About us
This platform connects civil society organisations and activists that are impacted by hate, bullying or legal uncertainty in their work with support services. We want to attention to the shrinking civic space phenomenon (increasing restrictions on civil society action in Europe), gather information and establish a strong solidarity network, for the protection of civil society in Europe!
Dr. Siri Hummel
Political scientist
Dr. Siri Hummel is the Deputy Director of the Maecenata Institute for Philanthropy and Civil Society and is a political scientist and communications expert. Her research focuses are democracy and civil society, as well as equality in civil society and foundation research. She is also a lecturer for the programme ‘Nonprofit Management and Public Governance’ at the Berlin School of Economics and Law.
Before joining Maecenata, Siri was a research associate at the Alfried Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg in Greifswald from 2011 to 2017. In 2018, she completed her PHD at the University of Greifswald on the topic of promoting democracy through foundations.
Laura Pfirter
Social scientist
Laura Pfirter was involved as a research associate at the Maecenata Institute for Philanthropy and Civil Society in projects related to the “European Civic Space Observatory”, which focussed on aspects of contested space and the general framework conditions for civic action.
She holds a Master of Arts in Social Sciences from the Humboldt University of Berlin. In addition to questions of democratic theory, her academic interests include informal civil society, social movements, digital and urban engagement and civic networking. She also works as fundraiser and projekt-member for NGOs.
