Funding principles

Our funding guidelines set out the criteria that projects must meet in order to be considered for funding. Essentially these are:

• Projects must comply with one of RWE Foundation’s articles of association purposes. The focus is on supporting children and young people, with the following priorities:
  • Promoting equal opportunities, overcoming social disadvantages.
  • Strengthening international and intercultural understanding, improving social cohesion.
• Only projects put forward by non-profit and charitable organisations or a purpose defined within the “Tax-privileged purposes” section of the German Tax Code (Section 51 and following, Fiscal Code) will be funded.
• The project must follow a long-term concept. Ideally, the project should not be entirely financed by the RWE Foundation, whereby own contributions should not be based on cash funds only.
• The funding period is limited to a maximum of three years.
• Preferably, projects should possess a multiplier effect.
• The projects should be scalable and sustainable for the target group. In addition, funding exceeding €50,000.00 should be systemically anchored (involvement of public stakeholders).
• The aim is to focus on forward-looking, exemplary and sustainable projects.
• Projects must be based in Europe.
• Our funding activities start at a funding contribution of €20,000.00.
• Funds exceeding €50,000.00  require approval of the RWE advisory board. The advisory board meetings take place twice a year (for planning purposes in November and May).
• Deadline for funding applications > €50,000.00: 1 April and 1 October.
• Deadline for funding applications ≤ €50,000.00: 1 December and 1 June.
• It can take up to three months from the application deadline for the funding decision to be announced.
• In the event of a positive application, the granting of funds requires a separate agreement for funding/cooperation between the RWE Foundation and the applicant, in which rights and obligations are agreed on by both parties.

Projects meeting the following criteria will not be funded:

• Party-political and religious organisations
• Individuals
• Material costs only (e.g. construction or renovation costs)
• Projects outside of Europe