Network Meeting of Feminist Organizations and Groups
Network Meeting in Berlin 2026
Feminist grassroots organizations from all over Germany were coming together
More than 30 FLINTA-led initiatives currently funded by filia in Germany met in Berlin in July 2026 to get to know one another and learn from each other. At the end of the weekend, one phrase stood out in particular: “Connection is the foundation of social movements.”
This sentence sums up the key insight from the meeting: Financial support makes projects possible. However, initiatives can only become self-sustaining in the long term through trust, mutual support, and sustainable relationships—especially given the current social backlash that all participants are experiencing in their work.
About the Grantee Program
filia currently supports 42 grassroots groups in Germany in the Program RISE. All groups were picked by the volunteer RISE advisory board made up of dedicated individuals and experts. The grantee partners were selected based on criteria such as intersectionality, self-determination of women, girls, and LGBTIQ+ individuals, and sensitivity to power dynamics.
Individual initiatives are becoming a network
The need for dialogue was enormous. Many participants described the same challenges in their work—without realizing that other initiatives were also working on exactly those same issues:
- the uncertainty of project-based financing
- the question of sustainable organizational structures
- the tension between commitment and burnout in volunteer work
At the same time, it became clear just how much knowledge and experience already exist within the network and how much potential there is for sharing them more effectively. Based on identified needs, concrete agreements were reached regarding joint grant applications and mutual consultation. Even while we were still there, communication channels were established to ensure that this process can continue exactly as it has been.
What did I take away from the meeting? Above all, positive energy and hope. Getting to know the work of other projects across the country has somehow helped me stay on track in the current political climate. I’m also taking a network with me.
An impact that goes beyond funding
Many participants arrived exhausted and left with renewed energy, concrete connections, and a sense of being part of a larger feminist movement.
It has once again become clear—not only to the grant recipients but also to filia as the funding foundation—that money makes projects possible, encounters build trust, trust enables cooperation, and cooperation makes movements more resilient. Funding does not end with a bank transfer. It fosters relationships, mutual accountability, and the foundation for collaboration that extends far beyond any single project.
I was surprised by the large number of BIPOC participants, both from the funded projects and from filia, because in funding contexts I’m still more accustomed to seeing a majority of people from the dominant culture. That made me very happy. Thank you for that.
What should I bring? The great feeling of being fully aligned with the foundation’s values. The confidence that comes from its financial and moral support, which is very important for our project. The appreciation for our work.
Do you want to empower women, girls, and LGBTIQ+ individuals at the grassroots level?
Funding doesn’t end with a bank transfer—but in order for that transfer to happen, we need your support. Stand up for empowerment and democratic participation. Become a regular donor to filia.
The Program RISE (short for: Ressources for Intersectional Solidarity and Empowerment) is being supported by the Crespo Foundation.
Photos: Esra Gültekin
