Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung
Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung is a German non-profit foundation, established in 1983, that funds medical research and humanitarian healthcare projects. As the largest shareholder of Fresenius, it derives its income from dividends and has disbursed over 700 million euros across roughly 2,800 projects.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersBad Homburg, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung does
Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung (EKFS) is a private charitable foundation (rechtsfähige Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts) established in 1983 by entrepreneur Else Kröner (née Fernau), who designated it as her sole heir. Founded in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany, and supervised by Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt in Hesse, EKFS operates as the largest shareholder of the healthcare conglomerate Fresenius, from which it derives virtually all of its income via dividends. It does not sell products or services; instead, it functions as a grant-making entity that channels capital into two core programs — Scientific/Medical Research Funding (Wissenschaftliche Förderung) and Humanitarian Funding (Humanitäre Förderung). Since inception, EKFS has approved more than 700 million euros for approximately 2,800 medical-scientific and humanitarian projects, with no commercial product surface and no proprietary technology stack.
The foundation's scientific funding arm operates multiple instruments including Excellence Fellowships (up to 350,000 euros per project), Clinician Scientist Professorships, Graduate Schools (900,000 euros each), Publication Prizes (10,000 euros each), and the biennial Else Kröner Fresenius International Research Prize. It maintains four specialized Else Kröner Fresenius Zentren (Centers): Nutritional Medicine at the Technical University of Munich (since 2005), Digital Health, Nephrological Research, and Optogenetic Therapies. EKFS wholly owns ForTra gGmbH, a non-profit subsidiary that provides regulatory consulting for translational research, including pre-IND meetings with authorities. The humanitarian arm supports medical healthcare projects in developing countries, with flagship programs including the BEBUC Excellence Scholarship in the Democratic Republic of Congo (~4.5 million euros cumulative since 2010) and the biennial Humanitarian Award (250,000 euros in 2026). Active geographic footprints include Germany, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. The foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees (Stiftungsrat) chaired by Dr. Dieter Schenk, with a dual-Vorstand comprising Dr. Tanja Dangmann and Prof. Dr. Dr. Daniel Strech, and operates with 11–50 employees.
Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung
- Legal name
- Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung
- Website
- https://ekfs.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung is a German non-profit foundation, established in 1983, that funds medical research and humanitarian healthcare projects. As the largest shareholder of Fresenius, it derives its income from dividends and has disbursed over 700 million euros across roughly 2,800 projects.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Medical Research Foundation
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH)
Keywords
Where Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bad Homburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Dividend income from Fresenius: EKFS generates virtually all of its income from dividends of the healthcare conglomerate Fresenius, of which it is the largest shareholder. These dividends fund the foundation's grant-making activities in medical research and humanitarian aid.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung is a non-profit charitable foundation that funds medical-scientific research and humanitarian medical projects through grants, fellowships, professorships, graduate school programs, and prize awards. It channels dividend income from its Fresenius shareholding into funding programs for medical researchers, clinicians, humanitarian organizations, and medical students in developing countries. It also operates ForTra gGmbH, a subsidiary providing regulatory consulting for translational research.
Product overview
Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung (EKFS) is a non-profit charitable foundation that operates two core funding programs: Scientific/Medical Research Funding and Humanitarian Funding. The scientific funding includes excellence fellowships, clinician scientist professorships, graduate schools, and the International Research Prize. The humanitarian arm supports medical healthcare projects in developing countries. EKFS also operates ForTra gGmbH, a subsidiary providing regulatory consulting for translational research. The foundation supports several specialized research centers including the Else Kröner Fresenius Zentrum für Ernährungsmedizin (EKFZ Nutritional Medicine) at TUM, the Zentrum für Digitale Gesundheit (Digital Health), Nephrologische Forschung (Nephrology), and Optogenetische Therapien (Optogenetics). Additional programs include the BEBUC Excellence Scholarship in the Democratic Republic of Congo, publication prizes, and the Paper of the Month series showcasing funded research.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Else Kröner Fresenius Zentrum für Ernährungsmedizin: Center for Nutritional Medicine at TUM focusing on metabolic diseases, diabetes, and obesity research
- Else Kröner Fresenius Zentrum für Digitale Gesundheit
- Else Kröner Fresenius Zentrum für Nephrologische Forschung
- Else Kröner Fresenius Zentrum für Optogenetische Therapien
- ForTra gGmbH
- BEBUC-Exzellenzstipendienprogramm
Products and services
- Else Kröner Excellence Fellowships (Exzellenzstipendien) Fellowships providing up to 350,000 euros per research project for established physicians and physician-researchers at German university hospitals, enabling two-year protected leave from clinical duties to conduct cutting-edge medical research. Nine fellowships were awarded in 2025.
- Else Kröner Graduate Schools Graduate school funding of 900,000 euros each for medical student research training programs at German university hospitals. The 2025 cohort included schools in Bonn, Leipzig, and Rostock. The 2026 cohort includes IMMUNE PILOT (Bonn, immunology/neuroscience/genetics), EMILIA (Leipzig, lifestyle-associated chronic vasculo-metabolic diseases), and Step (Rostock, physical mobility in aging).
- Else Kröner Fresenius Preis für Medizinische Forschung (International Research Prize for Medical Research) International research prize awarded to recognize outstanding medical research achievements, with the 2027 cycle focused on cell-based immunotherapies for cancer, autoimmune or infectious diseases. Open to international medical researchers.
