Umverteilen! Asia Project Grants
By Umverteilen! Stiftung für eine solidarische Welt
Check your eligibility
Sign up and we'll tell you whether your startup qualifies for this grant.
Quick Answer
Small project grants from a Berlin foundation for grassroots groups, social movements and action groups working in Asia. Apply any time; decisions take about eight to ten weeks.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Grant
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Location
- International
About this grant
Umverteilen! ("Redistribute!") is a Berlin foundation that gives out project grants through volunteer working groups. This listing covers the Asia working group, which supports small projects run by grassroots groups, social movements and action groups in Asia. The application page is open all year, there is no deadline, and the status of this listing is active.
Two things to know early. First, the foundation funds projects, not organisations and not people: it does not give ongoing support to institutions and it does not give grants to individuals. Second, the Asia group's own page says it supports projects in East, Southeast and South Asia, so India falls within its region; it is still worth confirming with the working group that your kind of project fits before investing time in a proposal.
What the program offers
There are no fixed grant sizes. The foundation says its working groups tend to give smaller sums and that individual amounts rarely go above EUR 10,000 (about ₹10.9 lakh). It can pay for a whole project or only part of it, and the money can cover things such as equipment, materials or project staff. The foundation also says it prefers a single, self-contained project with a clear start and end.
Beyond the grant itself, if your project is approved the working group member who handled your application stays in contact with you while the project runs and looks at the result afterwards, including how the money was spent.
Who can apply
The Asia working group is aimed at social movements, grassroots initiatives and action groups. Individuals cannot apply, and the foundation does not fund an organisation's running costs. Projects that have already started are not eligible: the foundation asks you to apply before the project begins.
For a founder in India, this means the program suits a community group, collective or small non-profit with a specific, time-limited project. It does not suit a for-profit startup looking for working capital, a person looking for a personal scholarship, or a group that wants to cover its salaries and rent year after year.
How to apply
There is no online form for the Asia working group. You send a written proposal, by email or by post, and it must reach the foundation before the project starts. Simple hand-outs and oral proposals are not accepted. The foundation works in German and English.
Your proposal should include:
- the name and address of your group, a contact person, the date and a signature;
- a description of your group;
- the project's aims, target group and planned content;
- the total cost and the amount you ask the foundation for;
- a financing plan that shows your own resources and outside donors;
- which other funders you have approached, or why you did not approach any.
A practical tip: lay out the budget line by line so that the reviewer can see what the foundation's money would pay for, since the foundation later asks for receipts.
How applications are judged and what happens next
One member of the Asia working group takes charge of each application. They clear up open questions, check the proposal against the group's criteria and make a recommendation. The group aims to decide unanimously, and the same member then tells you the outcome. The foundation says the working groups meet every six to eight weeks and that you should expect a final decision about eight to ten weeks after you apply. It adds that long processing times cannot be avoided.
If you are funded, you must send a detailed project report and a financial statement with receipts for all expenses. The foundation says the statement must be truthful and complete and may withdraw its approval if the documents are false or incomplete.
About Umverteilen!
Umverteilen! describes itself as an independent, tax-exempt non-profit foundation in Berlin that must account for its spending to the tax authorities. Each working group (Africa, Asia, Latin America, one for development issues within Germany, Women, and Climate) manages its own budget, criteria and guidelines.
Things to check before you apply
- Confirm with the Asia working group that your type of project is in scope; its page says it supports projects in East, Southeast and South Asia.
- Apply before the project starts; a project already under way will not qualify.
- Plan for a wait of about two months or more, and do not count on the money to start a time-critical project.
- The source does not say whether grants are paid in euros or how they are transferred. Ask when you are told the decision.
- Indian organisations receiving money from abroad should check FCRA, FEMA and tax treatment with an adviser before applying.
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
- Fund type
- Grant
What You Get
The Asia working group can pay for all or part of a single project, including equipment, materials or project staff. There are no fixed grant amounts; grants are usually smaller sums and seldom exceed €10,000 (about ₹10.9 lakh). Funded groups send a report and a financial statement with receipts at the end.
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Applications
Rolling basis
Selection Process
One member of the Asia working group handles each application: they clear up open questions, check it against the group's criteria and make a recommendation. The group aims to decide unanimously, and the same member tells you the result. Expect an answer about eight to ten weeks after you apply. If funded, you report on the project and send a financial statement with receipts.
Application Process
- 1
Written proposal
Send a written proposal with project details, budget and financing plan.
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 to the Umverteilen! Asia working group?
Social movements, grassroots initiatives and action groups that run a specific project can apply. The foundation does not give grants to individuals or pay an organisation's ongoing running costs. The project must be a single, self-contained one that has not yet started.
Can Indian groups apply for Umverteilen! Asia project grants?
India falls within the region. The Asia working group's page says it supports projects run by social movements, grassroots initiatives and action groups in East, Southeast and South Asia. It funds a specific, time-limited project, not individuals or running costs, so check with the working group that your project fits before you invest time in a proposal.
How much can I get from the Umverteilen! Asia working group?
There are no fixed amounts. The foundation says its working groups tend to give smaller sums and that individual grants rarely go above EUR 10,000 (about ₹10.9 lakh). It can fund all or part of a project.
How are Umverteilen! grants paid?
The source does not say in which currency or by which method grants are paid. It does say that funded groups must later submit a project report and a financial statement with receipts for all expenses. Ask the foundation about payment details once a decision is made.
What is the deadline, and what if I miss it?
There is no deadline. Applications can be submitted at any time, and the working groups meet every six to eight weeks. The only timing rule is that you must apply before the project starts.
Is this a grant or equity?
It is a grant for a project, not an investment, and the source mentions no ownership being taken. It is not a loan either. You are expected to report on how the money was spent.
What documents do I need to apply?
You need a written proposal that includes your group's name, address, contact person, date and signature, a description of your group, and the project's aims, target group and content. It also needs the total cost, the amount requested and a financing plan showing your own resources and other donors. You also say which other funders you approached or why you did not.
Do I have to travel to apply to Umverteilen!?
No. The source describes a written application sent by email or post and says nothing about meetings or travel. The foundation works in German and English.
Is it free to apply to Umverteilen!?
The source does not mention any application fee, and it describes a simple written proposal. You do not need an online account or a paid form.
When will I hear back from Umverteilen! after applying?
The foundation says to expect a final decision about eight to ten weeks after you apply, because working groups meet every six to eight weeks. The working group member who handled your case informs you. The source adds that long processing cannot be avoided.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
