Stiftung Umwelt und Entwicklung Nordrhein-Westfalen

What Stiftung Umwelt und Entwicklung Nordrhein-Westfalen does

Stiftung Umwelt und Entwicklung Nordrhein-Westfalen is a charitable foundation under civil law (Gemeinnützige Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts) established in 2001 by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (Land NRW) and headquartered in Bonn, Germany. It operates as a state-mandated grantmaking intermediary that funds civil-society organizations — NGOs, associations, clubs, and civic initiatives — across North Rhine-Westphalia to advance environmental protection, climate adaptation, biodiversity, sustainability education, and development policy aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda. Since founding, the foundation has disbursed approximately 100.3 million EUR across 1,978 projects and supported 718 distinct organizations; in 2024 alone it approved 80 new projects with a total volume of 6.3 million EUR, with 30 first-time grantees.

The foundation's offering is a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a unified technology platform. Core products include the annual Förderprogramm (grant program, with organizational-development grants capped at 10,000 EUR), the BNE-Festival NRW (the largest Education for Sustainable Development gathering in the state, jointly hosted with the NRW Ministry for Environment), the weiter_wirken continuing-education program (delivered with Wandelwerk e.V.), the Bonner Zukunftsbus electric bus initiative launched in May 2026 with SWB Bus und Bahn in Bonn, and the Wanderausstellung 'Klima im Wandel' traveling exhibition launched in February 2026. There is no proprietary technology stack; the foundation uses only standard third-party tools (Matomo analytics, Event Espresso, Microsoft Teams, YouTube).

The foundation's capital derives from a 2001 endowment established by the State of NRW plus ongoing public funding, and the entity is supervised by the Bezirksregierung Köln. It does not generate commercial revenue: funds flow in one direction (state sources in, grants out), no pricing model applies, and distribution is direct via the foundation's website application portal, free lending of the traveling exhibition to municipalities and schools, and event-based engagement. The foundation is led by Managing Director Franz August Emde and Chairman Karsten Möring with a team of approximately seven staff. Geographic scope is restricted to NRW.

Name

Stiftung Umwelt und Entwicklung Nordrhein-Westfalen

Legal name

Stiftung Umwelt und Entwicklung Nordrhein-Westfalen

Website

https://sue-nrw.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stiftung Umwelt und Entwicklung Nordrhein-Westfalen is a state-established charitable foundation in Bonn, Germany, that since 2001 has funded approximately 1,978 civil-society projects with 100.3 million EUR across North Rhine-Westphalia, supporting NGOs, municipalities, and educational institutions in environmental, climate, and sustainability initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Foundation / Environmental Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF), Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPADALAD), Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering (EDAIAGAB)

Keywords

• Charitable foundation services
• Environmental grant funding
• Sustainability program management
• Civic engagement programs
• Education for sustainable development

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant disbursements from foundation endowment and public funding: The foundation receives its capital from an endowment established by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia in 2001 and ongoing public funding. It disburses this as grants to civil society projects. Revenue is not generated from commercial activities; it operates as a charitable foundation distributing funds to achieve its mission of promoting civic engagement for sustainable development in NRW.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Stiftung Umwelt und Entwicklung Nordrhein-Westfalen is a non-commercial charitable foundation that distributes grants to civil society organizations in North Rhine-Westphalia for projects on environmental protection, climate adaptation, biodiversity, and global development, funding approximately 100 projects per year (6.3 million EUR in 2024). It complements its grantmaking with consulting on grant applications, organizational development support (up to 10,000 EUR), and educational programs including the BNE-Festival NRW, the weiter_wirken professional development program, the Klima im Wandel traveling exhibition, and the Bonner Zukunftsbus climate adaptation bus.

Product overview

Stiftung Umwelt und Entwicklung Nordrhein-Westfalen is a civic foundation established in 2001 that operates primarily as a grant-making organization rather than a technology company. Its core offering is an annual funding program supporting approximately 100 civic engagement projects for sustainable development in NRW. The organization complements its grantmaking with educational programs including the BNE-Festival NRW (the largest sustainable development education gathering in the state), the weiter_wirken continuing education program, and the Zukunftsbus (a climate adaptation information bus launched in 2026). It also offers a traveling exhibition on climate adaptation ('Klima im Wandel'), free grant application workshops, and project accounting tools for funded organizations. The portfolio does not follow a platform-plus-modules architecture but rather consists of interconnected programs, events, and resources supporting civil society engagement for environmental and development goals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BNE-Festival NRW: The largest gathering of BNE (Education for Sustainable Development) actors and interested parties from NRW, held annually.
• weiter_wirken
• Wanderausstellung 'Klima im Wandel'

