4/26 Who will save civil society?

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Dear readers,

given the state of the world, even an optimist like me needs encouragement sometimes. Exactly at Easter I received it once again: Silja Graupe, terminally ill founder of the University of Social Design, has reached her donation goal. She mobilized almost one million euros through and with bcause. I thank everyone who read about her in my newsletter and then donated.

I would also like to thank everyone who followed my request in the last newsletter and voted for me in the German Startup Awards. The voting is still open for a few days, then I will find out at the gala on May 21st whether it was enough for me and our mission of Das Neue Geben.

Today in the essay I venture the thesis of a life lie regarding the question of whether the state or we should finance our civil society, share transcripts from the Club Neues Geben, and I calculate (and show) how non-profit organizations can easily save costs and even get a donation from me.

Warmly, Felix

PS: My mother's cake-cutting method sparked a philosophical discussion.

✍️ ESSAY: Restarting Civil Society 

On a Friday in March, a meeting took place at the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs that must not be quoted. More than 200 projects that have been funded so far through the federal program "Demokratie leben!" learn that their funding is being cut — although the ongoing evaluation will only be completed at the end of 2028. Participants report shocked organizations, silenced officials, and a guideline that words like "diversity" are no longer written down, but are still meant to be kept in mind.

Of course, there are different interpretations (Der Spiegel, April 16, 2026): affected organizations see themselves as politically canceled. The CDU minister, read in a benevolent way, has prevented worse from her own camp. I venture another thesis - while at the same time solidarity with the many people I know and who worry about the future of their mission and their jobs: one must be almost grateful to this government. Because the cuts force a structural change that was long overdue and would never have come without this pressure.

In Germany, over three million people work in the non-profit sector. That is more than in the automotive industry. Kindergarten, hospital, climate protection, culture - the sector touches every life. And for decades it has relied on a quiet agreement: private funds may kickstart new ideas, but as soon as something is to grow big, it is the state's turn. Here it still lives, the corporatism of the old Federal Republic: welfare associations and politics share costs and positions.

Donations are seen by many as state failure. That is factually wrong. And politically dangerous.

The state cannot and may not do it alone

Why? We are two years away from a federal election campaign from which the AfD could emerge with government participation. In the Club Neues Geben we recently spoke about this several times with experts (transcripts under “People who inspire me” below) who know the playbook of the autocratic right from other countries: first delegitimization, then definancing, then bans. Anyone who finances civil society exclusively through state channels actively builds up their own vulnerability.

The counterargument of is often: We pay high taxes, so the state is responsible. Anyone who gives a lot does not need to make additional donations. An international analysis across OECD countries shows that this connection simply does not exist. The correlation between government social expenditure and private donation volume is almost zero. Countries with high social expenditure do not donate less than others. Differences in donation behavior are explained by culture and infrastructure — not by tax burden. The argument is a protective assertion, not an analysis.

Could the foundations step in? That would be a false hope. Foundations in Germany manage over 100 billion euros. On paper, the capital would be there. In practice, it is structurally blocked: statutory mandate to preserve capital, distribution rate below five percent, debate about a minimum distribution for years without result. At the same time, AI-generated funding applications are flooding the offices. The result is paradoxical — foundation funds are nominally available but operationally inaccessible, of all things for those organizations that are now losing state funds.

What about more micro-donations? Unfortunately, also a no-show. Donation participation is at only 24 percent, the lowest level since records began. There is room for improvement when it comes to major donations. Less than one percent of taxpayers shoulder around 18 percent of the total German donation volume. This group is growing, their incomes are growing even faster. The potential is enormous. The mobilization is missing.

But here many in the now affected progressive civil society say: More resources from the rich are not good for democracy. It is better for the state to redistribute. Exactly the state from whose dominance one wants to make oneself more independent at the same time.

Financing civil society the way it is in its name

Civil society is facing several structural disruptions at the same time: generational change in leadership positions, financing crisis, outdated organizational and business models, and in many places a work culture that exploits rather than attracts. That is the perfect storm.

And yet this sector has an invisible resource: the commitment of thirty million people. And it creates real connections, which is more important than ever in times of digital isolation. This is not a sentimental argument, this is a unique selling point. With this, one can fundraise successfully (or more successfully).

But: Not all organizations will survive. And even if it sounds harsh: not all should. In civil society, too, there is a competition of ideas. New things are born, old things die. It can always be done better.

