Types of funding
What types of funds are available?
Small project funding
The 'Churches helping Churches' initiative also offers funding for smaller projects and programmes. The upper limit of financial support for a small project is 7,500 euros. Applications for small projects should be submitted by partner churches or the organizations themselves.
The small project funding aims at strengthening churches and church institutions in their theological, social service, and ecumenical work. In this context, preference is given to the support of Reformed and United churches.
Applications for funds should outline the measures that are planned, include information on the duration of the project, and the amount of funding applied for. Applications should include a description of the specific problem(s), the planned activities and the desired results of the project. Project areas eligible for funding may for example include:
- Equipment and facilities for the social service or pastoral work of churches
- Seminars, trainings, conferences
- Public relations work and publications
Projects should not exceed one year.
Retrospective financing of ongoing or completed projects is not possible. A report must be submitted three months after project completion at the latest. The informal report should include details on the project results and finances.
Small projects with a big impact
- Small project funding has been used to train church council members of the Reformed Church in Romania for their work in the community.
- In the Samara region of Russia, a Lutheran church community supported orphans infected with HIV.
- In Hong Kong Churches helping Churches supported the Mission for Migrant Workers in a lawsuit of an exploited and abused Indonesian housemaid against her employer, which resulted in a landmark court decision strengthening the rights of migrant workers in China.
Small project funding enables our church partners to take many small steps forward and at the same time encourages them to increase their social and ecumenical commitment in their own communities.
- Up to 7,500 euros per project
- Maximum duration: 12 months
- Applications can be made informally at any time
- Funding primarily for projects of Reformed and United churches
- Funding can be used for seminars, conferences, publications, short-term initiatives etc.
- Construction projects cannot be funded at all.
- Funding cannot be awarded to projects that have already started or been completed.
- A report must be submitted three months after project completion at the latest.
Projects up to 25,000 euros
Applications for project funding up to 25,000 euros can also be submitted at any time. Applications should be submitted by the partner churches or organisations themselves.
Applications for project funding must meet the terms and conditions of 'Churches helping Churches' (application form). Funding authorisation is possible at any time.
Reporting on projects, which have received funding, depends on the duration of the project. A report should be submitted at the end of the project (at the latest, three months after the reporting period has ended). For projects that last longer, an interim report should be submitted after one year. Reports must include details of the project's progress as well as the finances, and should be oriented towards the guidelines of 'Churches helping Churches'. Building/renovation works do not, as a rule, receive funding.
- No maximum duration, but usually up to a period of two years
- Building/renovation works do not, as a rule, receive funding
- Applications can be submitted at any time, using the application form
- Project reporting will depend on the project's duration - after one year or after completion (at the latest, three months after the end of the reporting period)
- Reporting should meet with the guidelines of 'Churches helping Churches'
Projects over 25,000 euros
Applications for project funds that exceed 25,000 euros are subject to certain restrictions. Also here, applications should be submitted by the partner churches or organisations themselves.
Projects that receive financial support of more than 25,000 euros must be considered in the annual planning of 'Churches helping Churches'. Applications for these should be submitted in the year before the project is due to start - at the latest by the end of july.
Applications must meet the guidelines of "Churches helping Churches" (application forms). Building/renovation works do not, as a rule, receive funding. For building projects of Protestant minority churches the "Gustav-Adolf-Werk" (www.gustav-adolf-werk.de) is a possible contact body.
Partners who have already worked with 'Churches helping Churches' submit a report annually (at the latest three months after the end of the reporting period). Starting from the third consecutive funding allocation, or with funding in excess of 100,000 euros, auditing is obligatory.
- Applications should be submitted (by the local partner organisation) the year before the project is due to start, at the latest by mid-September
- Building/renovation works do not, as a rule, receive funding
- Applications can be submitted at any time, using the application form
- Reporting: annually (for partners known to 'Churches helping Churches'), at the latest three months after the end of reporting period
- Auditing is necessary in the case of funding in excess of 100,000 euros or starting from the third consecutive funding allocation
IBAN: DE 10 1006 1006 0500 5005 00
BIC: GENODED1KDB
Bank für Kirche und Diakonie
Reference: "Churches helping Churches Donation"