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Hello,
In June, I stepped into my new role as Secretary General of the Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation. The past few months have been both intense and inspiring, as I’ve had the opportunity to connect with our dedicated team and board, gaining deeper insight into their work and commitment. I have been genuinely impressed by the energy and capacity within the Foundation.
Last year, we received nearly 1,500 project applications, and at any given time, we are supporting around 365 active initiatives in collaboration with the organizations we fund. These are important projects and ideas that help strengthen civil society and address the pressing challenges of our time.
This autumn, a key focus for us is working with our board to shape a new strategy for the years ahead. It will help define our direction and how we can continue to make a meaningful contribution to a strong and vibrant civil society.
We are also reviewing applications from our latest call for proposals for Swedish entrepreneurs, called ”Social Entrepreneurship for a Better World”. It is a relatively new but vital area for us, where we see great potential for social entrepreneurs to bring fresh ideas and energy to the search for innovative solutions. We look forward to sharing which initiatives we will be moving forward with later this season.
And we are also excited to launch our new website very soon! It is designed to make it easier to apply for funding and to learn more about how the Foundation works.
Do you have an idea that could make a difference? Submit an application through our website.
Wishing you a great autumn!
Best regards,
Andreas Eriksson
Secretary General for The Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation |
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At The Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation, we are always working to make it easier for organizations to apply for funding. That is why we are excited to soon launch our brand-new website.
The new site is designed to be more accessible, and inspiring. There, you will find information about how we support civil society, our call for proposals, the projects we fund, and how your organization can apply for support. Whether you are an experienced actor or just starting out in the civil society, we hope you will feel welcome and find the guidance you need.
Stay tuned, the launch is coming this autumn! |
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October 31 is Neighbor’s Day – a celebration of community, care, and the social power found in neighborhoods and local areas. Just like last year, we are celebrating together with the Swedish Postcode Lottery. It is thanks to everyone who takes part in the lottery that we are able to support so many important initiatives, both in Sweden and internationally.
At the Swedish Postcode Foundation, we witness the power of neighborly connections and community every day – not least through our Neighborhood Initiative. This initiative enables local associations to organize activities and create meeting places that foster a sense of belonging and strengthen local ties.
On October 31, we encourage everyone to take their own initiative to honor neighbors or neighborhoods – big or small – and help spread the spirit of community. 🎉
Do you have an idea that fits within the scope of the Neighborhood Initiative? Learn more here.
Psst… Keep an eye on our channels!
In the lead-up to Neighbor’s Day, we’ll be sharing a short film featuring Kooperativ Träffpunkten Oxhagen in Örebro, whose Neighborhood Initiative brings people together and builds new connections through local gardening. |
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With funding from the Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation, the Olena Zelenska Foundation and the Voices Camp project have been able to provide over 220 children in Ukraine with a safe space, emotional support, and a chance to begin healing from the traumas of war. The camp is a powerful example of how civil society can foster resilience, recovery, and hope – even in the most challenging times.
The children who participated in Voices Camp have experienced loss, displacement, and occupation. At the camp, they were given the opportunity to rebuild trust, process their emotions, and regain a sense of hope for the future. According to psychologists’ observations, the children’s anxiety levels decreased significantly, while their ability to manage stress improved.
Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine and founder of the Olena Zelenska Foundation, describes the initiative as follows:
– “Loss, forced maturity, constant stress – unfortunately, all of this has become part of childhood for many Ukrainian children. That is why psychosocial support is one of the core areas the Foundation is developing. Voices Camp is not just a place for rest. It is a safe space where a child is heard, accepted, and supported in coping with their experience of war. We see such initiatives as an investment in future generations and in the future of our country.”
Here you can read more about the project and the children’s stories.
You can also find a filmed interview with 14-year-old Yaroslav on our social media channels.
We are proud to support the Olena Zelenska Foundation and help enable this vital work. |
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In July 2024, Videre Est Credere were the grateful recipients of support from The Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation to establish the Global Response Unit – a new mechanism to support grassroots human rights activists and organizations globally. As the project reaches its final moments, here is an insight from Videres work.
Videre:
Over the last 15 years, we have developed a specialism in supporting communities in conflict-affected regions to safely and effectively document visual evidence of human rights violations. Together, we verify and present this evidence to the public, advocacy partners and international accountability mechanisms.
In response to rising conflicts and mass atrocities around the world, we had been receiving more and more requests to share our skills and methodology. We established the Global Response Unit to formalize and streamline how we can effectively provide this vital support to many more human rights activists, and organizations.
Over the last six months, we piloted an intensive partnership with a human rights organization working in East Africa* by providing financial support, bespoke training, and ongoing accompaniment and mentorship. This has proven to be a fruitful partnership, resulting in an advocacy report documenting violations of international law, a submission to a UN Special Rapporteur, and our partners having significantly strengthened infrastructure.
Here's their reflection on our work together:
– “You were so focused on what we needed to know and your assessment of us and what we needed was so spot on. We can tell you’ve walked in our shoes. We learned so much. You met us where we are and told us what we needed to know. It was amazing.”
Establishing an equitable, symbiotic partnership was equally transformative for us, with learnings from our partner strengthening our own direct investigations. Working in partnership like this is now a core pillar of our operating model, amplifying our impact to many more human rights activists and organizations in new places, while continually learning ourselves.
We would like to say a huge thank you to The Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation, and the players of the Swedish Postcode Lottery, for your support for our work, and your unwavering belief in creating a better world.
(*to protect the safety and security of our partners, we choose not to publicly name them) |
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Colombia is home to some of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems – but they’re under threat. Each year, over 170,000 hectares of forest are lost, impacting both nature and Indigenous communities. Through this project, Hivos empowers forest-dependent communities with advocacy tools, legal support, and monitoring systems to help them protect their land and preserve biodiversity.
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| Despite decades of climate research, public action remains limited. THE HERDS by Walk to the Horizon is a large-scale public art and climate action project that uses life-sized animal puppets and educational activities to engage young audiences in environmental issues. Touring globally, the project aims to reconnect people with nature and inspire the next generation to protect our planet. |
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| In Kenya’s Maasai communities, harmful traditions like female genital mutilation and child marriage continue to threaten girls’ health and rights. This project challenges these practices and supports girls to live dignified lives free from violence. With a holistic approach, Nice Place Foundation promotes education, safety, and long-term change in the Kajiado region. |
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| The global trade in wild plants is growing – but so are the risks. Around 10% of medicinal and aromatic plant species are threatened with extinction. TRAFFIC’s project raises awareness of the ecological and social impacts of wild plant trade and works to promote sustainable sourcing, especially in light of a new EU legislation. |
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