Foundations, a tool to strengthen democracies

Democracies have been declining in recent years, according to reports from international organisations such as Freedom House or Amnesty International. Civil associations, such as foundations, can play a key role in curbing the democratic decline around the world.

Foundations are private, non-profit making organisations that pursue general interest objectives. A prominent example of this is the Fundació Espriu, a non-profit making entity which, using its role as a foundation, promotes healthcare models based on cooperative principals. 

Although it promotes cooperativism, Fundació Espriu’s structure is that of a foundation that channels resources and knowledge to foster a more participative, fair healthcare, aimed at the common good. 

Covering neglected needs

One of the main forms in which a foundation may curb authoritarianism is by going back to its roots. In many cases, the needs that have been neglected can generate discontent that ends up leading to citizens adopting more extreme positions.

The foundation Philea has published a report about the situation of democracy in Europe and the role of foundations, in which it indicates that offering essential services for the population, such as healthcare, can resolve the rise in authoritarianism from the very roots.

In addition, this involves listening to the population’s unmet demands and supporting them. Thus, basic needs such as healthcare and affordable housing have been neglected. 

One of the report’s most important conclusions is that foundations, on their own, cannot reverse this democratic decline, but they can be a catalyst for change. It is important for society to have a rich social ecosystem, which is ready to strengthen its links and to create community.

The impact of foundations

Foundations can strengthen democracy from different areas: 

• Civic education: many foundations are dedicated to promoting civic education, creating programmes to inform citizens about their rights, how institutions work, along with democratic values.
• Defence of human rights: foundations such as Open Society Foundations or Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa fund projects that protect fundamental rights, promoting freedom of speech or defending activists in repressive contexts. 
• Transparency and accountability: some foundations support citizen monitoring initiatives and access to public information, which help to prevent corruption and to demand responsibilities of the governments. 
• Citizen mobilisation and participation: they facilitate spaces for social groups to be able to organise themselves, take part in public debates or develop proposals that strengthen the democratic fabric. 
• Support for independent media: in contexts of censorship or media concentration, some foundations provide funding for free, independent means of communication that fulfil a critical role in democracies.