Foundations play a crucial role in addressing societal challenges, particularly in environmental activities. However, research on their contributions to eco-friendly and sustainable development is limited, especially in Germany, where comprehensive data on foundations is lacking and only estimations of their environmental impact exist. This research investigates the financial power, scope of activities, and foundational conditions of 201 German foundations and 79 in the United States through multivariate statistics and qualitative content analysis. Expert interviews with board members of community foundations in Germany provide insights into the challenges and opportunities these foundations face. The findings highlight limitations for German foundations regarding financial power and professionalization. Nevertheless, environmental foundations can significantly contribute to sustainable development, particularly at the local level. The research also discusses the types of actions undertaken by these foundations and the influence of societal and cultural factors on their activities. Additionally, it addresses the challenges faced by newly established foundations, emphasizing that gaining social trust and executing appealing projects are closely linked to successful fundraising and donation campaigns.
