Confident Despite It All: The Underestimated Strength of German Civil Society

At a time marked by multiple crises and profound transformations, we need to take active responsibility for the future: a future that respects planetary boundaries and enables everyone to live a good and peaceful life in dignity. The Robert Bosch Stiftung supports individuals and organizations in taking effective, future-oriented action. Organized civil society plays a central role in driving positive change. 

In the Confidence Barometer, the Robert Bosch Stiftung explores: How confident are civil society actors in their own ability to make a difference? And what gives them the strength to stay engaged? The survey results reveal an enormous strength within civil society that is often underestimated in public and political debate. While public debate frequently focuses on structural challenges and financial constraints, the Confidence Barometer highlights another, often less visible strength of the sector: the commitment and solidarity of those involved. Civil society is standing together and eager to take action, even as the pressures of day-to-day work continue to grow.

The central finding of the Confidence Barometer is a striking vote of confidence in the future: 72 percent of organizations are optimistic about what lies ahead. This optimism is not naive. It is firmly rooted in their everyday work. It comes from firsthand experience that their efforts make a difference, a fundamental conviction that provides a foundation for a strong and cohesive society, particularly in times of crisis. 

The commitment of organizations’ own staff and volunteers (94 percent) and positive feedback from the people and communities they serve (92 percent) are particularly important sources of confidence. The survey demonstrates that seeing positive change firsthand at the local level is the most important resource for countering frustration and discouragement.

However, the study also delivers a clear-eyed realitey check. The Confidence Barometer exposes a critical bottleneck: the gap between vision and action: While 76 percent of organizations say they have clear ideas for a better future, they rate their actual ability to implement those ideas at an average of just 6.2 on a scale from 0 to 10. 

Structural barriers are largely to blame. Bureaucracy, uncertain funding, and staff shortages in particular are holding organizations back. It is also alarming that one in six organizations (16 percent) reports being directly affected by hostility and hate. This increasingly harsh social climate threatens not only individual projects but also the very fabric of democratic life. The confidence of those who are engaged is a valuable resource, but it is not inexhaustible.

For us, the findings of the Confidence Barometer point to a clear mandate for action. We are convinced that a strong democracy needs a vibrant civil society with the capacity to act. That is why the conditions under which civil society operates urgently need to improve. 

At the Robert Bosch Stiftung, we therefore prioritize trust and flexibility in our funding. This means moving away from short-term projects and toward long-term partnerships. Through flexible funding and institutional support, we want to give organizations the space and stability they need to realize their full potential to shape the future. 

The Confidence Barometer is a snapshot, but above all, it is a call to action. It shows us a civil society that is ready to play an active role in shaping the future. Let’s work together to make sure they are given the freedom, trust, and resources to do so.