Your own piece of zusa
You know what zusa makes possible. The meeting that cracked something open. The connection that led somewhere unexpected. The space to be human. The community that believes in you.
Now here is something new: you can help own it.
“friends of zusa” (foz) is the community co-owner of zusa. Right now, we hold 25% of zusa’s shares. Our goal this year is to buy more than 25% extra (€6,250+) and become majority owner. It’s a concrete milestone, and it changes how zusa is governed. It puts the community in the driver’s seat and it brings us closer to walking the talk.
We’re inviting programme alumni, partners, colleagues, and friends-of-friends to join us. Whether you can contribute €100 or €2,000, your stake is real. You get a voice in zusa’s strategic direction, access to a community of people doing remarkable work across all our regions, and the knowledge that you helped prove something: that cultural organisations can be owned by the people who care about them most.
This is paying it forward. This is belonging to something. This is the model we want to see more of in our sector — and we’re building it right now.
Will you join us?
(list current co-owners:) Sarah, Jotham, Yasmin, Stella, Matina, Chiara, Serra, Kasia, Henrieke, Silvana, Rejane
Become a friend of zusa
Read the FAQ below or contact Jotham: jotham.sietsma<at>gmail.com
Do you believe in the power of culture to connect people, build resilience, and make the world a little bit better? Are you a fan of zusa’s work — or of the people who make it happen? Then read on.
What is zusa?
zusa — art of collaboration is a Berlin-based social enterprise (gGmbH) that brings together people and organisations from different cultural backgrounds across wider Europe and the SWANA region. Through programmes like Tandem, VAHA, Culture Helps, All Around Culture, and the AiR zusa residency space, zusa creates conditions for peer exchange, cross-border collaboration, and support for artists and cultural workers under pressure. zusa was founded in 2021 as a daughter company of the MitOst network. Check out our About section.
What is friends of zusa?
friends of zusa (foz) is a registered association (in German: e.V.) and the community co-owner of zusa. It was set up so that the people who care about zusa most — alumni, partners, colleagues, friends and family — can hold a real stake in the organisation. foz currently owns 25% of zusa’s shares. Our goal is to add+25% this year and become majority owner.
Why are you doing this?
We believe cultural organisations should be owned and shaped by the communities they serve, not just by institutions or founding boards. foz is how we make that real. More co-owners means more resilience, more networks, more voices in the room.
Once we establish majority ownership, we will continue to fundraise: zusa needs capital for work that is genuinely hard to fundraise for — the residency space, emergency support for partners, core operations, community events. Grants rarely cover this. Your contribution goes directly where it’s needed.
How does it work, practically?
You make an interest-free loan to foz and foz uses that loan to purchase additional shares in zusa. Your contribution is tracked and documented with a simple loan agreement. If you prefer to give directly to zusa’s activities rather than share ownership, a direct donation to zusa is also possible — just let us know.
What’s in it for me?
Beyond the karma points — quite a lot:
- Voice: A real stake in zusa’s future
- Voting rights at the foz annual assembly — elect the board, stand for election yourself
- Your contribution helps govern how zusa is run
- Community: Access to other fozzies — some you’ll know, some you’ll want to
- Regular community calls and strategy workshops
- In-person gatherings (we’re applying for funding for a community event this year)
- Meaning: The knowledge that you helped prove a model — community co-ownership of a transnational cultural organisation — that doesn’t yet exist anywhere else quite like this
How much should I contribute?
We suggest four tiers, but there’s no wrong amount — what matters is that you’re in.
| Tier | Amount | What it means |
| Solidarity Friend | €100 | Thank you! You let us know you’re a friend and we love you for that |
| Community Owner | €500 | Great! This moves us meaningfully toward the ownership milestone |
| Cultural Investor | €1,000 | Amazing! Your contribution solidifies community ownership for the long term |
| Founding Co-Owner | €2,000+ | Wonderful! Welcome to the co-owner table, with great power come great responsibilities |
Not sure which tier is right for you? Reach out and we’ll figure it out together.
How involved do I need to be?
As involved as you want. Members receive regular updates on zusa’s work and are invited to community calls and strategy workshops. You can vote at the members assembly or stand for the board — but you’re also welcome to stay in the background and simply know your contribution is doing good. We keep the structure light and care-oriented.
What if I want to support but don’t want formal membership?
No problem. You can make a loan or donation directly without becoming a member. We also deeply value non-financial support — as an ambassador, a connector, a critical friend. If you have specific ideas or offers, just reach out.
Can I get my money back?
As a loan, you have the right to request repayment — though we obviously hope you won’t need to. If you end your membership, the process is straightforward and handled with care. Note: if zusa were to cease operations, outstanding loans would not be repaid (remaining assets go to a designated beneficiary).
Does zusa pay out profits to co-owners?
No. zusa is a registered non-profit company (gGmbH) — any surplus on the annual balance is reinvested in zusa’s activities. This is not a financial investment. It’s something better: a stake in a mission you believe in.
Is this model unusual?
Yes — genuinely. No organisation in Europe combines alumni and community co-ownership of a transnational cultural social enterprise bridging EU and SWANA contexts in quite this way. There are others doing interesting things with steward ownership and cooperative models — but the combination here is new. You’d be part of proving it works.
How do I join?
You can register directly via the form (takes 2 minutes), or contact Jotham for questions: jotham.sietsma<at>gmail.com.
Know someone else who should be a friend of zusa? Pass this along.
Registration form