History and aims

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) was founded in 1925 as a political legacy of Germany’s first democratically elected president, Friedrich Ebert.

Ebert, a Social Democrat from a humble crafts background who had risen to hold the highest political office in his country, in response to his own painful experience in political confrontation had proposed the establishment of a foundation to serve the following aims:

– furthering political and social education of individuals from all walks of life in the spirit of democracy and pluralism,

– facilitating access to university education and research for gifted young people by providing scholarships,

– contributing to international understanding and cooperation.

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, which was banned by the Nazis in 1933 and re-established in 1947, continues today to pursue these aims in all its extensive activities. As a private cultural non-profit institution, it is committed to the ideas and basic values of social democracy.

Current, particular important topics of our work are:

Fair society

Innovation and progress

Active democracy