Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken

What Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken does

Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken is a privately funded, non-profit charitable foundation (Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts) established on March 28, 1994 in Berlin, Germany. The foundation was created on the initiative of the development policy round table (entwicklungspolitischer Runder Tisch) following German reunification, with an initial endowment of 17 million EUR provided by SODI (Solidaritätsdienst-international e.V.), the legal successor of the Solidarity Committee of the former East Germany. Today the foundation operates as the primary funding channel for development policy NGOs across the six East German federal states and Berlin, channeling government grants from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) via Engagement Global gGmbH, as well as state-level funding from Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt. Total foundation assets stand at approximately 23.72 million EUR as of December 31, 2025, with core foundation capital of approximately 18 million EUR.

The foundation's product portfolio consists of multiple grant programs supporting both domestic development education (Bildungs- und Inlandsarbeit) and international development cooperation projects (Armutsbekämpfung und Menschenrechtsarbeit im Globalen Süden). Core programs include the EZ-Kleinprojektefonds (BMZ-funded small projects fund), the SDG-Fonds, the Eine Welt Promotor*innen-Programm (co-coordinated nationally with agl e.V.), the WSD-Program, the BIKO program (education on colonialism in Berlin schools), and the SäLa-BNE program (Saxony education for sustainable development). In 2021, the foundation funded 208 projects with approximately 3.8 million EUR, supplemented by 1.545 million EUR through the LEZ program for Berlin NGOs. The foundation also administers Berlin's LEZ funding program under a service agreement, passing through approximately 3,530 T€ annually to Berlin NGOs and earning 302 T€ in administrative fees. Additional programmatic offerings include the annual Kathrin-Buhl-Preis (5,000 EUR award) and multilingual funding seminars (German, French, English, Portuguese).

The foundation operates with a small staff of 13 (6 full-time, 6 part-time, plus 1 intern) under a 15-member Stiftungsrat (Foundation Council) and 5-member Vorstand (Board). Its revenue model is dominated by government grants, supplemented by endowment investment returns (592 T€ in ordinary income from securities in 2025) and tax-deductible donations. The foundation maintains an active advocacy role in development policy, including the 'Menschenwürde im Ausverkauf' protest action at the Federal Chancellery in July 2026 against budget cuts, and engagement with national networks such as VENRO, agl, Bundesverband deutscher Stiftungen, and the co-founded Netzwerk Wandelstiften. The foundation is subject to state supervision by the Berlin Senate Administration for Justice and holds tax-exempt status under §5(1) Nr. 9 KStG.

Name

Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken

Legal name

Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken

Website

https://nord-sued-bruecken.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken is a Berlin-based non-profit foundation funding development policy NGOs in East Germany and Berlin via government grants and endowment returns. Founded in 1994 from GDR Solidarity Committee assets, it administers multiple grant programs supporting domestic education and international cooperation projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Development Cooperation Grant-Making

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Development cooperation funding
• Charitable foundation grants
• NGO project funding
• Development education programs
• Civil society support

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government project subsidies (BMZ/Engagement Global): Core revenue stream: Zuschüsse (grants) from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) via Engagement Global gGmbH for programs including EZ-Kleinprojektefonds (2,112 T€), SDG-Program (121 T€), WSD-Program (700 T€), and Promotor*innenprogramm (873 T€ via agl e.V.). State-level funding from Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt for regional development education and youth exchange programs.
2. Endowment investment returns: Ordinary income from securities, loans, and interest (592 T€ in 2025). The foundation's endowment (approximately 18 million € in core capital) generates investment returns used to fund operational activities. Investment management is guided by ethical criteria.
3. Administrative fees for LEZ program management: For administering Berlin's LEZ funding program for NGOs, the foundation earns 302 T€ in service fees. Project funds for Berliner NGOs (3,530 T€) are passed through.
4. Donations and endowments: The foundation accepts donations and endowments (Zustiftungen). Endowments increase the foundation's capital base; donations are used for ongoing projects. Bank details provided for Bank für Sozialwirtschaft. Tax-deductible under German law.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken is a charitable foundation that channels grants from German federal and state government programs to registered non-profit organizations in East Germany (Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia) for development policy education, domestic awareness work, and poverty-reduction and human-rights projects in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. It also provides advisory services, qualification seminars, and convening support for civil society networks, and awards the annual Kathrin-Buhl-Preis.

