The Funding Principles of the Robert Bosch Stiftung

Funding Principles and Procedures
The Robert Bosch Stiftung is not only an operating foundation that pursues its goals by programs of its own, but also a funding foundation that enables others to develop and implement projects and initiatives that meet social needs in Germany and abroad.

Both our own programs and the projects we fund aim to promote new developments and bring about change. Depending on the respective theme and the strategy it requires, we decide whether to implement a program ourselves and/or look for partners whose expertise will help us implement the desired project.

As a funding foundation, we fund projects that either supplement our existing programs, continue them in an innovative way, or contribute significantly to realizing our objectives in the program area concerned.

Due to the wide range of potential projects eligible for funding both in Germany and abroad, the methods and procedures by which we provide funding are not subject to restrictions. We use a range of instruments to achieve our goals, such as competitions, scholarship programs, prizes, funding of pilot projects, appointment of independent committees and juries, political consulting based on scientific studies, surveys, seminars, and colloquia.

Together with information and awareness work, training and continuing education are core priorities in our funding initiatives. Our work aims at long-term effects as an enabling platform that brings about lasting changes. It is important not only to impart knowledge and experience, but also to change people's attitudes and behavior. In addition to awarding fellowships, we cooperate with knowledge disseminators such as journalists, teachers, educators, social workers, nursing staff etc. who can bring our projects to the attention of wider audiences.

We form committees comprising personalities from different walks of life who are interested in solving problems, while not representing the interests of any specific group. These committees can make full use of the problem-solving potentials that we offer as an independent foundation. In recent years, we implemented many concepts and suggestions that found their way into national and international policy and won great acclaim. They include, in particular, the "International Commission on the Balkans", which developed far-reaching suggestions for the reorganization of the Balkan countries, and the committee on the "Family and Demographic Change", which presented important proposals for improving the situation of families and children.

To change current practices, we consult scientists, research findings and commission studies. The "Forschungskolleg Geriatrie" is a research college with which the foundation helps to establish geriatrics as an independent field in research, teaching, and clinical practice. The multidisciplinary graduate college "Multimorbidität im Alter" (Multimorbidity in Old Age) at the Center for Human and Health Sciences at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin supports fifteen researchers from different disciplines to conduct research into improving the quality of life in old age.

We support new approaches to the independent development and implementation of concepts to improve specific areas of social life. To give just one example of how we work: The program "Wir reden mit! For a Better Cooperation in Lower Secondary Schools” supports initiatives that show how lower secondary school students in the fifth and sixth grades can improve their everyday interaction and language skills. The schools receiving funding must document their progress by testing students' language skills before and after the project. The results are documented and published. The education ministries and the foundation will work together to maintain the improvements achieved by the project and, if possible, transfer them to other fields.

Third-Party Projects
As a funding foundation, we are always open to new project ideas and funding proposals. They must complement our focus areas and existing funding instruments.

The Robert Bosch Stiftung is named by the projects we fund. To maintain our standards and quality assurance requirements, we evaluate the benefits of a prospective project carefully.

In general, we do not fund third-party projects institutionally or to fill budget gaps. The project goals must be specified clearly.

We publicize our funding of every project to ensure transparency and enable projects to serve as examples that inspire others to emulate our funding activities. At the end of each project, the results are assessed and evaluated against the project goals.