Supports culture, education, science, and nature conservation initiatives.
The Alfred Toepfer Stiftung F.V.S. is a German foundation established in 1931 by Hamburg businessman Alfred Toepfer. It operates across Europe, focusing on culture, science, education, and nature conservation while promoting European understanding and cultural diversity. The foundation's key program areas include art and culture, education and society, science, and future-oriented land use. It offers scholarships, prizes, and qualification programs for artists, musicians, and cultural professionals. Notable initiatives include the KAIROS Prize for European artists and the European Collaborative Journalism Programme. The Toepfer Stiftung primarily functions as an operational foundation, initiating and implementing its own projects. However, it occasionally provides small-scale funding to third-party projects through its "Small Change" program, which supports initiatives in Hamburg, Europe, transformative change, and culture and history. While specific financial data is not readily available, the foundation's "Small Change" grants typically do not exceed €5,000 per project. Funding criteria include non-profit status, demonstrable contributions to the project, and alignment with the foundation's objectives. Recent supported projects include local journalism initiatives, cultural education programs, and efforts to critically engage with 20th-century German and European history. The foundation also manages the Innovation in University Teaching Foundation on behalf of the German federal and state governments.