City and charity organizations finalize agreements worth 31 million euros for development of community facilities and welfare programs
Dortmund Secures 31 Million Euros in Social Infrastructure Funding for 2026-2030
In a significant move, the city of Dortmund has signed new funding agreements with free welfare associations, totalling around 31 million euros. These agreements, set to come into force on January 1, 2026, will replace the previous ones that expire at the end of 2025.
The new contracts, signed on July 10, 2025, at the city hall, aim to provide planning security for five years for the participating welfare associations. The agreements focus on central offers for vulnerable groups, with a focus on youth promotion and psychosocial support.
One of the new measures is the "North City League" - a sports pedagogical project with social worker accompaniment. Another is the psychosocial center for traumatized refugees.
The implementation of the funded measures is scheduled to begin in 2026. Of the increased funding, 18 million euros will go to the youth office, 7.4 million euros to the social office, and 5.6 million euros to the health sector.
The city administration views the collaboration with the welfare associations as a proven model that addresses current challenges. The associations, in turn, view the new contracts as a "joint commitment to social responsibility."
The funding volume will increase by around 6.1 million euros compared to the previous year, with a uniform increase of 2.4 percent intended to cushion expected cost increases.
Dortmund's welfare sector supports approximately 17,500 jobs and generates approximately 300 million euros in annual revenue. The signing of the new funding agreements involved representatives from AWO, Caritas, Diakonie, DRK, Paritätischer, and Jewish Cultural Community, in addition to the mayor and the responsible department head.
For precise figures and allocations, it is recommended to consult Dortmund city official budget and financial planning documents, the social services department or youth welfare office of Dortmund, or regional government (North Rhine-Westphalia) planning or social policy reports. These documents typically specify funding targets for areas like youth welfare, social work, and health, but access to the most recent or forward-looking budget allocations often requires consultation of local government portals or official publications directly.
Economic and social policy in Dortmund has received a substantial boost with the signing of new contracts worth 31 million euros for the financial period of 2026-2030. This move in politics comes as a joint commitment from the city administration and free welfare associations to address current challenges and promote social responsibility.
