NRW-Stiftung

The North Rhine-Westphalia Foundation for Nature Conservation, Homeland and Cultural Heritage (NRW-Stiftung) was established in 1986 by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as a private law foundation of the state. It promotes voluntary commitment and charitable initiatives for the preservation and development of natural areas, monuments, and cultural assets in NRW. Funding areas include the acquisition and maintenance of nature reserves, the restoration of listed buildings, measures to improve accessibility, as well as the establishment of extracurricular learning sites and cultural events. The foundation is financed through lottery proceeds from Westlotto, membership fees of its support association, and donations.

The NRW-Stiftung is committed to shaping and preserving the triad of nature, homeland, and culture in North Rhine-Westphalia. It supports projects that conserve our landscape diversity, historic buildings, and cultural assets, making them accessible to the public. In doing so, it places great emphasis on sustainability, citizen participation, and long-term impact in the spirit of a vibrant sense of homeland.

Eligible to apply are non-profit institutions – in particular associations, foundations, societies, and organizations – whose statutory purpose falls within the NRW-Stiftung’s funding areas (nature conservation, local heritage, and cultural preservation). Projects that are based in North Rhine-Westphalia, publicly accessible, and cannot be funded or can only be insufficiently funded by state or municipal resources are supported.