Product overview

Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken is a charitable foundation focused on development policy funding and education, not a technology product company. Its offerings consist of grant programs supporting East German NGOs in development cooperation projects domestically and internationally. The core products are various funding programs (EZ-Kleinprojektefonds, SDG-Fonds, Promotor*innen-Programm, WSD, BIKO, SäLa-BNE), a prize for development projects (Kathrin-Buhl-Preis), educational seminars, and direct project funding services. The foundation connects East German civil society organizations with development cooperation opportunities in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EZ-Kleinprojektefonds A BMZ-funded small projects fund that provides project financing to East German NGOs for development cooperation projects in the Global South, supporting poverty reduction and human-rights work in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
• SDG-Fonds A fund supporting projects aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030), providing financial support for development policy education and awareness activities of East German NGOs.
• Eine Welt Promotor*innen-Programm A nationwide program co-coordinated with agl e.V. supporting development policy coordinators and advocates (Promotor*innen) embedded in civil society organizations across the former East German federal states.
• Weltoffen, Solidarisch, Dialogisch (WSD) Programm A program promoting global solidarity, dialog, and an open society through civil society engagement in East Germany, funding projects that strengthen democracy and international cooperation.
• BIKO - Bildungsarbeit zu Kolonialismus A Berlin-based program funding educational work on colonialism in Berlin schools, supporting teaching and learning about colonial history and its contemporary relevance.
• SäLa-BNE - Sächsische Landesstrategie Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung A Saxony-specific pilot program funding small projects that implement the state of Saxony's strategy for Education for Sustainable Development (BNE).
• Kathrin-Buhl-Preis An annual prize of 5,000 euros awarded to development policy projects that promote self-determination and social participation, honoring the legacy of Kathrin Buhl.
• Förderseminare (Training Seminars) Regular in-person and digital seminars on project planning, application procedures, usage reporting, and development policy topics, offered in German, French, English, and Portuguese.
• Projektförderung (Project Funding) Direct financial support for development policy education and domestic work by East German non-profit organizations, as well as poverty reduction and human rights projects in the Global South.
• LEZ Program Administration for Berlin NGOs Administration of approximately 3,530 thousand euros annually in Berlin state development cooperation funding passed through to Berlin-based NGOs under a service agreement with the Landesstelle für Entwicklungszusammenarbeit (LEZ).

Quantifiable outcome

• 208 projects funded with approximately 3.8 million € in 2021 (plus 1.545 million € for 81 Berlin NGO projects)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 core and minor.

• Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Eine-Welt-Landesnetzwerke (agl e.V.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational coordination body for the Eine Welt Promotor*innen-Programm. The foundation co-coordinates the program jointly with agl. Promotor*innen positions are funded through federal and state co-financing arrangements.
• Verband Entwicklungspolitik und Humanitäre Hilfe (VENRO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association of development policy and humanitarian organizations. The foundation is an active member and participates in joint advocacy campaigns including #unteilbar and development policy coalition work.
• Bundesverband deutscher StiftungenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association of German foundations. The foundation is represented in this association.
• Netzwerk WandelstiftenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of foundations promoting sustainable change. The foundation co-founded this network.
• Bingo Umweltstiftung (Niedersachsen)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of the 'Geberabstimmung' working group for harmonized application and reporting structures in development policy domestic work. Group includes BMZ, Brot für die Welt, Engagement Global, Katholischer Fonds, LEZ Berlin, and SEZ Baden-Württemberg.
• Brot für die WeltminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProtestant development service. Co-member of the 'Geberabstimmung' working group for harmonized funding procedures and joint co-financing of development education projects.
• Katholischer FondsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatholic funding body for development policy education. Co-member of the 'Geberabstimmung' working group.
• Schmitz-StiftungenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCooperation on small-scale EZ projects (under 50,000 €) for NGOs in the old West German federal states through the EZ-Kleinprojektefonds.
• Stiftung Entwicklungs-Zusammenarbeit Baden-Württemberg (SEZ)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of the 'Geberabstimmung' working group since mid-2014. Jointly works on harmonizing application formats and funding procedures.
• Berliner Entwicklungspolitischer Ratschlag e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin development policy council. The foundation is a member, contributing to the Berlin development policy ecosystem.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• VENRO: National umbrella association of German development policy and humanitarian aid organizations. Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken is an active member, and VENRO operates in the broader development cooperation and civil society advocacy ecosystem as an enabling/coordination body.
• Engagement Global gGmbH: Federal service organization that administers BMZ funding programs in Germany, including those channeled through Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken. Acts as a key intermediary rather than a direct competitor, but operates in the same development cooperation funding ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Welthungerhilfe: One of the largest private aid organizations in Germany, focused on fighting hunger and poverty worldwide. Operates comparable development cooperation and education programs at a significantly larger scale, with broader geographic reach than Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken.
• Misereor: German Catholic development agency funding EZ projects globally with a focus on poverty reduction and human rights. Comparable in its grantmaking and development education focus but operates at a much larger scale and with a national, rather than regional, scope.
• Brot für die Welt: One of Germany's largest development and relief service organizations, affiliated with Protestant churches. Co-member of the Geberabstimmung working group and significantly larger in scale than Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken, but operates comparable funding programs for development education and EZ projects.
• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung: German political foundation affiliated with the Green Party, supporting democracy, human rights, and international development cooperation. Comparable as a major German grantmaking foundation with international program offices, though far larger in scope and operations.

Regional players

• Eine Welt Netzwerk Thüringen (EWNT): Regional development policy network in Thuringia that coordinates civil society organizations and is governed in part by Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken board members. Functions as a regional peer within the same East German development policy ecosystem.
• Berliner Entwicklungspolitischer Ratschlag (BER): Berlin-based development policy council coordinating civil society organizations in development cooperation. Strategic partner of Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken and operates in a similar Berlin/East German development policy funding and coordination space.

Direct peers

• SODI - Solidaritätsdienst-international e.V. Legal successor of the GDR Solidarity Committee and the entity that transferred the founding capital of 17M EUR to Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken. SODI is a German non-profit focused on development cooperation and education, sharing historical and operational ties with the foundation.
• Stiftung Entwicklungs-Zusammenarbeit Baden-Württemberg (SEZ): State-level development cooperation foundation based in Baden-Württemberg that funds NGOs and EZ projects domestically and internationally, including co-financing partnerships. Directly comparable in mandate, structure, and funding approach to Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken, with both being co-members of the Geberabstimmung working group.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stiftung-nord-s%C3%BCd-br%C3%BCcken

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken