Coffee Circle Foundation e.V.: Coffee Circle Vision Fund II now open for submission

Name: Coffee Circle
Brand: Coffee Circle
SKU: K000-0000-0001
Rating: 4.93 (13702 reviews)

About Us

Coffee Circle is a Berlin-based coffee roasting company. Our aim is for producers to earn a fairer income from their coffee. We pay high prices to support stable incomes and long-term improvements in coffee farming communities.

The Coffee Circle Foundation e.V. is our non-profit arm, funded through € 1 for every kilogram of Coffee Circle coffee sold, as well as private donors and institutional partners. The entirety of these funds is invested back into coffee origins through projects that strengthen farmers, their families, and the regions they live in.

Coffee Circle Vision Fund II – Now Open for Submission

The Coffee Circle Foundation e.V. is proud to launch the second edition of our Call for Proposals: the Coffee Circle Vision Fund II, a € 1,000,000 initiative to empower coffee communities.

The call is now open for applications until 12 November 2025. Please find further information and details about the application requirements below.

New Call for Proposal to Drive Global Change in Coffee Communities

Alignment with Our Impact Strategy

We welcome proposals that contribute to one or more of the three pillars of our impact strategy:

People: Improving livelihoods. We help farming communities build better lives through fair value and inclusive collaboration.
Planet: Achieving net positive impact. We go beyond carbon neutrality by promoting regenerative and sustainable practices.
Profit: Shaping the market through advocacy and influence. We show that sustainable business is possible and inspire others to follow.

To put these pillars into practice, we are particularly looking for proposals that focus on areas such as:

Farmer income and livelihoods
Climate resilience and adaptation
Gender inclusion in coffee communities
Generational sustainability (e.g., youth engagement, knowledge transfer)
Strengthening farmers’ voice and decision-making power
Education for farmers and their communities
Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH).

Alignment with Our Cross-Cutting Approach

We seek projects that reflect our cross-cutting approach in both their design and implementation.

We start where there is a need. Projects should address priorities identified by coffee communities through inclusive and participatory processes.
We work with the people on the ground. Projects should ensure meaningful community involvement in both decision-making and implementation.
We promote independence. Projects should strengthen local ownership and demonstrate that communities and stakeholders are actively involved to ensure long-term sustainability and the capacity to maintain project activities and infrastructure beyond the grant’s timeline. We favor co-investments from local communities, NGOs, and government institutions. Proposals that include direct contributions from project partners or stakeholders (e.g., cash or in-kind support) will be highly regarded.
We set measurable goals. Projects should set clear, realistic goals and consider their long-term impact on both the target group and society as a whole.

Applicant Eligibility

We encourage global participation from coffee producers and coffee-growing regions worldwide.

Any organization whose work aligns with our strategy and approach may apply, including but not limited to:

For-profit coffee businesses
Producer organizations
Non-profit community organizations
International NGOs

All applicants must demonstrate the capacity to deliver tangible benefits for coffee-growing communities.

Organizations from the Global North are also eligible to apply, provided their proposals ensure strong community-led engagement, local ownership, and clear benefits for farmers.

Please note that we do not fund academic or research-only projects.

Project Duration and Budget

To advance our impact strategy, each project should run for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years. The required minimum total project budget is EUR 150,000 across the full duration. There is no set maximum; however, the Coffee Circle Vision Fund II aims to build a diversified portfolio of at least four projects across regions and will therefore prioritise proposals that do not absorb the entire EUR 1,000,000 grant fund.

Farmer:innen der Vunga CWS, Muraho Co., Ruanda

Selection Process

The deadline to apply is 12 November 2025, 23:59 CET (Berlin time).

Proposals will be reviewed by a selection committee based on:

Shared vision and values with Coffee Circle
Alignment with our impact strategy and priorities
Integration of our cross-cutting approach in project design and implementation
Feasible timeline and budget, and proven ability to deliver accordingly
Clear identification of project stakeholders and beneficiaries
Active involvement of project stakeholders and beneficiaries in the needs
identification and implementation processes

After 12 November 2025, we will contact only the shortlisted candidates.

Final decisions will be communicated by the end of February 2026,
with selected projects expected to start in March 2026.

If your application is successful, a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between your organization and the Coffee Circle Foundation e.V.

How to Apply

Please complete the application via our form here.

Important information:

All answers in the application form must be written in English.
Once you begin filling out the application form, it must be completed and submitted in one session.
Please note that the form cannot be saved mid-way, and any progress will be lost if you close your browser or navigate away.
To help you prepare, please refer to the “Application form preparation guidelines” in the “Support for Applicants” section located at the bottom of this page. It includes all the questions in advance so you can draft your answers before starting the submission.
When you’re ready, simply copy your answers into the form and submit your application. Your input cannot be edited after submission.

Please submit responses only via the online form and not via e-mail.
Applications sent via e-mail will not be considered.

Thank You for Your Trust

Over the past 15 years, through the Coffee Circle Foundation e.V. we have supported initiatives in farmer support, health, water and sanitation, education, and sustainable agriculture, always with the aim of improving lives in coffee-growing regions.

You can explore more about our most recent work by learning about our Impact in 2024 and the projects we selected for the Coffee Vision Fund I.

