The Civil Affair Institute

What The Civil Affair Institute does

The Civil Affair Institute (Instytut Spraw Obywatelskich, legal name: Fundacja Instytut Spraw Obywatelskich, KRS 0000191928) is a Łódź-based Polish non-profit foundation established in 2004 that operates as a civic advocacy, civic education, and civic media organization. It runs simultaneous activities across research, publishing, campaigning, and direct service, with no proprietary technology platform. Its core products include the weekly civic newspaper Tygodnik Spraw Obywatelskich (ISSN 2719-6240, published since January 2020, current issue Nr 341/(28) 2026), the free periodic newspaper Aktywność Obywatelska, signature long-running campaigns ('Dom to pracja' on unpaid domestic work since 2006, 'Rewolucja energetyczna' on energy policy, 'Wolne od GMO? Chcę wiedzieć!' on GMO labeling, 'Obywatele decydują' on civic participation, 'Broń gotówki!' on cash-payment rights, 'Tiry na tory' on freight modal shift), and structured programs (Akademia Instytutu Spraw Obywatelskich, Centrum Wspierania Rad Pracowników serving 3,500+ employee councils, Ośrodek Wsparcia Ekonomii Społecznej, Kuźnia Kampanierów, and the annual Forum Technopolityczne). The Institute's 'customer' base is a long-tail of Polish citizens, civic activists, NGOs, and employee councils; the organization does not serve commercial customers.

The Institute is led by founder Rafał Górski (President of the Management Board, editor-in-chief of Tygodnik Spraw Obywatelskich) with a 23-person staff and a wider network of expert contributors. Documented policy outcomes include the 2019 signing of the Mama 4+ maternal pension law by President Andrzej Duda (after 13 years of 'Dom to praca' campaign work, with 13,477 petition signatures submitted and 60,000 women reportedly regaining economic independence) and Polish GMO labeling legislation after a 10-year campaign. The organization is ISO 9001 certified (2026) and operates without any parent company, equity investors, or controlling shareholders.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The business model rests on three pillars: (1) individual donations, primarily recurring 49 PLN monthly contributions; (2) Poland's 1.5% personal income tax designation program; and (3) project-based public funding, notably European Union co-financing (a 1,005,375.90 PLN EU grant via the Chancellery of the Prime Minister for the Akademia project in 2020, total project value 1,036,470 PLN). Distribution is entirely domestic and primarily free-to-user, with content distributed via the Institute's website, social platforms (Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Spotify), email newsletter, SMS alerts (Alert Obywatelski), and free print newspapers.

Name

The Civil Affair Institute

Legal name

Fundacja Instytut Spraw Obywatelskich

Website

https://instytutsprawobywatelskich.pl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Civil Affair Institute (Instytut Spraw Obywatelskich) is a Łódź-based Polish non-profit foundation founded in 2004 that runs civic journalism, advocacy campaigns, and educational programs for civic activists, NGOs, and employee councils across Poland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Advocacy and Civic Education

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAGAD

Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Human Rights, Democracy & Governance

SECONDARYBPAGAFAJ

Democracy, Voting Rights & Civic Participation Advocacy

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAFAA

Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYEDAAADAL

Civic Participation & Leadership Development (Voting, Advocacy, Community Leadership)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Citizenship & Immigrant Integration Education

SECONDARYEDADALAC

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Partnerships, Intergovernmental & NGO Programs

SECONDARYTHAHAJAO

Nonprofit, Social Services & Community Development Congresses

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Association, Government & Academic Congresses

Keywords

• Civic education
• Citizen advocacy
• Worker council support
• Social economy training
• Policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Łódź

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations from Individual Supporters: The organization relies on donations from individual supporters, with most donors contributing 49 PLN monthly. They conduct regular fundraising campaigns and accept one-time or recurring donations.
2. European Union and Government Funding: The institute receives European funding for specific projects. For example, the Academy project was co-financed under the competition of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, with funding of 1,005,375.90 PLN from European Funds.
3. 1.5% Tax Designation Program: The organization participates in Poland's 1.5% personal income tax donation program, allowing citizens to direct a portion of their taxes to support the institute's operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Civil Affair Institute is a Polish civic foundation that promotes citizen participation and democratic governance through a weekly publication, a free newspaper, advocacy campaigns, training programs, and support centers for employee councils and social economy organizations. Its core activities include running recurring civic campaigns (e.g., Broń gotówki!, Obywatele decydują), publishing policy reports and handbooks, and convening forums such as the Forum Technopolityczne. The institute operates primarily through donation and grant funding, including 1.5% personal income tax allocations by Polish citizens.