Prerequisite is a digital productivity revolution from accounting to impact measurement. And of course in fundraising (see “A number that sticks in your mind”). This can fundamentally change the sector. And make it more attractive, for employees as well as for donors.

Never waste a good crisis. This one has what it takes to ensure in good time that we mobilize additional billions. So that civil society rests unassailably on as many shoulders as possible. And finances itself the way it is in its name: civilly.

Club Neues Geben

Effective giving is a complex and personal task. The Club Neues Geben provides guidance through networking. No expensive consulting. No fundraising.

In the last few weeks we have had several digital roundtables about what is happening right now with NGOs and democracy. For this, we invited four people for masterclasses in the Club Neues Geben who advocate exactly for this: Hanna Gleiß (DAS NETTZ) on the real consequences of rhetoric against civil society, Tim Göbel (Schöpflin Foundation) on a new generation of private donors, Max Oehl (Media Force) on right-wing digital populism as an immediate threat, and Rupert Graf Strachwitz (Maecenata Institute) on the political charging of the NGO term itself.

Their contributions were so valuable that I transcribed them as interviews - here to read, albeit without the subsequent confidential discussion with the club members

The Club Neues Geben is for everyone who commits or wants to commit financially in five figures per year. Feel free to write to katharina.bauch@bcause.com if you are interested or know someone who would benefit from our masterclasses and personal deep dives (last week with Maria Furtwängler). 

More about the Club Neues Geben

A person who inspires me Lena Corbyn

SHARE – A Zenka Film Production, share-tvseries.com 

Lena Corbyn (59) is the first fictional role model in my newsletter. And yet, she could exert an enormous amount of positive impact.

A few days ago, screenwriter Katja Meier wrote to me from Italy. She is behind the project of the series “$HARE” about the co-heiress of a billion-dollar company who surprises everyone from her snowy caravan with her strategy. “Succession meets Das Neue Geben”.

I have watched the entire pilot episode (I can share the access on request). And now I want to have the whole first season. But it has yet to be filmed. And for that, it needs almost one million Swiss Francs. That's why Katja turned to me (as, by the way, people with great ideas do almost daily).

We might be able to help here with bcause with the financing, but need interest from people who would like to become film sponsors with small or large amounts. I will gladly follow up on this if I get some resonance.

There are other role models for this by the way: Jeff Skoll (Participant Media, e.g. “Spotlight”) and the Obamas (Higher Ground, e.g. “Crip Camp”) finance films as a targeted tool for social change.

A number that sticks in your mind 5.5-15%

Last week I showed how much capital a foundation needs to distribute €10,000 annually. The answer was striking: €650,000 with a standard market model - compared to €250,000 with modern digital infrastructure like bcause. A difference of €400,000, which broadens the idea of establishing a foundation enormously - without the creation of a new organization. (I'm already looking forward to discussing this on May 21st at the German Foundation Day in Hamburg.)

A similar calculation exists of course for the recipient side. And that is just as striking - and relevant for everyone, no matter how much they donate.

I calculated this for an organization that receives €1 million in donations. In the classic setup (own assumptions based on benchmarks from the Blackbaud Institute, M+R Benchmarks Study), this means: transaction fees for every donation, personnel expense for questions and donation receipts, provisions with tax consultants, and there is little or no interest on the money until it is used.

With a fully digital infrastructure like bcause, the organization not only saves fees and effort, but can access the donation funds when they are needed instead of having to use them promptly or create complex reserves - and earn interest until then.

Depending on the scenario (ten thousand donations of €10 or one hundred donations of €10k), this results in a plus of 5.5% to 15% - or expressed in Euros up to €133,000!

Excited to see the reaction at the German Fundraising Congress on June 1st - 3rd in Berlin! Anyone who is not participating there can simply book an appointment with us here or register for the webinar (see below)

BCAUSE FOR ORGANIZATIONS

bcause enables non-profit organizations to collect and earn interest on donations digitally, manage them centrally, and access them with pinpoint accuracy. Fundraising and budget allocation no longer work separately, but hand in hand.

To make 5.5% to 15% more out of successful fundraising (see above), we offer several opportunities in May and June to get to know bcause.

In cooperation with the German Fundraising Association, we invite you to a free webinar on May 7th, 2026 from 12-1pm.

The fundraising revolution: From hidden costs to real value — with a live donation to your organization.

