Supports social development and financial inclusion in Europe.
ERSTE Foundation is a private Austrian savings bank foundation committed to serving the common good in Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Europe. As the main shareholder of Erste Group, it secures the bank's independent future while investing dividends into the region's development. The foundation focuses on four strategic goals: empowering those who care, promoting financial health for all, preserving a democratic Europe, and protecting contemporary culture. It acts as an innovative driver, connector, and knowledge disseminator in society, aiming to understand and shape public discourse about necessary changes. ERSTE Foundation supports various initiatives, including the cross-border journalistic platform Reporting Democracy, which covers topics shaping the future of democracy in the region. The foundation also offers an academy for NGOs and provides grants, core funding, programmatic support, awards, and scholarships. Notable projects include the Zweite Sparkasse (Second Savings Bank), which assists people in difficult financial situations, and the NGO Academy, which provides capacity-building services to civil society organizations. The foundation also supports contemporary art through initiatives like Kontakt, an art collection focusing on Central and Eastern European artists. While specific financial resources and typical project financing amounts are not provided, ERSTE Foundation invests a portion of its dividends from Erste Group into its various programs and initiatives.