What Charitable Hertie Foundation does

The Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung (Charitable Hertie Foundation) is a German private foundation under civil law, regulated by Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt, operating across two thematic pillars: 'Demokratie stärken' (strengthening democracy) and 'Gehirn erforschen' (brain research). On the democracy side, the foundation runs national programs including Jugend debattiert (nearly 1,600 schools), Jugend entscheidet (100+ municipalities), doing.politics, START-Stiftung, the Business Council for Democracy, the Fonds gegen Antisemitismus, and supports the Hertie School of Governance. On the brain research side, the foundation funds and operates the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH) and Hertie AI — both hosted at the University of Tübingen — alongside the Hertie Network of Excellence in Clinical Neuroscience, the medMS program, the Eric Kandel Prize, and public engagement through the GEHIRNE exhibition at Senckenberg Museum and the 'Mit Hirn und Herz' podcast with F.A.Z. The foundation's business model is endowment-funded grant-making plus direct program implementation; it does not sell commercial products or services.

Technically, the foundation's research arm combines clinical neuroscience with applied AI/ML. Hertie AI is described as Germany-unique for AI in brain health, with capabilities spanning predictive analytics on multimodal clinical data, NLP for neurology text data, and computer vision for neuroimaging, supporting early detection and progression prediction in MS, Alzheimer's, depression, and other neurological and psychiatric conditions. Active research includes the BOSS STROKE trial using closed-loop transcranial magnetic stimulation. The foundation's go-to-market is not commercial; distribution occurs through municipal partnerships, school networks, university-hosted research institutes, and digital channels (website, social media across LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Mastodon, and WhatsApp), with public events including Alte Oper Nights and Falling Walls Conference participation. Governance is led by Chairwoman Annette Schavan (former German Federal Minister), Vice Chairman Frank Mattern, and Managing Director John-Philip Hammersen.

Name

Charitable Hertie Foundation

Legal name

Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung

Website

https://ghst.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung is a major German charitable foundation that strengthens democracy through youth participation, debate, civic engagement, and antisemitism-prevention programs, and advances brain research via the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH) and Hertie AI institute at the University of Tübingen.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Research Grants, Fellowships & Stipends (International) (EDAIAOAJ)

Keywords

• Charitable foundation grants
• Democracy education programs
• Neuroscience research funding
• Youth civic engagement
• Philanthropic endowment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation Endowment: The Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung is a private foundation funded by endowment returns and investment income. As a charitable foundation, it uses these funds to finance its programs in democracy strengthening and brain research.
2. Project and Program Funding: The foundation provides grants and funding to individuals, organizations, and institutions working in its focus areas of democracy, neuroscience, and social cohesion. This includes fellowships, prizes, and project financing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung is a private charitable foundation that raises and distributes funds through grant-making, program funding, and direct program implementation across two focus areas: strengthening democracy (Demokratie stärken) and brain research (Gehirn erforschen). It operates award and fellowship programs (Eric Kandel Prize, Hertie-Preis, Klaus J. Bade Prize, Silvia-Tennenbaum-Stipendium), civic education programs (Jugend entscheidet, Jugend debattiert, doing.politics, Business Council for Democracy), and funds or operates research infrastructure including the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH) and the Hertie AI institute for AI applications in brain health.

Product overview

The Charitable Hertie Foundation is a German charitable foundation that operates as a portfolio of grant-making programs and research institutes, not a unified software product. The foundation's work is organized around two main focus areas: 'Democracy strengthening' (Demokratie stärken) and 'Brain research' (Gehirn erforschen). The democracy portfolio includes programs like Jugend entscheidet, Jugend debattiert, doing.politics, Business Council for Democracy, START-Stiftung, and various awards (Klaus J. Bade-Preis, Silvia-Tennenbaum-Stipendium). The brain research portfolio includes the Hertie AI institute and Hertie-Institut für klinische Hirnforschung (HIH), funding programs like MS-Forschung, the Eric Kandel Prize, and public outreach through the GEHIRNE exhibition, podcasts (Mit Hirn und Herz, Dr. Mondino), and media projects. These are social impact programs, educational initiatives, and research funding structures—not commercial software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• doing.politics: Youth program encouraging political engagement and pathways into politics
• Jugend entscheidet
• Jugend debattiert
• Eric Kandel Prize
• Business Council for Democracy (BC4D)
• Fonds gegen Antisemitismus
• Hertie AI
• Hertie-Institut für klinische Hirnforschung (HIH)
• START-Stiftung
• Digital Holocaust Memorial
• Silvia-Tennenbaum-Stipendium

