejections, nor is the applicant legally entitled to a funding.

Funding: Agreement and payment

In the event of a positive funding decision, a funding agreement will be concluded between the SFS and the applicant project partner. The funding amount specified in the funding agreement will be disbursed according to the payment schedule agreed in the funding agreement as soon as the funding agreement has been approved and signed by both parties.

The funding required for the (sub-) project must be guaranteed before the project begins so that its realization can be considered secure.
The funding application and attachments submitted by the applicant project partner are binding and serve as the basis for the funding agreement in the event of a positive funding decision.

Proof of utilization of funds

Proof of use (including a factual report and numerical evidence in German, as well as audited annual financial statements of the local organization with comprehensibly reported costs of the funded project) must be submitted to the SFS during and after the end of the funding period. In the event of funding, the proof of use to be submitted and the date on which it is to be submitted will be regulated in a funding agreement.

The SFS is authorized to audit books, receipts and other business documents and the use of the funding by means of local surveys or to have them audited by authorized representatives. In addition, the SFS reserves the right to review the progress of the project, or the objectives achieved on site, without prior notice for up to 5 years after the end of the funding period.