Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom

What Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom does

The Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom (Фонд Бориса Немцова за Свободу) is a private non-profit foundation registered as a gGmbH in Bonn, Germany, established in February 2016 by Zhanna Nemtsova, daughter of assassinated Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov. The foundation operates a portfolio of educational, research, and civic programs aimed at supporting Russian democratic forces, exiled scholars and journalists, and international audiences studying contemporary Russia. Its core product surface spans the Ideas for Russia research initiative (including the nine Ideas for Russia Labs launched in 2024), the annual Boris Nemtsov Forum, the Boris Nemtsov Academic Center and Summer School of Journalism at Charles University in Prague, a Master's program in Russian Studies, a scholarship program, and the Boris Nemtsov Prize for Courage. Media products include the "Another Russia" podcast co-produced with Crooked Media and the "Etudes about Freedom" mini-series.

The foundation is funded through donations (including a U.S.-targeted "Russians for Change" campaign run jointly with Free Russia Foundation) and grants from partner foundations such as the Zimin Foundation and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom. Programs are delivered free of charge; the sole direct participant payment is a one-time EUR 600 stipend awarded to Ideas for Russia Labs interns upon completion. Distribution runs through a tri-language website, international conference participation (Munich Security Conference, Warsaw Security Forum), academic partnerships, and media collaborations. The organization has 8 employees and operates as an exiled entity, having been declared an "undesirable organization" by Russian authorities in 2022 — which legally bars residents of Russia from participating in its programs.

Name

Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom

Legal name

Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom gGmbH

Website

https://nemtsovfund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom is a Bonn-registered non-profit that runs educational, research, and civic programs — including the Ideas for Russia Labs, an annual forum, and a Prague-based journalism school — serving exiled Russian scholars, journalists, and democracy advocates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Education and Democracy Advocacy

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Democratic advocacy
• Civic education programs
• Human rights research
• Russian studies support
• Political exile assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The foundation receives donations from individuals and organizations supporting democracy and human rights in Russia. The Russians for Change fundraising campaign targets English-speaking audiences in the USA.
2. Foundation Grants: The foundation receives grant funding from partner foundations including Zimin Foundation, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, and others supporting educational and democratic initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom is a nonprofit foundation registered in Bonn, Germany, that operates educational programs, research initiatives, public conferences, and advocacy efforts focused on Russian democracy, human rights, and civic society. It supports Russian political exiles, independent journalists, and researchers through stipend-bearing programs (such as the Ideas for Russia Labs) and academic partnerships, including with Charles University in Prague.

