Shared Ground
Tax number: 868065328
Registration with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel): 97470139
Bank account details: to be added
Contact details:
Shared Ground Stichting
Jan Pieterszoon Coenstraat 7
2595 WP
The Hague
Netherlands
info@sharedground.nl
www.sharedground.nl
Index
Shared Ground is a think tank focused on advancing the common good for the environment. The organisation works to foster a more nuanced, accurate, and depolarised public and political debate, alongside more constructive, less polarised policy responses to environmental challenges.
Shared Ground was established based on the principle of the common good – creating space for everyone to participate and contribute to strengthening democratic systems.
The organisation serves the public interest by building and sharing knowledge through research, developing policy solutions, and providing networking platforms.
Shared Ground was founded to promote reconciliation-oriented politics and reduce polarisation in the climate debate by amplifying the voices of those often unheard – in particular, people who feel climate policies threaten their interests.
The Foundation aims to build the common good for the environment – operating in the Netherlands and worldwide to:
Promote Environment and Nature Protection and Climate Awareness: The Foundation works to increase public and policy-level awareness around environmental issues and climate. It conducts research, organises events, and provides resources aimed at fostering sustainable environmental practices and informed discussions about the intersection of climate and politics.
Facilitate Collaboration Across Sectors for Impact: The Foundation facilitates partnerships between various actors including non-profits and institutions from the public and private sector to develop and implement evidence-based solutions addressing climate change. This includes coordinating collaborative efforts to ensure the integration of environmental protection measures in policymaking and across diverse sectors, ensuring broad public benefit and the development of the common good for the environment.
Advance Knowledge and Policy: the Foundation advances knowledge on audience sentiments, environmental and climate policies, and public interest. This includes conducting in-depth research, publishing reports, and providing policy recommendations to guide effective and inclusive climate action that also addresses populist sentiment.
We work to depolarise environmental and climate debates and policy-making by promoting more nuanced, accurate, and constructive public engagement across all sectors. By breaking down stereotype-driven narratives and involving actors who have been absent from these discussions, we help reduce the alienation of groups who feel excluded from climate conversations. Their perspectives are essential for building effective, broadly supported, and politically viable environmental solutions.
Our vision is that climate policies become stronger and more resilient because they work for people — not the other way around. We equip stakeholders to understand and address the real grievances of those who support populist movements or feel harmed by climate policies. By meaningfully integrating these perspectives, we help create climate strategies that reflect the needs and concerns of a broad and diverse public. We foster unity through genuine, lasting engagement — not by fighting national populist narratives, but by building common ground for climate solutions.
Shared Ground Foundation aims to achieve its public benefit objectives by implementing the following activities:
Knowledge Creation
The foundation conducts research to strengthen public understanding of how different societal groups — in particular audiences more often supporting populist attitudes — perceive climate and environmental policies. These activities include:
– Audience Research: Qualitative and quantitative studies capturing the attitudes, concerns, and views of groups often excluded from environmental debates, especially those who feel climate policies negatively affect their interests.
– Mapping and Analysis: Research reports that map parties, leaders, institutions, and media platforms, analysing their positions and narratives regarding climate and environmental issues.
– Recommendations and Knowledge Sharing: The research results are shared with the wider public, including through reports and presentations, to enrich public debate and inform more inclusive policy solutions.
Critical Analysis and Strategy Development
The foundation brings together diverse stakeholders to foster dialogue, exchange knowledge, and develop constructive policy approaches. Activities include:
– Multi-stakeholder Convenings: Meetings that bring together representatives of audiences, institutions, policymakers, and climate sector stakeholders to exchange perspectives.
– Seminars and Workshops: Sessions that dive deeper into research insights, facilitate the drafting of new materials, and provide practical recommendations to be published and promoted.
– Training and Advisory Services: Capacity-building sessions for stakeholders to equip them with tools to engage with underrepresented audiences effectively.
Deployment and Public Engagement
To ensure that the voices of often unheard groups are included in public debates and policymaking processes, Shared Ground conducts:
– Communications and PR Work: Development of campaigns, focus groups, press releases, opinion pieces, and events to bring the perspectives of populist audiences into media consumed by decision-makers.
– Audio-Visual and Digital Products: Production of newsletters, webinars, and podcast series to share research findings and amplify unheard voices in an accessible format.
Ecosystem Building
When necessary and relevant, the foundation aims to contribute to building and strengthening the ecosystem of organisations working on similar issues – through capacity building, partnership development, financial support, and other means.
Fundraising and Financial Sustainability
The foundation undertakes fundraising activities to secure the necessary resources to carry out its public benefit work. All funds raised are used exclusively to support the mission and objectives of Shared Ground. The foundation does not aim to make a profit, and no private benefits are derived from its activities.
Board composition
The Board consists of at least three members. Board members are appointed by the Board itself for a term of up to three years, with the possibility of reappointment after the term ends.
The current composition of the Board is as follows:
Responsibilities
The Board is responsible for the overall governance and management of the foundation. It supervises the policy, activities, and financial management of the organisation, including the work of the Executive Director. The Board ensures that Shared Ground operates in line with its mission and public benefit objectives.
Remuneration
The members of the Board do not receive remuneration for their activities as board members. Board members may only claim reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties for Shared Ground.
Operational Team
In addition to the Board, Shared Ground employs a professional team that defines and carries out the foundation’s activities. The organisation also collaborates with external experts and professionals responsible for implementing research, communications, and other operational work.
The Foundation Board is responsible for the financial management and administration of Shared Ground. The Board members have equal voting rights concerning financial decisions and jointly ensure proper oversight. None of the Board members may dispose of the foundation’s assets as if they were their personal property.
To guarantee transparency and compliance, Shared Ground outsources its financial administration — including bookkeeping, preparation of annual financial statements, and payroll management — to an external, professional accounting firm.
The Executive Team is appointed by the Board and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the foundation. Salaries are determined in line with recognised salary scales applicable to internationally operating non-profit organisations.
Other professionals, advisors, or experts engaged by the foundation work under hourly contracts or formal agreements. Compensation for such services is in accordance with market standards and the same salary scales mentioned above.
Shared Ground allocates all financial resources exclusively to achieving its mission of promoting the common good for the environment. The foundation does not pursue profit and does not accumulate unnecessary reserves. The Foundation maintains a modest financial reserve to safeguard the continuity of its activities, ensuring that essential costs can be met during temporary funding delays, ongoing projects can be completed, and unforeseen expenses can be addressed. The size of the reserve is kept proportionate to the scale of the Foundation’s work, reviewed annually by the Board, and any surplus beyond what is necessary for continuity and risk management will be used for the Foundation’s public benefit objectives within a reasonable period.
Shared Ground secures its financial resources through the following income streams:
Grants and Donations: The foundation is primarily funded by periodic and project-based or unrestricted donations from private foundations, philanthropic institutions, and individual donors. These contributions are essential for the foundation to achieve its mission.
Project Funding and Subsidies: Where relevant, Shared Ground applies for project-specific subsidies or grants that align with the foundation’s objectives.
The Foundation ensures that all received funds are used in accordance with its statutes and ANBI conditions, focusing solely on the advancement of its mission. To this end, all expenditures are reviewed and approved by the Board (or delegated officers) against the Foundation’s statutory objectives, recorded in the financial administration, and reported annually in the public ANBI report.