VolkswagenStiftung

Charity Profile

VolkswagenStiftung

🇩🇪Donor#11 last 12 months
Donations
$934,552,000
All time
Reach
—
No locations filed yet
Entries
1,435
Logged on Charity Journal

Giving over time

Monthly giving from the ledger
Giving and impact by month, last 12 months
MonthGivenImpact bandActivities logged
Dec 2025$2,332,000Not rated5
Jan 2026$30,285,000Not rated31
Feb 2026$7,533,000Not rated11
Mar 2026$7,205,000Not rated21
Apr 2026$22,185,000Not rated34
May 2026$5,905,000Not rated12
Jun 2026$18,179,000Not rated21
Jul 2026$12,108,000Not rated17
Aug 2026$9,554,000Not rated14
Sep 2026$15,501,000Not rated19
Oct 2026$0Not rated0
Nov 2026$0Not rated0

Cause breakdown

Science$355,232,000 · 38%
Health$224,517,000 · 24%
Innovation$103,349,000 · 11.1%
Climate$74,000,000 · 7.9%
Arts$53,762,000 · 5.8%
Welfare$45,881,000 · 4.9%
Relief$32,872,000 · 3.5%
Education$28,642,000 · 3.1%
Human rights$15,353,000 · 1.6%
Animals$944,000 · 0.1%
VolkswagenStiftungVerified
DonorGermanyEst. 1961Dr. Georg Schütte
Visit Official WebsiteDonate Now

About

VolkswagenStiftung is an independent German foundation that supports research and higher education. Founded in 1961 as a result of the settlement of Volkswagenwerk’s postwar ownership structure, it became a major source of private funding for scientific and academic work in Germany, with its resources held independently of the Volkswagen Group.

Research funding is its central activity, covering fields from the natural and engineering sciences to the humanities and social sciences. The foundation supports individual researchers, collaborative projects, international partnerships and early-career academics, while also encouraging unconventional ideas and interdisciplinary approaches. Its programs are designed to give researchers the freedom and resources to pursue questions that may be difficult to fund through conventional academic channels.

