ERSTE Foundation

Major changes lead to great uncertainty. Many people in Europe no longer believe that a bright future is possible. At the same time, Europe is being called upon to redefine its role – politically, economically, and socially.

»Come Together, Right Now« is more than a motto. It is a call to act collectively, take responsibility, and build new connections. It's a reminder that progress is rarely a solo act. Because in times of uncertainty, progress depends on cooperation.

We and our partners are working to strengthen this sense of togetherness, supporting financial health, social participation, and democratic values. A resilient society is built on trust, confidence, and the shared will to shape the future.

Our Annual Report 2025 provides an overview of the development of our participation in Erste Group, our core projects and areas of activity, as well as the work of our boards and team. It also includes our financial statement and offers an outlook on key priorities and developments in the period ahead.

Download the report: https://www.erstestiftung.org/en/publications/erste-foundation-annual-report-2025/

What exactly is power—and how can it be used to create positive change?

On 18 June, Harvard professor and social innovation scholar Julie Battilana will deliver the NGO Academy​​​ keynote »Power, For All: How It Really Works and Why It's Everyone's Business«. She will explore how power works in organisations and society, challenge common misconceptions, and demonstrate how it can be mobilised for impact.

Drawing on decades of research and her work with social innovators and change-makers across sectors, Julie Battilana will share a grounded understanding of what power is—and what it is not.

📅 18 June 2026
⏰ 17:00–18:30
📍 Online

More information and registration: https://www.erstestiftung.org/en/events/ngo-academy-keynote-with-julie-battilana/

Democracy Re:boot Camp is an in-person, pan-European gathering designed to strengthen democratic resilience by empowering a new generation of leaders. At a time when civic space is shrinking, misinformation is spreading, and authoritarian tendencies are rising, the camp provides young changemakers with the tools, knowledge, and network they need to actively defend and renew democracy.

Bringing together promising young activists, aspiring politicians, journalists, and civil society leaders aged 18–28, the programme combines practical skills training, strategic insight, and experiential learning in an intensive, immersive setting. Participants engage directly with experienced mentors, explore real-world case studies, and build meaningful peer connections that continue beyond the bootcamp itself.

At its core, Democracy Re:boot camp is about rebooting democratic energy - equipping young leaders not only to respond to democratic backsliding, but to proactively shape a more resilient, participatory, and hopeful democratic future.

The programme is open to people aged 18 to 28, who reside in Europe and who are genuinely in the middle of something. Not people who study democracy from the outside - people who are trying to do something about it, and hitting real resistance, real complexity, or real doubt.

We are looking for:
• Activists and organizers building or sustaining movements, campaigns, or civic initiatives
• Journalists and communicators working where the information space is contested or under pressure
• Civil society practitioners working on advocacy, rights, or accountability
• Emerging political figures and researchers translating democratic values into practical action

All details: https://www.erstestiftung.org/en/events/democracy-needs-you-apply-for-the-reboot-camp-2026-by-7-june/

On 13 May, historian and author Anne Applebaum took the stage at Vienna's Judenplatz to deliver this year's Speech to Europe, »The European Moment«. In a world where the EU's achievements are too easily dismissed as bureaucratic inconvenience, and where both Russia and the United States are working to weaken European unity, Applebaum made the case for Europe to recognise its own weight and act accordingly.

Since 2019, »A Speech to Europe«, initiated by ERSTE Foundation to mark Europe Day, has offered a moment of reflection on Europe's past, present, and future. Judenplatz, steeped in layers of European history, is no coincidental stage.

Read the full speech in our journal: https://www.erstestiftung.org/en/a-speech-to-europe-2026-the-european-moment/

A joint event by Wiener Festwochen​​, ERSTE Foundation and the IWM - Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen​​, in cooperation with Jüdisches Museum Wien​​.

📷: Valerie Maltseva

Come and find Marc at this year’s Impact Days Vienna!

Under the motto »Holding tensions, creating impact«, Impact Days will take place at Vienna’s Rathaus. We’ll be there with the Marc Impact Programme! Join us for conversations, connections and fresh perspectives on social and green entrepreneurship.

Look out for:
- the Marc Breakfast & Get Together (Monday, 18 May, 09:00–10:30)
- Panel: From Breakthroughs to Ventures (Monday, 18 May, 16:00 - 17:00)
- the Marc Lounge throughout both days

Will we see you there?

Care work is largely invisible: it happens within families, alongside jobs and everyday life, rarely counted or supported. In Austria alone, around 42,000 children and young people regularly take on care responsibilities, many without anyone around them noticing.

Nicole Traxler is Executive Director Social and Digital Innovation at ERSTE Foundation. Together with her team, she works at the intersection of digitalisation and social inclusion, supporting initiatives like Alles Clara App​, a free counselling service for the millions of people in Austria who care for a family member at home.

A recent EcoAustria study, supported by ERSTE Foundation, has begun to map what this means for the labour market. In our conversation, Nicole speaks about what Alles Clara offers and why it is needed now, why young carers remain so hard to reach, and what the data reveals about the hidden costs of family care.

Read the full article in our journal: https://www.erstestiftung.org/en/three-questions-to-nicole-traxler/

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Join us at: »(In-)Compatible? Family Caregivers as the Foundation of the Health and Care System« – a panel discussion on family caregiving and the health system, organised by Alles Clara.
📅 7 May 2026
📍 Vienna & online
More infos: https://www.erstestiftung.org/en/events/in-compatible/