Fosters openness, solidarity, and equal opportunities through funding.
Stiftung Mercator is a private German foundation committed to fostering a society characterized by openness, solidarity, and equal opportunities. The foundation focuses on four main areas: strengthening Europe, improving integration through education, driving climate change mitigation, and promoting cultural education. The foundation implements its own projects and provides funding for external initiatives. It operates primarily in Germany, Europe, and worldwide, with a special connection to the Ruhr region. Stiftung Mercator supports projects in science and humanities, education, and international affairs, with an emphasis on systemic impact and long-term change. Annually, Stiftung Mercator distributes around €60 million in grants. Project funding can range from a few thousand to tens of millions of euros. The foundation applies strict criteria when selecting projects, including quality, systemic impact, evaluation, cross-sector action, and regional relevance. Recent initiatives funded by Stiftung Mercator include support for the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC) with €12 million over six years. The foundation also focuses on digital society, aiming to ensure that digital technologies in Germany and Europe are developed and used in accordance with democratic rights and values. Stiftung Mercator seeks projects that align with its thematic clusters and demonstrate the potential for lasting societal impact.