Nordrhein-Westfalen-Stiftung Naturschutz, Heimat- und Kulturpflege

The Nordrhein-Westfalen Foundation for Nature Conservation, Local Heritage, and Cultural Care was established in 1986 by the state of NRW. It supports non-profit institutions, associations, and organizations committed to the preservation and maintenance of the natural and cultural heritage in North Rhine-Westphalia. The foundation funds projects such as the acquisition and protection of nature conservation areas, the restoration of listed buildings, measures to improve accessibility, extracurricular learning sites, specialist publications, and cultural events. Financing is provided through lottery proceeds (Westlotto), membership fees of the support association, and donations.

The NRW Foundation is tasked with preserving nature, homeland, and culture as an equally important triad and making them accessible to the people of North Rhine-Westphalia. It promotes civic engagement, relies on voluntary work, and strengthens the sense of homeland as well as regional identity.

Eligible to apply are non-profit initiatives (associations, foundations, societies, organizations) with projects in NRW that are intended for a broad audience and publicly accessible. Funding is provided for measures that cannot be financed or can only be financed to a limited extent by public funds and have a thematic connection to homeland, culture, or nature conservation.