Stiftung Zukunft Berlin

What Stiftung Zukunft Berlin does

Stiftung Zukunft Berlin (SZB) is a charitable nonprofit foundation (gemeinnützige Stiftung) established in Berlin on 1 June 2006 and registered with the Finanzamt für Körperschaften I under supervision of the Senatsverwaltung für Justiz (Stiftungsaufsicht). The foundation operates a portfolio of civic-dialogue, democratic-participation, and urban-policy programs primarily across Berlin and Brandenburg, with growing European cross-border activity. It serves four overlapping constituencies: government and public-sector entities (notably the Berlin Senate Chancellery and the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion), civil-society organizations and engaged citizens (including Berlin's approximately 850,000 non-citizen residents targeted by the Initiative Weltberliner:innen), the cultural sector (via Forum Zukunft Kultur and AG Humboldt Forum), and regional/European partners in Brandenburg, the Lausitz region, and Polish border areas such as Frankfurt(Oder)/Słubice and Stettin/Szczecin. Core programmatic offerings include the quarterly Berlin-Forum (since 2016), the annual Berliner Demokratietag (since 2020), Initiative Weltberliner:innen, Forum Zukunft Kultur, Zukunftsforum Berlin-Brandenburg, the AG Humboldt Forum working group that has monitored the Humboldt Forum institution since its founding, the Nachbarn bei Nachbarn Brandenburg village-church reading series (10+ years operating), and the multi-year Wir sind Europa! project with Humboldt-Universität's Walter-Hallstein-Institut and IJP, funded by Stiftung Mercator.

SZB's business model is grant- and donation-based rather than commercial; it does not sell products or services. Revenue is derived from three streams: private donations accepted via Commerzbank IBAN transfer (DE62 1008 0000 0417 2048 00) and PayPal, public-sector co-financing from the Berlin Senate, and project-specific grants from third-party foundations such as Stiftung Mercator and the Berliner Landeszentrale für politische Bildung. All publications, position papers, and program outputs are distributed free of charge through the foundation's website and at events; pricing is not applicable. Governance comprises a Vorstand (executive board), a Stiftungsrat (supervisory board), and a Beirat (advisory council), with Markus Dröge as Vorstandssprecher, Beate Stoffers as Geschäftsführerin und Vorstandssprecherin, Andreas Gebhard as Vorsitzender des Stiftungsrats, and Christophe Knoch and Richard Meng as Vorstandsmitglieder; Volker Heller and Thomas Krüger joined the board on 4 May 2026. SZB is a member of the Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen.

The technology footprint is modest and standard for a civic NGO. The foundation runs a WordPress-based website serving as the primary hub for news, event listings, publications, and donation collection. Operational tooling includes Google Analytics for web statistics, Google Maps for location display, Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) for newsletter distribution with a double opt-in GDPR-compliant subscription flow, YouTube for video content, and Anchor.fm for the foundation's podcast series. SZB maintains active organic social profiles on Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, and Facebook, and has a dedicated Datenschutzbeauftragte consistent with GDPR requirements. No AI/ML capabilities, proprietary data assets, or bespoke technology platform are disclosed; the foundation's "products" are civic-dialogue programs, not software.

Name

Stiftung Zukunft Berlin

Legal name

Stiftung Zukunft Berlin

Website

https://stiftungzukunftberlin.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stiftung Zukunft Berlin is a charitable foundation established in 2006 that runs civic-dialogue, democratic-participation, and urban-policy programs across Berlin, Brandenburg, and European cross-border contexts, funded by donations and grants from the Berlin Senate and major German foundations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Engagement & Democratic Participation Programs

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space (BPADAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK), Governance, Democracy & Rule of Law (BPAGABAI), Government Digital Service & eGovernment (Service Delivery, IDs, Portals) (BPAIAAAE), Democratic Governance & Public Administration Reform (BPADAGAJ), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Civic engagement programs
• Democracy participation initiatives
• Civil society dialogue
• Urban policy forums
• Public participation formats

