The Maecenata Foundation is an independent tax-exempt operating foundation under German law, specialising in the subjects of civil society, civic engagement, philanthropy and foundations.It was founded in 2010 by Rupert Graf Strachwitz, who remains the chief executive officer until 2023. Two pre-existing programmes were incorporated into the foundation.

The foundation views itself as an independent think tank. Its mission is

  1. to further and promote knowledge and understanding of civil society (aka the Nonprofit and Third Sector) through research in the humanities and social sciences, academic teaching, and relevant publications,
  2. to participate in and organize the interplay between academia, politics and the field in regard to civil society and philanthropy,
  3. to enhance and empower civil society and philanthropy as a vital contributor to a free society,
  4. to further the understanding of civil society as a cohesive and yet heterogeneous arena in the public sphere,
  5. to contribute to this understanding through particular projects and by providing an overall picture,
  6. to offer specific services in connection with its overall mission, in as far as its tax exemption does not preclude it from doing so.

The foundation is strongly committed to transnational and transcultural exchange, intercultural dialogue, and interdisciplinary work. Read more

News from the Foundation

OP 168 Kruijer English: „Zwei Herzen schlagen in meiner Brust“

OP 168 Kruijer English: „Zwei Herzen schlagen in meiner Brust“

Opusculum 168 | 19.01.2023 | Bente Kruijer | Church asylum in Germany: An analysis of the positions of church asylum actors during the …

Funds and projects for Ukraine

Funds and projects for Ukraine

10.03.2022 The following list contains all the relief funds and projects for Ukraine that you can donate to through the Maecenata …

German Chancellor Fellow Luisa Bonin shares her thoughts on Brazil’s election results

German Chancellor Fellow Luisa Bonin shares her thoughts on Brazil’s election results

11.11.2022 I Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won the Brazilian presidential elections On 30 October 2022, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva …

Addressing Europe’s Issues: A Potential Model for Cross-Sector Collaboration

Addressing Europe’s Issues: A Potential Model for Cross-Sector Collaboration

Observatorium 44 | 29.07.2020 | Beobachtungen zur Reformpolitik des neuen kasachischen Präsidenten wirkt sich positiv auf die Entwicklung …

News from Civil Society

Study on European public opinion regarding the war in Ukraine

Study on European public opinion regarding the war in Ukraine

22.12.2022 | ‘Under pressure: The war in Ukraine and European public opinion’ rublic support remains stable but there are …

New report from the International Civil Society Centre on innovation and digitalisation within the sector

New report from the International Civil Society Centre on innovation and digitalisation within the sector

14.10.2022 | "Digitalisation is a fundamental global driver of change" >> Read the full report here  The …

New report on community foundations in Europe

New report on community foundations in Europe

28.09.2022 | "Community foundations make an important global to local connection in relation to the SDGs and the climate …

New rule of law report from the European Commission

New rule of law report from the European Commission

16.09.2022 | The European Commission publishes its rule of law recommendations for Member States, including reforms to laws that affect …

The Rockefeller Foundation publishes new reports on global philanthropy

The Rockefeller Foundation publishes new reports on global philanthropy

12.09.2022 | Two new reports offer an insight into the current trends and archetypes in global philanthropy Rockefeller …

New Publications

OP 168 Kruijer English: „Zwei Herzen schlagen in meiner Brust“

OP 168 Kruijer English: „Zwei Herzen schlagen in meiner Brust“

Opusculum 168 | 19.01.2023 | Bente Kruijer | Church asylum in Germany: An analysis of the positions of church asylum actors during the …

Listening is not enough: An assessment of the Feedback Loop Methodology

Listening is not enough: An assessment of the Feedback Loop Methodology

Opusculum 165 | 13.07.2022 | Luisa Bonin | The CEOs of most foundations see “listening to and learning from those they seek to help as a …

Falling Walls: Can Civil Society rock global North-South divisions? What are its Resources, Agents and Limits?

Falling Walls: Can Civil Society rock global North-South divisions? What are its Resources, Agents and Limits?

Opusculum 164 | 20.06.2022 | Wolfgang Goede | Invisible walls, cemented by historic inequity, must

2020: The year of crisis or crises? | In the Corona crisis: a voice from civil society 19 | 31 Juli 2020

2020: The year of crisis or crises? | In the Corona crisis: a voice from civil society 19 | 31 Juli 2020

2020 has been a turbulent year so far. Multiple crises are co-existing and influence the way this year will be remembered: the climate …

Maecenata: In a nutshell

Donations for Turkey and Ukraine

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