Everything you need to know about the “Demokratie leben!” programs for funding anti-racism projects

Everything you need to know about the “Demokratie leben!” programmes for funding anti-racism projects in Germany

The federal programme “Demokratie leben!” (“Live Democracy!”) is one of Germany’s most important initiatives to strengthen democracy and combat racism and extremism. It was launched in 2015 and is run by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ).

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Main pillars of the programme

1. Building sustainable structures

The programme supports:

• State democracy centres (Landes-Demokratiezentren)

• Competence centres and networks

• Local “Partnerships for Democracy” at municipal level

(demokratie-leben.de, lks.nrw.de, national-policies.eacea.ec.europa.eu)

These structures provide long-term counselling, networking and support in the fields of democracy promotion and extremism prevention.

2. Model projects (Modellprojekte)

Funding for innovative projects in areas such as:

• Combating racism and empowering victims

• Raising awareness about antisemitism, Islamophobia and hostility towards LGBTIQ+ people

• Rejecting extremist ideologies and promoting democratic digital spaces

(demokratie-leben.de)

3. Extremism prevention in prisons and probation services

• Advice and training for staff in prisons and probation

• Projects for prisoners and ex-prisoners at risk of radicalisation

• Support for disengagement and exit programmes

(welt.de)

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Funding framework and application

• Federal funding: The programme is financed by the BMFSFJ with an annual budget of around €180 million (current funding period 2025–2032). (welt.de)

How to apply for project funding

• At state level:
  Via state democracy centres / state coordination offices (LKS) such as NRW LKS (lks.nrw.de).

• At local level:
  Via “Partnerships for Democracy” in municipalities and districts such as Saarpfalz, Heidelberg, Konz.

• For nationwide or highly innovative projects:
  Via competence centres, competence networks or nationwide specialist organisations.

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Targeted fields of action

The programme covers a wide range of topics, including:

• Countering racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism, hostility against LGBTIQ+, bullying and hate campaigns

• Promoting positive narratives of a diverse and inclusive society

• Strengthening democracy in:

  • schools and youth work

  • digital spaces and social media

  • neighbourhoods and rural areas

• Supporting victim support centres and professional advisory structures

(de.wikipedia.org)

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Why should you get involved?

• Strengthening democracy:
  “Demokratie leben!” supports educational initiatives and practical projects that actively counter hate and discrimination and show credible alternatives.

• Reliable funding:
  A large budget, a clear legal framework and ongoing scientific evaluation of the programme’s impact.

• Strong networks:
  Opportunities to cooperate with local, regional and national partners and to increase the reach and impact of your project.

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Application steps – in short

1. Choose your level of action:
   Local, state-wide or nationwide?

2. Get in touch with:

   • the state democracy centre / LKS in your federal state, or

   • your local Partnership for Democracy.

3. Prepare a project concept:

   • idea and objectives

   • expected impact and target groups

   • measures, timeline and budget plan

4. Check funding requirements:

   • duration of funding, co-financing, legal form of the project sponsor

   • required documents (e.g. statutes, register extract, financial plan)

5. Submit the application and follow up:

   • observe deadlines

   • respond to any questions from the funding body

   • if approved: sign the funding agreement and implement the project as planned

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Challenges and criticism

• Transparency in funding decisions:
  Critics point to a lack of transparency in how projects are selected and to the influence of political actors. (lks.nrw.de)

• Democracy Promotion Act (Demokratiefördergesetz):
  Parliamentary reports recommend anchoring the programme in a specific law to improve transparency and strengthen parliamentary oversight. (welt.de)

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Conclusion

The “Demokratie leben!” programme is a major opportunity to finance projects that promote social cohesion, oppose hatred and racism and strengthen democratic culture at local, regional and national levels.

Whether you are a local activist, an association or a municipal employee: you can use this funding to develop and implement concrete initiatives. Your first step: contact the democracy centre in your federal state or the local Partnership for Democracy and start shaping your project idea.

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The editorial team of this website strives to provide accurate information based on extensive research and multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors or uncertainties cannot be fully excluded. The information in this article should therefore be considered as an initial guide; for binding and up-to-date details, please always consult the competent authorities.