Questions and Answers

Who can apply?

• Every individual oikos member or group of oikos members worldwide

Why should I make the effort to apply when the Fund does not cover the complete project budget?

• The core value of the oikos PDF is effective project coaching: You will receive qualified feedback to your project proposal which will increase your chances to be successful in fundraising elsewhere.
• The Executive Board and the Foundation know the oikos network and can connect you to interesting partners.

Why does the GLS Bank co-fund Alumni donations (instead of mere sponsoring)?

• The GLS is interested in new, innovative ways of funding
• They want to set incentives for long-term sustainable funding processes
• (In addition to that they sponsor specific projects, such as the oikos Winter School 2006 and the oikos Conference 2007)

What are criteria for assessing the projects?

• Projects have to be in accordance with the oikos Vision, Mission and Activity Statement
• Projects that are supported financially have to be of strategic importance for our global oikos organisation and must fit the project scope defined by the Legislative Meeting
• Further criteria have to be specified by the Executive Board

How do we make sure that money is given to those projects which need it most?

• In general the oikos PDF supports projects primarily by means of coaching and opening doors to additional resources
• Money is only given as seed financing and/or in cases of emergency
• If the oikos PDF supports a project financially, this is done in form of a co-funding and/or in form of deficit guarantees   

Why do we open an additional channel for financing oikos projects (instead of using oLC, oI or oF budgeting structures)?

• With the oikos PDF we offer Alumni and other private persons the possibility to donate money with a certain leverage

NH, November 2007