Financial model
Circular Berlin is organised as a not-for-profit association. A lot of our work we conduct voluntary driven by the mission to make a change. However, it still means we make income as an organisation, spending it to cover our costs and developing the topic we stand for the circular economy.
Voluntary and non-voluntary work
Current split between voluntary and paid work looks like that
This split is not black and white. Currently, we rely a lot on our voluntary work, but we encourage everyone to search for possible financial schemes aligned with our values if it is the motivation to finance one or another activity. In case if the budget left by the end of a financial year, the voluntary activities could be reimbursed accordingly. (in progress to be defined how).
How does Circular City e.V make income?
Circular Berlin main financial streams are:
Projects-related work mainly from the funding areas
The payment is agreed per project. Some of our members can be involved to realise the activity on a freelance basis. The reimbursement depends on the project. Usually, it is the longlasting involvement starting from 2 months up to 3 years, around one day a week. For the larger projects, it is always important to consider other organisational costs that go beyond the project-related expenses.
Who can be involved?
Currently, only team members can be involved in project work. Often the person involved in the proposal development for the project can also be involved or pre-define future team. The final decision should be taken by the Circular Berlin involved leads.
The conditions are:
Understanding of Circular Berlin work specifics, vision and mission and way of work
Experience in the project management
Topic know-how
In the period from 2019-2022, the main funding entities were:
Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Mobilität, Verbraucher - und Klimaschutz, Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt: DBU, IKEA Stiftung, Postcode Lotterie, Hans Sauer Stiftung
Some projects were also reaslied on the means of:
Bezirksamt Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg von Berlin, HTW Berlin, IZT | Institute for Futures Studies and Technology, Berlin Tourismus & Kongress GmbH, Berlin Partner
Workshop related activities
Workshops and educational services are part of the association work. We conduct paid workshop aligned with not-for-profit requirements. It means the pricing of workshops must be covering the costs of the association (facilitators fees, organisational and preparational costs, other costs). The members can be involved in the realisation of the workshops and brining the opportunities for it.
Who can be involved?
Team and community members can be involved in workshop realisations. Often it depends on who built the relationship with the client and what is the topic of the workshop. The final decision should be taken by the Circular Berlin educational team.
The conditions are:
Experience in the workshop development
Facilitation skills
Main organisations requsting the workshops:
Impact Hub Berlin, diverse NGOs and other educational institutions
Membership fees and sponsorships
We are a non-profit association and rely on financial contributions – such as these – to be able to work on our activities. The current membership fee is designed only for individuals and costs 60 euro per year. More about that you can find in the membership page:
As for the sponsorships we welcome diverse support for Circular Berlin, from the like-minded organisations that want to support our activities. The support can be independent of a project but related to the topic of the circular economy. It can be realised also in different forms, such as financial support or providing the space, or other services helping us to achieve our goals.
This support is dedicated to develop the topics of the circular economy further and to ensure their dissemination.
How does Circular City e.V. spend money?
We are quite young in the formation and understanding of our costs. Currently the main costs for us are honorar payment, related with the project work or workshop work. Other costs are associated with the organisational supporting activities, such as IT or communicational inftructure.
Profit and Loss overview
The current financial flow overview, for the year 2020-2022 you can find here:
Commulated Annual results
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