The future of civil society
Every society depends on the involvement of its citizens. Whether through services or communal efforts, involvement in social causes offers individuals a variety of means for getting involved. Around the globe, the stakeholders in civil society see to it that services are provided in the areas of social services, education, sports, healthcare, art, culture, environmental protection and development work. That's what allows civil society to take the initiative and provide help to those in need. Charitable organizations allow people to work together -- regardless of socioeconomic and cultural differences. Bertelsmann Stiftung is therefore dedicated to promoting involvement in civic initiatives and developing the nonprofit sector.
Focus areas
Orientation for Social Investors
Donors, sponsors and civic-minded companies seek to bring about social improvements with their involvement. They hope the funds they provide will be used effectively. Reports on various thematic areas indicate how and where support can prove especially useful.
moreFoundations
Each year, more and more people decide to establish a foundation. Bertelsmann Stiftung actively supports this development and is working to promote professionalization of the foundation and donation sector. Foundation work today demands strategic leadership as well as efficient and effective management within the existing legal framework. We promote exchange among foundation managers and experts and facilitate a transfer of competencies on a national and international level through events and publications.
moreKinder.Stiften.Zukunft. (Children.Action.Future.)
We are especially committed to the transfer of knowledge and the networking of stakeholders who support education, health and integration for young people. The Kinder.Stiften.Zukunft. conference provides a platform on which nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies and social investors can engage in an extensive exchange of ideas and launch new partnerships.
moreYoung people and social involvement
Many young people want to contribute to society. Children and adolescents should discover early on what an enriching experience assuming responsibility in society can be. We seek to provide young people - regardless of their background and level of education - with the opportunity to become involved in social affairs, an opportunity that will motivate them to actively help shape the democratic community throughout their lives.
moreCommunity foundations
More and more citizens are getting involved in their communities. Proof of this can be seen in the growing number of newly established community foundations in Germany and elsewhere. They send a powerful message to society. Even individuals with relatively modest amounts of time and money to contribute can thus improve the quality of life in their local community - an attractive form of civic involvement.
moreZivilgesellschaft in Zahlen (Placing Civil Society on the Economic Map)
Although the importance of civil society is widely acknowledged, the exact nature and composition of the charitable sector in Germany remains largely unclear. The project "Zivilgesellschaft in Zahlen" (Placing Civil Society on the Economic Map) provides updated empirical data on the importance of civil society to the economy, labor market and sociopolitical environment as well as on its internal structure.
moreMore focus areas and projects
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News
New Report Outlines the Future of Community Foundations in a Transatlantic Perspective
The Transatlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN), a project of the Germany-based Bertelsmann Stiftung with support from the U.S.-based Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, has released a new report outlining the major trends that will affect the work of community foundations outside the United States.
News
Transparency in the Nonprofit Sector
"Many people want to contribute to a good cause nowadays, some with very large amounts of money. But how can they determine if the concepts behind the big ideas and noble motivation are really feasible or not? Is it possible to measure success in the nonprofit sector?"
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