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stiftung Zukunft Berlin is a charitable foundation that operates programs and dialogue formats advancing democratic participation, civil society engagement, cultural policy, and metropolitan regional development in Berlin, Brandenburg, and selected European border regions. Its core offerings consist of a portfolio of recurring civic programs — notably the quarterly Berlin-Forum, the annual Berliner Demokratietag, the Weltberliner:innen initiative for non-citizen residents, the Gemeinsam Berlin participation platform, and the Zukunftsforum Berlin-Brandenburg — supplemented by free digital publications and position papers that reach government bodies, civil society organizations, cultural institutions, and engaged citizens.

Product overview

Stiftung Zukunft Berlin is a charitable foundation (gemeinnützige Stiftung) focused on civic engagement, democracy, and urban development in Berlin and Brandenburg. The foundation operates a portfolio of interconnected programs and initiatives rather than a traditional commercial product. Core offerings include the Berlin-Forum (quarterly discussion format), the Weltberliner:innen initiative (supporting international Berliners), Gemeinsam Berlin (civic participation platform), and the Berliner Demokratietag (annual democracy celebration). The foundation also maintains thematic initiatives including Forum Zukunft Kultur (cultural policy), Zukunftsforum Berlin-Brandenburg (regional cooperation), and the Nachbarn bei Nachbarn village church reading series. Communication services include a Brevo-powered newsletter. All initiatives emphasize civic responsibility, democratic participation, and cross-border/ international cooperation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Berlin-Forum: A quarterly forum bringing together people from different areas of Berlin's civil society to discuss the city's future under annual themes.
• Weltberliner:innen
• Forum Zukunft Kultur
• Berlin Capital Club
• Gemeinsam Berlin
• Zukunftsforum Berlin-Brandenburg
• Berliner Demokratietag
• Initiative Stadtgrün
• AG Humboldt Forum

