Fundacja im. Stefana Batorego

Description

Fundacja im. Stefana Batorego, the Batory Foundation, is a Polish foundation established in 1988 and based in Warsaw. It has held public-benefit organization status since 2003. Its goal is to support the development of democracy and civil society in Poland. This means citizens who are aware of their rights and duties and who engage with their local community, their country and the international community.

It works toward a rule-of-law, just, open and tolerant Poland that protects the rights of all citizens and respects diversity. Its priorities are improving the quality of Polish democracy, strengthening the role of citizens and civic institutions in public life, and developing international cooperation and solidarity.

It states that it is independent of state and political institutions and does not take over the state’s or local government’s basic duties. It acts where no other actors are present or where it can add value. It follows transparent rules and procedures when awarding grants, and it publicly reports its activities, funding opportunities, grants awarded and projects completed in annual reports.

Its methods combine grant-making, funding and advising civic initiatives run by social organizations and informal groups. It also carries out its own activities, such as public campaigns, monitoring of public institutions, advocacy, conferences, debates, workshops, meetings, and the publication of analyses, expert studies, reports and other materials.

It runs grant programs including the EEA Civil Society Fund, an Equal Rights Program, a Stronger Roots Program, a Solidarity Fund with Ukraine, and grants supporting democracy. It also runs operational programs on local democracy, an Ideas Forum, democratic institutions, civil society, and international cooperation, and it administers several entrusted memorial funds.

It is a member of Philanthropy Europe Association, the European Civic Forum, the Civitates fund for solidarity and democracy in Europe, the Open Society European Network, and the UN Convention against Corruption coalition. It is the Polish partner of Transparency International. Its funding comes from returns on endowment capital, grants from domestic and foreign institutions, donations from companies and individuals, and allocations of 1.5 percent personal income tax.