Volkswagen Foundation Grants

Open Volkswagen Foundation grants

• Pioneering Research – Exploring the Unknown Unknown

  Up to $1.3Mopen

  Pioneering Research – Exploring the Unknown Unknown is sponsored by Volkswagen Foundation. Supports groundbreaking and risky research ideas with high ...

  basic_researchconvergence_researchbasic researchrisky researchscientific breakthroughs

• Momentum Funding Line

  Up to $1.1Mopen

  Momentum Funding Line is a grant from Volkswagen Foundation that funds recently tenured German university professors seeking to strategically develop ...

  higher_educationearly career facultytenured professorshipacademic research fundingpostdoctoral support

• NEXT - Law between Normativity and Reality

  Deadline: Aug 27, 2026open

  NEXT - Law between Normativity and Reality is sponsored by Volkswagen Foundation. This funding initiative promotes cooperative legal science projects ...

  social_sciencebasic_researchlegal sciencenormativityreality

• Volkswagen Foundation: Opus Magnum

  Deadline: Nov 18, 2026open

  Volkswagen Foundation Opus Magnum is a German foundation initiative providing professors in the humanities, cultural studies, and social sciences the ...

  social_sciencehigher_educationarts_educationcultural_preservationhumanities

• Transformational Knowledge on Democracies under Change – Transdisciplinary Perspectives

  Deadline: Nov 18, 2026open

  Transformational Knowledge on Democracies under Change – Transdisciplinary Perspectives is sponsored by Volkswagen Foundation. Addresses persons from ...

  democracy_governancesocial_sciencedesign_researchdemocracygovernance

• Volkswagen Foundation – Research in the Humanities

  open

  Volkswagen Foundation – Research in the Humanities is a grant from the Volkswagen Foundation that funds researchers in humanities and cultural studies...

  education_researchsocial_sciencehumanities researchfamily studiesparenting research

• Perspectives on Wealth: Repercussions of Wealth

  open

  Perspectives on Wealth: Repercussions of Wealth is a grant initiative from the Volkswagen Foundation that funds research into the social, economic, an...

  social_scienceeconomic_developmentcivil_rightswealthsocial transformation

• Momentum – Funding for Newly Appointed Professors

  open

  Momentum – Funding for Newly Appointed Professors is a grant from the Volkswagen Foundation that funds professors in Germany at an early stage after r...

• Global Issues – Integrating Different Perspectives on Cultural Heritage and Change

  open

  Global Issues – Integrating Different Perspectives on Cultural Heritage and Change is sponsored by Volkswagen Foundation. Supports research on cultura...

  cultural_preservationinternational_developmentsocial_scienceclimate_changecultural heritage

• Transdisciplinary Approaches to Mobility and Global Health Joint Call 2024

  open

  Transdisciplinary Approaches to Mobility and Global Health Joint Call 2024 is sponsored by Volkswagen Foundation. Joint call for projects exploring tr...

  global_healthpublic_healthtransportationcommunity_developmentsocial_science

• Volkswagen Foundation's Funding Programs (various initiatives)

  open

  Volkswagen Foundation's Funding Programs (various initiatives) is sponsored by Volkswagen Foundation. The Volkswagen Foundation funds research and sch...

  artificial_intelligenceai_ethics_researchai_social_goodsocial_scienceartificial intelligence

• From Principles to Practice: Innovating Trustworthy AI through Meta-research

  open

  From Principles to Practice: Innovating Trustworthy AI through Meta-research is sponsored by Volkswagen Foundation. This initiative aimed to investiga...

  artificial_intelligenceai_ethics_researchai_healthcaredesign_researchconvergence_research

• Opus Magnum

  open

  Opus Magnum is sponsored by Volkswagen Foundation. The funding offer is aimed at outstanding professors from the humanities and social sciences.

  education_researchsocial_sciencehumanitiessocial sciencesprofessorship

• Volkswagen Foundation - 'Change!' Fellowships

  open

  Volkswagen Foundation 'Change!' Fellowships are a grant from the VolkswagenStiftung that funds scientists from all disciplines conducting transdiscipl...

  social_sciencecommunity_developmentsocial changetransformative researchsustainability

• Volkswagen Foundation - Sustainability Funds for Laboratory Certifications

  open

  Volkswagen Foundation Sustainability Funds for Laboratory Certifications is a supplemental grant from the VolkswagenStiftung that funds the certificat...

  environmental_educationlaboratory certificationsustainability certificationgreen labsleaf

• Volkswagen Foundation's 'Pioneering Projects 'Societal Transformations'

  open

  Volkswagen Foundation's 'Pioneering Projects 'Societal Transformations' is sponsored by Volkswagen Foundation. Supports inter- and transdisciplinary r...

  social_scienceeducation_researchsocietal transformationinterdisciplinary researchtransdisciplinary research

• Change! Fellowships and Research Groups

  open

  Change! Fellowships and Research Groups is sponsored by Volkswagen Foundation. Funds researchers and their practice partners to address societal chall...

  social_sciencedesign_researchconvergence_researchtransformation researchinterdisciplinary

• Equal opportunity funds

  open

  Equal opportunity funds is sponsored by Volkswagen Foundation. These funds are designed to support equal opportunities and diversity within the resear...

  education_researchsocial_scienceyouth_developmentequal opportunitydiversity

• From Machine Learning to Machine Teaching

  open

  From Machine Learning to Machine Teaching is sponsored by Volkswagen Foundation. This project explores how people can benefit from AI not only as deci...

  artificial_intelligenceai_educationai_social_goodeducation_researchhuman_computer_interaction

• Volkswagen Foundation's funding programs

  open

  Volkswagen Foundation's Funding Programs is a grant from the Volkswagen Foundation that funds research and scholarly projects across a broad range of ...

  higher_educationscience fundingtechnology researchhigher education supportacademic research

What Volkswagen Foundation funds

Top program areas based on GrantMind's analysis of recent Volkswagen Foundation awards:

How to apply for Volkswagen Foundation grants

Most Volkswagen Foundation applications require: an organizational profile with mission and programs, a project proposal aligned with the funder's stated priorities, a project budget, and supporting attachments (IRS determination letter, board list, recent financials). Many private and community foundations require a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) before a full proposal — see our guide below.