Products and services

• Berlin-Forum A quarterly civic dialogue format convening diverse city stakeholders to address Berlin's central future questions under annual themes (e.g., 'Wohin Berlin?'), serving engaged citizens, civil society leaders, business, cultural figures, and political representatives.
• Weltberliner:innen Initiative Initiative focused on the needs, potential, and political participation of people who come to Berlin from abroad, advocating for improved conditions and producing policy recommendations for Berlin's approximately 850,000 non-EU residents without voting rights.
• Gemeinsam Berlin Civic participation platform promoting engagement in Berlin, including formats such as 'Auf Augenhöhe' for dialogue between young people and decision-makers on digital democracy.
• Berliner Demokratietag Annual city-wide democracy day event co-organized with the Initiative Offene Gesellschaft and Migrationsrat Berlin, celebrating and strengthening democratic engagement of Berliners through activities across the city.
• Zukunftsforum Berlin-Brandenburg Forum promoting cross-border cooperation between Berlin and Brandenburg on regional development, including initiatives like the Berlin-Lausitz Innovation Corridor and the northwest development corridor, addressing innovation, digitalization, climate, mobility, and AI.
• AG Humboldt Forum Working group that critically and constructively monitors the development of the Humboldt Forum cultural institution since its founding, producing public statements and position papers on cultural policy.
• Forum Zukunft Kultur Cultural policy forum dedicated to discussing the role of culture in Berlin's future and social cohesion, addressing cultural sector perspectives.
• Nachbarn bei Nachbarn (Dorfkirchenlesungen) Berlin-Brandenburg reading series pairing Berlin artists with Brandenburg village churches for literary readings, fostering cultural exchange between the urban capital and surrounding rural region, operated for over 10 years.
• Wir sind Europa Multi-year European project organizing Europawerkstätten (European workshops) in border regions including Frankfurt (Oder)/Słubice, addressing European partnership and cooperation, operated jointly with the Walter-Hallstein-Institut and IJP and funded by Stiftung Mercator.
• Newsletter Subscription Service Free email newsletter delivering regular updates on foundation activities, events, and publications to subscribers, managed through Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) with double opt-in subscription.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Walter-Hallstein-Institut (HU Berlin) & Internationale Journalisten Programme e.V. (IJP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2023The three-year project 'Wir sind Europa!' brings together SZB, the Walter-Hallstein-Institut of Humboldt University Berlin, and IJP (Internationale Journalisten Programme e.V.), funded by Stiftung Mercator. The project organizes Europawerkstätten in European border regions including Frankfurt(Oder)/Słubice, exploring cross-border cooperation and European identity.
• Senatskanzlei Berlin & Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Gesellschaftlichen ZusammenhaltcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Berlin Senate Chancellery (Senatskanzlei) and the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion (Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt) are key institutional partners that co-finance and support SZB's initiatives including the AG Humboldt Forum, Berlin Forum, Berliner Demokratietag, and Initiative Weltberliner:innen.
• SAVVY Contemporary & ZLB Amerika-GedenkbibliothekcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAVVY Contemporary serves as the venue host for Berlin-Forum sessions and civic dialogue events. The ZLB Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek provides space for events such as the WahlheYmat Talks, Berliner Demokratietag activities, and the Gemeinsam Berlin format.
• Wirtschaftsregion Lausitz GmbH & WISTA Management GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSZB coordinates the Zukunftsforum Berlin-Brandenburg alongside the Wirtschaftsregion Lausitz GmbH (WRL) and WISTA Management GmbH. The forum drives cooperation on innovation, digitalization, climate, energy transition, mobility, and AI between Berlin and the Lausitz region, including the Berlin-Lausitz Innovation Corridor.
• Initiative Offene Gesellschaft & Migrationsrat BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSZB co-organizes the Berliner Demokratietag with the Initiative Offene Gesellschaft and Migrationsrat Berlin, with support from the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion. The annual event promotes democratic participation and civic engagement.
• Berlin Capital ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Berlin Capital Club hosts SZB's 'Verantwortlich für Berlin' breakfast discussion series, bringing together business, political, and civil society leaders for dialogue on Berlin's future, including topics like administrative reform, women's football, and the capital's international positioning.
• Medienanstalt Berlin-Brandenburg (mabb)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Medienanstalt Berlin-Brandenburg (mabb) established a Youth Council (Jugendrat) following an initiative impulse from the Berlin Forum in December 2021, reflecting SZB's ongoing influence on media participation policy in Berlin-Brandenburg.
• Bundesverband Deutscher StiftungenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSZB is a member of the Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen (Federal Association of German Foundations), the largest foundation network in Europe, providing peer exchange and sector representation.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Körber-Stiftung: Hamburg-based foundation with major programs on democratic participation, civic education, and international dialogue. Comparable mission to SZB on civic engagement, though with broader national and international footprint.
• Bertelsmann Stiftung: One of Germany's largest operational foundations, running extensive programs on democracy, civic education, and European cohesion. Comparable thematic scope but at significantly greater scale, endowment, and policy reach than SZB.
• Stiftung Mercator: Major German foundation funding European integration, democracy, and cultural education. Functions as both a peer organization (overlapping thematic agenda) and an active funder of SZB's 'Wir sind Europa!' project.
• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung: Party-affiliated (Greens) German political foundation running democracy, civic education, and cultural programs with strong Berlin presence. Operates at much greater scale than SZB and overlaps on democracy and migration themes.

Direct peers

• Stiftung Neue Verantwortung (snv): Berlin-based nonprofit think tank focused on digital civic engagement, democratic participation, and governance technology. Highly comparable mission overlap with SZB's Gemeinsam Berlin and civic-dialogue work, particularly on digital government reform.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xthreads.net/@stiftungzukunftberlin
• YouTubeanchor.fm/stiftungzukunftberlin
• Facebookfacebook.com/StiftungZukunftBerlin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stiftung-zukunft-berlin
• Instagraminstagram.com/stiftungzukunftberlin/?hl=de

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Stiftung Zukunft Berlin