All of this has only been possible thanks to the trust and commitment of partners who believe in better futures for coffee communities. With the Coffee Circle Vision Fund II, we’re excited to take the next step and shape the next chapter of our impact journey together.

Martin, Hannes und Robert trinken Kaffee mit einem Kaffeefarmer bei Daterra 2025

Support for Applicants

Questions?

Application Form Preparation Guidelines

Proposals must be submitted in English via this online form.

The form cannot be saved partway through. To help you prepare, we’ve included a full list of the application questions below.
We strongly recommend drafting your answers in advance. Once you’re ready, simply copy and paste your responses into the form and submit your proposal in one go.

1. Applicant Information

1.1. Full legal name of your organization
1.2. Registered office address
1.3. Full name of the contact person and their role within the organisation
1.4. Email address of the contact person
1.5. Organization Type
Choose the one that best fits.

– International NGO or network
– Local NGO or community-based organization
– Coffee company (roaster, trader, importer)
– Small farmer organization (<3,000 farmers)
– Medium-sized farmer organization (3,000–25,000 farmers)
– Large farmer organization (>25,000 farmers)
– Other: _______

2. Organizational Capacity

2.1. Describe your experience with projects similar to the one you are proposing, and explain how your organisation is equipped to implement and monitor it with minimal supervision.
Max 1800 characters.

3. Context and Problem Statement

3.1 Country or countries of implementation
Where will the project take place?

3.2. What problem are you addressing?
Briefly describe the core issue your project aims to tackle and why it matters in the local context. Max 1800 characters.

3.3. How did you identify the needs in collaboration with the community?

Explain how you worked with community members or stakeholders to understand their priorities. You can mention methods like consultations, surveys, focus groups, or other participatory processes. Max 1800 characters.

4. Project Overview

4.1. Desired outcome
What long-term change do you aim to achieve through this project? Max 600 characters.

4.2. Key objectives
What are the main goals you want to accomplish? Max 1200 characters.

4.3. Summary of core activities
Briefly describe the main activities you will carry out to achieve your objectives. Max 1800 characters.

5. Impact Measurement Approach

5.1. Describe your monitoring and evaluation framework, including the Key Performance Indicators you plan to use.
Explain how you will track progress, measure results, and evaluate the impact of your project. Max 1800 characters.

5.2. How will beneficiaries be involved in assessing the project’s impact?
Briefly describe how community members or stakeholders will take part in reflecting on outcomes or providing feedback. Max 600 characters.

6. Risks and Assumptions

6.1. What are the main risks and assumptions related to your project, and how do you plan to manage them?
Describe any potential challenges that could affect the project’s success and how you intend to reduce or respond to them. Max 1800 characters.

7. Alignment with Coffee Circle

7.1. How does your vision align with Coffee Circle’s values and mission?
Describe how your organisation and approach connect with what Coffee Circle stands for. Max 1200 characters.

7.2. How does your project contribute to the three pillars of our impact strategy: People, Planet, and Profit?
Briefly describe how your project supports livelihoods, promotes sustainability, and helps drive positive change in the coffee sector. Max 1200 characters.

7.3. How does your project reflect our cross-cutting approach?
Explain how your project promotes local ownership, includes co-investment, sets measurable goals, and involves the community throughout. Max 1200 characters.

8. Budget Summary

Each project should run for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years. The required minimum total project budget is EUR 150,000 across the full duration. There is no set maximum; however, the Coffee Circle Vision Fund II aims to build a diversified portfolio of at least four projects across regions and will therefore prioritise proposals that do not absorb the entire EUR 1,000,000 grant fund.

8.1. Total budget request
Choose the option that best fits. Note: staff salaries and travel expenses are eligible costs as long as they are directly related and essential to the delivery of the activities outlined in the proposal.

– € 150,000 – € 250,000
– € 250,000 – € 350,000
– Up to € 500,000

8.2. Is there a monetary contribution from your organization or local community?

– Yes
– No

8.3. If yes, what kind of contribution?

– Co-funding
– In-kind

8.4. If yes, what percentage of the total budget is covered by your own contribution (financial or in-kind)?

8.5. Please provide a percentage breakdown of your requested budget across the following categories
The total must equal 100 %.

– Project overhead and administrative costs. Includes project management, office expenses, accounting, reporting, and indirect costs, including salaries.
– Direct implementation costs. Includes costs directly tied to activities such as fieldwork, capacity building and training, equipment and infrastructure, and travel.
– Monitoring, evaluation, and learning. Includes data collection, impact measurement, learning activities, and reporting.

8.6. Please indicate how your total project budget is distributed across each year (in %).
The total across all years should add up to 100 %. Example: year 1= 30 %; year 2=50 %; year 3=20 %.

8.7 Is your organization currently receiving funding from any other donor or funding organization?

– Yes
– No

9. Closing Remarks

9.1. How did you hear about the Coffee Circle Vision Fund II?
You can select more than one option.

– Coffee Circle website
– Social media (e.g. Instagram, LinkedIn)
– Word of mouth
– Coffee Circle team member
– Vuna’s network
– Coffee Circle’s partner organization
– Online search
– Event or conference
– Other: ____________

9.2. Is there anything we haven’t asked that you believe would strengthen or add value to your proposal?
Optional. Max 600 characters.

Kaffeefarmerin und Marceline Budza von RWH