Bürgerstiftung Ostfalen

The Bürgerstiftung Ostfalen has been recognized as a legally capable foundation under civil law since October 31, 2003. It was established on the initiative of the former Volksbank Helmstedt eG and operates independently as a non-profit community foundation. Its foundation purpose includes the promotion of cultural objectives (music, literature, visual and performing arts, monument preservation), youth, elderly, and disability assistance, sports (recreational and youth sports), education (upbringing, general and vocational education), charitable and ecclesiastical purposes, nature conservation and landscape management, fire, labor, disaster and civil protection, international understanding and peacekeeping, animal welfare, crime prevention as well as consumer advice and protection. The foundation focuses primarily on projects in the Elm-Lappwald region (districts of Helmstedt, Börde, and parts of Wolfenbüttel) and allocates funds with long-term defined funding priorities – most recently "education" – specifically for initiatives that sustainably enhance the quality of life and civic engagement locally.

The Bürgerstiftung Ostfalen promotes civic engagement in the Elm-Lappwald region and contributes through targeted project funding to improving the quality of life, social cohesion, and cultural diversity of its residents across generations.

Non-profit associations, initiatives, and institutions, as well as volunteers from the Elm-Lappwald region, whose project objectives align with the statutory funding areas (culture, social affairs, education, sports, environment, security, international understanding, etc.), are supported. Priority is given to projects with a high level of volunteer involvement, model character, sustainability, local anchoring, innovative approaches, and self-help.