Products and services

• Hertie AI (Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Brain Health) Germany-wide unique research institute focused on early diagnosis of nervous system diseases and their prevention using AI methods; located in Tübingen and operated by the Hertie Foundation at the University of Tübingen.
• Hertie-Institut für klinische Hirnforschung (HIH) Germany's largest and most modern center for neurological disease research; forms the Hertie Center for Neurology together with the Neurological University Clinic Tübingen, conducting clinical brain research on stroke, MS, and neurodegenerative diseases.
• Jugend entscheidet Foundation program for innovative municipalities that strengthens local democracy by enabling municipalities to implement youth participation formats where young people aged 12-17 decide on local political topics.
• Jugend debattiert One of Germany's most important programs for linguistic-political education, implemented at nearly 1,600 schools through debate competitions that promote political and linguistic education.
• doing.politics (formerly Beruf:Politik) Foundation project motivating young people to enter politics and improving conditions for political engagement by showing pathways into political involvement, parties, and parliaments.
• Business Council for Democracy (BC4D) Foundation network bringing together companies committed to open debate and consensus capability, transmitting knowledge and competencies about digital processes' impact on democracy.
• Eric Kandel Prize (Young Neuroscientists Prize) Prize recognizing outstanding young scientists in neuroscience for their achievements and supporting their research career development.
• Hertie Network of Excellence in Clinical Neuroscience & Hertie Academy of Clinical Neuroscience Foundation network promoting and connecting excellent neuroscientists from research and clinical application at leading locations, plus the Hertie Academy providing continued education in clinical neuroscience.
• MS-Forschung (medMS program) Foundation funding program for physicians and doctoral researchers studying Multiple Sclerosis, supporting pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy research.
• Hertie-Preis und Förderung (MS Prize and Grants) Prize and various grants awarded to individuals, associations, and initiatives in the field of Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological diseases.
• Silvia-Tennenbaum-Stipendium Writer-in-residence fellowship supporting authors, critics, and artists working on topics of antisemitism, remembrance culture, and democracy.
• Digital Holocaust Memorial Digital, participatory memory project setting new standards for Holocaust education, rolled out nationwide to schools and universities.
• Fonds gegen Antisemitismus Foundation fund for antisemitism prevention and education supporting innovative projects addressing antisemitism in its various forms since 2022.
• START-Stiftung Foundation initiative promoting equal opportunities, supporting youth with migration backgrounds in their educational and civic engagement.
• Hertie School (of Governance) Internationally renowned university for political science and good governance, funded and supported by the Hertie Foundation.
• Weimarer Kolleg Foundation program bringing together leaders from politics, administration, civil society, and other areas to actively shape the democratic future of their countries and Europe.
• Klaus J. Bade-Preis (Migration and Integration Research Prize) Annual prize for young researchers recognizing publication achievements in migration and integration research (7,500 EUR prize money).
• Club of Three Foundation dialogue forum promoting European identity and transatlantic relations.
• Europa-Salon Foundation discussion series on European identity and European affairs.
• Initiative für einen handlungsfähigen Staat Foundation initiative for state modernization producing 35 recommendations for improving public institution capability, developed with experts Julia Jäkel, Thomas de Maizière, Peer Steinbrück, and Andreas Voßkuhle.
• mitMiSsion Foundation initiative promoting the development and realization of social projects in the field of Multiple Sclerosis disease.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 municipalities engaged in youth participation programs since program inception
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Various civil society organizations (ant antisemitism prevention)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Fonds gegen Antisemitismus partners with numerous civil society organizations, museums, schools, educational providers, and foundations with expertise in antisemitism prevention, digital counter-strategies, and Jewish life promotion.
• Hertie School of GovernancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hertie School of Governance is a key institutional partner. The foundation supports the school and collaborates on governance and democracy initiatives. Joint activities include the 'Plattform Staatsmodernisierung' and support for state modernization research.
• Weizmann Institute (Israel)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew cooperation between the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and the Weizmann Institute in Israel, announced in 2025. Focus on neuroscience research collaboration and Israeli-German science diplomacy.
• Senckenberg MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the permanent 'Gehirne' (Brains) exhibition at the Senckenberg Museum in Frankfurt, a major science communication initiative on brain research.