Product overview

The Civil Affair Institute (Instytut Spraw Obywatelskich) is a civic organization founded in 2004, offering a portfolio of publications, educational programs, and advocacy campaigns. Core offerings include the Tygodnik Spraw Obywatelskich (weekly civic newspaper) and Aktywność Obywatelska (free social newspaper), both covering civic engagement topics. The Akademia Instytutu Spraw Obywatelskich provides nationwide training programs for activists and NGOs. The organization runs multiple campaigns including Dom to praca (unpaid domestic work), Rewolucja energetyczna (energy security), Broń gotówki! (cash payments), Obywatele decydują (civic participation), and Wolne od GMO? Chcę wiedzieć! (GMO labeling). Additional programs include Centrum Wspierania Rad Pracowników for employee councils, Forum Technopolityczne for technology policy discussions, and Tiry na tory for rail transport advocacy. Publications include guides like Wykorzystaj prawo and reports such as Czarna księga bioenergii and Nieopłacana praca domowa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tygodnik Spraw Obywatelskich: Weekly digital publication covering civic affairs, politics, technology, health, ecology, and economics. ISSN 2719-6240. Editor-in-chief: Rafał Górski; Secretary: Małgorzata Jankowska.
• Aktywność Obywatelska
• Akademia Instytutu Spraw Obywatelskich
• Forum Technopolityczne
• Centrum Wspierania Rad Pracowników
• Ośrodek Wsparcia Ekonomii Społecznej (OWES)
• Kuźnia Kampanierów
• Alert Obywatelski
• Dom to praca

Products and services

• Tygodnik Spraw Obywatelskich ("Citizens Affairs Weekly") A weekly publication covering civic affairs, public policy, and democratic participation in Poland, distributed to citizens and stakeholders. The publication is led by an editor-in-chief and an editorial office and serves as the institute's flagship civic-education vehicle.
• Aktywność Obywatelska ("Civic Activity") A free newspaper published by the institute to promote civic engagement and inform Polish citizens about civic initiatives and advocacy opportunities.
• Akademia Instytutu Spraw Obywatelskich (ISO Academy) A structured training program delivered by the institute to build capacity in Polish NGOs and civic organizations, focusing on civic advocacy, organizational development, and civic engagement methods.
• Centrum Wspierania Rad Pracowników (Employee Council Support Center) A dedicated support center providing guidance, training, and advisory services to employee councils in Polish enterprises and institutions, helping them exercise their workplace representation rights.
• Ośrodek Wsparcia Ekonomii Społecznej (OWES) (Social Economy Support Center) A support center providing advisory and capacity-building services to social economy organizations and cooperatives in Poland, supporting the development of social enterprises and community economic initiatives.
• Forum Technopolityczne (Technopolitical Forum) A convening forum organized by the institute to bring together stakeholders to discuss the intersection of technology, policy, and civic life in Poland.
• Citizens' advocacy campaigns (e.g., Broń gotówki!, Obywatele decydują, Wolne od GMO? Chcę wiedzieć!, Tiry na tory, Dom to praca, Rewolucja energetyczna) A portfolio of recurring citizens' advocacy campaigns led by the institute on issues including cash payments, citizen decision-making, GMO labeling, freight transport, domestic work, and energy policy, aimed at influencing Polish legislation and public debate.
• Policy reports and handbooks (e.g., Czarna księga bioenergii, Nieopłacana praca domowa, Wykorzystaj prawo) Published policy reports and handbooks produced by the institute on topics such as bioenergy, unpaid domestic work, and the use of legal rights, providing research and guidance to citizens and policymakers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 300 social leaders strengthened through civic education programs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GetResponseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGetResponse provides email marketing platform support for the institute's newsletter distribution and communication activities.
• Brand24minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand24 provides brand monitoring and social listening tools to support the institute's communications and campaign activities.
• Fundacja MaMacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Fundacja MaMa in the 'Dom to praca' campaign. Worked together in the Team for Unpaid Domestic Work (2009-2010) and submitted recommendations to Parliament.
• Telewizja Polska (TVP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTVP has aired promotional spots for the institute's campaigns, including the 'Dom to praca' petition campaign, at no charge.
• Polskie RadiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPolish Radio (Program Pierwszy) has aired promotional spots for the institute's campaigns at no charge, including 'Zrobione, docenione, wiele warte...' campaign.
• Kancelaria Prezesa Rady MinistrówcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Akademia Instytutu Spraw Obywatelskich project was co-financed under the competition of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister with 1,005,375.90 PLN from European Funds.
• Fundacja Frank BoldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-contributor to the 'Wykorzystaj prawo' guide on using law for civic advocacy.
• Ogólnopolska Federacja Organizacji PozarządowychminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe institute is a member of this federation representing Polish NGOs, participating in joint initiatives including the Izba Ekonomii Społecznej.
• SuperstacjaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTelevision channel that aired promotional spots for the institute's campaigns at no charge.
• Stowarzyszenie Pracownia na rzecz Wszystkich IstotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the report 'Lasy do spalenia. Prawdziwa cena bioenergii' (Forests for Burning: The True Price of Bioenergy) regarding forest biomass energy policy.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Fundacja ClientEarth Prawnicy dla Ziemi: International environmental law charity with Polish operations. Broader incumbent in the legal-advocacy-for-environment space in Poland — comparable mission, but with global funding, larger headcount, and cross-border litigation capacity the institute lacks.
• Fundacja Batorego Alternative: Open Society Foundations – Central Europe Office: Global grantmaking foundation with deep presence in Central/Eastern Europe. Broader incumbent in the civic space — sets funder priorities that flow down to Polish NGOs like Instytut Spraw Obywatelskich and is a key potential funder/competitor for civic advocacy funding.

