Freudenberg Foundation

The Freudenberg Foundation (Freudenberg Stiftung) was founded in 1984 by individual shareholders of Freudenberg & Co. KG with the consent of the company's shareholders' meeting, as a non-profit limited liability company (gemeinnützige GmbH). From the outset it aimed to address gaps in the state education system and to enable participation and good education for all children regardless of background. After 1990 it added the promotion of democratic culture, initially especially in East Germany. It describes itself as an independent civil-society institution acting as a non-partisan part of democratic civil society in Germany and Europe, and states that it is not directed by interest-led directives from donors or from the company associated with it.

In 1984, individual shareholders of Freudenberg & Co. KG, with the consent of the company's shareholders' meeting, founded the Freudenberg Foundation as a non-profit limited liability company (gemeinnützige GmbH). Its stated goal was to act "independently of the donors, oriented toward clear social goals, immediately effective and with a socio-political claim." From the beginning, the foundation was oriented toward remedying gaps in the state education system and enabling participation and good education for all children regardless of background. After 1990, an important additional goal was added: the promotion of democratic culture, initially especially in East Germany.

An independent, non-partisan civil-society foundation for democracy, diversity and social justice, strengthening democratic culture and social inclusion through programs in municipalities, educational institutions, media, science and art.

1. 1Freudenberg Stiftungfreudenbergstiftung.de
2. 2Freudenberg Stiftung | Stiftung | Corporate Governancefreudenbergstiftung.de