Fundacja Inicjatyw Społeczno-Ekonomicznych (FISE) is an independent non-profit organization founded in July 1990 in Warsaw, initiated by individuals associated with Poland’s democratic opposition during the communist era. The Foundation’s early leadership included notable figures such as Henryk Wujec and Jacek Kuroń. Its mission centers on advancing decent work and social and economic development, focusing particularly on employment issues affecting vulnerable social groups.
FISE’s work spans multiple areas: fighting unemployment, developing the social economy, supporting enterprise, and promoting local civic engagement. It has delivered over 150 projects and trained nearly 8,000 labor market professionals and 6,000 job seekers through its School of Entrepreneurship, established in 1994. The organization publishes materials on labor market topics and manages ekonomiaspoleczna.pl, Poland’s largest portal on social economy.
Current activities include running the Social Economy Support Centre (since 2009), hosting the annual Jacek Kuroń Social Enterprise of the Year Award, and launching initiatives like TransferHUB, an incubator for social innovation. FISE also offers a job information point for foreigners and develops training for advanced skills in the social economy. In just the last three years, FISE has helped create 80 jobs for disadvantaged groups and has supported 20 social enterprises in Warsaw and the surrounding region.
With its headquarters on plac Konstytucji in Warsaw, FISE maintains a presence both regionally and nationally, holding partnerships in several European social economy networks. Its efforts are grounded in collaboration, ethical standards, and ongoing engagement with stakeholders across public, private, and nonprofit sectors.