Products and services

• Förderprogramm (Grant/Funding Program) Annual grant funding for approximately 100 civic engagement projects focused on sustainable development, environmental protection, climate adaptation, and development policy in North Rhine-Westphalia. Since 2001, over 1,978 projects have been funded with approximately 100.3 million EUR total.
• BNE-Festival NRW (Education for Sustainable Development Festival) The largest gathering of Education for Sustainable Development (BNE) actors in North Rhine-Westphalia, featuring workshops, networking, and knowledge exchange. Held annually in cooperation with the NRW Ministry for Environment.
• weiter_wirken Continuing Education Program Free continuing education and networking program for paid and volunteer staff from sustainability and One World projects in NRW, focusing on psychological models and tools for fostering sustainable behavior and societal transformation.
• Bonner Zukunftsbus (Bonn Future Bus) A specially designed electric bus, launched in cooperation with SWB Bus und Bahn, providing tips on climate adaptation in everyday life. The bus operates in regular line service in Bonn and offers special tours during Climate Adaptation Week.
• Wanderausstellung 'Klima im Wandel' (Traveling Exhibition 'Climate in Transition') A traveling exhibition on climate adaptation with nine double-sided roll-ups examining four perspectives: individual, municipal, political, and societal. Available free of charge for municipalities and educational institutions in NRW for up to 4 weeks per loan period.
• Förderworkshop (Grant Application Workshop) Free digital workshops for applicants explaining the application process, financial planning, and reporting requirements for grant funding. The next workshop takes place October 13, 2026, from 10:00 to 13:00 online.
• Organisationsentwicklung (Organizational Development Support) Funding support for organizational development processes of environmental and development organizations in NRW, covering up to 10,000 EUR for external consulting to improve decision-making, communication, and operational capacity.
• Projektabrechnungstool (Project Accounting Tool) Excel-based software provided to funded projects for creating detailed expense documentation, comparison of planned vs. actual costs, and generating required financial reports for grant accounting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,978 projects funded with ~100.3 million EUR since 2001; 718 different organizations supported; 80 new projects annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SWB Bus und Bahn (Stadtwerke Bonn)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026The foundation cooperated with SWB Bus und Bahn to create the 'Bonner Zukunftsbus' (Bonn Future Bus), an electric bus that operates on regular routes and informs passengers about climate adaptation measures. The idea and content concept originated from the foundation, which created the initiative to mark its 25th anniversary.
• Wandelwerk e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation cooperates with Wandelwerk e.V. to run the 'weiter_wirken' free continuing education and networking program for sustainability and 'Eine-Welt' project staff in NRW. Wandelwerk e.V. co-develops and delivers the program curriculum.
• Wissenschaftsladen (WILA) BonnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWILA Bonn and the University of Bonn jointly developed the 'StadtKlimaWandeln' guide with foundation funding. WILA contributed civil society perspectives while co-leading the project coordination.
• University of Bonn (Universität Bonn)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Bonn participated in the 'StadtKlimaWandeln' project as an academic partner, contributing research perspectives. Students served as bridge-builders between science, administration, and civil society through Service-Learning seminars.
• Gustav-Stresemann-Institut e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 25th anniversary political evening was held at the Gustav-Stresemann-Institut in Bonn as part of the 'Eine-Welt-Landeskonferenz NRW'. The institute served as the venue host for the event.
• FIAN e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIAN e.V. (Foodfirst Information and Action Network), celebrating its 40th anniversary, created a new traveling exhibition 'Mit Menschenrechten unsere Zukunft gestalten' which is available free of charge and was announced at an event co-hosted by the foundation.
• OroVerde – Die TropenwaldstiftungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation funded the development of the 'Regenwald entdecken: Digitale Lernwelt für Kinder' (U-1068) project by OroVerde, a digital learning platform for children about rainforest conservation. The foundation provided funding and co-financing support.
• Energie Impuls OWL e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in the 'Erkennen.Machen.Perspektiven.' project, which engaged ~240 students in sustainability topics at the Wissenswerkstadt Bielefeld.
• Welthaus Bielefeld e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in the 'Erkennen.Machen.Perspektiven.' project, contributing SDG education activities including an SDG 'Glücksrad' (wheel) and ecological footprint exploration.
• Arbeitskreis Recycling e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in the 'Erkennen.Machen.Perspektiven.' project, contributing practical upcycling and repair activities (bicycle repair, porcelain upcycling, mobile phone disassembly).
• Ministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Verkehr des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen (Ministry for Environment, Nature Protection and Transport NRW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NRW Ministry for Environment and the foundation jointly organize the annual BNE-Festival NRW and the #DigitaleBNEwerkstatt NRW. The ministry is a key governmental partner for the foundation's major programs.
• Volkshochschule Bonn (VHS Bonn)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVHS Bonn handles registration for the special tours of the 'Bonner Zukunftsbus' organized as part of Climate Adaptation Week.
• Landesgartenschau Neuss 2026 GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation funded the 'Grünes Klassenzimmer' (Green Classroom) at Landesgartenschau Neuss 2026 with 180,000 EUR. The Laga GmbH co-developed and manages the site where the outdoor learning space is located.
• Landesamt für Natur, Umwelt und Klima Nordrhein-Westfalen (LANUK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLANUK (State Office for Nature, Environment and Climate) provided data from the NRW Climate Atlas for the 'Zukunftsbus' initiative and participated in the bus presentation event.
• Tiefbauamt and Amt für Umwelt und Stadtgrün der Bundesstadt BonnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaff from Bonn's civil engineering and environment departments serve as guides on the special tours of the Zukunftsbus, sharing information about planned and implemented climate adaptation projects in the city.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Heinz Sielmann Stiftung: Major German environmental foundation focused on biodiversity, nature conservation, and environmental education. Comparable as a grantmaking foundation that funds civil society projects and operates its own educational programs and nature reserves, with a similar foundation-plus-program architecture.
• Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU): Germany's largest environmental foundation with an endowment of over €2 billion, funding environmental and sustainable development projects nationwide. Directly comparable as a state-backed environmental grantmaking foundation with a similar grant-disbursement-plus-educational-program model, though operating at national scale rather than NRW-only.