- Else Kröner Fresenius Award for Development Cooperation in Medicine (Humanitarian Award) Annual humanitarian award recognizing outstanding projects that improve medical healthcare in resource-limited countries. The 2025 award was endowed with 100,000 euros (topic: Outreach Services / mobile clinics) and the 2026 award is endowed with 250,000 euros (topic: People with Disabilities).
- Publication Prizes (Publikationspreise)
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 700 million euros approved for approximately 2,800 medical-scientific and humanitarian projects since foundation inception
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Technische Universität München (TUM)coreLong-standing partnership hosting the Else Kröner Fresenius Zentrum für Ernährungsmedizin (EKFZ) since 2005. The center bridges nutrition science research and clinical practice, focusing on metabolic diseases like diabetes and obesity. Prof. Hans Hauner served as founding director; Prof. Katharina Timper now serves as speaker.
- ForTra gGmbH für Forschungstransfer der Else Kröner-Fresenius-StiftungcoreNon-profit subsidiary focused on translational research transfer. Supports researchers with regulatory consulting for clinical trial planning and approvals, including pre-IND meetings with regulatory authorities. Part of the foundation's commitment to advancing medical research from laboratory to clinical application.
- Förderverein Uni Kinshasa e.V. - BEBUCcorePartner organization managing the BEBUC (Breakthrough Excellence in Biomedical Sciences in the Democratic Republic of Congo) Excellence Scholarship Program. Supports young scientists in the DRC since 2009 in cooperation with Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg. EKFS has funded approximately 4.5 million euros into this program since 2010.
- Julius-Maximilians-Universität WürzburgcoreGerman university partner cooperating with Förderverein Uni Kinshasa on the BEBUC scholarship program since 2009. Supports scientific young talent development in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Investing in People (IIP ASBL) & Sultani MakutanoCooperation partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo supporting the BEBUC scholarship program and educational initiatives.
- DRC Young Academy of Sciences (DRC YAS)minorPartner organization supporting the BEBUC scholarship program and scientific development in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Stiftung Leben mit KrebscoreFoundation dedicated to improving quality of life for cancer patients through exercise and sporting activities. EKFS has supported this initiative for many years and participated in the 'Rudern gegen Krebs' charity regatta.
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH)coreCollaborates with EKFS/ForTra on gene and cell therapy initiatives including joint workshops and the SPARK-BIH program under the National Strategy for Gene and Cell Therapy.
- University of Kinshasa and 24 other universities and schools in DRCcorePartner institutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo involved in the BEBUC scholarship program, providing education and hosting scholarship recipients.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Wellcome Trust: UK-based global charitable foundation and one of the world's largest funders of medical research. Comparable as a research-and-medical grantmaking foundation with global scope, though with substantially larger scale and broader research portfolio.
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG): Germany's central public research funding organization. Comparable to EKFS in funding graduate schools, fellowships, and research prizes, but funded through government channels rather than private endowment.
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Global philanthropic foundation with major programs in global health and medical research. Comparable in the humanitarian medical funding arm and developing-country health programs (analogous to EKFS's BEBUC), though operating at vastly larger scale.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute: Large US biomedical research organization that funds investigators and science education. Comparable to EKFS in its focus on biomedical research talent (Investigator program analogous to Excellence Fellowships and Clinician Scientist Professorships), though at a much larger scale.
Direct peers
- VolkswagenStiftung: Major German private foundation funding scientific research and humanities. Highly comparable to EKFS as a large German philanthropic funder with a multi-program portfolio, foundation structure, and similar operational scale.
- Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung: German private foundation with strong focus on neuroscience research and brain health, alongside education. Comparable as a private German foundation with medical research grantmaking, including fellowships and research prizes, similar to EKFS.
- Robert Bosch Stiftung: One of Germany's largest private foundations tied to a major industrial family/company. Comparable to EKFS in foundation structure, endowment-driven income model, and programmatic breadth across research, health, and social issues.
- Fritz Thyssen Foundation: German private scientific foundation supporting research across multiple fields. Comparable as a private German research foundation with a multi-program funding approach and similar operational scale.
- Alexander von Humboldt Foundation: German foundation funding international academic cooperation and research talent. Comparable in fellowship-based funding model and German foundation structure, though broader across disciplines rather than medical-only.
- Stiftung Charité: Berlin-based private foundation focused on medical research and innovation in life sciences. Directly comparable in mission (medical research funding), geography (Germany), and grantmaking modalities including clinician-scientist programs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung social profiles
Digital presenceElse Kroner Fresenius Stiftung financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung
What does Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung do?
Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung is a non-profit charitable foundation that funds medical-scientific research and humanitarian medical projects through grants, fellowships, professorships, graduate school programs, and prize awards. It channels dividend income from its Fresenius shareholding into funding programs for medical researchers, clinicians, humanitarian organizations, and medical students in developing countries. It also operates ForTra gGmbH, a subsidiary providing regulatory consulting for translational research.
Is Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung a public or private company?
Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung founded?
Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung was founded in 1983. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung based?
Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung is headquartered in Bad Homburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung make money?
One revenue line is on record: dividend income from Fresenius.
Who are Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Wellcome Trust, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Direct peers are VolkswagenStiftung, Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Fritz Thyssen Foundation, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and Stiftung Charité.
Does Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung have an API?
No public API is recorded for Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung.
What industry is Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung in?
Else Kroner Fresenius Stiftung's product category is Medical Research Foundation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAI, Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAL, Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211.