The ZEISS Promotion Fund

The ZEISS Site Fund currently provides funding at nine ZEISS sites in Germany:

• Oberkochen/Aalen
• Jena
• Göttingen
• Wetzlar
• Berlin
• Brunswick
• Dresden
• Munich
  
• Roßdorf

Neighboring communities, particularly those near the main sites of Oberkochen/Aalen and Jena, can be included in the funding.

The ZEISS Science Fund, on the other hand, provides funding regardless of the location, i.e. it is not restricted to the ZEISS sites.

2.1 General information

Funding is usually earmarked for specific projects that are limited in time and self-contained. Preference is given to start-up funding and pilot projects of an exemplary nature. Co-financing is possible.

In addition to donations, funding in the form of sponsorship is also possible.

2.2 ZEISS Site Fund

Projects from the following areas are eligible for funding via the ZEISS Site Fund:

Education and training
Projects for the education and personal development of children and young people from pre-school age until the completion of their school years can be sponsored. The focus of the funding is on projects that promote STEM qualifications (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

Society and social affairs
Projects which enable socially disadvantaged children and young people who do not have any personal means to participate in age-appropriate leisure activities, contribute to personal development, or promote integration can also receive financial support.

Art and culture
Projects which make art and culture accessible to broad sectors of the population can be sponsored.

Amateur sports
Projects which enable young people to play sports can be sponsored. Projects relating to amateur sports are given preference over those for professional sports.

Environment
Projects that protect the environment and natural resources, encourage their responsible use, and raise awareness can be sponsored.

The ZEISS Site Fund generally supports projects with a maximum funding amount of 5,000 euros, provided that the application is approved. Larger funding amounts are possible if, for example, the funding has a contractual basis.

Measures that are not usually eligible for funding include:

• Infrastructure measures (e.g., construction investments, renovations, and the purchase of furniture)
• Travel (e.g., travel expenses for school and study trips – exceptions possible in connection with a specific learning project – or competitions and concert trips)
• Raffles, third-party charity events, celebrations, open days
• Publications, commemorative publications, advertisements (unless part of a service package)
• Procurement of clothing, uniforms for orchestras and ensembles
• Ongoing personnel costs, fees, participation fees
• Non-project-related costs (e.g., budget gap financing).

Furthermore, the ZEISS Site Fund does not fund projects that have already been started or completed before a decision has been made on whether to approve or reject an application.

2.3 ZEISS Science Fund

Initiatives to promote scientific and research-related activities in STEM subjects are eligible for funding. The focus is on the natural sciences and engineering, particularly optics and photonics.

Funding is usually provided to non-profit associations, institutions, organizations, and initiatives. That means:

• Associations and institutions, such as gGmbH, gUG, gAG, and non-profit foundations (legal entities under private law), which can present a current exemption or assessment notice from the German tax office in accordance with Section 60a of the German Fiscal Code (AO).
• (State) schools, universities and colleges, as well as municipalities (legal entities under public law) that guarantee the requested funds will be used for tax-privileged or non-profit purposes.

Any impact of funding from the ZEISS Site Fund or the ZEISS Science Fund on the regular financial resources of state universities and colleges must be evaluated by the beneficiary institutions, and it is their responsibility to do so.

Political parties and organizations and people close to them, religious activities, and professional sports are not eligible for funding.

Individuals are generally excluded from funding. Similarly, no loans, credit, or financial guarantees are granted.

Only in exceptional cases can student groups and individuals be funded by the ZEISS Science Fund – provided that the funding request is accompanied by a corresponding recommendation from a university or the funding is provided as a sponsorship.

Funding applications are only accepted online via www.zeiss.de/foerderfonds.

Applications can be submitted throughout the year.

The description of the project should not exceed one A4 page in length. In addition to the project description, this should contain a schedule and a cost and finance plan, including details on the applicant's own means and co-financing on the part of other donors.

If the applicant is a legal entity under private law (association, gGmbH, gUG, gAG, non-profit foundation), the current exemption or assessment notice pursuant to Section 60a of the German Fiscal Code (AO) must be submitted as an attachment with the application.

In the event that funding is granted, by submitting the application, the applicant is obliged to provide representatives of ZEISS with information about the funded project in a brief report and to explain the funded project and the allocation of resources.

Submitted applications will be checked first for completeness to see if they meet the eligibility requirements. Decisions as to whether or not to fund an application will usually be made within three months.

Please note that the ZEISS Site Fund makes its decisions on whether to approve or reject applications four times a year, shortly before the end of each quarter. All applications received within the quarter will be discussed and decided upon together.

There is no legal entitlement to funding, also not for the full amount of the funding applied for. It is solely at the discretion of ZEISS whether and how ZEISS funds a project. Even if granted on multiple occasions, the funding does not establish a customary right or a so-called "company practice." No reasons will be given for rejecting funding applications.

The applicant will be informed about the decision in writing.

If the application is approved, the funds will be made available promptly, usually immediately and in full. For co-financing, the sponsorship amount will only be paid out if total funding can be guaranteed. Once the applicant receives their funding as a donation (i.e. upon receipt of payment), they should send an official confirmation of receipt of funding for tax deduction purposes to the address given within four weeks.

ZEISS reserves the right, in consultation with the funding recipient, to report on the funded projects in an appropriate manner on internal and external media. This does not constitute consideration for tax purposes.