Others

• Engagement Global gGmbH: Central contact point for development cooperation in Germany funded by the BMZ, administering federal programs and supporting civil society engagement for sustainable development. Comparable as a publicly-funded intermediary that co-funds civil society projects on sustainability — often co-funding initiatives the subject foundation also supports.
• Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU): Germany's largest nature and biodiversity conservation association with over 900,000 members. Thematically adjacent as a major NRW- and Germany-wide civil society actor in environmental protection, frequently a partner and applicant of the subject foundation.
• Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND): Leading German environmental and nature protection association with strong NRW presence (BUND NRW). Thematically adjacent and frequently interacts with the subject foundation as both applicant and policy partner on environmental and climate topics.

Emerging players

• Stiftung KlimaWirtschaft: German foundation focused on climate adaptation and the economic transformation of German businesses, funding pilot projects and convening stakeholders. Comparable as a German grantmaking foundation working on climate adaptation themes overlapping with the subject foundation's Klima im Wandel exhibition and Zukunftsbus programs.

Regional players

• Stiftung Natur im Norden (Stiftung Naturschutz Schleswig-Holstein): Regional nature conservation foundation in Schleswig-Holstein funding environmental and biodiversity projects. Comparable as a regional German state-level foundation focused on nature conservation, environmental education, and civic engagement — serving as a structural peer in another Bundesland.
• Bayerische Umweltstiftung: Bavaria's state environmental foundation supporting nature conservation, environmental technology, and environmental education projects. Comparable as a regional state-level environmental grantmaking foundation with similar civic society funding model, though geographically focused on Bavaria.
• Niedersächsische Bingo-Umweltstiftung: Regional environmental foundation in Lower Saxony funded by proceeds from the state's Bingo lottery, supporting environmental and development projects. Directly comparable as a regional German state-level environmental grantmaking foundation with similar funding focus, though operating in a different state.

Broad incumbents

• Umweltstiftung Michael Otto: Hamburg-based environmental foundation funded by the Otto Group entrepreneur family, supporting environmental and climate protection projects nationally. Comparable as a private environmental grantmaking foundation with a focus on environmental education and civic engagement.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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• Instagraminstagram.com/stiftungumweltentwicklungnrw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Stiftung Umwelt und Entwicklung Nordrhein-Westfalen