Activity feed

VolkswagenStiftung gave $130,000 to Universität Konstanz for provided support for Mare Nostrum: Das Mittelmeer der Moderne at Universität Konstanz on 2026-09-18. Cause: Science.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Universität Konstanz$Restricted
Scienceprovided support for Mare Nostrum: Das Mittelmeer der Moderne at Universität Konstanz.
Source
$130,000$130K
VolkswagenStiftung gave $195,000 to Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin for provided support for Politik und Ästhetik der Repräsentation. Formen der demokratischen Vorstellungskraft at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin on 2026-09-15. Cause: Science.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin$Restricted
Scienceprovided support for Politik und Ästhetik der Repräsentation. Formen der demokratischen Vorstellungskraft at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Source
$195,000$195K
VolkswagenStiftung gave $1,959,000 to Universität Siegen for provided support for ENACT – Exploring New Assemblies of Communities & Smart Technologies in Urban Spaces at Universität Siegen on 2026-09-13. Cause: Innovation.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Universität Siegen$Restricted
Innovationprovided support for ENACT – Exploring New Assemblies of Communities & Smart Technologies in Urban Spaces at Universität Siegen.
Source
$1,959,000$2M
VolkswagenStiftung gave $332,000 to Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO) for provided support for Islam's "Peripheries": Digital Humanities, Algorithmic Analysis, and AI in West Africa and Central Asia at Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO) on 2026-09-09. Cause: Arts.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO)$Restricted
Artsprovided support for Islam's "Peripheries": Digital Humanities, Algorithmic Analysis, and AI in West Africa and Central Asia at Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO).
Source
$332,000$332K
VolkswagenStiftung gave $440,000 to Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) for provided support for Reconstructing spatial behaviors in early cities of Central Asia with generative AI at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) on 2026-09-04. Cause: Arts.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)$Restricted
Artsprovided support for Reconstructing spatial behaviors in early cities of Central Asia with generative AI at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU).
Source
$440,000$440K
VolkswagenStiftung gave $1,403,000 to Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn for provided support for Archaeology of Steroid Hormones: travelling through cells and centuries to explore human fertility at Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn on 2026-09-01. Cause: Health.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn$Restricted
Healthprovided support for Archaeology of Steroid Hormones: travelling through cells and centuries to explore human fertility at Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn.
Source
$1,403,000$1M
VolkswagenStiftung gave $1,354,000 to Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena for provided support for Reframe, Reflect, Connect – Transforming Memory Culture regarding (East) Germany's Transformation at Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena on 2026-09-01. Cause: Arts.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena$Restricted
Artsprovided support for Reframe, Reflect, Connect – Transforming Memory Culture regarding (East) Germany's Transformation at Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena.
Source
$1,354,000$1M
VolkswagenStiftung gave $1,275,000 to Universität Münster for provided support for Manipulation of the Past: Far-Right Ideologies and the Weaponization of History at Universität Münster on 2026-09-01. Cause: Innovation.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Universität Münster$Restricted
Innovationprovided support for Manipulation of the Past: Far-Right Ideologies and the Weaponization of History at Universität Münster.
Source
$1,275,000$1M
VolkswagenStiftung gave $1,275,000 to Deutsches Schifffahrtsmuseum (DSM) for provided support for Functioning Citizenship at the Water's Edge: Everyday Democracy in Global Port Cities at Deutsches Schifffahrtsmuseum (DSM) on 2026-09-01. Cause: Welfare.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Deutsches Schifffahrtsmuseum (DSM)$Restricted
Welfareprovided support for Functioning Citizenship at the Water's Edge: Everyday Democracy in Global Port Cities at Deutsches Schifffahrtsmuseum (DSM).
Source
$1,275,000$1M
VolkswagenStiftung gave $1,428,000 to Weizenbaum-Institut e.V. for provided support for Triggering Democratic Frustration: Understanding and Countering Strategic Polarisation on Digital Platforms at Weizenbaum-Institut e.V on 2026-09-01. Cause: Innovation.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Weizenbaum-Institut e.V.$Restricted
Innovationprovided support for Triggering Democratic Frustration: Understanding and Countering Strategic Polarisation on Digital Platforms at Weizenbaum-Institut e.V..
Source
$1,428,000$1M
VolkswagenStiftung gave $1,355,000 to Universität zu Köln for provided support for The "good", the "bad", and the (un)democratic: Regulating civil society in democracies under change at Universität zu Köln on 2026-09-01. Cause: Welfare.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Universität zu Köln$Restricted
Welfareprovided support for The "good", the "bad", and the (un)democratic: Regulating civil society in democracies under change at Universität zu Köln.
Source
$1,355,000$1M
VolkswagenStiftung gave $946,000 to Universität Duisburg-Essen for provided support for Next-Generation Magnets - the Future is 3D! at Universität Duisburg-Essen on 2026-09-01. Cause: Science.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Universität Duisburg-Essen$Restricted
Scienceprovided support for Next-Generation Magnets - the Future is 3D! at Universität Duisburg-Essen.
Source
$946,000$946K
VolkswagenStiftung gave $944,000 to Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin for provided support for Simulating Bureaucracy? The Uncertain Future of the Administrative State at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin on 2026-09-01. Cause: Welfare.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin$Restricted
Welfareprovided support for Simulating Bureaucracy? The Uncertain Future of the Administrative State at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Source
$944,000$944K
VolkswagenStiftung gave $938,000 to Universität Münster for provided support for Enzyme-Embedded Synthetic Cells enabling Environmental Self-Degradation of Microplastics at Universität Münster on 2026-09-01. Cause: Science.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Universität Münster$Restricted
Scienceprovided support for Enzyme-Embedded Synthetic Cells enabling Environmental Self-Degradation of Microplastics at Universität Münster.
Source
$938,000$938K
VolkswagenStiftung gave $99,000 to Universität Duisburg-Essen for provided support for Lipid Divide - Data Reuse at Universität Duisburg-Essen on 2026-09-01. Cause: Science.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Universität Duisburg-Essen$Restricted
Scienceprovided support for Lipid Divide - Data Reuse at Universität Duisburg-Essen.
Source
$99,000$99K
VolkswagenStiftung gave $66,000 to Technische Universität Berlin for provided support for HdM Mobil: Mobile-Makerspace-Module zum Erleben von Zirkularität im Alltag (Weiterführung und Abschluss) at Technische Universität Berlin on 2026-09-01. Cause: Science.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Technische Universität Berlin$Restricted
Scienceprovided support for HdM Mobil: Mobile-Makerspace-Module zum Erleben von Zirkularität im Alltag (Weiterführung und Abschluss) at Technische Universität Berlin.
Source
$66,000$66K
VolkswagenStiftung gave $262,000 to Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover for provided support for ERDsystemwissenschaftsAllianz ERD-A at Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover on 2026-09-01. Cause: Science.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover$Restricted
Scienceprovided support for ERDsystemwissenschaftsAllianz ERD-A at Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover.
Source
$262,000$262K
VolkswagenStiftung gave $550,000 to Leuphana Universität Lüneburg for provided support for Global Talent@Leuphana at Leuphana Universität Lüneburg on 2026-09-01. Cause: Welfare.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Leuphana Universität Lüneburg$Restricted
Welfareprovided support for Global Talent@Leuphana at Leuphana Universität Lüneburg.
Source
$550,000$550K
VolkswagenStiftung gave $550,000 to Technische Universität Braunschweig for provided support for COMPASS – Come onboard, prepare yourself and study successfully at Technische Universität Braunschweig on 2026-09-01. Cause: Science.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Technische Universität Braunschweig$Restricted
Scienceprovided support for COMPASS – Come onboard, prepare yourself and study successfully at Technische Universität Braunschweig.
Source
$550,000$550K
VolkswagenStiftung gave $300,000 to Freie Universität Berlin for provided support for The Principles of Handwritten Script Evolution at Freie Universität Berlin on 2026-08-31. Cause: Arts.
VolkswagenStiftung→ Freie Universität Berlin$Restricted
Artsprovided support for The Principles of Handwritten Script Evolution at Freie Universität Berlin.
Source
$300,000$300K

Board

Falko Mohrs
Chair of the Board of Trustees

Minister for Science and Culture of Lower Saxony, chairing VolkswagenStiftung's Board of Trustees since September 2024.

Hans Michael Heinig
Vice Chairperson

Chair for Public Law and Ecclesiastical Law at the University of Göttingen, re-appointed as Vice Chairperson.

Rolf-Dieter Jungk
Vice Chairperson

State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, serving as Vice Chairperson of VolkswagenStiftung's Board of Trustees.

Claudia Eckert
Board of Trustees Member

Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied and Integrated Security and professor at the Technical University of Munich.

Elke Hannack
Board of Trustees Member

Deputy Federal Chair of the German Trade Union Confederation, serving on VolkswagenStiftung's Board of Trustees.

Jan Plefka
Board of Trustees Member

Professor of Theoretical Physics (Quantum Field and String Theory) at Humboldt University of Berlin, appointed in 2024.

Thomas Schmall-von Westerholt
Board of Trustees Member

Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG responsible for Technology, appointed in 2024.

Georg Schütte
CEO

CEO of VolkswagenStiftung since March 2025, previously the foundation's Secretary General since January 2020.