Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU)
About the funder
The Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) is a legal foundation under civil law of the Federal Republic of Germany, headquartered in Osnabrück. It is one of the largest foundations in Europe and has been promoting innovative, exemplary, and solution-oriented projects for environmental protection since 1991. By July 2025, over 11,300 projects with a total volume of approximately €2.12 billion have been supported. The current foundation capital amounts to about €2.93 billion, with around €50 million annually available for environmental projects in the fields of environmental technology, environmental research, nature conservation, environmental communication, and cultural heritage protection. The DBU operates independently and politically neutral, placing special emphasis on the inclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises as well as interdisciplinary project approaches.
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Mission & Vision
The DBU is mandated to promote innovative and sustainable projects for environmental protection, with special consideration given to medium-sized enterprises. The goal is to address complex environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, unsustainable resource consumption, and emissions through interdisciplinary, systemic, and practical approaches. In doing so, the foundation is guided by the principles of sustainable development, integrating ecological, economic, social, and cultural aspects, and aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Target groups
The funding programs of the DBU are primarily aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research institutions, public and private organizations, as well as civil society actors who wish to implement innovative projects in the fields of environmental technology, environmental research, nature conservation, environmental education, environmental communication, and cultural heritage protection. Support is provided for individual and collaborative projects with a model character that achieve sustainable effects in practice and generate a multiplier effect.