Shrinking spaces in Germany – a country undergoing change

Martin Georgi, chair of the German Fundraising Association, discusses the country’s recent shift in attitude and its impact, as well as the resilience of German civil society, despite a gradual shrinking of civic space.

Germany has developed a vibrant and active civil society and sees itself as a promoter of democracy and civil rights at home and abroad. This is rooted in a strong post-WWII consensus on the horrors of fascism, the value of an open society, and the importance of European integration and a well-financed civil sector.

A country undergoing change

In recent years, however, this consensus has weakened. Historical awareness of Nazism has declined, and frustration over the perceived uneven benefits of European integration has grown. Germany’s traditionally open attitude toward trade and refugees is increasingly challenged—not only by the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), but also by mainstream center-right parties advocating for tighter immigration controls and restrictions on civil society organisations.

Martin Georgi, DFRV

Despite this shift, civil society in Germany remains large and influential. There are over 600,000 registered associations, plus tens of thousands of foundations, unions, religious groups, and informal initiatives. Many sectors – including social services, environmental protection, education, migration support, and democracy advocacy – depend on civic engagement. According to the 2019/21 Volunteer Survey, 40% of adults engage in some form of voluntary work.

New forms of engagement have emerged – such as online campaigns and decentralized movements – with rising participation by young people, especially on issues like climate justice, racism, and social inequality. Still, many established organisations struggle to attract long-term volunteers. Leadership remains disproportionately white and male, despite increasing participation by women and people with migrant backgrounds.

Gradually shrinking civic space

Compared to some European countries, Germany is not experiencing full-scale repression of civil society. However, recent developments show a gradual shrinking of civic space. Some climate and anti-fascist activism has been criminalized or restricted, and public hostility – especially from the far right – has increased. Activists have faced threats and attacks; several elected officials in some smaller towns have resigned after receiving death threats.

On the legal level, advocacy-focused organisations like Attac and Campact lost their charitable status because their activities were deemed “too political” by tax authorities. In Germany, it is the tax office, not a social or civil ministry, that determines what counts as politically permissible for tax-exempt status. This legal uncertainty has created a chilling effect, particularly for organisations working with or organised by migrants, or those taking on politically sensitive topics. While the number of affected organisations remains small, the broader impact has been a climate of caution and occasional self-censorship.

Expectations for new Social Democrat–Christian Democrat alliance

In the past years, there had been hopes that the Social Democrat–Green–Liberal coalition (2021–2024) would modernize the nonprofit law and better protect civil society. Unfortunately, other political issues dominated the agenda and the modernization did not happen. After the coalition collapsed and just before the 2025 federal election, the Christian Democrats (CDU) voted for the first time alongside the AfD on several parliamentary motions to limit migration. When several NGOs joined public protests against what was feared as a thinly veiled cooperation with the far-right, the CDU retaliated by launching a parliamentary inquiry into the legal and tax-exempt status of 20 civil society organisations, submitting over 550 formal questions to the federal government. With this background, it does not seem likely that the new Social Democrat–Christian Democrat alliance will offer more than some limited reforms, and organisations will likely continue to struggle with shrinking spaces in the coming years.

Wide-ranging challenges

The challenges go beyond the tax and legal status. The question of stable, long-term funding is becoming increasingly urgent. Many newer or migrant-led organisations face difficulties accessing institutional or philanthropic funding. Reliance on short-term project grants restricts strategic planning and hinders the development of sustainable structures. Bureaucratic and cumbersome requirements for grant applications and for the documentation of the use of grants are a burden particularly for smaller organisations, as is the overly complicated registration in various public registries.

At stake is whether civil society will scale back political activities in response to pressure – or whether it will adapt, collaborate more broadly, and innovate in communication and fundraising. International comparisons, especially with drastic recent experiences in the US, show that the funding of core and long-term work – not just projects – and a healthy mix in fundraising sources is essential to resilience.

The German Fundraising Association is committed to supporting a strong, politically independent civil society. Together with partners, it advocates for transparent and fair legal conditions and stronger financial frameworks. A key focus is to empower organisations – especially younger and marginalised ones – through professional, sustainable fundraising.

Picture by Ingo Joseph on Pexels