Understanding and Strengthening Civil Society

ZiviZ Survey
The ZiviZ Survey is a representative survey of organized civil society in Germany covering associations, foundations, non-profit limited liability companies as well as cooperatives. The goal is to strengthen public and political awareness of the important contributions of these organizations. Special topics examined in detail, for example, have been civic engagement for education as well as for the integration of migrants and refugees.
The 2023 Main Report is also available in the English language

CC-Survey
ZiviZ is carrying out a first-of-its-kind representative survey on the social commitment of German businesses in the sense of corporate citizenship. The survey is implemented for the second time in 2020. We transfer this knowledge into practice, for example in publications, workshops and expert forums. Together with our partners, the goal is to create a solid data infrastructure, new discussion impulses and to accelerate the practical development of corporate citizenship in Germany. 

Forum Civil Society Data
The Forum Civil Society Data connects ongoing civil society-related data collection efforts. With the forum we seek to improve the state of quantitative civil society research in general and try to fill gaps in the existing data infrastructure. The goal is to facilitate dialogue between scientific and political actors as well as practitioners. 

W.I.E. – Economy. Initiative. Engagement
The corporate network consists of businesses sharing the common, long-term goal to further develop corporate citizenship practices in the Germany economy and beyond. The peer platform facilitates dialogue among participating businesses and with non-profits in an attempt to mainstream the concept’s public visibility.

digital.engagiert
The support initiative of Amazon and Stifterverband supports non-profit organizations’ and social enterprises’ digitization projects. The second round, in 2019, focuses on education – projects that digitally complement educational formats and services or completely rethink them – so that the next generation can learn necessary future skills. 12 jury-selected teams are supported financially and with a personalized coaching program, external expertise, events and a final awards ceremony with potential extra prize money.

Future Skills through Engagement
Over a two year period, innovative cooperation projects between businesses and non-profit organizations in Germany are supported and scientifically accompanied. Reorienting innovation processes towards societal needs through engagement is an opportunity to broaden the open innovation concept, and for employees to learn future skills.

Blended Impact
In cooperation with betterplace lab, this project investigated forms and effects of how digital civil society approaches mix analog and digital strategies for refugee integration. The sobering key finding regarding these novel “pathways to integration”: absent significant external funding, there was a high project mortality rate. Only years later, many of these surprisingly often Berlin-based initiatives were not able to scale, survive and thrive.

Local Synergies
This project aimed at improving development opportunities for children and youth as well as autonomy and social participation of elderly people. It focused on finding approaches which enhance the collaboration of non-profit organizations, volunteers and public authorities to allow for more citizen participation.