The Program

The program is aimed at individuals and communities in Germany who experience racism. Applications are open to:

• Individuals
• Project teams of up to three people, with a majority of team members identifying as BIPoC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). Larger groups can apply as well, but only three people can actively participate in the program.
• Non-profit organizations are also eligible if they are predominantly BIPoC-led. Again, up to three individuals from the organization may participate in the program.

Participants must be at least 18 years old.

Projects from communities experiencing racism that aim to create more space and improve visibility for marginalized knowledge are eligable for funding if they aim to publish their results under a free license. This ensures that the knowledge can be shared through Free Knowledge platforms like Wikipedia. To ensure self-determined knowledge sharing, we ask that you (or your team/organization) have a direct link to the community your project relates to.

• Video (educational videos, social media content)
• Audio (podcasts, interviews)
• Text (essays, blog posts)
• Open educational resources
• Events, if documentation is part of the project (skill-sharing workshops, panel discussions, storytelling cafés)

Your project may also focus fully or partially on Wikipedia, for example by:

• Participating in content-related discussions
• Providing or curating images to illustrate articles
• Organizing thematic edit-a-thons (collaborative editing workshops)

If your project involves directly editing or creating Wikipedia articles (such as writing or revising content), specific rules apply. These are relevant to anyone contributing to Wikipedia as part of a fellowship or paid position.

Still have questions?
We are happy to advise you during the application period – either via our phone consultation or at our online info event on Tuesday, July 22, at 6:30 p.m. (CEST) on Zoom.

Your project can:

• be a new initiative,
•  be part of an existing project, or
•  further develop the content of a completed project.

The project can either:

• take place entirely within the funding period (November 2025 – June 2026), or
• extend beyond that period (i.e., start earlier and/or end later).

Overview of the projects

Individuals
If you participate as an individual, you will receive a personal scholarship of up to €5,000. It is intended to help you carry out your project as independently as possible. This means that the funds may also be used to help cover your living expenses during the project period.

We work under the basic assumption that every funded project claims the full amount of €5,000. However, we understand that personal and project-related needs vary. That’s why you can choose to receive a smaller amount, if that suits you better. We are committed to finding the best solution for you and your project. You don’t need to know what these solutions might look like when applying. Once the selection process is over, we will discuss with all funding recipients how they wish to receive their financial support.

Informal groups
You can also apply as a group of up to three people, naming one person as the main contact for the application process.  The funding principle remains the same as for individual applicants. Since each project is funded with up to €5.000,00, the funding amount will be divided among you and paid out as personal scholarships. You do not need to know how you will split the funding when applying. Once the selection process is over, we will discuss with all funding recipients how they wish to receive their financial support.

Non-profit organizations (e.g. associations, archives, networks)
Non-profit organizations that are majority-led by BIPoC are also eligible to apply. They can receive a grant of up to €5,000, issued through a funding agreement.

The funding is paid in two installments via bank transfer — one at the beginning of the program and one around the halfway point. Where necessary, ee will cover your  travel and accommodation costs for tthe kick-off, midterm, and closing events. In exceptional cases, we may also cover the costs for an accompanying person. If required, we can arrange childcare on-site.

The non-material support consists of two main components:

• Workshops & Events In workshops, the potentials and possibilities of free licenses and Free Knowledge platforms, such as Wikipedia, for your own project will be explored. These workshops also provide space for exchange, mutual support, and networking with other project teams. Participation in the kick-off, midterm, and closing events is mandatory. Participation in two online check-ins (approx. 90 minutes) between the events is also mandatory. If you cannot attend one of the events or have questions regarding accessibility, please contact us early and we will find individual solutions.
• Expert support and consultation You have access to a pool of experts for guidance and professional advice on Free Knowledge and the project implementation The people in this network are available to advise you on various aspects of Free Knowledge (e.g., Wikimedia projects, free licenses, knowledge production) as well as on project implementation.