German Consulate Bengaluru Grants 2026
By German Consulate General Bengaluru
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Quick Answer
Small project grants of up to about €25,000 (around ₹25 lakh) for FCRA-registered NGOs running projects in Karnataka or Kerala; the 2026 call (gender equality) closed 1 February.
- Funding amount
- Up to ₹25L
- Funding type
- Grant
- Application deadline
- Closed
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 1 February 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by German Consulate General Bengaluru. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
The 2026 call for the German Consulate General Bengaluru's small grants is closed: the official page says the deadline for 2026 applications expired on 1 February 2026. The scheme is paid for by the German Federal Foreign Office and runs each calendar year, but the page does not announce when the next call will open. It is for India-based NGOs only, specifically organisations with a valid FCRA licence and a project in Karnataka or Kerala. This guide helps you prepare for the next call.
What the program offers
A project can ask for approximately €25,000, and not more than that, which the consulate puts at around ₹25 lakh depending on the exchange rate. The aim is direct assistance and quick relief for the least privileged members of society, with a short planning period and quick implementation for an immediate and lasting effect. Projects should also line up with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The project should take about six months and be fully finished before 31 December of the same year. The money pays for the activities of the project itself. It is not core funding for the organisation.
Who can apply
The applicant organisation must hold a valid FCRA licence, and the project must be in Karnataka or Kerala. In 2026 the consulate accepted proposals only on gender equality, such as women's rights, violence prevention, safeguarding vulnerable women or legal advice. It no longer funds public infrastructure such as water supply, sanitation, energy supply or school education, or income generation and nutrition projects.
The project must be a distinct, full project in itself rather than part of a larger one, and it must not have started yet. It must support the least privileged members of society. Your organisation must put in an appropriate amount of its own money, and your organisation and the local community must contribute work and overheads such as administration, travel and transport. You must also show that follow-up costs after completion are covered. Organisations that received consulate funding in the previous two years cannot apply, and projects co-sponsored by organisations that receive German federal budget money (for example the EU or UN) are not accepted.
This suits an established NGO or trust with FCRA registration, a clear one-off project and some own funds. It does not suit a young organisation without FCRA, a project outside the two states, or a request to cover running costs.
How to apply
The first stage is a one-page project overview on the mandatory proposal form (2026 version, a Word-format file) from the consulate's page, sent by email to the consulate. PDFs must be text-searchable. If your project is selected, you then provide the signed official application and a finance plan on the consulate's forms. The consulate then asks for supporting documents: a list of authorised signatories, three written competitive quotations as GST proforma invoices for any purchase, the last annual financial statement, annual report and auditor's report, a society or trust register excerpt, proof of your FCRA licence, your statute, an organisation chart, proof of own funds such as a bank statement, photos of the current situation, and credentials from other funding partners if any. The page warns not to apply if you cannot provide these documents.
How applications are judged and what happens next
The consulate reviews the one-page overviews received during the call. The page does not say how long this takes or what the scoring criteria are. Organisations whose projects are selected are asked for the full paperwork before funding is approved.
About the German Consulate General Bengaluru
The Consulate General represents the Federal Republic of Germany in southern India, and this small grants scheme is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. The scheme's stated purpose is quick, direct help to people who are least privileged.
Things to check before you apply
- Costs that are not covered: overheads (administration, permanent staff and office equipment such as computers, printers or televisions), land purchase, unskilled labour, scholarships and lump sums.
- The topic can change each year, so check the focus before drafting.
- Start collecting the post-selection documents early, since three GST quotations and audited accounts take time.
- Your own contribution must be real and documented.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Amount
- Up to ₹25L
- Fund type
- Grant
What You Get
Selected NGOs receive funding of up to about €25,000 (around ₹25 lakh, depending on the exchange rate) for one distinct project of about six months, finished before 31 December. The money cannot pay for overheads such as administration, permanent staff or office equipment, or for land, unskilled labour, scholarships or lump sums.
- Duration
- 6 months
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
The consulate reviews the one-page project overviews received during the call. Selected organisations are asked for a signed application, a finance plan and supporting documents before funding is approved.
Application Process
- 1
One-page overview
Email the mandatory project overview form during the call.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the German Consulate Bengaluru small grants?
Organisations with a valid FCRA licence running a project in Karnataka or Kerala that supports the least privileged members of society. Organisations funded by the consulate in the previous two years cannot apply.
Can an Indian NGO apply?
Yes, this scheme is for India-based NGOs. It is not open to individuals, companies without FCRA, or projects outside Karnataka and Kerala.
How much can we ask for?
About, but not more than, €25,000, which the consulate puts at around ₹25 lakh depending on the exchange rate.
What topics are funded?
For 2026 only gender equality, such as women's rights, violence prevention, safeguarding vulnerable women or legal advice. Infrastructure, income generation and nutrition projects are no longer funded.
What costs are not covered?
Overheads (administration, permanent staff, office equipment such as computers or printers), land purchase, unskilled labour, scholarships and lump sums.
When is the deadline, and what if it has passed?
The 2026 deadline was 1 February 2026 and has passed. The scheme runs each calendar year, but the page gives no date for the next call, so check the consulate's page.
What documents are needed?
At the call stage only the one-page project overview. After selection you need a signed application, finance plan, authorised signatories, three GST quotations, audited accounts, registration excerpt, FCRA proof, statute, organisation chart, proof of own funds and photos.
How long can the project run?
About six months, and it must be fully completed by 31 December of the calendar year.
Is it free to apply, and is it a grant?
The page states no fee. It is a project grant from the German Federal Foreign Office through the consulate, and your organisation must also put in its own money.
When are results announced?
The page does not say when selection happens or when results are announced. Selected organisations are asked for further documents.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
