Prices

Every year, the Berlin Nature Conservation Award honours people who are exceptionally committed to nature and the environment in Berlin. Individuals, groups, associations and schools can apply. The prize money amounts to 10,000 euros. The Berlin Nature Conservation Foundation thus honours voluntary commitment that has a lasting effect and strengthens the city ecologically.

The German Demography Award honours projects that develop and implement solutions to the challenges of demographic change. Organisations and initiatives based or with a focus of activity in Germany are eligible to apply. Submissions for 2026 are possible until 13 February 2026; the award ceremony is planned for 4 June 2026 in the Volkshaus Jena.

The LupoLeo Award 2026 is a nationwide award for social commitment in the field of children and young people with a focus on mental health. It recognises charitable projects from Germany that have been effectively active for young people for at least one year. A total of €130,000 will be awarded, including prize money for project, honour and personality awards. The application deadline for project ideas is 16 February 2026.

The LdE Primary School Award 2026 recognises how teachers and school leaders implement learning through engagement at primary schools - in the classroom or in school development. Practical examples are honoured at all stages: from the initial idea to its firm anchoring in everyday school life. Primary schools in challenging locations in selected federal states are eligible to apply.

The Youth Democracy Award honours projects by young people who are committed to democracy. You can apply with your project under the motto "Help shape the future - your view to the future" and win prize money of up to 3000 euros. Applications are open nationwide from 22 January to 22 February 2026 and the award ceremony is expected to take place in Berlin in May 2026.

Voluntary commitment

The BLUM Prize is a commitment award from Berlin-Schöneberg. It is awarded annually by the pupils of the Robert Blum Grammar School. Pupils announce the prize, select the nominees and vote for the winners. The prize honours extracurricular initiatives or individuals who do voluntary and social work for society.

The Ribbon for Courage and Understanding honours people and initiatives from Berlin and Brandenburg who stand up against racism, discrimination and violence. Both long-term commitment and courageous intervention in everyday life are honoured. The award makes civil courage visible and strengthens individuals and groups who are committed to respectful coexistence.

The Green Buddy Award 2026 is a Berlin sustainability competition organised by the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district authority. Innovative ideas, projects and entrepreneurial commitment to ecological and sustainable developments are offered public recognition, prize money and visibility. Individuals, project groups, initiatives and companies from Berlin can take part in six categories. The application deadline is 31 March 2026.

The Stefan Schörghuber Prize is a nationwide award from the Stefan Schörghuber Foundation for charitable commitment in the field of education and professional participation. It honours projects and initiatives that help people in difficult circumstances to enter or re-enter the world of work. The award makes effective commitment visible and promotes its further development. Applications can be submitted via the official website.

Combining learning at school with community involvement in extracurricular organisations

Do you have a project idea that strengthens social cohesion in a small town or municipality in eastern Germany? You can submit it to the engagement competition "machen!2025" until 15 May 2025. An expert jury will select 200 projects in three categories and award prize money of between €2,500 and €10,000. The aim is to make collaborative ideas visible and support their implementation.

[Translate to English:] Der Margot Friedländer Preis würdigt Menschen, Initiativen, Initiativen und Organisationen in Deutschland, die sich mit Aktionen für Toleranz, Menschlichkeit, Freiheit und Demokratie einsetzen und zur Aufklärung über Antisemitismus oder den Holocaust beitragen. Eine unabhängige Jury wählt jährlich fünf Preistragende aus. Der Preis ist mit insgesamt 25.000 € dotiert und dient der Stärkung des Engagements.

[Translate to English:] Der Silvio-Meier-Preis zeichnet Engagement im Bezirk Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg aus, das sich gegen Diskriminierung, Ausgrenzung und Gewalt richtet. Du kannst Einzelpersonen, Initiativen oder Projekte vorschlagen oder dich selbst bewerben. Der Preis würdigt Zivilcourage und stärkt demokratische Werte im lokalen Kontext.

[Translate to English:] Der DFB-Ehrenamtspreis zeichnet engagierte Personen im Amateurfußball aus, die sich in ihrem Verein besonders einsetzen. Du kannst Ehrenamtliche vorschlagen, die zwischen 2024 und 2026 wichtige Beiträge geleistet haben – unabhängig von Rolle oder Aufgabe. Die Auszeichnung erfolgt bundesweit über die Fußballverbände und umfasst auch Anerkennungsformate wie ein Dankeschön-Wochenende und weitere Ehrungen.

The Roman Herzog Prize honours projects and initiatives from Berlin that combine social commitment and entrepreneurship and thus contribute to greater cohesion. The prize is aimed at natural persons aged 18 and over, associations, foundations or companies. A jury will select three finalists, from which one winner will be awarded €20,000; two further finalists will each receive €5,000. Applications can be submitted digitally.

[Translate to English:] Der Preis „Gegen Vergessen – Für Demokratie“ zeichnet eine Person oder Organisation aus, die sich in besonderer Weise für demokratische Werte, Erinnerungskultur und gegen Extremismus engagiert. Du kannst geeignete Kandidaten vorschlagen. Im Fokus stehen Eigeninitiative, gesellschaftliche Wirkung und Impulse für nachhaltiges Engagement.

Once a year, the NAJU Active Award honours a person or group who is particularly committed to the goals and activities of the Nature Conservation Youth in NABU (NAJU). It is awarded at the Federal Delegates' Assembly and is endowed with a freely selectable non-cash prize worth approximately €500. Committed people can nominate individuals or groups until mid-August.

The Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg Youth Commitment Award recognises young people who are committed to helping others in the district. It honours young people, young adults and youth groups whose commitment strengthens community life. Proposals can be submitted by anyone. A jury decides on the award.