Product overview

The Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom operates a portfolio of educational, research, and civic programs rather than a single product. The core offerings include: the Ideas for Russia research initiative with its Ideas for Russia Labs internship program; the annual Boris Nemtsov Forum conference; the Boris Nemtsov Academic Center hosting the Summer School of Journalism and a Master's program in Russian Studies at Charles University in Prague; a Scholarship Program for students; the Boris Nemtsov Prize for Courage award; and Memory Preservation projects. Additional media outputs include the Another Russia podcast and the Etudes about Freedom mini-series. The foundation positions these as interconnected programs aimed at education, freedom of information, and human rights.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ideas for Russia Labs An educational program for Russian students and young civic leaders in exile, delivered in partnership with Charles University in Prague. Participants receive structured civic education on Russian democracy and human rights, along with a 600 EUR stipend.
• Public Conferences and Events Public conferences and events organized by the Foundation to convene Russian opposition figures, independent journalists, researchers, and civic leaders around topics of Russian democracy, human rights, and political exile.
• Podcast A podcast produced and distributed by the Foundation that covers Russian democracy, human rights, and civic society topics, intended for broad public audiences interested in Russian affairs.
• Research Publications Research publications produced by the Foundation on Russian democracy, human rights, and political developments, distributed to researchers, policy analysts, and the broader public.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9 research laboratories established in 2024 under Ideas for Russia program
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Crooked MediamajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 July 2022American podcast studio producing 'Another Russia' podcast co-hosted by Zhanna Nemtsova with Ben Rhodes. Reaches English-speaking audiences with stories about Russia and Boris Nemtsov.
• Free Russia FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 July 2022Partner in the 'Russians for Change' fundraising campaign in the USA, promoting projects and scholarship recipients who receive foundation support.
• Stanford University (Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 July 2022Partnership for the Leadership Academy for Development (LAD) workshop 'Promoting Behavior Change' conducted in Vilnius, Lithuania. Instructors included Francis Fukuyama, Anat Gofen, and R. Kent Weaver. The program targeted participants from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus committed to democratic reforms.
• Friedrich Naumann Foundation for FreedommajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 July 2022Co-organizer of the Boris Nemtsov Forum and supporter of the Leadership Academy for Development workshop in Vilnius. German foundation supporting freedom and democracy.
• European Humanities UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 July 2022Partner in organizing the Leadership Academy for Development workshop in Vilnius. Belarusian university in exile.
• Charles University (Faculty of Social Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Joint initiative 'Ideas for Russia' created by the foundation together with the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University and the Institute of International Relations in Prague. The initiative aims to build a community of researchers studying contemporary Russia.
• Institute of International Relations, PraguecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Joint initiative 'Ideas for Russia' created together with the Institute of International Relations in Prague and Charles University to support research on contemporary Russia.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Khodorkovsky Foundation (Open Russia): Foundation established by exiled Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky to support Russian civil society and democratic transition. Directly comparable as a Russian opposition-aligned exile foundation with similar program portfolios in education, research, and democracy support.
• Free Russia Foundation: US-based non-profit promoting democracy and civil society in Russia and the former Soviet Union. Direct peer and explicit GTM partner on the 'Russians for Change' fundraising campaign, operating in the same mission space with overlapping program areas and donor pools.
• Zimin Foundation: Russia-focused foundation supporting education and human capital development, with which the Nemtsov Foundation has a major donor relationship and shares a Council member (Boris Zimin). Operates similar grantmaking and education programs targeting Russian-speaking audiences.
• Memorial (International Memorial): Russia's leading human rights organization focused on documenting political repression and preserving memory of victims. Comparable in mission focus on human rights and historical memory in the Russian context, though Memorial was dissolved in Russia in 2022.
• Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom: German political foundation affiliated with the FDP promoting liberal democracy, human rights, and education globally. Direct partner on the Boris Nemtsov Forum and Leadership Academy for Development workshop, with overlapping programmatic mission in democracy education.

Broad incumbents

• European Endowment for Democracy: EU-established foundation supporting democratic transitions in the Eastern Partnership countries and Russia. Directly comparable grantmaking model and target beneficiary population in Russian-speaking civil society and independent media.
• Konrad Adenauer Foundation: German political foundation affiliated with the CDU promoting democracy, rule of law, and civic education across Eastern Europe and Russia. Comparable operating model as a politically-aligned German foundation with democracy and education programming.
• National Endowment for Democracy: US-based private non-profit funded primarily by Congressional appropriations that supports democratic movements worldwide including in Russia. Operates as the largest Western democracy-support grantmaker with overlapping grantees and program themes.

Regional players

• Russian Action Committee for Solidarity with Political Prisoners: Russian human rights initiative focused on supporting political prisoners, with which the Nemtsov Foundation shares a connection through its Courage Prize recognizing defenders of democratic values. Comparable mission in advocacy on behalf of persecuted activists.
• Agora International Human Rights Group: Russian human rights organization providing legal defense for political prisoners and monitoring persecution. Closely comparable mission around human rights defense and political prisoner support, though primarily focused on legal aid rather than education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NemtsovF
• Facebookfacebook.com/zhanna.nemtsova
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nemtsovfund
• Instagraminstagram.com/zhannanemtsova2018

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom