A coalition of foundations, operating under the initiative “Zukunftswege Ost” (Future Pathways East), is significantly increasing its investment in civil society organizations across eastern Germany. According to Stefan Vogt of the Freudenberg Foundation, the initiative secured €800,000 last year, a figure expected to double in the current year.
The funding is being allocated in grants of up to €5,000 per project, intended to provide crucial support to local clubs and initiatives. These organizations are increasingly facing pressure, particularly from the rise in far-right campaigns. However, Vogt acknowledged that this level of funding alone is insufficient to fully address the challenges.
To augment the impact, the initiative plans to concentrate efforts in designated “focus regions” providing annual grants of up to €100,000 per region. Despite this expansion, Vogt cautioned that even a pooled effort from all participating foundations would not be a complete solution. He highlighted a fundamental disparity in approach between democratic organizations, which often operate within legislative cycles and project timelines and those employing extremist tactics, who demonstrate a strategic and long-term perspective. The long-term resilience of civil society in eastern Germany, he stressed, necessitates a more robust and sustained response.