'Youth and Democracy' Fund

The “Youth + Democracy” Fund supports initiatives by youth and young adults in the areas of political education and political participation. It was launched in 2021 by the Swiss Democracy Foundation and has been continued by the Democracy Foundation Basel since January 1, 2025.
The fund has contributed grants to basic structures and projects, enabling 9,120 young people to directly participate in these initiatives since its inception in 2021. The materials used in these projects have indirectly reached an additional 15,000 young people.

“Young people do not automatically become politically active and responsible citizens—they need to be deliberately introduced and socialized into various forms of political participation. Societal changes over the past fifty years have unintentionally influenced this process. Local community organizations have lost significance, and ties to one’s home municipality have weakened in an increasingly mobile world. These developments have consequences: Over the past four decades, voter turnout among young people during their first election has steadily declined—most notably among those from less privileged educational backgrounds.”

‍Lucas Leemann, Professor of Comparative Political Science and Democracy Studies, University of Zurich

The goals and criteria for possible support include the promotion of democracy, the participation of youth and young people in public life and politics, the commitment to an open and free society, and the support of policies that counteract polarization and aim for broadly supported societal and political compromises.

Applications are evaluated in collaboration with the Institute of Political Science at the University of Zurich.