GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung

GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung (formerly Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung) is a German non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting ecologically and socially sustainable development through selected projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America. It is a dependent foundation (unselbständige Stiftung) legally hosted within GLS Treuhand e.V., a charitable trust based in Bochum, Germany. The foundation was established in 2001 out of a development-aid fund that had been operating within GLS Treuhand since 1980. Founding donors contributed an initial capital of 122,710 euros; by 2016 the foundation's equity had grown to 2.79 million euros through additional endowments, conditional donations and bequests. Since July 2021 it has operated under the name GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung. The foundation's mission is to combat the causes of poverty, hunger and hardship worldwide. It helps people shape their own living conditions in a self-determined and responsible way, promotes the overcoming of hierarchical structures — particularly in favour of women — and works to build lasting regional structures. Its work is organised around several fields: emancipatory education, renewable energy, holistic health, small business and microcredit, human and environmental rights, organic agriculture, child sponsorships and emergency aid. Education is described as the central element of every project cooperation, with theoretically available knowledge being brought to people on the ground in a way that is oriented to their practical and lived reality. The foundation supports partner organisations in 18 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. In Africa these are Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe; in Asia Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines; in Latin America Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Nicaragua and Peru. Small grants also flow to a small project in El Salvador. According to its own reporting, the foundation cooperates with 84 projects in 20 countries. Its funding is oriented towards long-term, partnership-based cooperation on equal footing, following the principle of help for self-help. In 2016, 50.5% of grants went to Africa, 37.7% to Asia and 8.7% to Latin America; the largest share supported organic agriculture (39.7%), followed by school and education (25.6%) and sponsorships (15.7%). Total project funding that year exceeded 3,105,000 euros, including a grant of 899,000 euros from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The foundation is economically independent and finances itself through donations and foundation income. It has been awarded the donation seal (Spendensiegel) of the German Central Institute for Social Issues (DZI) for particular transparency and efficiency. In 2018, Annette Massmann of the Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung was named by the women's platform Edition F, in cooperation with ZEIT online and Handelsblatt, among the "25 women who are revolutionising our economy". The foundation also administers so-called service projects, forwarding donations without deduction and issuing donation receipts on request; one example is the DEEPAM therapy centre in South India, which supports children and young people with disabilities.

The GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung traces its origins to a development-aid fund that had been operating within GLS Treuhand e.V. since 1980. In 2001, this fund was transformed into a foundation. The founding donors contributed an initial capital of 122,710 euros. Through additional endowments, conditional donations and bequests, the foundation's equity grew to 2.79 million euros by 2016. It is a dependent foundation (unselbständige Stiftung) legally hosted within GLS Treuhand e.V., with the foundation council (Stiftungsrat) and management board (Geschäftsführung) as its organs. The foundation council consists of six elected members who advise the management. GLS Treuhand e.V. is also home to other foundations, including Zukunftsstiftung Bildung, Zukunftsstiftung Gesundheit and Zukunftsstiftung Landwirtschaft. The GLS Gemeinschaftsbank e.G. (GLS Bank) emerged from GLS Treuhand, and the two organisations cooperate closely. The registered office of GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung, GLS Treuhand and GLS Bank is in Bochum, Germany. Since July 2021, the foundation has operated under the name GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung. Its work is guided by a charter that sets out goals in development cooperation and the promotion of education, including school and vocational training and study assistance in Germany and abroad. The foundation supports and accompanies development cooperation projects that enable self-determined and participatory ways of life and help for self-help; it provides and arranges assistance for people living in poverty, hunger and hardship, including enabling school attendance through sponsorships, vocational training, income-generating measures, healthcare and welfare; and it communicates information and education and conducts public relations work to build new models in development cooperation. The foundation's project work is organised around several fields: organic agriculture, emancipatory education, holistic basic healthcare (including complementary medicine), renewable energy, microcredit and small business development, and human and environmental rights. In most projects these fields interlock. The foundation emphasises that change and development processes succeed when committed people act locally, with the goal that their initiatives become economically viable and independent in the long term. According to its annual report, in 2016 the foundation allocated 50.5% of grants to Africa, 37.7% to Asia and 8.7% to Latin America. The largest share supported organic agriculture (39.7%), followed by school and education (25.6%) and sponsorships (15.7%). Renewable energy received 6.0%, basic healthcare 4.1% and human and environmental rights 3.7%. Total project funding exceeded 3,105,000 euros, including a grant of 899,000 euros from the BMZ. The foundation has received the donation seal (Spendensiegel) of the German Central Institute for Social Issues (DZI) for particular transparency and efficiency. In 2018, Annette Massmann of the Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung was named by the women's platform Edition F, in cooperation with ZEIT online and Handelsblatt, among the "25 women who are revolutionising our economy". The foundation also administers service projects, forwarding donations without deduction and issuing donation receipts on request; one example is the DEEPAM therapy centre in South India, which supports children and young people with disabilities.

• 2021

  Foundation renamed GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung (July 2021).

• 2018

  Annette Massmann named among the "25 women who are revolutionising our economy" by Edition F with ZEIT online and Handelsblatt.

• 2016

  Equity reaches 2.79 million euros; annual report records over 3,105,000 euros in project funding, including 899,000 euros from the BMZ.

• 2001

  Foundation established from the development-aid fund; founding donors contribute 122,710 euros.

• 1980

  Development-aid fund begins operating within GLS Treuhand e.V.

A donation-funded, partnership-based development foundation focused on ecological and social sustainability, operating under the umbrella of GLS Treuhand e.V.

• Organic agriculture projects

  Support for organic farming, water management, and processing and marketing of products to achieve food security.

• Emancipatory education

  The central element of every project cooperation, bringing theoretically available knowledge to people on the ground in a way oriented to their practical and lived reality.

• Renewable energy

  Promotion of decentralised, regenerative energy approaches whose supply capacities are tailored to local conditions.

• Holistic health

  Engagement in preventive, sustainable basic healthcare through promotion of natural medicine and awareness campaigns (nutrition/AIDS/malaria).

• Small business and microcredit

  Support for small businesses to reduce poverty, including savings and loan circles and self-managed microcredits, benefiting especially women.

• Human and environmental rights

  Support for groups and communities that advocate for the preservation and enforcement of human and environmental rights from within their living environment.

• Sponsorships (Patenschaften)

  A sponsorship guarantees a child school education and adequate care for the start in life.

• Emergency aid

  Emergency aid must reach its goal; guidelines for donation appeals in crisis situations are published.

• Service projects

  Projects supported by the foundation in administering their funds; donations are forwarded without deduction and receipts issued on request. Example: DEEPAM therapy centre in South India.

1. 1GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung: GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklungzukunftsstiftung-entwicklung.de
2. 2GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung: Mitarbeitenzukunftsstiftung-entwicklung.de
3. 3GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung: Partner werdenzukunftsstiftung-entwicklung.de
4. 4GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung: Serviceprojektezukunftsstiftung-entwicklung.de
5. 5Wikidata: GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklungwikidata.org
6. 6Wikipedia (de): Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklungde.wikipedia.org