Infrastructure & Relationship – Funding by the Schöpflin Foundation

The Schöpflin Foundation supports civil society backbone and infrastructure organizations across Europe with ongoing grants. The aim is to sustainably strengthen NGOs and social enterprises through stable support structures, strategic networking, and the expansion of lobbying and public relations work. Initiatives are funded that not only pool resources for joint actions but also focus on the resilience and wellbeing of those involved. Two central fields of action are prioritized: on the one hand, the promotion of network organizations that generate political weight for social and democratic concerns under the motto “Lobby for Good.” On the other hand, support is given to initiatives that specifically advance relationship-building within civil society – because a robust togetherness forms the foundation for long-term impact. Through this dual-track funding, resilient structures are created that enable the sector to advance under its own power.

Eligible for funding are non-profit organizations and enterprises based in Europe with a clearly civil society mission. Applications can be submitted continuously; no formal funding period is specified. The Foundation seeks a partnership-based collaboration with project holders and provides multi-year institutional support instead of time-limited individual projects. This creates space for experimentation and innovative approaches that lead to leverage effects throughout the social and nonprofit sector. Interested backbone, network, and infrastructure organizations can find all the requirements for application on the Schöpflin Foundation’s website and are invited to submit their ideas to strengthen social cohesion.