Every two years, the Fonds Soziokultur awards the Innovation Award for Socioculture, endowed with 10,000 euros, on a special topic. This theme is linked to its regular general project funding. Projects that address this topic and receive funding can also be nominated for the award by the Board of Trustees. A separate application for the Innovation Award is not possible. Once all nominated projects have been completed, a prize jury will select one or more award-winning projects.

On 26 November 2026, the award recipients of the 12th Innovation Award for Socioculture will be honoured in Leipzig. The award focuses on the theme “Don't be afraid! Shaping Conflict and Resistance”.

As part of the upcoming call for applications for General Project Funding (2 October–2 November), applicants can also submit projects on the topic of “Loneliness”. The Board of Trustees may nominate these projects for the 13th Innovation Award for Socioculture (https://www.fonds-soziokultur.de/de/innovationspreis/13). The award ceremony will take place after the projects have been completed, most likely in autumn 2028.