Call for Proposals: Shared Civic Futures – German-Israeli Cooperation (Germany, Israel)

The Shared Civic Futures program supports institutionalized cooperation between non-profit organizations in Germany and Israel working to address antisemitism, social polarization, democratic challenges, and changing forms of civic engagement. The programme offers grants of €75,000–€175,000 for Track A and up to €100,000 for Track B, supporting projects lasting 12–24 months. What Is the Shared Civic Futures Program? The Shared Civic Futures program is established by the Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future (EVZ Foundation) to encourage new forms of civic cooperation between Germany and Israel. The programme responds to changing social conditions in both countries, including: The objective is not simply to produce visual content, but to use visual narratives to encourage civic understanding, dialogue, and participation. Funding under Track B can be up to €100,000. Project Duration Supported projects must generally run for: 12 to 24 months. Applicants should therefore develop a realistic project plan showing how activities will be implemented throughout the proposed funding period. Who Is Eligible? The programme is intended for non-profit organizations and institutions based in Germany or Israel. Applicants must work with at least one institutional partner from the other country.

For example:

A German non-profit can apply with an Israeli partner. An Israeli non-profit can apply with a German partner. Universities and higher education institutions may participate when their projects focus on eligible areas such as civil society, education, culture, or public engagement. The programme therefore requires a genuine Germany–Israel institutional cooperation component. Requirements for Israeli Organizations

Israeli partner organizations must be:

Established in Israel. Operating within Israel’s internationally recognized pre-1967 borders. Applicants should carefully consider this geographic eligibility condition when establishing partnerships and preparing their application. What Makes a Strong Project? A strong Shared Civic Futures proposal should demonstrate several interconnected elements. Civic Dimension The project should contribute to civic participation, democratic engagement, social dialogue, or community resilience. Educational Dimension Projects should have a meaningful learning or educational component where appropriate.

Participatory Dimension

Participants, communities, or civil society actors should have opportunities to actively contribute rather than simply consume project outputs. German–Israeli Cooperation The partnership should be substantive and institutionalized. The project should demonstrate why cooperation between organizations in Germany and Israel is necessary to achieve the proposed objectives. Contemporary Relevance Projects should address current societal challenges and consider how communities can build resilience and develop constructive visions for the future. Why This Program Matters The programme recognizes that Germany and Israel are facing evolving civic and democratic challenges while also experiencing changes in how societies engage with history and remembrance. The emphasis on institutional cooperation can also help organizations establish relationships that continue beyond a single project. How to Apply

Step 1: Select the Appropriate Track

Determine whether your project fits:

Track A: Antisemitism in the Digital Sphere

or

Track B: Visual Narratives of German and Israeli Civil Societies.

Choose the track that most directly matches your project’s objectives and activities.

Step 2: Establish the Germany–Israel Partnership

Identify at least one eligible institutional partner from the other country. The partnership should be meaningful rather than simply formal. Both organizations should have defined roles in project development and implementation.

Step 3: Define the Societal Challenge

Clearly explain the problem your project will address.

This could include:

Antisemitic narratives online. Anti-democratic digital content. Social polarization. Weak civic participation. Challenges in intergenerational remembrance. Limited cross-cultural understanding.

Step 4: Develop the Project Activities

Describe the activities that will address the identified challenge.

Explain:

What will happen. Who will participate. Which organization will lead each activity. How the German and Israeli partners will cooperate. What outputs will be produced. What change the project is expected to create.

Step 5: Prepare the Budget

Align the requested funding with the scale and duration of the project. Track A requests should fall between €75,000 and €175,000, while Track B requests can be up to €100,000. Projects without an institutional cooperation component. A visual project under Track B should therefore have a clear civic, educational, or participatory purpose, rather than being simply a conventional film-production project. Common Mistakes to Avoid Applying without a genuine German–Israeli institutional partnership. Treating the programme as a conventional cultural grant. Proposing a traditional film project without a civic or participatory dimension. Failing to explain the project’s relevance to current societal challenges. Focusing on activities without defining measurable outcomes. Choosing the wrong funding track. Failing to demonstrate the roles of both partner organizations. Ignoring the eligibility requirements for Israeli partner organizations. Proposing a project timeline that does not fit the 12–24 month requirement. Tips for a Strong Application Demonstrate Genuine Cooperation Explain what each partner contributes and why the project could not achieve the same impact without cross-border cooperation. Connect Activities to Outcomes Do not only list workshops, media productions, or educational activities. Explain what these activities will change. Make Participation Central Show how communities, young people, educators, civil society actors, or other relevant groups wi