Margot Friedländer Stiftung

What Margot Friedländer Stiftung does

The Margot Friedländer Stiftung is a private German non-profit foundation (Stiftung) established in summer 2023 by Holocaust survivor Dr. h.c. Margot Friedländer (1921-2025) and headquartered in Berlin at Französische Str. 47. Operating under the patronage of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and governed by a Vorstand and a 17-member Kuratorium that includes former Federal President Joachim Gauck, Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner, McKinsey partner Dr. Nico Raabe, and Charité professor and chair Prof. Dr. Karsten Dreinhöfer, the foundation is run by a small core team of approximately five staff led by Managing Director Heike Catherina Mertens. Its mission is to preserve Holocaust memory and promote tolerance, humanity, freedom, and democracy in an era without living witnesses (Zeitzeugen), with primary audiences of schools, students from grade 9 onward, teachers, and civil-society initiatives in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The foundation's product portfolio comprises five elements: (1) the Margot Friedländer Preis, an annual EUR 25,000 award in three categories (Persönlichkeitspreis, Projektpreis, Schulpreis) launched in 2024; (2) the Margot Friedländer Akademie, an educational institution announced in May 2026 with programs scheduled to begin in spring 2027; (3) the Margot Friedländer Avatar, an AI-powered digital twin of the founder built on a database of over 2,400 authentic quotes, developed with Freie Universität Berlin and Hebrew University of Jerusalem and offered free to students; (4) the Margot Friedländer Fellows, a training program for teaching students using the Zweitzeugenschaft ("secondary witness") framework, with the first cohort of 20 launching in November 2026; and (5) curriculum-aligned teaching materials and online teacher training developed with Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen. A growing network of 8 schools has been formally renamed after Margot Friedländer across North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Berlin.

The business model is a donation- and sponsorship-funded non-profit: the founder endowed the foundation from her estate, and ongoing inflows come from public donations (via IBAN at Berliner Sparkasse) and corporate sponsorship from Allianz, EY, Berliner Sparkasse, and Wall. A national donation campaign titled "Seid Ihr die Zeitzeugen, die wir nicht mehr sein können" was launched in May 2026 to fund construction of the Akademie. All programs, including the Avatar and teaching materials, are provided free to beneficiaries. Go-to-market is event-driven (annual prize ceremony, school naming events, memorial ceremonies) and community-led, with direct engagement through the school network and an online application portal for the prize. No financial figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

Margot Friedländer Stiftung

Legal name

Margot Friedländer Stiftung

Website

https://margot-friedlaender-stiftung.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Margot Friedländer Stiftung is a German non-profit foundation preserving Holocaust memory and promoting tolerance through an annual prize, an AI-powered digital avatar, a fellows training program, and a network of renamed schools in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Holocaust Remembrance and Civic Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC)

Keywords

• Holocaust education programs
• Memorial foundation services
• Tolerance education initiatives
• Antiracism awareness training
• Democratic values promotion

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation is funded through donations from the public. Margot Friedländer endowed the foundation with capital from her estate and continues to receive donations via bank transfer (IBAN: DE69 1005 0000 0191 2629 27, BIC: BELADEBEXXX at Berliner Sparkasse). A national donation campaign titled 'Seid Ihr die Zeitzeugen, die wir nicht mehr sein können' was launched in May 2026 to fund the construction of the Margot Friedländer Akademie.
2. Margot Friedländer Prize Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors support the annual Margot Friedländer Prize. For 2026, sponsors include Allianz, EY, and Berliner Sparkasse. The prize itself is endowed at 25,000 EUR.
3. Educational Programs and Academy: The foundation generates revenue through the Margot Friedländer Akademie, which provides educational programs for young people, schools, and teachers. Programs are planned to be available from spring 2027.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Margot Friedländer Stiftung operates a non-profit foundation that delivers Holocaust remembrance and civic education through three core offerings: the Margot Friedländer Preis (an annual 25,000 EUR prize awarded in three categories for tolerance and democratic engagement), the Margot Friedländer Akademie (an educational institution training Margot Friedländer Fellows and developing curriculum materials), and the AI-powered Margot Friedländer Avatar (a digital twin of the founder built on 2,400+ authentic quotes that enables interactive dialogue with students from year 9 onward). All programs are provided free of charge to schools, teachers, and students in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Product overview

The Margot Friedländer Stiftung operates a charitable foundation focused on preserving Holocaust memory and promoting tolerance, humanity, and democracy. Its portfolio consists of the Margot Friedländer Preis (an annual 25,000 EUR award in three categories), the Margot Friedländer Akademie (an educational institution housing the Avatar, Fellows training, and teaching materials), and associated educational programs. The core offering is the Akademie, which combines the AI-powered Avatar (a digital twin), the Fellows training program, and curriculum materials developed with German universities—all unified by the mission of carrying forward Margot Friedländer's testimony and values to younger generations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Margot Friedländer Akademie: Educational academy established to preserve and pass on Margot Friedländer's messages and legacy to younger generations, training 'Zweitzeugen' (secondary witnesses) through workshops and educational programs.
• Margot Friedländer Preis

