Funding with trust and flexibility

With this type of funding, we want to promote a different kind of collaboration based on transparent communication, openness to results, and joint decision-making. Only in this way can the trust necessary for social innovation be created.

This approach is demanding and requires a solid foundation, which is why we can only provide this funding to a few non-profit partners that we already know and select deliberately. Unfortunately, unsolicited applications for this are not possible.

The goal is to strengthen organizations in their development that bring about positive social changes in their environment. There are four phases of our collaboration:

• INITIATION: First, we are getting to know each other and decide whether we want to start a joint development process. Our grant management team will support you with a partner consultation to prepare the administrative steps, especially to set up the first support for the following exploration.
• EXPLORATION: Where are your organisation's strengths and needs and what do you want to prioritize? Take the time to find out where you want your development journey to go. Our financial support is meant to free up internal resources and obtain additional expertise. At the end, we will have a joint vision of the next steps and laid them down in a development agreement including their funding.
• DEVELOPMENT: Now it's your turn to start your development journey. Things will not always go as planned and adjustments will be necessary for which we offer you the flexibility you need. We are very interested in your experiences, and we would like to find ways to learn with you what good practice is.
• FINALISATION/TRANSFER: At the end, we look back together: What has been achieved and where is there still a step missing? What would you definitely recommend to other organisations for their development journey and how can the Foundation provide even better support?

The goal is to develop innovative ideas for solving societal challenges. This is not yet about implementation, but about developing approaches to solutions. Our collaboration also involves four phases:

INITIATION: An innovative idea for a possible solution for a complex social problem is in the air, but nobody knows whether it could work. First, we are getting to know each other and decide together whether we want to start a joint development process.
INCUBATION: Which other partners and what setting do we need to further explore the initial idea? Together, we find out how the Foundation can support the idea development. At the end of this phase, we will have a joint vision of the next steps and note them down in an agreement including the funding. Our grant management team will support you with a partner consultation to prepare the administrative steps.
DEVELOPMENT: Now the development journey starts. The outcome of this process is still open. Things will not always go as planned and adjustments will be necessary, for which we offer you the flexibility you need. We are very interested in your experiences, and we would like to find ways to learn with you what good practice is. An idea turns into a concept for realisation.
REFLEXION/DECISION: At the end, we look back together and reflect openly: Has the idea proved practicable, and do we want to continue our collaboration to implement it? Regardless of the outcome of our conversations, we are convinced that the joint development process has been useful for both of us.