Supported Associations in North Rhine-Westphalia
In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Stefan Zimkeit, a member of the state parliament for Oberhausen-Sterkrade and the financial spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, has been advocating for an energy cost assistance program to help struggling sports clubs and non-profit organisations in various sectors.
The proposed aid program aims to alleviate the financial burden caused by increased energy costs, particularly in the wake of the Russian invasion, and is designed to provide targeted support for local volunteers. However, according to Zimkeit, the state government has repeatedly rejected such proposals.
Zimkeit believes that sports are indispensable for social cohesion and emphasises the need for energy cost assistance for non-profit organisations in culture, social services, and youth work, beyond just sports clubs. He has been advocating for this aid program in the state parliament for a long time.
The aid program for sports clubs is part of a broader set of measures to address the financial impact of the Russian invasion. The subsidy covers up to 60% of the increased costs and is valid from April 2023 to March 2024. The North Rhine-Westphalia State Sports Association is accepting applications for energy cost assistance.
Despite repeated attempts, no explicit programs or currently known financial assistance schemes for energy cost support specifically tailored to non-profit organisations, sports clubs, or cultural groups in NRW were identified in recent 2025 publicly available sources. These organisations might benefit indirectly through broader federal or regional energy efficiency or sustainability grants, or through engagement with innovation networks, but concrete assistance offerings are not clearly documented in the provided data.
For detailed, up-to-date assistance options, contacting NRW state authorities (e.g., Ministry for Economic Affairs, Digitalization, Innovation and Energy NRW) or local municipal offices that manage energy subsidies would be recommended.
[1] Circular Valley®: https://www.circularvalley.de/
[2] Paderborn district digital and energy innovation projects: https://www.paderborn.de/digital-energie-innovation/
[3] European Clean Energy Transition Partnership: https://www.cleanenergypartnership.eu/
[4] Germany's green transition efforts: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-phasing-out-fossil-fuels-but-struggling-with-the-costs/a-58070938
[5] Sustainability ventures in Germany: https://www.nrwbank.de/en/sustainability/
[1] The North Rhine-Westphalia State Sports Association is currently accepting applications for an energy cost assistance program specifically designed for sports clubs, as proposed by Stefan Zimkeit, a financial spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group.
[2] However, despite repeated attempts, no explicitly named financial assistance schemes for energy cost support in sports, culture, social services, or youth work outside of sports clubs have been identified, raising concerns about the support of these vital non-profit organizations in NRW.