Products and services

• Margot Friedländer Preis An annual award endowed with 25,000 EUR that recognizes individuals, initiatives, and schools for their commitment to tolerance, humanity, freedom, and democracy, and for contributing to education about the Holocaust and antisemitism. Awarded in three categories.
• Margot Friedländer Akademie A sustainable educational structure designed to preserve and transmit Margot Friedländer's messages and legacy to younger generations. Houses the Fellows program, educational materials, avatar-based learning, and teacher training.
• Margot Friedländer Avatar A digital 'twin' of Margot Friedländer based on a database of over 2,400 authentic quotes. Uses AI to enable interactive dialogue with the virtual Holocaust survivor in classrooms. Available to students from grade 9 onwards at no cost.
• Margot Friedländer Fellows Program A training program within the Akademie that educates teaching students and other interested individuals to become Margot Friedländer Fellows. Fellows learn to conduct workshops and project days at schools about Margot Friedländer's life, based on the 'Zweitzeugenschaft' (secondary witness) approach.
• Lehrmaterialien und Fortbildungen Educational and learning materials developed in collaboration with the Arbeitsstelle Holocaustliteratur at Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen for interdisciplinary teaching using Margot Friedländer's biography. Accompanied by online training for teachers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8 schools renamed after Margot Friedländer across Germany, with more applications being evaluated
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Wall (company)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 April 2026The firm Wall supports the national donation campaign 'Seid Ihr die Zeitzeugen, die wir nicht mehr sein können' launched in May 2026 to fund the Margot Friedländer Akademie.
• AllianzcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAllianz is a sponsor of the Margot Friedländer Preis 2026. The prize ceremony will take place at Allianz Forum in Berlin on October 12, 2026.
• EY (Ernst & Young)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerEY is a sponsor of the Margot Friedländer Preis 2026, contributing to the funding of the prize and associated events.
• Berliner SparkassecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBerliner Sparkasse is a sponsor of the Margot Friedländer Preis 2026 and serves as the foundation's banking partner (IBAN DE69 1005 0000 0191 2629 27).
• Freie Universität BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreie Universität Berlin collaborates on the development of the digital avatar and provides academic expertise. The partnership includes testing the avatar in collaboration with experts and developing online teacher training.
• Hebrew University of JerusalemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Freie Universität Berlin and the foundation on the development of the digital avatar and academic validation of the educational approach.
• Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (Arbeitsstelle Holocaustliteratur)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with the foundation to develop teaching and learning materials for the use of Margot Friedländer's biography in interdisciplinary education, suitable for all secondary schools across German federal states.
• Thomas Rühmann (actor/director)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerActor and director Thomas Rühmann organized and directed the theatrical reading series 'Sie waren Neun' based on the Margot Friedländer Prize-winning project of Fabian Hanspach and the Evangelische Jugendarbeit Wurzen. Nine actresses from German TV series performed in Saxon churches in April 2026.
• Evangelische Jugendarbeit WurzencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWinner of the Margot Friedländer Preis 2025, whose project 'GrenzGeschichten' and German translation of Gwen Strauss's book 'The Nine' inspired the theatrical reading series 'Sie waren Neun' performed across Saxon churches in April 2026.
• Numerous Media Partners (national donation campaign)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe national donation campaign 'Seid Ihr die Zeitzeugen, die wir nicht mehr sein können' is supported by numerous media partners who amplify the campaign's reach.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Holocaust Education Trust (UK): UK charity funding school visits to Auschwitz and running teacher training, ambassador programs, and lessons from testimony. Comparable as a non-school-state Holocaust education charity with a 'witness passes on testimony' model, but geographically UK-focused.

Emerging players

• Jewish Claims Conference (Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany): International organization negotiating compensation and funding Holocaust education, survivor welfare, and remembrance worldwide. Comparable as a donor/grant channel into Holocaust education infrastructure, though primarily a compensation body rather than direct educator.

Direct peers

• Anne Frank Fonds: Basel/Amsterdam-based foundation that manages Anne Frank's legacy and funds worldwide Anne Frank House education programs. Closest functional peer: family-founded Holocaust remembrance foundation funding schools, exhibits, and peer-education tools built on a single survivor's testimony.
• Stiftung Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas: Foundation running Berlin's Holocaust Memorial and Information Center, providing educational services to schools and visitors across Germany. Directly comparable mission, location, and educational remit.
• Haus der Wannsee-Konferenz – Gedenk- und Bildungsstätte: Memorial and educational site in Berlin where the Wannsee Conference occurred, offering school workshops, teacher training, and digital learning tools on the Holocaust. Direct peer in Holocaust education, didactic content, and teacher training.
• Fritz Bauer Institut: Frankfurt-based institute studying the Holocaust and its history through research and education; works with schools and universities on educational materials. Comparable as a German NGO/academic hybrid producing Holocaust curricula, teacher resources, and digital exhibits.
• Gegen Vergessen – Für Demokratie e.V. German non-profit association promoting remembrance of historical crimes and engagement for democracy through school project funding and grant programs. Comparable as a grantmaking/donor-funded German NGO in the same civic and education remit.
• Stiftung Berliner Mauer / Berliner Mauer Gedenkstätte: Berlin-based memorial foundation operating the Berlin Wall Memorial and educational programs on division, dictatorship, and democratic values. Comparable as a Berlin-headquartered remembrance foundation with K–12 educational programming and a network of partner schools.

Broad incumbents

• Yad Vashem – The World Holocaust Remembrance Center: Israel's official Holocaust memorial and education center with global teacher training, school-naming equivalents (e.g., names of Righteous Among the Nations), and digital testimony tools. Larger, broader incumbent operating internationally with parallel educational and remembrance programming.
• US Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM): US national Holocaust museum with extensive K-12 curricula, teacher training, digital testimony platforms (including survivor testimony archives and first-person AI experiments), and an international school network. Larger and US-focused but pursues a near-identical educational mission with sophisticated digital tools.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/margot-friedl%C3%A4nder-stiftung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Margot Friedländer Stiftung