Funding Guidelines for Club and Youth Activities

The Fulda District supports volunteer work, particularly in the areas of youth work, sports, and music. Funding is granted within the limits of available budgetary resources. The Fulda District will decide on a case-by-case basis regarding matters not covered by these guidelines. These may include, for example, the hosting of Hessian, German, or international sports competitions, or special projects that serve children and youth or the public good.

Local governments, clubs, and associations are eligible to apply. Applicants must have their headquarters or the primary focus of their activities within the jurisdiction of the youth welfare agency (Fulda District, excluding the city of Fulda), pursue nonprofit objectives, and conduct their work in accordance with the German Basic Law. Eligible applicants whose headquarters or primary area of activity is located in a municipality considered to be financially disadvantaged will be given special consideration for funding. The Fulda District will decide on exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

The municipalities in the Fulda district that are considered financially weak are identified annually under the provisions of the district equalization fund. This is automatically taken into account when funding is awarded and does not require a separate application.

All grant applications are available on the Fulda County website and can also be requested, if needed, through the Association and Grant Advisor or the Citizen Service Center. The Association and Grant Advisor serves in an advisory capacity. He or she also provides information about other funding opportunities.

Applications are eligible for funding if they are submitted no later than four months after the completion of the project or the purchase. The construction or renovation of youth centers and sports facilities must generally be approved before the project begins. Cost estimates are generally required for purchases of 1,000 euros or more. There is no automatic entitlement to funding. The county is authorized to seek an opinion from the municipality.

Approval of the grant is granted in writing. The municipality receives a copy of the approval notice. Once approved, the grant is paid directly to the applicant. The grant is generally rounded up to the nearest whole euro amount.

If the actual costs are lower than those stated in the application, the grant will be reclaimed on a pro rata basis. If the actual costs exceed those stated in the application or the cost estimate, the applicant must bear the full amount of the additional costs. The applicant must, without being asked, provide appropriate documentation to demonstrate that the grant was used for its intended purpose. In the event of noncompliance, the Fulda District has the right to reclaim the funds.

If funding is available under multiple provisions of this guideline, only one form of funding may be granted. For all projects, the applicant must contribute at least one-third of the costs and make efforts to secure other sources of funding. Full financing of the project must be ensured.

In external communications, reference should be made to the support provided by the Fulda District, for example, by using the district’s logo.

Trips lasting several days, recreational activities, and camping trips that demonstrably serve the purpose of child and youth work are eligible for funding. Seminars and programs are also eligible for funding if they primarily promote cultural, artistic, political, natural history, health, or technical education.

The duration of trips, recreational activities, and camping trips is at least 2 days and no more than 21 days. Seminars and training courses are eligible for funding if they consist of at least four sessions.

The minimum number of participants is set at 8 people (excluding supervisors). The maximum age for participants is 27 years.

The subsidy amounts to up to 5 euros per person per day. One educational staff member is subsidized for every 6 participants.

Eligible for funding are multi-day vacation programs in the Fulda district that are organized by municipalities, clubs, or associations.

The duration is at least 3 days. The maximum age is 18 years.

The subsidy amounts to up to 4 euros per person per day. One educational staff member is subsidized for every 6 participants.

Eligible for funding are the construction, renovation, furnishing, and equipping of youth centers used by a municipality, an association, or a youth group.

The Fulda district provides funding of up to 20% of eligible costs.

The grant is earmarked for a specific purpose and is subject to recovery if that purpose is no longer being fulfilled. The period during which the funds must be used for the specified purpose is 10 years.

The following documents must be submitted along with the informal application:

• Copy of the building permit (if necessary)
• Description and Explanation of the Need for the Proposed Measure
• Cost Breakdown or Cost Estimate
• Financing Plan
• Proof of ownership, if applicable

The applicant submits the application, along with all required documents, to the Fulda district through the municipality. The municipality provides its opinion on the application.

Eligible for funding are the construction and expansion of sports facilities, as well as their major renovation or modernization.

The association must be the owner, the holder of a hereditary building right, or a long-term tenant or lessee of the sports facility.

The Fulda district provides funding of up to 20% of eligible costs.

The grant is earmarked for a specific purpose and is subject to recovery if that purpose is no longer being fulfilled. The period during which the funds must be used for the specified purpose is 10 years.

The following documents must be submitted along with the informal application:

• Copy of the building permit (if necessary)
• Description and Explanation of the Need for the Proposed Measure
• Cost Breakdown or Cost Estimate
• Financing Plan
• Proof of ownership, if applicable

The applicant submits the application, along with all required documents, to the Fulda district through the municipality. The municipality provides its opinion on the application.

Eligible for funding is the purchase of durable sports equipment and sports facility maintenance equipment with a useful life of at least 3 years under normal wear and tear, which is used directly for sports activities and does not consist of consumables or clothing (for training and competition).

The grant amounts to up to 20% of the costs deemed eligible, up to a maximum of 2,000 euros.

Eligible for funding are individual athletes and teams participating in national competitions.

The subsidy amounts to up to 10 EUR per competition day per athlete, as well as a flat rate of 0.02 EUR per kilometer traveled per athlete, regardless of the mode of transportation chosen.

Eligible for funding are the purchase of sheet music and musical instruments, courses or seminars for the musical training or continuing education of conductors and choir directors, as well as courses and seminars for the musical training or continuing education of young singers or emerging musicians.

The association must have been in existence for at least six months. The musical instruments or sheet music to be purchased will become the property of the association.

The Fulda district provides funding of up to 20% of eligible costs for instruments, courses, and seminars. Funding for sheet music is up to 30%.

Participation in events held outside one's region is eligible for funding.

The Fulda district provides funding of up to 5 euros per participant for entry fees, as well as a flat rate of 0.02 euros per kilometer traveled and per musician, regardless of the mode of transportation chosen.