Tender
Who can apply?
Lemonaid & ChariTea Foundation supports non-profit organisations across seven countries, funding projects that promote economic empowerment, education, financial inclusion, and fair-trade practices.
We currently support projects in:
+ Rwanda
+ South Africa
+ Madagascar
+ Mexico
+ Peru
+ India: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Darjeeling, Sikkim only
+ Sri Lanka
We promote projects that strengthen entrepreneurship in the Global South - as a basis for economic independence, poverty reduction and sustainable development.
In doing so, we focus on four key areas: Further training, access to finance, value chains and advocacy.
These areas are often closely interlinked and complement each other in terms of their impact.
We also take into account cross-cutting issues that are essential for equitable and sustainable development - such as gender equality, social inclusion, innovation and climate and resource management.
The projects of our project partners address these topics with varying degrees of emphasis.
We do not currently have an open call for proposals. A new call is expected to be published here in the summer of 2026.
Organization
The applicant organization must be recognized as a non-profit organization, NPO or NGO in its respective country. Ideally, organizations should apply directly, without intermediaries, as we prefer direct funding to avoid duplication of costs.
Project countries
Applications from organizations with projects in the following countries will be considered: Sri Lanka. The project country is fixed and not flexible.
Reasons for not being considered
Applications will not be considered if:
+ the form is incomplete
+ the organisation is not based in a project country
+ the project does not fit our focus areas
+ discriminatory content is included
+ animal husbandry (including poultry) is part of the project
+ the organisation is an international one
+ the organisation's annual budget exceeds €1,000,000
Projects with a project budget of between €10,000 and €50,000 per calendar year can be funded, with a maximum funding amount of €150,000 over a period of three years.
The maximum project duration in the first funding phase is three years.
After that, funded projects can apply for a second funding phase of a further three years.
The maximum funding period is six years in total.
We welcome applications for multi-year projects, as we would like to maintain longer-term relationships with our project partners.
However, should there be good reasons for a one- to two-year application, it may still be considered.
Application
Our application process consists of two phases. Start by completing the online form linked below. For detailed guidance, you can download the application guide. Projects selected in the first phase will be invited to submit a more comprehensive project description. Please note that the full application and funding process may take up to six months. Only fully completed applications can be considered.
Frequently asked questions
We know that navigating project eligibility, application deadlines, and funding guidelines can sometimes be confusing. To make things easier, we’ve compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions. If your question isn’t covered here, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly via email or phone. See our contact details.
The applying organisation must be registered in its respective country as a non-profit organisation, non-profit organisation (NPO) or non-governmental organisation (NGO). International organisations are not eligible to apply.
In addition, we do not accept applications from organisations whose total annual funding exceeds €1,000,000. Behind every effective project there is always a strong organisation. And both must fit together. That's why we also take a close look at the implementing organisation.
Applications will not be considered if:
+ they are incomplete
+ the organisation is not based in a project country
+ the project does not fit one of our focus areas
+ discriminatory content is included
+ animal husbandry is included in the project (including poultry)
+ the organisation is part of an international organisation
+ the applying organisation has an annual organisational budget of more than €1,000,000.
The project countries are fixed and not flexible, as they are tied to the regional focus of our funding organisation.
Applications from organisations in the following countries are currently being considered:
+ India
+ Sri Lanka
+ Rwanda
+ South Africa
+ Madagascar
+ Mexico
+ Peru
If your organisation operates in a country outside of our project countries, please do not apply.
A funding amount between €10,000 and €50,000 per calendar year can be requested from Lemonaid & ChariTea e.V., with a maximum funding amount of €150,000 over a period of three years.
This only refers to the share requested from the Foundation.
However, the total budget of the project can be higher and co-financed by other funding organisations.
The maximum project duration is three years in the first funding phase.
After that, funded projects can apply for a second funding phase of another three years.
However, the maximum funding period is six years in total.
We welcome applications for multi-year projects, as we would like to maintain longer-term relationships with our project partners. However, should there be good reasons for a one- to two-year application, it may still be considered.
The entire process, from application and project selection with the support of the advisory board and assessment to funding, can take up to 6 months.
The most important criteria are:
+ Does the project address our thematic priorities?
+ Does the project appear feasible in the form presented?
+ Does the project meet all other formal requirements?
+ Who is involved in the project? Behind every effective project there is always a strong organisation. And both must fit together. That's why we also take a close look at the implementing organisation.
We support organizations with a maximum annual budget of €1,000,000.