Georg Austen Stiftung Solidarität (Bonifatiuswerk) is a Catholic support organization focused on strengthening the faith and practical infrastructure of Catholics living in diaspora regions, especially in Germany, Northern Europe, and the Baltics. Its grants combine evangelization and pastoral capacity building with very concrete support such as vehicles, building projects, and programs for children and youth. The funder tends to back church-linked institutions, dioceses, parishes, and Catholic educational or social-service entities that serve small or scattered Catholic communities.
Annual Giving$14.1M
Focus Areas
Catholic Pastoral InnovationReligious Education and EvangelizationChurch and Parish InfrastructureFaith-Based Children and Youth ProgramsTransportation for Rural/Dispersed CongregationsDiaspora Catholic Community Support
Giving Approach
Program-specific, mostly project-based grants with no single annual deadline; several programs accept applications on a rolling basis or through procedures governed by internal grant rules. Support is often cost-shared or equipment-focused (for example, vehicle subsidies or building/renovation funding), with grants directed to institutional Catholic partners rather than open public calls.
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How to approach this funder
Review the specific program rules rather than looking for one general deadline, since application timing varies by program and many are project-based or rolling. Applicants should be Catholic institutions or diocesan/parish partners in diaspora regions and should clearly show how the project strengthens faith transmission, community life, or essential church infrastructure. For vehicle and building programs, be prepared to provide cost-sharing details, equipment specifications, and proof of local need.
Notable grantees:
• Dioceses in Germany and Northern Europe
• Catholic parishes and parish associations
• Catholic kindergartens and schools
• Catholic youth and family ministries
• Church-linked social and educational institutions
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Georg Austen Stiftung Solidarität that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses Sep 1, 2026Award: Varies
Bauhilfe
constructionrenovationchurch buildings+6 more
Who can apply: Projects must be in diaspora regions with a maximum Catholic share of 12 percent. An application is submitted through the relevant diocesan office or diocesan Bonifatiuswerk with a statement. Standard applications are due by September 1 for the following year; innovation funding has a separate timeline; model projects have a June 1 deadline; urgent, unforeseen cases may be handled during the year.
Deadline: Standard Bauhilfe: September 1 of the current year for the following year. Innovation funding: under-yearly application possible. Model project: June 1 of the current year. Urgent cases: handled during the year.
children and youth pastoral carereligious educationfaith formation+2 more
Who can apply: Projects must be in diaspora regions with a Catholic share of up to 12 percent in Germany, North Europe, Estonia, and Latvia. Innovative individual projects must be submitted at least 6 weeks before project start by a parish or church institution, via the responsible diocesan office or diocesan Bonifatiuswerk. Religious education support includes retreats, pilgrimages, Bible days, catechesis, youth encounters, holiday programs, and charitable actions. RKW and Catholic Kitas are only supported in specified eastern dioceses/regions.
Deadline: Innovative individual projects: at least 6 weeks before project start. Other child and youth aid subprograms follow program-specific procedures; no single public annual deadline stated.
mobility for pastoral worktransportationdiaspora church community access
Who can apply: Eligible applicants are parishes and church institutions in German diaspora regions with a maximum Catholic share of 20 percent. Vehicles must be new and are centrally ordered by the Bonifatiuswerk. Follow-up funding requires the replacement vehicle to be about 10 years old or have at least 120,000 km. Applications go through the competent diocesan office or diocesan Bonifatiuswerk.
Deadline: No deadline; applications can be submitted in the current year.
children_and_youthreligious_educationsocial_services+1 more
Who can apply: Empfänger müssen kirchliche Einrichtungen bzw. gemeinnützige Organisationen (Erzdiözesen, Gemeinden, Einrichtungen) in Diaspora-Regionen sein. Einzelpersonen werden nicht gefördert. Konkrete Anforderungen in der Vergabeordnung geregelt.
Deadline: Keine feste allgemeine Frist angegeben; Vergabeordnung regelt Verfahren. Viele Förderungen projektbasiert; keine standardisierte Ausschlussfrist angegeben.
Bauhilfe (Bau- und Renovierungsmaßnahmen, Ausstattung)
constructionrenovationfacility_equipment+1 more
Who can apply: Förderung erfolgt an kirchliche Einrichtungen und gemeinnützige Organisationen; Mittel nur für satzungsmäßige Zwecke; detaillierte Kriterien in der Vergabeordnung.
Deadline: Projektbezogene Antragsfristen/Verfahren in Vergabeordnung geregelt; keine allgemeine wiederkehrende Frist genannt im Text.
missionary pastoral workfaith communicationevangelization+3 more
Who can apply: Innovative missionary projects must have a clearly evangelizing character, target people distant from the church, address the special diaspora situation, and be pastoral in nature. Project-based staff positions must be newly created, project-related, and in the diaspora, with a missionary aspect; maximum funding duration is two years. Diocesan Bonifatiuswerke can apply for content work support. Applications follow the funding guidelines and may require cooperation with diocesan Bonifatiuswerk.
Deadline: No single fixed annual deadline stated on the page; applications are handled according to the funding guidelines. Diocesan Bonifatiuswerke content work is generally applied for on an annual basis.
Who can apply: Kirchengemeinden und kirchliche Institutionen in deutschen Diaspora-Regionen mit maximal 20% Katholikenanteil. Fahrzeuge müssen Neuwagen und zentral über Bonifatiuswerk bestellt werden. Bei Folgezuschüssen gelten Alters-/km-Kriterien für Altfahrzeuge.
Deadline: Es gibt keine Antragsfrist – Anträge können im laufenden Jahr gestellt (laufende/fortlaufende Antragsstellung).
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.