‘Volunteering’ Idea Competition

Many volunteers feel comfortable and satisfied with their work. However, volunteering can also be a burden, for example, if it takes up too much time and cannot be balanced well with family or work.

Sometimes the tasks are too demanding or different to what was expected. If cooperation within the team does not work or tensions arise amongst the people involved, stress mounts for volunteers.

On behalf of Migros Culture Percentage, Interface Politikstudien surveyed volunteers and coordinators on the well-being of volunteers. The results show: some factors increase well-being while others impair it. Interestingly, volunteers and coordinators often perceive these factors differently. 

Well-being describes a state of satisfaction that volunteers experience as a result of their commitment. This satisfaction can include the emotional level, such as joy, the psychological level, such as a sense of purpose, the social level, such as a sense of belonging, and the physical level, such as vitality.

Migros Culture Percentage is looking for associations, organisations and initiatives that seek to improve the framework conditions and cooperation with their volunteers. Volunteers who are doing well enjoy their work more and stay involved for longer.

Would you like to take a closer look and change something? Then take part in the ‘Volunteering’ Idea Competition. Migros Culture Percentage supports 15 projects with grants between CHF 10,000 and CHF 30,000 each. These grants give the recipients time and space to further their cooperation with the volunteers and strengthen their well-being.

In addition, ten coaching sessions worth CHF 2,500 each will be drawn. All submitted projects that meet the funding criteria can take part in this prize draw.
 

The following may apply:

• Non-profit organisations based in Switzerland (e.g. associations, foundations)
• Public authorities working together with non-profit organisations

Requirements:

• The organisation has been in existence for at least three years.
• The organisation works with at least 30 volunteers who are active on a regular basis over several months.
• There must be a person responsible for coordinating the volunteers. This person must work on a voluntary basis or be employed for this purpose at a maximum of 50% FTE.

Other important criteria:

• The organisation wants to improve cooperation with its volunteers.
• It develops solutions that fit its own structure and culture.
• It actively incorporates the volunteers’ views and finds solutions together with them.
• It will share its insights and experiences with other organisations at the end of the funding period.
• No more than one project per organisation can be funded under this call for applications.

No funding is available for:

• Individuals, including those seeking financial assistance
• Already completed projects
• Ongoing projects which are not clearly advanced by the focus of the application

You can find further information and all eligibility criteria in the guidelines.

Funding is provided for projects that aim to improve volunteers’ well-being and reduce stress. Their objectives must lie in at least one of the following areas:

Area A: Strengthening the well-being of volunteers, for example, through the following aims:

• Community and belonging
• Freedom and self-determination
• Volunteers’ expectations and skills match the tasks
• Volunteers feel able to make a difference
• Volunteers derive purpose from their activity
• Recognition and appreciation
• Personal development

Area B: Reducing volunteers’ stress, for example, from the following issues:

• Excessive time burden
• Emotional or social stress, such as conflicts or difficult conversations
• Pressure to perform or too much responsibility
• Excessive workload
• Lack of knowledge or skills
• Unclear structures or lack of communication
• Lack of support and contact persons

Examples of projects that can be funded:

• A good induction process that coordinates the tasks and interests of the volunteers
• Supervision services for volunteers with stressful assignments
• Low-threshold counselling services for early recognition of overload
• Further training opportunities for volunteers, also together with other organisations
• Godfather/Godmother systems or tandems for new and experienced volunteers

No funding is available for:

• Pure thank-you or recognition campaigns
• Pure infrastructure projects without project relevance
• Pure operating costs without project reference

Each application is reviewed on the basis of formal and content criteria.

Formal criteria (selection)

• All documents have been submitted in full.
• The organisation operates on a non-profit basis.
• The organisation works with at least 30 volunteers.
• The project will start no later than January 2027.
• The budget must be realistic and transparent.
• The amount of funding requested is between CHF 10,000 and CHF 30,000.
• The volunteer coordinator works on a voluntary basis or with a maximum of 50% FTE.
   

Content criteria

• The project fits in with the theme of the call for applications.
• The project improves internal processes or structures.
• The planning is realistic and realisable.
• The volunteers are actively involved in the project.

You can find further information and all eligibility criteria in the guidelines.

1. Submission of applications:
   Submit your application between 16 March and 10 May 2026 via the online application portal.
2. Selection by the jury:
   Between May and July 2026, a jury of experts, volunteers and coordinators will review all applications. It will select 25 projects for public voting. By mid-July 2026, you will receive feedback on whether your project has been selected. 
3. Public voting:
   At the end of August 2026, the public will vote on the 25 selected projects at engagement.migros.ch. The 15 projects receiving the most votes will be awarded funding.
4. Decision on the grants:
   The 15 projects to be funded will be determined by mid-September 2026 at the latest. They will be awarded a grant of between CHF 10,000 and CHF 30,000.
5. Decision on the coaching sessions:
   The ten organisations to receive coaching sessions worth CHF 2,500 each will also be announced by mid-September 2026.
6. Payment of grants:
   The grants will be paid out at the end of September 2026.
7. Workshop ‘Project Room I’:
   Two project rooms will take place, one in the evening of 6 November 2026 and one in the morning of 14 November 2026. Participation in one of the two project rooms is mandatory. Please keep both dates free in advance. The project rooms are used for exchange and mutual support between the sponsored projects.
8. Workshop ‘Project Space II’:
   A second round of workshops will take place towards the end of the funding phase, in autumn 2027. Participation in the second round is also mandatory. In it, we will look back together: what worked well? What was difficult? What comes next? The exact date will be announced in good time.