urgewald reserves the right to decline any donation or support that does not align with our mission or values.
These guidelines have been in effect since late 2017 and are revised as necessary.
Private Donations & Bequests
For individual donations of €5,000 or more, we conduct a formal review before acceptance. Bequests (inheritances) are generally accepted unless there are legal or ethical conflicts that would compromise our standing.
Foundation & Public Grants
Before seeking or accepting support, we conduct a thorough review of potential foundations and public funding institutions to ensure their values align with our strategic goals.
Corporate Giving
urgewald accepts corporate donations under strict conditions. We categorically exclude any donations from banks or companies that are the targets of our campaigns or whose business models contradict our environmental and social objectives.
Professional Fees & Honoraria
When urgewald employees are paid for speaking engagements or panel discussions, the following rules apply:
- Standard Rates: Fees are calculated based on average wage and overhead costs.
- Direct Payment: Wherever possible, fees are paid directly to urgewald.
- External Work: Fees may be accepted directly by employees only if the engagement occurs outside of working hours and does not create a conflict of interest.
- Review Threshold: Any fee exceeding €1,000 is subject to a formal internal review.
Transparency & Accountability
urgewald is a member of the Transparent Civil Society Initiative (Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft) and adheres to all its requirements.
While we meet the majority of the requirements for the DZI Donation Seal (German Central Institute for Social Issues), we have chosen not to apply for it to avoid the associated administrative costs, prioritizing the direct allocation of funds to our campaigns instead. Each year, we publish a full breakdown of individual donations, bequests, foundation grants, and public subsidies in our annual report.
