[PDF] FÖRDERRICHTLINIEN - Stiftung Mercator

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Enriched family-office · Found: 2026-03-11 08:12

1.3 Soweit sich eine Förderung auf mehrere Projektpartner bezieht, gelten die. Förderrichtlinien für alle Projektpartner. Grundsätzlich ist ...

Source: https://www.stiftung-mercator.de/content/uploads/2025/04/Stiftung-Mercator_Foerderrichtlinien-April-2025.pdf

Funding Details

Funder: Stiftung Mercator
Funding Goal: Supporting projects that strengthen democracy, promote a climate-resilient society, foster European integration, and shape digital transformation — aligned with the foundation's four thematic priorities.
Funding Amount: No fixed funding amounts specified. Grants under €100,000 are decided by management; larger grants require advisory board approval.
How to Apply: Two-stage process with rolling submissions (no fixed deadlines). Stage 1: Submit a brief project sketch (1,000–3,000 characters) with applicant details, project title, budget estimate, and explanation of thematic fit. Review takes approximately 6 weeks. Stage 2 (by invitation only): Submit full proposal including detailed project description, measurable objectives, partner and co-financier information, detailed budget plan using foundation template, timeline with milestones, and evaluation/sustainability plan. Decisions made by advisory board committee or management (for grants under €100,000).
Target Region: Germany, Europe
Contact: Stiftung Mercator, Essen, Germany. Website: https://www.stiftung-mercator.de. Applicants should not contact the foundation during the 6-week review period.
Last Checked: 2026-03-11 23:54

Application Checklist

Eligibility

Project must align with one of Stiftung Mercator's four thematic areas (Digitalized Society, Europe in the World, Climate-Resilient Society, Participation and Social Cohesion)

Required Documents

Submit initial project sketch (1,000–3,000 characters) with applicant details, project title, budget estimate, and alignment with foundation criteria
If invited to Stage 2: provide detailed project description, measurable objectives, partner list, budget plan (using foundation template), timeline, and evaluation plan

Constraints

Personnel costs must reference public service tariff agreements (TVöD or equivalent)
Material purchases exceeding €5,000 require three competitive quotes
Final report due within two months of project completion; financial records retained for 10 years
All publications must acknowledge Stiftung Mercator support with proper logo placement and be made publicly accessible (open access)

Summary

Stiftung Mercator is one of Germany's largest private foundations, established by the Schmidt-Ruthenbeck family (founders of the Metro retail group). The foundation funds project partners working across four thematic areas: Digitalized Society, Europe in the World, Climate-Resilient Society, and Participation and Social Cohesion. The PDF document reviewed is the foundation's general funding guidelines (Förderrichtlinien), effective April 2025, which outline the terms and conditions for all grants awarded by the foundation. The foundation uses a two-stage application process with no fixed deadlines — applicants may submit project sketches at any time. Stage 1 requires a brief project sketch (1,000–3,000 characters) with basic budget information, reviewed within approximately six weeks. If positively assessed, applicants are invited to submit a full proposal with detailed project description, measurable objectives, budget plan, timeline, and evaluation strategy. Final decisions are made by the advisory board committee, or by management for grants under €100,000. The funding guidelines detail strict rules on eligible costs: personnel costs must align with public service pay scales, material purchases over €5,000 require three quotes, travel must prioritize climate-friendly options (trains over flights), and catering is capped at €80/person/day. Final reports are due within two months of project completion, and financial documentation must be retained for ten years. All project results should be made publicly accessible, including through open access publications.

Historical Context

Stiftung Mercator is one of Germany's largest private foundations. The funding guidelines document reviewed is dated April 2025, indicating an active and recently updated program. The foundation runs ongoing programs including the Mercator Fellowship Program and the Meet! Mercator Europa Tour.

Sources

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