Hamburg Participation Fund

The Hamburg Participation Fund was aimed at non-profit organizations and legal entities with their registered office or main area of activity in Hamburg, which are statutorily committed to people with disabilities and their self-advocacy. The program aimed to strengthen their active participation and influence in political and social matters.

The fund supported measures and projects aimed at building advocacy skills, strengthening organizational structures, exchanging experiences and networking, and facilitating access to disability-specific aids and assistance services.

Funding was provided as a non-repayable grant in the form of project and fixed-sum financing. The maximum funding amount was up to 5,000 Euros per measure, and in exceptional cases up to 12,000 Euros. Organizations could receive up to 15,000 Euros annually for several measures, with micro-projects being eligible for up to 1,500 Euros.

Applicants had to be non-profit organizations based in Hamburg whose statutory objective was to promote people with disabilities and their self-advocacy. Projects could not have started before applying, and grant recipients were obliged to ensure proper business management and record-keeping.

The application process was exclusively digital via the application platform of BürgerStiftung Hamburg, with annual application deadlines being announced. A Funding Advisory Board evaluated the applications and provided funding recommendations to the Social Authority, which made the final decision.

The legal basis of the Hamburg Participation Fund was formed by the Funding Guideline Hamburg Participation Fund of December 2, 2022, and the Hamburg Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Act (HmbBGG), in particular Section 15a, which legally enshrined the promotion of political co-determination for people with disabilities.