Where does our money come from?

Transparency is very important to us—after all, we demand it from our “opponents” as well. That is why we disclose the sources of funding for our work. In order to be able to work independently and flexibly, our financing is based on several solid pillars.

Our financial pillars

Private donations

Approximately 30-40% of our income comes from individual donations from private individuals and regular contributions from our approximately 2,000 supporting members (2025). This also includes occasional large donations and inheritances. Currently, around 400 people specifically support the extensive research for our GOGEL project through a “sponsorship program.”

Support from foundations

There is a wide range of international foundations and topics. urgewald works on global issues, often with partner organizations in networks. Together we develop strategies; together we can achieve more. Some international foundations support this collaborative approach. Foundations usually have their own funding priorities and support – if a proposal suits them – for example:

new projects and campaign ideas,
international networking,
civil society in certain regions,

or specific topics such as

work on the World Bank, ADB, and AIIB,
the European Investment Bank,
or campaigns on private banks and energy suppliers.

We would not be able to work on some issues without the support of international foundations. These issues are not in the public eye and do not make the headlines. Nevertheless, they concern policies that affect millions of people. Our work in this field involves advocating for strong environmental and social standards in large institutions such as the World Bank, critically monitoring their projects and programs, and exposing abuses.

Basic funding is very rare in Germany. A few years ago, we received such funding from the Bewegungsstiftung, which supported the expansion of our press and public relations work. Today, a five-person media team works for urgewald. This “boost” at the time was the catalyst for the professionalization of our media work.

Support from other non-profit organizations

Here, it is the two large church aid organizations Misereor and Brot für die Welt that have long supported our work on environmental and social standards in the financial sector and on human rights issues.

Public funding

The funds for our program to build networks in Asia, supported by Misereor, come from the federal budget. This is indirect funding with public money.

Sales proceeds

These are revenues from the sale of materials and participation fees, as well as usage fees for our databases, which we receive on a voluntary basis from larger and financially strong investors.

Fees

We occasionally receive fees for lectures or for writing articles.

Transparency in the annual report

In our annual report, we publish the total amount of all donations, funding from foundations and public donors, and the total amount of all inheritances.

Our annual reports

We would like to thank our current sponsors for their often long-standing and trusting cooperation:

C.S. Mott Foundation (USA)
Brot für die Welt (GER)
Energy Transition Fund, ETF (CH)
Climate Works Foundation (USA)
Naturstrom Stiftung (GER)
Urgewald Foundation (GER)
Climate Reality Project (USA)
European Climate Foundation, ECF (NL)
Stiftung Gekko (GER)
GLS-Treuhand (GER)
KR-Foundation (DK)
Misereor, Aachen (GER)
Mulago Foundation (USA)
Olin gemeinnützige GmbH (GER)
Sunrise Project (AUS)
Rockefeller Foundation (USA)
Tilia Fund (USA)
Sequoia Foundation (USA)
Dorothea-Laura-Janina-Sick-Umweltstiftung (GER)

(Status 12/2025) We would like to thank our contacts at the foundations and the donors for their trust, for providing helpful information and contacts, and for their courage in addressing uncomfortable, complex, and difficult issues.