NGO Support Programme (Verbaendefoerderung BMUV)

Enriched Federal (DE) · Found: 2026-03-10 12:35

BMUV programme providing core funding to environmental NGOs. Applications for 2027 projects can be submitted from May 2026. Important for organizational capacity building.

Source: https://www.bmuv.de/themen/naturschutz/biologische-vielfalt/verbaendefoerderung

Funding Details

Funder

Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Klimaschutz, Naturschutz und nukleare Sicherheit (BMUV/BMUKN)

Funding Goal

Core and project funding to German environmental and nature conservation associations and organisations for activities that strengthen public awareness of environmental protection, develop new policy areas, provide environmental education and advice, and contribute to a more effective environmental and nature conservation policy. Projects must have a clear ecological focus and broad public impact.

Funding Amount

Maximum 75,000 EUR per year per project. Total programme budget: 4.45 million EUR annually. Additional funding from proceeds of special postage stamps ("Für den Umweltschutz" series). (up to 75.000 €)

Deadline

2026-05-01 (periodic)

How to Apply

Applications submitted via easy-Online portal (foerderportal.bund.de/easyonline/) plus signed paper copy. For nature conservation projects: submit to BfN (foerderung@bfn.de, Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Referat PK, Konstantinstraße 110, 53179 Bonn). For environmental projects: submit to UBA (verbaendefoerderung@uba.de). Application window typically opens early May each year; deadline is end of July. Decision by end of January of the following year. Projects funded from April of the award year. For 2027 projects: applications can be submitted from approximately May 2026.

Target Region

Germany (federal-level impact required; international NGO projects also supported via special stamp proceeds)

Contact

For nature conservation projects: Bundesamt für Naturschutz (BfN), Referat PK, foerderung@bfn.de. For environmental projects: Umweltbundesamt (UBA), verbaendefoerderung@uba.de

Official Page

https://www.bmuv.de/FG3

Last Checked

2026-04-20 13:46

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Eligible applicants: associations, initiatives, organisations in environmental or nature conservation — Germany-based required
• Project must not have started before application submission
• A special federal interest in the project must be demonstrated

Project Scope

• Project must have clear ecological focus and broad public impact
• Model character and nationwide reach preferred

Required Documents

• Submit via easy-Online portal plus signed paper copy to BfN (nature) or UBA (environment)

Constraints

• Maximum 75,000 EUR/year; maximum 24-month duration
• Own contribution from applicant expected; no full-cost coverage
• Scientific research and investments NOT eligible
• Application window: approx. May to end of July each year

Summary

The NGO Support Programme (Verbändeförderung) of the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV/BMUKN) provides annual project grants to German environmental and nature conservation associations and organisations. With an annual programme budget of 4.45 million EUR, plus supplementary funds from special environmental postage stamps, the programme supports the associational sector's role as a key partner in German environmental policy. Eligible activities include: raising public awareness of environmental and nature conservation issues, developing new policy thematic areas, providing advice and further education on environmental topics, and contributing to acceptance of environmental policy. Projects must have a clear ecological focus, a broad external impact, and ideally model character with nationwide reach. Innovation and pilot character are explicitly valued. The maximum grant per project is 75,000 EUR per year, with projects typically limited to 24 months. The programme provides partial financing (co-financing of the funding gap), not full-cost coverage; an own contribution from the applicant is expected. Scientific research, investments, and commissioned services are not eligible. Projects must not have started before the application. Eligible applicants are associations, initiatives, and organisations working in environmental or nature conservation. Applications are submitted via the federal easy-Online portal (foerderportal.bund.de/easyonline/) with a signed paper copy. For nature conservation projects, the competent authority is BfN; for environmental protection topics, it is UBA. Applications for 2027-starting projects can be submitted from approximately May 2026, with decisions by end of January 2027 and projects starting around April 2027. The programme is Germany-focused, but internationally operating NGOs may receive supplementary support via the special postage stamp proceeds. A special federal interest in the funded project must be demonstrated.

Historical Context

Programme provides annual grants for environmental NGOs. Application window for 2026 projects has closed. Applications for 2027-starting projects can be submitted from approximately May 2026. Funding window typically opens early May each year with deadline end of July.

Why it was added

Core funding for environmental NGOs. Applications for 2027 open from May 2026. Relevant for capacity building of marine conservation organizations.

Sources

• https://www.bmuv.de/themen/naturschutz/biologische-vielfalt/verbaendefoerderung
• https://www.bmuv.de/FG3

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