When and how to apply
2027 call for applications
Jewish women artists and scientists can apply for scholarships and grants starting April 13, 2026, as part of the call for applications from the ZURÜCKGEBEN Foundation for the promotion of Jewish women in art and science. The application deadline is July 15, 2026.
Who can apply?
As stipulated in the foundation’s bylaws, the grants are awarded exclusively to Jewish women. The call for applications is open to women residing in Germany, regardless of their country of origin. There is no age restriction for eligibility. Membership in a Jewish community is not a requirement.
Each applicant may submit only one proposal. Women who have previously received funding from the ZURÜCKGEBEN Foundation may reapply.
By submitting an application, applicants acknowledge the working definition of antisemitism developed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
What is eligible for funding?
Funding is available for projects in a wide variety of fields, including film, literature, fine arts, performing arts, applied arts, and sciences.
Projects that focus on Jewish life and related issues are preferred.
Projects that are already underway may be funded. Please note: The ZURÜCKGEBEN Foundation cannot always approve the full amount requested and often can only provide partial funding. Therefore, applications to other institutions are explicitly permitted. As a rule, grants are awarded up to a maximum of 8,000 Euros.
The ZURÜCKGEBEN Foundation does not reimburse third-party services, such as companies or businesses. Therefore, printing costs, editing, and translation work—except actual translation projects—are not eligible for funding.
Application Procedures
Applications must be submitted exclusively in writing and in electronic form (max. 8 MB, in a SINGLE PDF file). Applications will only be accepted in German, however, the project itself may be realized in any other language.
Please do not forget to sign your application!
The following documents are required:
• the completed and signed application form
• 2-3 page project description
• tabular timeline for project implementation
• detailed tabular breakdown of your budget
• resume/CV, including a brief overview of your artistic or scientific career to date, as well as information regarding your personal/biographical connection to Judaism
• additional attachments, if applicable (e.g., a synopsis, sample chapters, etc.)
Please submit your complete application materials by email by July 15, 2026, to:
info@stiftung-zurueckgeben.de
Please direct any specific questions regarding this call for applications exclusively to this email address.
Application Process
After the application deadline, you will receive an email confirming receipt of your application. The beneficiaries will then be selected by an indipendent jury composed of Jewish women. In November 2026, you will receive an email notification regarding the jury’s decision. Please refrain from making written or phone inquiries about the status of your application. Please understand that in the event of a rejection, we cannot provide any feedback regarding the content of your application.
In the event of a successful application, a contract will be drawn up between the scholarship recipient and the ZURÜCKGEBEN Foundation. You will need to submit a copy of your passport and a current certificate of residence for this purpose. The scholarship will be paid exclusively to the recipient’s own German bank account.
About the ZURÜCKGEBEN Foundation
Since 1994, the ZURÜCKGEBEN Foundation has awarded annual grants to Jewish women artists and scientists. This makes it the only foundation in Germany that explicitly supports Jewish women artists and scientists. Founded in 1994 by a group of Jewish and non-Jewish women, the foundation was established in recognition of the destruction of employment opportunities for Jewish women in Germany during the Nazi era.
Since its founding, the ZURÜCKGEBEN Foundation has supported over 200 projects by Jewish women living in Germany through grants. These have included projects by filmmakers, fine and multimedia artists, dancers and choreographers, writers, musicians, cultural and social scientists, and historians.