Direct peers

• Fundacja Centrum Edukacji Obywatelskiej (CEO): Polish civic education foundation running teacher training, youth programs, and civic curricula. Direct peer in civic education and NGO training — both compete for similar EU education grants and target Polish civil society capacity building.
• Stowarzyszenie Pracownia na rzecz Wszystkich Istot: Polish environmental advocacy association. Existing co-author partner on the bioenergy report — direct peer in environmental/civic advocacy and grassroots policy campaigns in Poland.
• Helsińska Fundacja Praw Człowieka (Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights): Polish NGO providing legal assistance, human rights monitoring, and civic advocacy. Comparable as a Warsaw-headquartered civic society organization that combines litigation, education, and policy advocacy on rights issues — directly competing for civic education grants and donor attention.
• Fundacja Frank Bold: Environmental law NGO active in Poland and CEE via the 'Frank Bold Foundation' and 'ClientEarth Prawnicy dla Ziemi'. Existing co-author partner on the 'Wykorzystaj prawo' guide — direct peer in using legal tools for civic advocacy, with similar subject matter on environmental and democratic issues.
• Instytut Spraw Publicznych (ISP): Polish think tank focused on public policy research, democratic governance, and EU integration. Direct peer in Warsaw-based policy advocacy — comparable in producing reports and policy recommendations that compete for similar foundation grants.
• Fundacja im. Stefana Batorego (Batory Foundation): Largest independent Polish grantmaking foundation supporting civic society, democracy, and rule of law. Direct peer given shared Polish NGO ecosystem, EU-funded civic programming, and advocacy on civil liberties — but with a much larger endowment and grantmaking (rather than direct service delivery) model.
• Fundacja Rozwoju Społeczeństwa Obywatelskiego (FRSO / Civil Society Development Foundation): Polish NGO providing training, consulting, and resources for civic organizations. Direct peer as a capacity-building intermediary for Polish NGOs and civic initiatives, often co-funded by the same EU and EEA mechanisms.
• Centrum Analiz Klubu Jagiellońskiego (Jagiellonian Club Analysis Center): Polish conservative-leaning think tank publishing policy analysis and civic commentary. Comparable as a Polish policy/civic organization that publishes thought-leadership content and competes for similar donor audiences, though with different ideological positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/InstytutSprawO
• YouTubeyoutube.com/instytutsprawobywatelskich
• Facebookfacebook.com/instytut.spraw.obywatelskich
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-civil-affairs-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/instytut

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Civil Affair Institute