Funk Stiftung

What Funk Stiftung does

The Funk Foundation (Funk Stiftung) is a private non-profit foundation established in 2014 in Hamburg, Germany by Dr. Leberecht Funk and his wife Maritta, operating as what the foundation describes as the first entity of its kind globally dedicated to promoting risk management and risk awareness. It pursues a dual mandate: funding scientific and practice-oriented risk management research, and supporting cultural projects, primarily classical music recordings and artist development, through grants and programs such as the Artepreneurship training. Its core analytical products are distributed free of charge and include the Risk Reports political risk scenario series covering 25 countries (developed with MBI-CONIAS), the Handbook of Political Risk Insurance (with the University of St. Gallen), and studies on supply chain, reputational, and cyber-security risk. The foundation also co-developed the CSP-Radar online sustainability tool with zeb.business school at Steinbeis University, which applies AI-based text analysis and an interdependency simulation model to generate corporate social performance scorecards.

The foundation operates a non-commercial revenue model; it is funded by its endowment and founders' contributions, with no paid products, pricing tiers, or sales motion. All publications are available as free PDF downloads from the foundation's website, supported by a double opt-in newsletter, webinar programming, social sharing functionality, and live cultural events. Its user base consists of risk management professionals, corporate sustainability and political risk teams, vocational trainees in the insurance sector, academic researchers, and classical music audiences. Strategic collaborators include the University of St. Gallen, University of Liechtenstein, Jacobs University Bremen, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), MBI-CONIAS, Agora Strategy Group, and zeb.business school. The foundation is governed by a Foundation Board chaired by Hendrik F. Löffler and a Foundation Council chaired by founder Dr. Leberecht Funk, with an office staff that handles applications, partnerships, financial management, and stakeholder communications.

Name

Funk Stiftung

Legal name

Funk Foundation

Website

https://funk-stiftung.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Funk Foundation (Funk Stiftung) is a Hamburg-based private non-profit foundation established in 2014 that funds scientific risk management research and cultural projects, distributing free publications, AI-powered sustainability tools, and political risk reports to professionals and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Risk Management Research and Foundation Grants

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAC

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAHAJAH

Sustainability, ESG & Climate Risk Advisory

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Consulting

SECONDARYEDABAJAO

Sustainability, ESG & Climate Finance Risk

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Finance, Accounting & Risk Training

SECONDARYBPAHACAK

Sustainability & ESG Consulting

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Management Consulting

Keywords

• Risk management research
• Political risk analysis
• Sustainability reporting tools
• Foundation grant funding
• Cultural project support

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grant Funding: The Funk Foundation is a private non-profit foundation established in 2014 by Dr. Leberecht Funk and Maritta Funk. It funds risk management research projects, cultural projects, and education initiatives. It does not generate commercial revenue; its activities are funded by its endowment and founders' contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Funk Stiftung is a private non-profit foundation that funds and produces scientific research projects in risk management and risk awareness, including the CSP-Radar online sustainability tool, the Risk Reports political risk scenarios publication series covering 25 countries, and the Handbook of Political Risk Insurance. It also supports cultural projects in classical music through CD production grants and training programmes. All publications, tools, and resources are provided free of charge via its website.

Product overview

Funk Stiftung operates as a dual-focus foundation offering risk management research publications and tools alongside cultural project funding. The core product portfolio consists of the CSP-Radar online sustainability tool, the Risk Reports publication series on political risk scenarios, and the Handbook of Political Risk Insurance—these three form the primary public-facing offerings. Supporting these are specialized research studies on supply chain risks, reputational risks, and cyber-security, plus educational tools including a digital risk management e-learning course and management simulation game. The cultural arm funds classical music recordings and artist projects. All publications and tools are provided free of charge as part of the foundation's public benefit mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CSP-Radar (Corporate Social Performance Radar) A free online tool that helps companies define scientifically derived fields of action and validated indicators for sustainability reporting. Uses AI-based simulation to show interdependencies between sustainability factors and generates CSP-scorecards as Excel files for reporting obligations.
• Risk Reports – Political Risk Scenarios Publication series providing scientific analysis of political risks and their effects on companies in countries important for the German economy. Covers topics including political stability, geopolitical context, market openness, social cohesion, human rights, and environmental sustainability.
• Handbook of Political Risk Insurance A research publication created with the University of St. Gallen introducing the complex matter of political risks in an understandable way. Defines key terms and presents the status quo in political risk insurance for practitioners.
• Grundkurs Risikomanagement (Digital Risk Management E-Learning) A self-contained, accessible online basic course that teaches the risk management process in a structured and understandable way. Suitable as a practical introduction or for refreshing existing knowledge, aimed at vocational trainees in the insurance sector.
• Management Adventure (Educational Simulation Game) An educational game/simulation for learning risk management concepts in an interactive format.
• Cultural Projects and CD Productions Support for classical music recordings and artistic projects including albums by Severin von Eckardstein (Vers la flamme), Lydia Maria Bader (Tales of the Sea), Lux Nova Duo (Inspiración Bach), and other artists.

