I am on medical leave. How will this affect my 12-month full-time or 24-month part-time (50%) working grant?
Please, contact the Foundation immediately by email . The grant cannot be paid if the recipient is on medical leave. For more information on health insurance for grant recipients, please, visit Mela’s website.
I have received a grant. Can I invoice the Foundation for the disbursements?
Please, submit your payment request through our online service. The funding cannot be paid by invoicing.
Do you give continued funding for the same project?
Yes, we do. You can apply for new funding for the same project with a new application. The application will be assessed similar to your previous application. The evaluation will take into consideration the project’s already achieved objectives; remember to highlight and explain them comprehensively.
What is the difference between withdrawing a grant and a payment request?
You must submit a payment request before we can transfer the funds to your bank account. The payment request is made by logging into our online service with the same credentials you used for submitting the application.
A payment request means that you log into our online service and let us know when you want to withdraw the grant. In addition to the payment schedule, other information is asked, such as your banking details. The request is signed electronically. We pay grants once a month on the 25th of each month. A payment request must be submitted at least 15 days before the desired payment date.
Withdrawing a grant means that we make a bank transfer and the funds will be on your bank account on the day you requested. At this point, you have withdrawn either the entire grant or part of it, if the grant is paid in instalments.
When must I submit the payment request if I want to withdraw the funds on 25 March 2026?
We pay grants for creators and projects once a month on the 25th of each month. A payment request is made through our online service at the latest 15 days before the desired payment date. If you want the funds to be on your bank account on 25 March 2026, you can submit a request already at the beginning of January 2026, but at the latest on 10 March 2026. Any request made after this date can be paid at the earliest in the next month; in this case on 25 April 2026.
Depending on the type and amount of the grant, there are deadlines for the last possible date for payment requests. For example, the €8,000 working grant or grant for expenses and the first instalment of the €32,000 twelve-month working grant must be requested by 10 October 2026. For more information, please, visit our For the grant recipient page.
I want to withdraw the grant already in January 2026. When should I submit my payment request?
If you want to withdraw the entire grant or the first instalment in January, that is on 25 January 2026, you must submit your payment request no later than 10 January 2026. The €8,000 working grant and grant for expenses as well as the €32,000 grant for expenses are withdrawn in one instalment. The €32,000 working grants (12 and 24 months) are withdrawn in four instalments.
When must I submit the report if I have a 12-month full-time working grant and I have received the first payment on 25 March 2026?
If you have received the twelve-month working grant and the first instalment was paid on 25 March 2026, your report must be submitted through our online service one year after the first payment, on 25 March 2027 at the latest.
I received an €8,000 Working Grant. Do I need to insure it at Mela?
Mela, the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution, handles the social security of grant recipients in regard to pension, accidents and group life insurance. A grant recipient is legally obligated to insure a working grant awarded for at least four months. Shorter grants may also be insured.
As we do not define a specific period for the €8,000 working grant, you are not legally obligated to insure your working with this grant. You can decide yourself what to do with the insurance.
Mela determines the insurability of the grant and the grant recipient. For additional information, please, visit the Mela website.