Our Mission
Our Programmes
The Ricardo Ibarretxe Foundation honours Ricardo's legacy by supporting initiatives that strengthen communities, promote wellbeing and opportunity and create lasting impact for future generations.
Strengthening Communities
Local and International Cooperation
Rooted in Arrigorriaga and open to the world, we strengthen local bonds while creating connections that allow communities to learn from and support one another.
We strengthen community life in Arrigorriaga while building practical connections with communities beyond our borders. Our work focuses on supporting people across generations, reinforcing local organisations and creating partnerships that can expand access to housing, education, health and community opportunity in Bizkaia.
Our Village. Our Passion
We support the people and organisations that give Arrigorriaga its identity and sense of belonging.
Our focus is on promoting active participation among older residents, opening study opportunities for scholars and young people, and helping local associations become more visible, connected and inclusive.
Where the Impact Expands
We invest in INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION with trusted international networks to support communities facing barriers to safe housing, education, healthcare and essential infrastructure. We also seek to build lasting relationships between towns and institutions, encouraging cooperation, cultural exchange and shared learning across borders.
The IMPACT we SEEK : A stronger, more connected village, where generations can thrive and local organisations are better able to serve the community, alongside helping communities beyond our border to improve access to essential services and long-term development. At the same time, we aim to create enduring links between Arrigorriaga, the Basque Country and communities abroad.
Sport, Culture, and Well Being
The True Basque Identity
Ricardo Ibarretxe was defined by his deep love for sport and his dedication to Basque culture and identity. The Foundation honours that commitment by promoting sporting participation, cultural expression and community wellbeing in Arrigorriaga and beyond.
Club Deportivo Padura
The Foundation is a proud supporter of Club Deportivo Padura, the heartbeat of football in Arrigorriaga. We believe in the power of local sport to build character, friendship and community pride — and in giving every young person the opportunity to compete, belong and grow.
Through our support we aim to strengthen the club's infrastructure, develop youth pathways and ensure that the sport Ricardo loved remains accessible to all residents.
Herri Kirolak
Traditional Basque sports — stone lifting, log chopping, wood splitting and the many other disciplines of Herri Kirolak — are living expressions of a culture rooted in hard work, resilience and local pride. The Foundation supports the preservation and promotion of these disciplines, ensuring they remain a vibrant part of Arrigorriaga's identity.
We back local athletes, support competitions and help create the conditions for the next generation to discover and embrace these traditions.
Other Sports and Cultural Expressions
Sport and culture take many forms. The Foundation supports a wide range of sporting and cultural activities — from emerging disciplines to the performing arts, folk dance, music and community festivals — that bring people together and express what it means to be from Arrigorriaga.
We are committed to backing local talent, supporting associations and creating platforms where Basque cultural heritage and new voices can thrive side by side.
The IMPACT we SEEK : A community where sport is accessible to all, where traditional Basque culture is celebrated and passed on, and where cultural expression brings generations together — keeping Ricardo's spirit alive in the places he loved most.
Education and Sustainable Action
Building Knowledge for a Better Future
Education and environmental responsibility are inseparable from the kind of future we want to build. The Foundation supports initiatives that equip people with the knowledge, tools and motivation to act — for their communities and for the planet.
Education and Climate Preparedness
We support masterclasses, workshops and educational programmes that prepare students, professionals and community members to understand and respond to the challenges of climate change. Our work connects classrooms with real-world action — bringing experts, institutions and learners together in practical and inspiring ways.
From school programmes in Arrigorriaga to wider training initiatives, we invest in the knowledge that drives lasting change.
Sustainable Action
Aligned with international sustainability days and global frameworks, the Foundation organises events and campaigns that move people from awareness to action. We create spaces for dialogue, learning and practical commitment — in schools, in public life and across the community.
Every initiative is designed to make sustainability tangible, local and achievable — not a distant concept but a daily practice.
Plant a Tree
One of our most tangible commitments is to the green spaces that define our landscape. Through tree-planting initiatives we engage families, schools and local organisations in restoring and enriching the natural environment around Arrigorriaga — one tree at a time.
These initiatives are moments of community participation as much as ecological restoration — bringing people together around a shared, living legacy.
The Power of Sustainability for Business Success
Sustainability is not just an ethical choice — it is a strategic one. The Foundation supports programmes that help businesses in Bizkaia and beyond understand how integrating sustainability into their operations drives innovation, resilience and long-term success.
Through expert exchanges, practical learning and cross-sector dialogue, we help companies lead the transition to a more responsible and competitive economy.
The IMPACT we SEEK : A community that understands its relationship with the natural world, that takes meaningful action on sustainability, and where businesses, schools and citizens are equipped to lead a responsible and resilient future.
Collaborative Governance and Entrepreneurship
Building Lasting Progress Through Collaboration
Lasting progress requires more than good intentions — it demands the right structures, the right networks and the right spirit of collaboration. The Foundation supports initiatives that strengthen governance, encourage entrepreneurship and connect Arrigorriaga to the wider world of ideas and opportunity.
At the Center of the EU
Ricardo Ibarretxe was a committed European. The Foundation continues that commitment by connecting the Basque Country and Arrigorriaga with European institutions, networks and programmes. We believe that being at the centre of Europe means actively shaping it — contributing ideas, sharing experience and bringing the benefits of European cooperation home.
We support initiatives that build bridges between local governance and EU frameworks, ensuring that Arrigorriaga's voice is heard in the conversations that shape our continent.
Municipality Lab
The Municipality Lab is a local laboratory for collaborative governance — a space where elected officials, community leaders, professionals and citizens come together to explore new models of decision-making and public service delivery.
Inspired by the best examples of participatory democracy and transparent governance, the Lab helps Arrigorriaga become a model for how small communities can punch above their weight — innovating, learning and leading.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
We believe that entrepreneurship is a force for community transformation. The Foundation supports initiatives that connect innovators, entrepreneurs and professionals from Arrigorriaga with wider ecosystems of knowledge, funding and opportunity.
Through mentorship, networking events and cross-sector collaboration, we help create the conditions for new ideas to take root — generating employment, building resilience and keeping talent in the community.
The IMPACT we SEEK : A community equipped with the governance tools, European connections and entrepreneurial spirit to shape its own future — where innovation is local, collaboration is natural and Arrigorriaga leads by example.