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Donor Compliance Policy

The ECF is a European-based grant-making foundation registered as a non-profit Stichting in the Netherlands and holds Equivalency Determination as a US 501(c)(3) public charity. The ECF receives philanthropic funding from a range of foundations and donors, and employs it in grantmaking and capacity building for partner organisations working on climate action across Europe and beyond. Our funding relationships are governed by a robust compliance policy that meets the legal requirements of the jurisdictions in which we operate.

Our funding relationships are governed by a robust compliance policy that meets the legal requirements of the jurisdictions in which we operate.

All funds are subject to strict legal restrictions that apply to ECF staff, consultants and grantee partners receiving these funds. In accordance with our legal obligations, ECF funds are never used:

  • To influence the outcome of any specific public election, or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.
  • Any attempt to influence the outcome of any selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any individual to any public office or office of a political organisation.
  • To induce or encourage violations of law or public policy, to cause any private inurement or improper private benefit.

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This includes four areas of strict compliance:

Civil disobedience

ECF does not fund civil disobedience activities. ECF funds cannot be used to induce or encourage violations of law or public policy. This applies to ECF-funded activities, including those carried out through grantee partners and consultants.

Partisan election-related activities

ECF funds cannot be used to influence the outcome of elections or to support or oppose political parties or candidates. Our work focuses on policy conditions and long-term public support for climate action — not electoral outcomes.

Lobbying

ECF operates under strict legal requirements governing lobbying. U.S.-sourced funding is never used for lobbying, and only a limited share of the ECF’s overall activities may be devoted to such purposes. We apply robust compliance processes, including requiring grant recipients to classify and report any lobbying-related activities, to ensure these rules are consistently respected.

Commercial activities

ECF funds must support charitable purposes and mission-aligned activities. ECF funds cannot be used for excess commercial or individual benefit, and the ECF’s primary purpose and activities must remain charitable, educational, scientific, or literary.

Contact/further information

For further information about ECF’s compliance policy, please contact us at compliance@europeanclimate.org. Media enquiries should be directed to media@europeanclimate.org.

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