Microfund in Bamberg

First in Kulmbach, Bayreuth and Bamberg, and recently also in Kronach and Coburg: the micro funds of Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung support social commitment at the smallest level. They allow both organisations and private individuals who are committed to strengthening social participation - whether in the public, non-profit sector or in neighbourhood assistance - to quickly and unbureaucratically access funding for very small amounts of up to 125 euros. The expansion of the microfund should not only be understood in local terms, but also in terms of content. Since the beginning of this year, support in Bamberg is no longer limited to the topic of refugee aid, but can also be applied for in order to promote civic engagement in general. Informal applications for support are accepted by the new fund administrator Friederike Straub, Volunteer Officer of the Bamberg district, who replaced her predecessor Daniela Ofner, Volunteer Coordinator of Freund statt fremd e.V., at the turn of the year.

Financial support for micro-projects: Micro funds make it possible

Even if social engagement is often organised in the framework of voluntary work, it is still associated with costs. In this context, it is especially local initiatives and small projects that lack financial resources. The concept of the microfund of Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung, which focuses on an unbureaucratic call for funding and the associated rapid financial support of voluntary work, is very simple and addresses precisely this point: The funds are each filled with 5,000 euros and are made available to the city and/or district to promote small projects in the sense of supporting social engagement to strengthen social participation. Both organisations and private individuals are thus able to apply for earmarked funds of up to 125 euros per project application within the framework of the funding guidelines. All that is required is to fill out a short application and submit all receipts for expenses incurred in the project to the respective fund administrator for the final call of the project funds.

Bamberg also benefits from expansion of micro funds

Over the past three years, the concept of the microfund has become established in the cities of Kulmbach, Bayreuth and Bamberg, and since the middle of last year, volunteers in Coburg and Kronach have also benefited from it.The concept was not only expanded locally, but also in terms of content due to the changing framework conditions. "Unlike before, the microfund in Kronach and Coburg was not limited to the area of refugee assistance from the beginning, but can be applied for as part of the general promotion of civic engagement. Civic engagement is aimed at target groups who have a greater need for support or who are denied access to relevant resources for social and societal participation. These include, for example, children, senior citizens, sick people or people with disabilities," explains foundation officer Tina Beeg. "After the expansion in Kulmbach in August last year, this expansion has now also applied to the micro fund in Bamberg since the beginning of 2021. We are in discussion with the responsible office in Bayreuth."

Mikrofonds Bamberg: Expansion offers new perspectives  

In addition to the volunteers and the needy themselves, the Bamberg District Administrator Johann Kalb and the Volunteer Officer of the District of Bamberg and new fund administrator Friederike Straub, who replaced her predecessor Daniela Ofner at the turn of the year, welcome this development. "The expansion of the content of the micro fund is a great support for the district and the city of Bamberg. It enables even more comprehensive support for voluntary work and makes it clear: every citizen is important, regardless of whether they are refugees, children or senior citizens," said District Administrator Kaub. The projects that are eligible for support from the microfund of Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung can be of various kinds: for example, the purchase of learning materials as part of digital tutoring for children would be eligible for support, as would the costs for a speaker on the occasion of a training course for association members. "The current situation in particular often does not allow for long advance planning and financing. Thanks to the unbureaucratic application process, many small projects, activities and ideas can be supported quickly and easily with the financial resources of the micro fund and implemented promptly. A really great relief for voluntary work!", says Straub.

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