An overview of existing foundations in Germany can be found in the directories of the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft (Donors' Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany) and the Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen (Association of German Foundations). For research on the funding of OA publications, search terms such as publication costs, publication grant, publication funds, publication subsidy, printing cost grant, or printing cost subsidy can be used in current search engines.

Various research funding foundations such as the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Fritz Thyssen Foundation, the Volkswagen Foundation or the political foundations award publication grants that can be used to fund OA publications. The funds are usually available in the context of ongoing research projects or can be applied for in addition to these.