Commerzbank Foundation
Social responsibility
Our mission
As a corporate foundation, the Commerzbank Foundation stands for the social responsibility of its founder. In the spirit of corporate citizenship, Commerzbank is committed to an effective social commitment as a "good citizen" for the community that goes beyond its actual business activities. With the foundation, it wants to contribute to the solution of social problems in Germany and thus show itself as an active member of a future-oriented and at the same time solidary community. The foundation is thus part of the company's sustainability strategy.
Since its establishment on February 26, 1970, with an initial capital of 5 million deutschmarks, the Commerzbank Foundation has developed into an important Germany-wide sponsoring partner with an endowment capital of over 60 million euros. The corporate foundation has built up many sustainable partnerships and has thus established itself as a permanent sponsorship partner. In the 50 years of its existence, it has successfully supported well over 1,000 projects with a total of almost 40 million euros. Its partnership network ranges from cultural institutions to non-profit associations and scientific institutions.
In addition, the Commerzbank Foundation awards its own nationwide prizes in each of its funding areas of culture, social affairs and science. In addition to ZukunftsGut for institutional cultural mediation, the concept of which was awarded the AKF Award of the “Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft” in 2019, this is the ZukunftsWege prize, which honors charitable commitment in the transition from school to work. With the Early Career Award ZukunftsWissen, the foundation also honors young scientists in cooperation with the Leopoldina in Halle.
Our vision: Participation creates the future
Our society thrives on participation. Only the unrestricted, equal and thus sustainable participation of all people in social life makes our country fit for the future.
Our mission: We promote active participation
Taking responsibility toward fellow human beings is the fundamental principle of our commitment. That is why we support charitable institutions, initiatives and projects that enable and sustainably improve active participation in our society for everyone, and especially for disadvantaged people. In doing so, we stand for a courageous and diverse society.
Our fields of action: We act by promoting
As a development foundation, we are involved in the social areas of culture, social affairs and science, which we also interlink in the context of our development projects. Our partners are exemplary institutions and facilities that shape the future. At the same time, they bring a high level of expertise and have a nationwide reach. In our work, we are committed to the principles of quality and transparency as well as to the idea of networking and multiplication.
Our values
TRUST is the anchor of any promotion.
This is about the reliability of a relationship. Right from the start, we spend a lot of time exchanging ideas and talking to our funding partners. Both sides benefit from this.
TRANSPARENCY and appreciation are closely related.
The basis for this is, for example, open interaction with one another and dialog about expectations.
RESPONSIBILITY shapes promotion.
Our foundation enables, supports and helps in relevant social areas, because we believe: Support creates the future.
RESPECT between the funding foundation and the project partner is the most important thing.
By this we mean a mindful interest in each other, meeting at eye level, as well as opening up spaces for each other.
COURAGE is part of every foundation's actions.
We see ourselves as a learning foundation. For us, it is important to keep trying out new things. A constructive culture of making mistakes is just as much a part of this as the joy of discovery.
SUSTAINABILITY is the theme of our present and future.
For us, it starts with structural and strategic issues in the context of a funding partnership.