In response to a wave of public demonstrations, hundreds of thousands of Germans took to the streets at the start of the year, voicing their support for democracy and diversity. This mass mobilization was not limited to individuals; many organizations and companies also made their stance clear.
Transitioning from expressions of support to concrete action, the non-profit organization ProjectTogether, the Allianz Foundation, the Business Council for Democracy (BC4D), and the advertising agency Scholz & Friends, along with numerous other organizations from civil society and business, launched the alliance United for Democracy. This alliance aims to strengthen democracy in Germany in the long term.
The alliance has two central components. Firstly, a fund has been set up to pool financial resources from companies to support pro-democracy organizations from civil society that can make a significant impact now and in the future. Secondly, through the BC4D network, United for Democracy provides free training and further education programs that companies can use to promote democratic values within their workforce.
We are proud to have supported ProjectTogether in building an alliance to strengthen social cohesion in Germany. This pride is shared by others, reflecting our commitment to the hard-won achievements of democracy and its promise of freedom and justice for future generationsThilo Grunwald-Henrich, Associate Partner, Oliver Wyman
We supported the development of the alliance since its early conception, working as part of the ProjectTogether team. We assisted with the conceptualization of the alliance, task structuring, project management, and setting up the fund and tools to manage the extensive fund processes.
In just a few weeks, the alliance attracted a multitude of associations and initiatives Employer and employee associations such as IG Metall, Gesamtmetall, and the Federal Association of German Startups have become supporters. Other initiatives, including Charta der Vielfalt and #Zusammenland, have also involved joined as partners.
The official launch of United for Democracy took place on May 14, 2024. Just before the event, a jury decided on the first distribution of resources from the fund. The jury included Tanja Gönner, lawyer, politician, and managing director of the Federation of German Industries; Thomas Krüger, politician and president of the Federal Agency for Civil Education; Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, former Federal Minister of Justice; and Arne Friedrich, former professional footballer and philanthropist. As a result, 24 dedicated people and civil society organizations are now being supported with around €840,000. They are working every day to strengthen democracy and diversity — locally, across Germany, and online.
What I find particularly inspiring is the motivation and passion of the people who have created the alliance. With immense dedication, they have created something impactful. It was a privilege to support ProjectTogether in thisMartin Wiesner, Senior Consultant, Oliver Wyman
