Projects that

• are limited in time and content
• are participatory and involve local people
• deal with a socio-political or social issue
• try something new (current topic, new format, new target group, unusual locations, etc.)
• are exemplary for socio-cultural work

• more than two projects in a row. After receiving funding for two projects in a row, two funding rounds must be suspended.
• Projects that have already been started
• Project ideas that have already been applied for in the same way
• Institutional funding, e.g. the ongoing work of an association, regular course programme, annual programme, existing formats etc.
• Projects that only take place abroad
• Festivals without participatory formats in the concept or annual festivals
• School projects
• Artist residencies or scholarships
• Purely artistic productions, concerts or exhibitions without participation in the conception
• Film funding projects (pure filmmaking, film industry focus, author films, documentary films without participation)
• Prevention projects without an artistic component (e.g. addiction prevention, nutritional advice, violence prevention)
• Accompanying cultural education programs
• Projects with approved co-financing from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) or from an institution permanently funded by the BKM (e.g. Hauptstadtkulturfonds, Stiftung Kunstfonds, Fonds Darstellende Künste, Kulturstiftung des Bundes etc.)

The funding focuses of the Fonds Soziokultur are intended to act as orientation points for applicants and for the bodies allocating grants. In keeping with an active funding policy, these focuses reflect the objective of promoting and further developing socioculture. The classification of an application as belonging to a specific funding focus category is not, however, an essential requirement for allocation of a grant.

Funding focuses are:

Innovative cultural projects which play an exemplary role in strengthening the importance of socioculture for the development of culture in Germany and Europe (“funding of innovation”);

Model projects which provide impulses for the development of sociocultural concepts, for example in the educational and social fields and/or represent a reaction to current problematic social and societal issues (“funding of impulses”);

Initiatives for the creation of long-term stable structures in the field of cultural work through the provision of advice, qualification, documentation and networking, generally at a supra-regional level (“funding of structures”);

Measures to promote regional, national and European collaborations in the cultural field with the objective of bundling resources and generating synergy effects (“funding of cooperation”).

• Associations
• Initiatives = group consisting of at least 3 persons (resident in Germany) or 2 persons and one legal entity (based in Germany)
• GbR, GmbH, UG
• Private foundations
• Independent organizations have priority over church or public institutions

• Applicants who have already received two consecutive grants. After funding two projects in a row, two funding rounds must be suspended.
• Individuals
• Applicants residing abroad

• The cost and financing plan (KoFi) must list all expenses and income of the whole project (not only the expenses of the fund applied for)
• It is not possible to receive 100% funding from Fonds Soziokultur. Co-financing can come from:
  • Third-party funds:
    • are all subsidies/grants from private or public institutions (e.g. foundations, banks, state, municipality, etc.)
    • must not have been approved at the time of application.
    • must not come from other funding programs of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM)
      
      or
  • Own funds:
    • are e.g. income, private donations, membership fees and reserves
• The cost plan may only include expenditure for which there will later be a verifiable cash flow. (In other words, no so-called own contributions/provided services such as voluntary work, free provision of own technology, free use of rooms, donations in kind, etc.).
• Only amounts that are later available in euros to offset expenditure (= cash flow) may be stated as own contribution.
• The expenses should be summarized in meaningful cost items. However, please always add your calculation basis in brackets (e.g. for fees, number of persons, hourly wage/daily rate or calculated hourly expenditure, etc.).
• If persons/agencies who are to work on the project are already known when the application is submitted, they should be listed by name in the application.

► Sample Financing plan

In general, all expenses (except investments) that are incurred later in the project in euros are eligible for funding. The expenditure should match the project activities specified in the application. These can be:

• Fee costs (The fee recommendations of the German Cultural Council provide orientation)
• Pro rata personnel costs for permanent staff (please state the percentage of working hours included)
• Volunteer allowances (if these are actually paid)
• Rent of premises (if this is actually paid)
• Advertising, printing posters/flyers, construction of stage set etc.
• Hire of technical equipment
• Travel expenses/overnight accommodation costs in accordance with the Federal Travel Expenses Act
• Purchase of small materials (purchases under €800 net per individual purchase)
• Catering expenses for participants (within reasonable limits)
• Gema, KSK, other fees fees

• Investive expenses: all purchases over € 800 net per individual purchase. However, if the cost plan only consists of the purchase of very small materials (less than € 800) and does not include any other expenses (e.g. fees) - or if the share of the purchase of very small materials exceeds a total of € 2,000, the application as a whole must again be considered an investment application and is therefore excluded from funding.
• Administrative costs lump-sum: No lump sum settlement of office or administrative expenses can be recognized. In the event of funding, all expenses must later be documented with individual receipts (each postage purchase, purchase of print cartridges, telephone charges, etc.).
• Travel allowances: Travel expenses must be reimbursed in accordance with the Federal Travel Expenses Act. Lump sum reimbursements are not eligible.
• Personal contributions/provided materials: Expenses for which there will be no subsequent payment movement (voluntary services, waiver of fees, free use of rooms or technology).
• Loss of rent fees: If the applicant has his/her own rooms that are used for the project, no loss of a possible rental of these rooms can be claimed.
• Reminder fees / interest on arrears / fines / contractual penalties / tips
• Alcoholic beverages / stimulants / medication / deposit payments: Alcoholic beverages may be eligible for funding at a premiere/vernissage.
• Hospitality costs for internal meetings: team meetings, get-togethers
• Discounts
• VAT if you are entitled to deduct input tax: Your tax advisor can tell you whether you are entitled to deduct input tax.