*What does your current fundraising really cost? Transaction fees. Processing time. Capital lying idle. Tax advisors calculating provisions. Hardly anyone sees these hidden costs. In this session, bcause shows how modern digital infrastructure eliminates every single one of them. And how donations multiply instead of shrinking.*

*This webinar with bcause founder Felix Oldenburg is about the vision of Das Neue Geben, about the real needs of the next generation of major donors – and about a platform that changes the game. And with your phone or computer, the webinar already becomes payday. After free activation, the first live donation via bcause arrives at your organization.*

Registration here.

And at the German Fundraising Congress in Berlin there will be a bcause session on June 2nd, 2026 at 11:30. Or will we see each other at the German Foundation Day in Hamburg on May 21st, 2026?

Individually,  Nicole Weyde and Simone Wetteskind are available for talks.

More information

An idea to think further ”Donating? But we pay such high taxes in Germany!”

I hear this all the time. But it's not true. I looked at the correlation between state social expenditure and private donation volume in an international comparison. The result: the correlation is 0.1. For non-statisticians, that means: no connection. The correlation between tax rate and willingness to donate is also negligibly small at −0.15. Anyone living in a high-tax country does not systematically donate less than someone in a low-tax country. Differences are explained by culture and infrastructure — not by tax burden.

And a second number: 18%. This much of the total German private donation volume is borne by less than one percent of taxpayers — around 120,000 people with annual incomes over 500,000 Euros. Their incomes have increased by nine percent in the last ten years. Their donation performance by seven percent. There is room for improvement. If we make better offers of meaning - and say again and again that contributions to the common good are not already done with the payment of taxes.

Sources: Own analysis, OECD, Global Philanthropy Tracker, betterplace lab (2026)

💡 MORE FROM FELIX

• Unfortunately, the podcast “Das Neue Geben” is still facing the relaunch. I am still looking for support with the production.

• In the podcast “Wandel mit Wirkung” (Episode #156) Stella Dombrowski asked me: “Is it ok to be an a…hole?” My answer surprised her.

• In the Handelsblatt, my columns “The Empty Promise” (April 2nd, 2026) on the new philanthropy narratives from the USA and “Why ownership decides independence” (April 20th, 2026) on Mathias Döpfner's purchase of the “Daily Telegraph” and media power in journalism have been published.

📅 Upcoming Appearances:

21.5. German Foundation Day, Hamburg

21.5. German Startup Awards, Berlin

1.-3.6. German Fundraising Congress, Berlin

17.7. United Philanthropy Forum, Washington DC

⛏️ Needs & Leads

• Next week I'm going with the bcause team again to our place of longing. Neupitz is located by the lake, has plenty of space, exactly the right distance from Berlin - and a team that makes every retreat an experience. At very reasonable prices. That is worth a small shoutout!

• Andreas Rickert (founder of PHINEO, one of our partners in the Club Neues Geben) is giving away 50 free tickets for the International Impact Forum on May 20th in Frankfurt (with, among others, Brigitte Mohn, Lea-Sophie Cramer, Wolfgang Grupp). If interested, write to me for the link. First come, first served!

• The Women*s Society is a great new network that champions women and girls together. The initiator Anna Poeschel wants to mobilize money for women's rights and equality in more locations and is looking for “local leads”.

• Iris Brilliant calls her job “Enoughness Coach”. In episode #42 of “Das Neue Geben” she reported on her project “The Hour Before Dawn”, in which wealth successors deal with the often problematic history/stories of their money. In November, a new group begins, which is now open for inquiries.

• I have admired Raul Krauthausen ever since he became an Ashoka Fellow 15 years ago. With the Sozialhelden, he invites you to the “European Protest Day of People with Disabilities on May 5th at 3:30-6 pm in Berlin - and looks forward to donations for equality.

• The organization Foodwatch is looking for an International Executive Director and asked me to support them with some visibility. Applications to zoe@upsallinternational.com

• Romy Krämer is not only director of the clever Guerrilla Foundation (see episode #3 of “Das Neue Geben” with founder Antonis Schwarz), but is also bringing the concept of municipalism from Barcelona to Berlin right now. It's called “Berlinzusammen”, and the campaign is currently looking for more engagement and financing here.

Feel free to write to me with your Needs and Leads.

Felix Oldenburg is an initiator in the field of social entrepreneurship and foundations. 🔗 Order the book "Der gefesselte Wohlstand" here 🎧 Or as an audiobook while jogging, cooking, driving... 📱On Instagram and LinkedIn for daily thoughts and conversation starters.

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Felix Oldenburg CEO bcause · board member gut.org · author of "Der gefesselte Wohlstand"