Heroes of the Homeland Upper Franconia 2022

"Create new impact instead of awarding existing projects!" - According to this guiding principle, the "Heroes of Upper Franconia" initiative will start its third round of competition in 2022. In cooperation with the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Bayreuth, Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung has used the two-and-a-half-year Corona break to put the concept behind "Heroes of Upper Franconia" to the test and rethink it. Unlike in the second round of the competition, in which the foundation awarded existing initiatives, this year the focus is on the development potential of the individual projects and the organisations behind them. In the third round of the competition, the heroines of Upper Franconia can look forward to a well thought-out programme with added value: in addition to an extensive coaching and workshop programme, the organisations can also look forward to an unconditional heroine grant of up to 15,000 euros. Non-profit organisations in Upper Franconia are called upon to apply in writing for a place in the "Heroes of Home Upper Franconia 2022" programme during the application phase from 4 April to 8 May 2022.

Heroes of the Homeland Upper Franconia 2022: An initiative with added value

Create a new impact for the Upper Franconia region! - With this heroine mission, "Heroes of Upper Franconia", an initiative of Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung in cooperation with the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Bayreuth, is starting the third round of the competition in 2022. Unlike previous years, in which existing projects were awarded prizes, the 2022 initiative focuses on the development of the participating projects and the organisations behind them. A well thought-out workshop and coaching programme as well as financial support offer the organisations real added value: this includes increased visibility, stronger team cohesion as well as clear orientation, defining new perspectives and making new contacts, as well as the aspect of sustainable growth.

Content and financial support creates impact for the Upper Franconia region

After the application and selection phase, the actual Heroines of Upper Franconia programme will start in June 2022 with ten selected organisations - the Heroines of Upper Franconia - in phase one, which is all about further development and networking. In addition to three obligatory heroine workshops with all organisations, the participants in this phase also have the opportunity to take part in individual heroine coaching sessions. The first phase ends on 22 October 2022 with the Heroines of the Homeland Festival. At the event, the committed participants will present their respective offerings as well as the development steps they have taken and their plans for the future to a jury and thus have the chance to qualify as one of three teams for the second phase of "Heroes of the Homeland Upper Franconia 2022". Under the heading "Work and Grow", the three most convincing organisations will then continue directly. In the one-year period from October 2022 to October 2023, the focus will be on implementing the respective offers and increasing their impact in Upper Franconia. For this purpose, the organisations will not only have the opportunity to participate in further workshops and be accompanied by coaches, but will also receive financial support in the form of an unconditional heroine grant of up to 15,000 euros. The special thing about it: The three selected teams decide themselves on the amount and type of payment. It is conceivable, for example, to make a one-time call for donations for a larger investment or to make recurring monthly payments for the basic financing of the programme. With the initiative "Heroes of Upper Franconia 2022", Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung is releasing a total of 130,000 euros in financial resources to promote social participation in Upper Franconia.

Application deadlines and procedure: How heroines find their way into the programme

With the start of the third round of the competition, Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung is looking for actors who have made it their goal to solve social challenges related to the region of Upper Franconia and would like to effectively develop and expand their commitment within the framework of the "Heroes of Upper Franconia" programme. With this in mind, interested non-profit organisations from Upper Franconia are called upon to apply during the application phase from 4 April to 8 May 2022 by filling out an application form and sending it to Tina Beeg, Foundation Officer Social Affairs, at helden@raps-stiftung.de. Following the review of the applications received, personal online interviews with selected organisations will take place between 16 and 25 May 2022. The ten most convincing ones will then enter the first phase of the programme as Upper Franconia Heroes of the Homeland in June 2022.