Quantifiable outcome

• Risk Reports cover 25 countries with best-case, worst-case, and trend scenario analyses
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of St. Gallen (Institute of Insurance Economics)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Funk Foundation partnered with Prof. Dr. Alexander Braun from the Institute of Insurance Economics at the University of St. Gallen to create the Handbook of Political Risk Insurance. The university also conducted a preliminary multidisciplinary study on reputational risks for the foundation. This is a co-development partnership focused on risk management research.
• MBI-CONIAS (Michael Bauer International GmbH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMBI-CONIAS collaborated with the Funk Foundation to update and reissue the Risk Report – Political Risk Scenarios publication series. Since fall 2023, ten new and updated country reports have been published covering Turkey, Brazil, China, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Hungary, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. The reports are available for free download in German and English.
• Agora Strategy GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Funk Foundation partnered with the Agora Strategy Group to produce a three-part report series analyzing the consequences of the 2024 US presidential election for the German economy. Reports covered economic/trade implications (September 2024), foreign policy and geopolitical shifts (February 2025), and climate/energy policy (March 2025).
• Jacobs University Bremen (Research Workgroup for Production and Logistics Networks)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation partnered with Jacobs University Bremen to fund a study on Collaborative Supply Chain Risk Management. The study addressed how collaboration among supply chain actors can mitigate business risks during disruptions.
• University of LiechtensteinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation funded a cyber-security study conducted by the University of Liechtenstein's Institute of Information Systems, led by Prof. Pavel Laskov. The study surveyed over 100 companies in Liechtenstein on cyber-security risks and published recommendations.
• German Aerospace Center (DLR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe German Aerospace Center was involved in the PV-DiStAnS (Photovoltaic-DifferentialPowerAnalysisSystem) project, funded by the Funk Foundation. DLR contributed expertise on using artificial intelligence for monitoring photovoltaic system safety and optimizing protective systems.
• zeb.business school at Steinbeis UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CSP-Radar online sustainability tool was co-developed by the zeb.business school at Steinbeis University and supported by the Funk Foundation. The tool uses AI-based text analysis and expert ratings to provide companies with scientifically derived sustainability reporting indicators and scorecards.
• TONALiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation sponsored TONALi's Artepreneurship training programme, a three-day qualification programme for musicians to develop skills in storytelling, self-management, and media use. The programme aims to help musicians establish themselves on the independent music market.
• Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe follow-up project PV-DiStAnS 3 (started in 2023) is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, building on research originally funded by the Funk Foundation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Eurasia Group: Global political risk advisory firm producing geopolitical analysis for corporations and investors. Most directly comparable to Funk Stiftung's Risk Reports series in subject matter (political stability, geopolitical context, country scenarios) and target audience (corporate decision-makers).
• Bertelsmann Stiftung: Large German private foundation conducting independent research on economics, education, health and social cohesion. Comparable to Funk Stiftung as a free, science-based German private foundation producing publicly available research for policy and corporate users.
• Control Risks: Specialist political, security and integrity risk consultancy. Comparable to Funk Stiftung in producing country-level political and operational risk intelligence for multinationals, though delivered through paid consulting rather than free reports.
• Munich Re Foundation: German insurance-industry foundation funding research on climate risk, resilience and emerging risks. Closest analogue to Funk Stiftung as another German insurance-linked foundation promoting scientific risk research and free knowledge products.
• Allianz Foundation: Corporate foundation affiliated with Allianz, funding climate and sustainability research, European democracy and cultural projects. Comparable as a German corporate foundation combining sustainability/climate research with cultural funding — closely aligned with Funk Stiftung's dual mission.
• Verisk Maplecroft: Provider of political risk indices, country risk ratings and ESG data. Closely mirrors Funk Stiftung's analytical framework (political stability, human rights, market openness, sustainability), but operates as a paid subscription data business.
• zeb (zeb.consulting): European banking and risk consulting firm whose zeb.business school co-developed the CSP-Radar tool with Funk Stiftung. Comparable in risk management and sustainability advisory focus, and a direct working partner on the foundation's flagship sustainability product.
• The Risk Advisory Group: Political and security risk consultancy offering country risk analysis and due diligence. Overlaps with Funk Stiftung's political risk report series in topic coverage and corporate client base, with an Africa/Middle East emphasis.
• MBI-CONIAS (Michael Bauer International): Political risk research provider and Funk Stiftung's co-publisher of the Risk Reports 2.0 series. Comparable as a specialist producer of country-level political risk analyses and a strategic partner to the foundation.

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte Risk & Financial Advisory: Big-Four risk advisory practice offering enterprise risk management, geopolitical risk and sustainability reporting services. Overlaps with Funk Stiftung's risk research and CSP-Radar sustainability tool at a much larger commercial scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@funkstiftung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Funk Stiftung