Charter & Bylaws

This is a courtesy English translation of the Statutes (Satzung) of DOKUN e.V. provided for the convenience of English-speaking readers. The German-language original is the sole legally binding version of these statutes and is available on the association’s website. In the event of any discrepancy between this translation and the German original, the German text shall prevail.

§ 1 Name, Registered Seat, Establishment and Financial Year

(1) The association bears the name “DOKUN e.V.” (a registered association under German law).

(2) The association has its registered seat in Cologne.

(3) The association was established on 22.02.2026.

(4) The financial year is the calendar year.

§ 2 Purpose of the Association

(1) The association exclusively and directly pursues charitable purposes within the meaning of the section entitled “Tax-Privileged Purposes” of the Abgabenordnung (AO, the German Fiscal Code) (§§ 51 ff. AO).

(2) The purpose of the association is:

• the promotion of public welfare (§ 52 Abs. 2 Nr. 9 AO),
• the promotion of public health as well as disaster relief and civil protection (§ 52 Abs. 2 Nr. 3 AO),
• the promotion of assistance for persons persecuted on political or racial grounds or on account of their ethnic origin, for refugees, displaced persons and victims of disasters (§ 52 Abs. 2 Nr. 10 AO),
• the promotion of education, general schooling and vocational training, including student assistance (§ 52 Abs. 2 Nr. 7 AO).

(3) The purpose set out in these statutes shall be realised in particular through:

• financial, material and medical support for victims of disasters, persons in need, and refugees at home and abroad,
• carrying out relief measures in the event of natural disasters, wars and humanitarian crises,
• providing food, relief supplies, medicines and medical equipment,
• supporting the reconstruction of schools, hospitals, and educational and training institutions,
• promoting disaster relief and civil protection as well as training and deployment in first aid, rescue and medical services,
• promoting and supporting persons with physical, mental or multiple disabilities with a view to their integration into society,
• establishing and supporting social facilities and community centres,
• supporting students in need through financial assistance, scholarships or educational projects,
• establishing and supporting child and youth welfare facilities,
• carrying out food distributions and self-help projects,
• establishing and supporting water treatment facilities,
• promoting educational, integration and social projects for children, young people and adults,
• carrying out information, training and awareness events in the fields of health, education and disaster relief,
• promoting voluntary engagement for the benefit of charitable purposes,
• passing on funds to other tax-privileged corporations or legal entities under public law pursuant to § 58 AO for the realisation of tax-privileged purposes.

§ 3 Altruism (Non-Self-Serving Purpose)

(1) The association acts altruistically; it does not primarily pursue its own economic purposes.

(2) The association’s funds may only be used for the purposes set out in these statutes.

(3) Members shall not receive any benefits from the association’s funds.

(4) No person may be favoured by expenses that are unrelated to the purpose of the association, or by disproportionately high remuneration.

§ 4 Dedication of Assets

Upon the dissolution or termination of the association, or upon the cessation of its tax-privileged purposes, the association’s assets shall pass to the City of Cologne, which shall use them directly and exclusively for charitable purposes.

§ 5 Membership

(1) Any natural person who has completed their 16th year of age, as well as any legal person, may become a member of the association.

(2) The application for admission must be submitted in writing to the executive board.

(3) The executive board shall decide on admission.

(4) Membership ends upon resignation, expulsion, death, or, in the case of legal persons, upon their dissolution.

(5) Resignation must be declared in writing to the executive board. Resignation takes effect upon receipt of the declaration of resignation by the executive board.

(6) A member may be expelled by resolution of the executive board if the member seriously violates the interests of the association or these statutes.

(7) Before the resolution is adopted, the member concerned must be given the opportunity to comment in writing or orally.

(8) The resolution of expulsion must be substantiated in writing and communicated to the member.

(9) The expulsion takes effect upon receipt of the notification.

(10) The member concerned may lodge a written objection against the expulsion with the executive board within one month of receiving the notification.

(11) The next general meeting shall decide finally on the objection.

(12) Until a decision is made on the objection, the membership rights of the member concerned shall be suspended.

(13) Upon termination of membership, there shall be no claim to the association’s assets.

§ 6 Membership Fees

(1) Membership fees may be levied.

(2) The amount and due date of the fees shall be determined by the general meeting.

§ 7 Bodies of the Association

The bodies of the association are:

• the executive board
• the general meeting

§ 8 Executive Board

(1) The executive board consists of the first chairperson, the second chairperson, the treasurer and the secretary.

(2) The executive board within the meaning of § 26 BGB (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, the German Civil Code) consists of the first chairperson and the second chairperson.

(3) The association shall be represented in and out of court by the first chairperson or the second chairperson, each acting individually.

(4) The executive board is elected by the general meeting for a term of three years. Re-election is permitted.

(5) The term of office of the executive board ends upon the election of a new executive board. The members of the executive board shall remain in office beyond the expiry of their term until a new executive board is elected.

(6) Meetings of the executive board shall be convened by the first chairperson or, if the first chairperson is unavailable, by the second chairperson.

(7) Meetings of the executive board shall be held as required.

(8) The executive board has a quorum if at least half of its members are present.

(9) Resolutions are adopted by a simple majority of the votes cast.

(10) In the event of a tie, the vote of the chair of the meeting shall be decisive.

(11) Resolutions of the executive board may be adopted in writing or in text form (Textform — a form of communication recognised under German law, such as e-mail, that does not require a handwritten signature), provided that no member of the executive board objects.

(12) Minutes must be taken of every meeting of the executive board.

(13) The minutes must be signed by the chair of the meeting and by the person taking the minutes.

§ 9 General Meeting

(1) The general meeting is responsible in particular for the election and removal of the executive board, receiving the annual report, discharging the executive board, determining the membership fees, amendments to the statutes, and the dissolution of the association.

(2) The ordinary general meeting shall be held at least once a year.

(3) It shall be convened by the executive board in writing or in text form, giving at least two weeks’ notice and stating the agenda.

(4) The notice period begins on the day after the invitation is sent.

(5) An extraordinary general meeting shall be convened if the interests of the association so require, or if at least one third of the members request it in writing, stating the purpose and reasons.

(6) Resolutions are adopted by a simple majority of the valid votes cast.

(7) Amendments to the statutes require a majority of three quarters of the valid votes cast.

(8) Minutes must be taken of the general meeting.

(9) At the beginning of the meeting, the general meeting shall appoint a person to take the minutes.

(10) The minutes must contain: the place and time of the meeting, the names of the chair of the meeting and of the person taking the minutes, the number of members present, the agenda, the resolutions adopted and the voting results.

(11) The minutes must be signed by the chair of the meeting and by the person taking the minutes.

§ 10 Dissolution of the Association

(1) The dissolution of the association may only be resolved at a general meeting convened specifically for this purpose, by a majority of three quarters of the valid votes cast.

(2) Unless the general meeting resolves otherwise, the first chairperson and the second chairperson shall jointly act as authorised liquidators.

(3) The provisions of § 4 of these statutes remain unaffected.