German Community Foundations Leading the Way on Climate Action

German community foundations are stepping up to address the climate crisis. The European Community Foundation Initiative (ECFI) and the German Alliance of Community Foundations are happy to announce that several foundations have signed the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change. These include the community foundations of Hamburg, Munich, Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Heusenstamm and Fürstenfeldbruck. By doing so, they are demonstrating that climate action is a fundamental responsibility of a sustainable civil society- one in which community foundations play a leading role. 

Ulrike Reichart, Director of the German Alliance of Community Foundations, emphasized: 

"Community foundations are deeply rooted in their local communities, and climate change is a global challenge that affects us all. By signing the Climate Commitment, German community foundations are embracing the principle of ‘think global, act local’ - taking responsibility and securing a sustainable world for future generations. We hope many more will follow." 

This growing movement is part of Philanthropy For Climate, a global initiative encouraging foundations to take meaningful climate action. The International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change is hosted by WINGs with Philea acting as coordinator for the European signatories.  By signing the Climate Commitment, German community foundations are setting a strong example, strengthening their credibility, and inspiring others across Europe to follow suit. 

Over the past year, ECFI and the German Alliance of Community Foundations have worked together to raise climate awareness among German community foundations and promote the Climate Commitment. This effort has been supported by Stiftung Mercator. 

Learn how your community foundation can act on climate 

Active Philanthropy and the European Community Foundation Initiative (ECFI) have joined forces to help make sense of the relevance and impact of climate change at local level and to determine options for community foundations with regard to both mitigation and adaptation.   

From January to March 2023, ECFI convened 27 community foundation representatives from across Europe to join a special cohort of Active Philanthropy’s online course, Climate + Philanthropy: A Compact Learning Journey. 

The Learning Journey cohort continues to actively exchange experiences and learnings via the ECFI climate peer group.

For more about the course structure and content, please see the Climate + Philanthropy: A Compact Learning Journey course page at learn.activephilanthropy.org.   

ECFI scholarship opportunities in 2024

The question of where to start and how to integrate climate action into our day-to-day work can feel overwhelming. In 2024, ECFI will therefore continue to offer a limited number of scholarships to community foundations representatives ready to embark on their own climate journey and drive change within their sphere of influence.

Active Philanthropy will launch a redesigned version of the Climate + Philanthropy Learning Journey in 2024 where participants are no longer part of a fixed cohort. Instead, they will complete the course individually over three months and have the opportunity to join up to eight interactive zoom sessions together with a wide range of current and former students throughout the year.

As part of the ECFI scholarship programme, ECFI will provide additional individual and small group support specifically for European community representatives foundation participants. 

ECFI is now accepting applications for community foundation and CFSO representatives from Europe ready to start the Climate + Philanthropy Learning Journey in March 2024 (completion within 12 weeks).

If you would like to be considered for a scholarship, please complete this form.