In the Berlin district of Tempelhof-Schöneberg, the district office honours special voluntary work every year. To this end, medals of merit are awarded to people who have made a sustained commitment to the common good over many years, and sponsorship awards are presented, which are endowed with €1,000 and publicly recognise the exemplary achievements of individuals, groups or projects. Nominations are accepted by the Volunteer Office.

The Friends of the Year is a nationwide award for friends' associations and library support organisations. It recognises the active support of libraries and makes their work publicly visible. The prize is endowed with €2,000 and is presented with a certificate and plaque. Associations can apply if they are a library friends' organisation - regardless of membership of the association.

The LdE Primary School Award 2026 recognises how teachers and school leaders implement learning through engagement at primary schools - in the classroom or in school development. Practical examples are honoured at all stages: from the initial idea to its firm anchoring in everyday school life. Primary schools in challenging locations in selected federal states are eligible to apply.

The Mathias Freund Award honours volunteer projects that improve the care and living situation of young people (18-39) with cancer. Applications can be submitted by volunteers or groups by e-mail. The documents are available from 15 December of the previous year, the closing date for submissions is 31 March of the award year. Prize money: €3,000.

Special social commitmentSpecial social commitment

With the Movers of Tomorrow Award, the Allianz Foundation honours 50 young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are committed to equal opportunities, social openness or the protection of the planet.

Outstanding services to Berlin

Services to the district

Environment, nature, sustainability and climate protection

The Hertha BSC Foundation's Wilhelm Wernicke Prize 2025 honours initiatives and organisations from Berlin and Brandenburg that use sport to open up new prospects for children and young people and strengthen social cohesion.

Services to the district

Zad promotes the mobility of Arab artists in Europe. It covers travel costs, helps with accommodation and everyday life, finances translations and the transport of materials - so that the works end up where they belong: in the public eye.

Long-term commitment to elective or honorary positions in Berlin

The Three Kings Award is a Berlin award for people and initiatives that are particularly committed to society. The prize is awarded by the Diocesan Council of Catholics in the Archdiocese of Berlin. The focus is on commitment to social cohesion, democratic values and social responsibility. The award publicly recognises this commitment and makes it visible.

The WikiEule is a non-material award from the German-speaking Wikipedia community. It recognises individuals, projects and groups who are particularly committed to the quality, further development or organisation of Wikipedia and its sister projects. The award has been presented since 2014 and is awarded at WikiCon.

The Capital City Prize for Integration and Tolerance honours commitment in Berlin that integrates people with experiences of migration or disadvantage and strengthens tolerance in everyday life. Projects, organisations, individuals and companies from Berlin can submit ongoing projects. The prize is awarded by the Initiative Hauptstadt Berlin e.V. and is aimed at all those who do concrete work for respectful coexistence.

The German Corporate Citizenship Award recognises companies in Germany that tackle social challenges with voluntary commitment - e.g. equal opportunities, participation, democracy and climate. You can apply online with your volunteering projects and cooperation partners. The award offers visibility for effective commitment.

The Lotte Lemke Commitment Award 2026 is a nationwide volunteer award from the AWO Federal Association. It honours volunteer projects that have a concrete impact on children, combat loneliness or promote humane migration policies. The award emphasises exemplary initiatives that make social values such as solidarity and cohesion visible. The award ceremony took place at the AWO's New Year's reception in Berlin.

The recognition award "Together we are strong and smart!" honours Berlin daycare and school support associations that implement projects in which children and young people can actively participate and help shape the future. The programme supports a wide range of ideas from play projects to environmental campaigns. The lsfb is providing a total of €5,000 in prize money. You can apply online with your sponsoring association until 10 May 2025.

The Nisa Volunteer Award honours Muslim women from Berlin for their outstanding volunteer work. The award is presented by the Deutsches Muslimisches Zentrum Berlin e. V. (German Muslim Centre Berlin) and makes the diverse voluntary work of women in the city visible. The award winners are nominated by their communities and selected by a jury. The aim is to make commitment visible and to encourage others.

The Data Protection Media Award (DAME) is a nationwide competition from Berlin that annually honours how the media explain the topic of data protection in an understandable way and make it visible. You can take part with contributions in film, podcast, text or other media formats. The prize is endowed with €3,000 and aims to promote the secure handling of personal data.

Services to the district

Strengthening the European idea and communicating European values

Communal merits or merits in science, business, politics or art

Commitment to Treptow-Köpenick

Services to the district

Commitment for the benefit of the community

Merits for the sport

Outstanding services to Berlin

Voluntary commitment

Voluntary commitment

Services to the district

Civil protection, fire brigade and rescue service

"Invisible" commitment

Services to the common good in the district

Voluntary commitment

Commitment of children and young people

Special commitment of citizens to the district

Entrepreneurial commitment beyond the core business

Art and cultural projects for young people that promote diversity, inclusion, equality, participation and democracy

Emancipation of the sexes

Commitment to intercultural and social understanding or against racist violence

Participation and integration

Commitment projects for the common good

Commitment to people with disabilities in the district

Youth work, work with senior citizens and an annually changing focus topic

Commitment to the queer community

Commitment to equality and respect

Tolerant, non-violent, cosmopolitan and democratic coexistence

Environmental protection

Voluntary commitment in all areas except sport and the environment (special prizes)

Services to the district

Preserving the memory of the Jewish past and combating prejudice and racism

Commitment to district sport

Honouring committed individuals in the district

Outstanding services to the district of Neukölln

Tolerance between dissenters, peoples and religions

Voluntary commitment

Young commitment

Integration and equal rights

Equal participation of people with a history of migration

Disability assistance

Women's rights, gender democracy and human rights

Services to the community in the district