Governance Go to Funding

Finance Watch is committed to transparency, independence and good governance.

The governance structure – described in detail in our articles of association has been designed with these values in mind.

General Assembly

The General Assembly is Finance Watch’s highest governance body. Both types of member (full member organisations and individual members) are entitled to attend and vote via separate voting colleges. The General Assembly meets once a year to debate, to approve the budget and accounts and to elect the Board of Directors.

Board of Directors

The Board comprises eight Directors including six elected by and from the General Assembly (four full member organisations and two individual members) and two independent Directors (“external personalities”), who are selected by the Board, and voted by the General Assembly. Board Directors, who are not paid, may serve for two consecutive mandates of three years and may stand for election/appointment again after a two year absence following the end of their second mandate.

The members of the Board of Directors are:

Secretary general

The Board of Directors appoints the Secretary General. The Secretary General reports to the Board and can be dismissed by them on a two thirds majority. The Secretary General has day-to-day responsibility of Finance Watch.

Isabelle Buscke was appointed Secretary General in January 2026.

Funding Go to Governance

Finance Watch is committed to transparency, independence and good governance.

If you would like to join the many generous individuals who have supported us so far please visit the secure online donations page, where you can become a regular supporter or make a one-off donation.

If you would like to discuss a funding proposal, please contact Zoë Fallon on +32 2 880 0440 or [email protected].

Aside from private donors, Finance Watch’s funders in 2025 were:

  • European Union: Annual EU grant with DG FISMA
  • European Climate Foundation: A major philanthropic initiative working to foster the net-zero transition and ensure a healthy, thriving planet for current and future generations.
  • The Sunrise Project: A network of changemakers who believe in the power of social movements to change the world. Its mission is to scale social movements to drive the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy as fast as possible.
  • Laudes Foundation: Responding to the dual crises of inequality and climate change by supporting brave, innovative efforts that inspire and challenge industry to harness its power for good.
  • Fondation Charles Mayer pour le Progrès de l’Homme (FPH): Supports civil society movements and organisations in their activities advocating for a social and ecological transition.
  • Quadrature Climate Foundation: Aims to shift the current global climate trajectory towards a better future.
  • Partners for a New Economy (P4NE): International philanthropic fund focused on transforming our economy for nature.
  • KR Foundation: Addressing the climate crisis by pushing for a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels at a global level.
  • ClimateWorks Foundation: Mission – to slow global warming by funding other organisations internationally to help find best practice solutions to cut down on carbon dioxide emissions.

Please note that Finance Watch does not accept funding from the financial industry or its lobby. All institutional funding must be approved by the Board of Directors to ensure that it:

  • is unconditional,
  • does not divert Finance Watch from its mission, and
  • has no negative impact on Finance Watch’s independence.

 

Total income 2025EUR
Own funding38,423
Membership fees27,665
Miscellaneous10,758
Third party funding1,854,263
Quadrature Climate Foundation458,692
Laudes Foundation238,611
European Climate Foundation249,406
KR Foundation174,584
The Sunrise Project267,076
Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation30,000
Spring Foundation82,223
ClimateWorks Foundation338,896
Donations by private individuals 17,775
EU funding1,020,560
EU DG FISMA1,020,560
Total income2,913,246

Income 2025