Call for Applications: New Solutions with Democratic Sustainability (Denmark)

The VELUX FOUNDATION Sustainable Transition Grant supports innovative local projects in Denmark that develop practical solutions for environmentally, socially, and culturally sustainable development. The programme provides grants of DKK 500,000 to DKK 1,000,000 for projects that strengthen democratic participation, local partnerships, and collaboration between civil society organisations and municipalities.

Overview of the VELUX FOUNDATION Sustainable Transition Grant

The VELUX FOUNDATION has launched a funding opportunity to support projects that create new approaches to sustainable transition across Denmark.

The programme focuses on projects that combine:

• Environmental sustainability
• Social inclusion
• Cultural considerations
• Democratic participation
• Local community engagement

The grant aims to help communities design and test practical solutions that make sustainability transitions more meaningful, fair, and participatory.

Purpose of the Grant Programme

The VELUX FOUNDATION recognises that sustainable transition is not only a technological or economic challenge. Successful long-term change also requires communities to feel involved, respected, and able to influence decisions that affect their lives.

The programme supports initiatives that:

• Develop practical sustainability solutions
• Strengthen local democratic processes
• Encourage citizen participation
• Build cooperation between municipalities and civil society
• Create local knowledge and skills
• Test new approaches for sustainable development

Why Sustainable Transition Needs Local Participation

The green transition can create challenges when communities feel that decisions are made without their involvement.

Projects supported under this programme should address the social and cultural aspects of sustainability by ensuring that:

• Local communities participate in decision-making
• Benefits and responsibilities of transition are fairly shared
• Local traditions and values are considered
• Citizens have opportunities to shape sustainable solutions

The programme believes that sustainability becomes stronger when communities actively participate in creating change.

Funding Amount

The VELUX FOUNDATION has allocated:

Total funding available: DKK 10 million

Individual projects can request:

DKK 500,000 to DKK 1,000,000

Funding can support projects that:

• Develop experimental approaches
• Test new partnerships
• Create community-based solutions
• Strengthen democratic participation
• Generate knowledge for future sustainability initiatives

Who Is Eligible?

The call focuses on projects involving collaboration between:

• Civil society organisations
• Municipalities in Denmark

Eligible applicants should demonstrate the ability to:

• Engage local communities
• Develop practical sustainability solutions
• Work collaboratively with relevant partners
• Implement projects in real community settings

Role of Civil Society and Municipal Partnerships

A key requirement of the programme is meaningful cooperation between civil society organisations and municipalities.

These partnerships should combine:

Civil society strengths:

• Local knowledge
• Community relationships
• Citizen engagement
• Grassroots innovation

Municipal strengths:

• Public planning processes
• Policy frameworks
• Local development strategies
• Institutional support

Researchers, consultants, and external experts may participate, but their role should mainly be to strengthen local capacity rather than replace local expertise.

Types of Projects Supported

The programme welcomes experimental and practical projects that test new methods for sustainable transition.

Examples include:

Democratic Innovation Projects

Projects that:

• Develop new forms of local democracy
• Create citizen participation models
• Establish community decision-making platforms
• Increase public involvement in sustainability decisions

Energy Transition Participation Projects

Initiatives that:

• Involve citizens in energy infrastructure planning
• Create dialogue between communities and decision-makers
• Develop fair approaches to renewable energy projects

Local Sustainability Communities

Projects that:

• Establish transition communities
• Strengthen local climate action groups
• Encourage collective sustainability efforts

Knowledge and Data-Based Initiatives

Projects that:

• Involve citizens in collecting local data
• Generate knowledge for sustainable planning
• Support evidence-based community decisions

Community Dialogue Platforms

Initiatives that:

• Bring different groups together
• Create spaces for discussion
• Include diverse perspectives in sustainability planning

Project Requirements

Applicants must clearly explain:

• The main project idea
• Planned activities
• Target groups
• Organisational structure
• Community needs being addressed
• Expected outcomes

Applications should include:

• Detailed project budget
• Implementation timeline
• Project team information
• Description of key personnel and responsibilities

Application Requirements

Applications must:

• Be submitted in Danish
• Not exceed 12,000 characters including spaces
• Include project description and supporting documents in one file
• Submit the budget as a separate document

Applicants should ensure that the proposal clearly explains how the project will contribute to sustainable transition.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

Step 1: Develop the Project Concept

Define:

• Sustainability challenge being addressed
• Target community
• Proposed solution
• Expected impact

Step 2: Build Partnerships

Applicants should establish collaboration between:

• Civil society organisations
• Municipal partners
• Relevant local stakeholders

Step 3: Prepare Application Documents

Prepare:

• Project description
• Budget
• Timeline
• Organisation details
• Key personnel information

Step 4: Submit Application

Submit the completed application according to VELUX FOUNDATION requirements in Danish.

Assessment Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on:

Project Idea and Activities

Reviewers will assess:

• Clarity of the project concept
• Quality of planned activities
• Innovation and practical relevance

Background and Need

Assessment will consider:

• Why the project is needed
• Understanding of local challenges
• Connection between problems and proposed solutions

Experimental Approach

Projects should explain:

• What methods will be tested
• What new approaches will be developed
• How learning will be generated

Implementation Capacity

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Ability to manage the project
• Strong partnerships
• Appropriate organisational resources

Budget and Activities

Reviewers will examine whether:

• The budget matches planned activities
• Funding requests are realistic
• Resources are used effectively

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Focusing only on environmental technology without social participation
• Creating projects without local community involvement
• Weak partnerships between civil society and municipalities
• Unclear budgets
• Limited explanation of expected outcomes
• Projects that do not test new approaches

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by:

• Clearly explaining the local sustainability challenge
• Showing how citizens will participate
• Demonstrating strong municipal collaboration
• Including measurable outcomes
• Explaining how project learning can benefit future initiatives
• Showing long-term community impact

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the VELUX FOUNDATION Sustainable Transition Grant?

The VELUX FOUNDATION Sustainable Transition Grant supports local projects in Denmark that create practical solutions for environmentally, socially, and culturally sustainable development through democratic participation.

How much funding can projects receive?

Projects can apply for grants between DKK 500,000 and DKK 1,000,000.

Who can apply for this funding?

The programme supports projects involving civil society organisations and municipalities in Denmark that work together on sustainable transition initiatives.

What types of projects are supported?

Supported projects may include citizen participation models, local democracy initiatives, energy transition engagement, sustainability communities, and knowledge-building activities.

Are researchers or consultants allowed to participate?

Yes. Researchers and consultants can participate, but their role should support local capacity building and strengthen community knowledge.

What language must applications be submitted in?

Applications must be submitted in Danish.

How are applications evaluated?

Applications are assessed based on project quality, innovation, local relevance, implementation capacity, partnerships, and whether the budget matches planned activities.

Conclusion

The VELUX FOUNDATION Sustainable Transition Grant provides an opportunity for Danish communities to develop practical and democratic approaches to sustainability challenges. By supporting collaboration between civil society organisations and municipalities, the programme encourages solutions that combine environmental action with social fairness, cultural understanding, and active citizen participation. Successful projects will not only address current sustainability challenges but also create local knowledge and models that can inspire future transitions across Denmark.