• University of TübingencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership hosting the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH) and Hertie AI (Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Brain Health). Forms the Hertie Center for Neurology, one of Germany's largest neurological research centers.
• Berliner Institut für empirische Integrations- und Migrationsforschung (BIM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with BIM at Humboldt University Berlin for the Klaus J. Bade Prize for Migration and Integration Research. BIM administers and co-awards the prize.
• START-StiftungmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe START-Stiftung is an initiative of the Hertie Foundation promoting equal opportunities for youth with migration background in education and civic engagement.
• Falling Walls ConferenceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe foundation participates in the Falling Walls conference in Berlin, hosting round tables on Israeli-German science diplomacy and engaging in international science communication.
• Alte Oper FrankfurtmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Alte Oper Frankfurt for the 'Alte Oper Nights' festival. Foundation serves as content curator for 'Hertie Talks' and supports international programming. First event in October 2025 attracted ~5,000 visitors.
• Initiative für einen handlungsfähigen StaatmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with other foundations (BMDS) supporting state modernization. Produced 35 recommendations for improving public institution capability. Foundation co-funded and collaborates with state institutions.
• Charité BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer institutional partnership as Prof. Dr. Kerstin Ritter transitioned from Charité Berlin to lead the machine learning department at Hertie AI in Tübingen.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wellcome Trust: UK-based global charitable foundation that is one of the world's largest funders of biomedical and neuroscience research. Most direct international peer for Hertie's clinical neuroscience and brain health investments, with comparable prize-and-institute funding models.
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute: Large US biomedical research organization operating its own research institutes and investigator programs. Comparable in operating owned research infrastructure (paralleling HIH) and long-horizon talent funding via investigator awards (paralleling Eric Kandel Prize and endowed chairs).
• Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung: Germany's largest foundation focused on medical research funding and healthcare humanitarian projects. Directly comparable as a German private foundation funding clinical and translational medicine, including prizes and program grants for researchers.
• VolkswagenStiftung: Major German private foundation funding research and science communication across universities. Comparable in operating scale, endowment-funded model, and emphasis on academic research infrastructure and prizes, though with a broader scientific scope than Hertie's neuroscience focus.
• Fritz Thyssen Stiftung: German private foundation supporting research in science, social sciences, and humanities. Comparable in funding German university research, supporting early-career scholars, and operating a prize-and-grants model, though at a smaller scale.
• Robert Bosch Stiftung: One of Germany's largest private foundations with a similarly broad thematic scope spanning society, education, and health. Operates comparable dual-mandate programs in civic education and applied research, making it the closest structural peer to Hertie's democracy-plus-science model.

Broad incumbents

• Chan Zuckerberg Initiative: Large philanthropic vehicle with significant investment in biomedical research infrastructure and neuroscience (via CZI Neurodegeneration Challenge Network). Compares to Hertie's approach of funding long-horizon neuroscience platforms, though at much larger scale and with for-profit LLC structure.
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Largest private foundation globally, with comparable grantmaking-and-direct-operating model across global health, education, and civic programs. Relevant as a broad incumbent in philanthropic operating models rather than a direct thematic peer.

Others

• Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft: Industry-driven association for German research funding and science policy. Comparable ecosystem player connecting corporate donors, foundations, and universities, paralleling Hertie's role as a convener (BC4D, Initiative für einen handlungsfähigen Staat), but not a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Klaus Tschira Stiftung: German foundation focused on science communication, natural sciences, and mathematics education. Comparable in funding science-outreach exhibits and programs (paralleling Hertie's GEHIRNE exhibition and Dr. Mondino series), though narrower in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/hertiestiftung
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gemeinnützige-hertie-stiftung
• Instagraminstagram.com/neuro.logisch
• TikToktiktok.com/@doing.politics
• Xx.com/demokratieghst
• Facebookfacebook.com/hertiestiftung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Charitable Hertie Foundation