Who we are
We bring together perspectives from politics, activism, business and culture to develop projects in the space between civil society and institutions that tackle the biggest challenges facing our democracy.
Our mission
The Daniel Sachs Foundation was founded on the conviction that the path towards a vital democracy is paved by a new generation empowered to reimagine a shared future. We bring together perspectives from politics, activism, business and culture to develop projects in the space between civil society and institutions that tackle the biggest challenges facing our democracy.
Our leadership
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Daniel Sachs
Chair
Daniel is a Swedish business leader deeply committed to the idea of an open and democratic society and a founder of numerous organizations aimed at revitalizing democracy. He is the founder and CEO of P Capital Partners, a leading corporate lender and strategic financial partner to entrepreneurial and family-owned companies in Northern Europe. Daniel is vice chair of the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and chair of the OSF Investment Committee. He is a member of the Panel of senior advisers of the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House and a Council member of the European Council on Foreign Relations.
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Paul Alarcón Alanes
Secretary General
Paul is the Secretary General of the Daniel Sachs Foundation. He is an entrepreneur recognized as one Sweden’s most influential leaders in social sustainability and brings senior leadership experience from business, nonprofits and the public sector. He is a co-founder of several nonprofits and impact-driven startups. Paul served as the first ever Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Stockholm between 2015-2019 and was elected as an Obama Leader in 2023.
Our view on democracy
Democracy grapples with existential challenges, rooted in a lack of trust in the political establishment’s ability to address people’s pressing societal concerns. This distrust, along with polarization and the undermining of democratic institutions provides fertile soil for authoritarian movements and leaders who exploit citizen frustrations, further pulling threads in the democratic fabric.
However, amidst these challenges, there is reason for hope. Across the globe, emerging movements led by a new generation are mobilizing to tackle both local and global issues. Regrettably, all too often, their passion and ideas for societal improvement fail to translate into political power.
Democracy is fundamentally built from the ground up, but it erodes from the top. Therefore, we firmly believe in empowering this diverse new generation of leaders to assume positions of power, prepared with the capability to drive change. By doing so, we aim to strengthen democratic institutions and nurture a culture of inclusivity and hope, essential elements in restoring trust and addressing the root causes of discontent that fuel populism and polarization.