This master's thesis analyses the impact of foreign, especially ideologically profiled funding on the functioning, programmatic autonomy, and perceived legitimacy of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Slovenia, Hungary, and Germany. It is based on the thesis that the structure of donors and the level of transparency significantly shape the internal pluralism of civil society and the way the public and political actors assess the role of NGOs. The purpose of the research is to understand how foreign funding, within different national contexts, affects the autonomy, legitimacy, and stability of advocacy organizations. The research follows a comparative and mixed-methodological approach. It includes an analysis of legal and institutional frameworks, content analysis of annual reports, project documentation, and public communication of selected NGOs, secondary statistical and financial data, and limited survey responses with open-ended questions. An indicator of ideological alignment between NGO programmes and donor profiles was also developed. The findings confirm that a high dependency on a small number of ideologically profiled donors leads to strong thematic alignment with donor priorities and reduces the sector’s thematic diversity. In Slovenia and Hungary, this contributes to political polarization and discourses about "foreign influence", while in Germany, an institutionalized and pluralistic funding model mitigates conflictual effects and strengthens the legitimacy of NGOs. The thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of the relationship between funding, autonomy, and legitimacy of civil society, and emphasizes the need for more transparent, stable, and value-balanced support mechanisms. The findings are relevant both for policy makers and NGOs themselves, as they support the development of strategies to enhance transparency, pluralism, and public trust.
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