Robert Bosch Stiftung: Grantor analysis 2026

The Robert Bosch Stiftung is one of Europe’s largest private foundations. In 2024 it directed €219 million into charitable work across 26 countries, launched over 300 new projects, and continued expanding the Bosch Health Campus in Stuttgart – a medical campus representing an investment of over €500 million by 2030. In Ukraine, the foundation has been present for over 30 years, and since 2022 it has run a dedicated programme to strengthen Ukrainian civil society.

But the Bosch Stiftung has a fundamental rule that distinguishes it from most grant-making bodies: it funds only organisations that responded to a specific published call, and it does not review unsolicited applications at all.

This article explains who the Robert Bosch Stiftung is, what it funds, how it supports Ukraine, and where the real entry points are for Ukrainian organisations and professionals in 2026.

Who the Robert Bosch Stiftung is

The foundation was established in 1964 in Stuttgart, Germany, as part of the legacy of Robert Bosch (1861–1942) – the industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the global Bosch company. Bosch stipulated in his will that most of his estate should go toward public benefit. Today the foundation holds approximately 94% of the shares in Robert Bosch GmbH, and the dividends from that holding finance all charitable activities.

Headquarters are in Stuttgart, with a second office in Berlin. Staff: approximately 170 people. From 1964 to 2026, the foundation has invested over €2 billion in charitable work. In 2024 alone that figure was €219 million – of which €151 million went to health (primarily construction of the Bosch Health Campus), with the remainder split between education and global issues.

One point worth understanding: the Robert Bosch Stiftung combines grant-making with the creation and management of its own institutions – a key distinction from foundations that only distribute funds. Under its ownership and management: Bosch Hospital and the Institute for Clinical Pharmacology in Stuttgart, Robert Bosch College UWC in Freiburg, the International Alumni Center (iac) and the Robert Bosch Academy in Berlin. The iac Berlin, specifically, coordinates the Foundations for Ukraine network.

Three focus areas

Health. The foundation works toward a healthcare system that centres people and their health literacy. Its flagship project is the Bosch Health Campus in Stuttgart: an integrated campus that brings together a hospital, research institute, training centre, and a space for interaction between patients and researchers. By 2030, the foundation plans to invest over €500 million in the campus.

Education. The foundation funds a fair, high-performing education system focused on the wellbeing of children and young people. It supports schools, teachers, and educational organisations, primarily in Germany. In 2024 it launched the #IchStehAuf initiative for democracy and diversity in schools, which reached over 1,700 schools and 300,000 students.

Global Issues. The least Germany-specific area. The foundation supports international understanding, peace, climate action, democracy, and migration. This is where Ukraine-related programmes sit. It backs exchanges between researchers, organisations, and governments across borders and funds projects that shape public policy.

How the foundation supports Ukraine

The Robert Bosch Stiftung has had ties to Ukraine for over 30 years. After 24 February 2022 it responded quickly: within a few weeks it approved a €4.5 million emergency budget, funded approximately 40 projects in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, and built on pre-existing partnerships. In 2024 it established a dedicated Special Division Ukraine with its own team and strategy.

The foundation’s Ukraine strategy is structured around four dimensions. The cultural dimension covers preserving and documenting Ukraine’s cultural heritage, supporting artists and cultural communities whose infrastructure has been destroyed. The societal dimension involves citizen participation in reconstruction, supporting civil society organisations working locally. The mental dimension focuses on psychological resilience: support for veterans, internally displaced people, and the teams of organisations working under constant stress. The ecological dimension funds socio-ecological transition and recovery.

Most of these projects the foundation runs through partners: Commit gGmbH (Vidnova), the IWM Vienna (Documenting Ukraine), iac Berlin (Foundations for Ukraine), and others. Direct funding to Ukrainian NGOs is less common than the intermediary model.

Ukraine programmes: what is open and what is closed

Documenting Ukraine (via IWM, Vienna) – annual grants of €5,000 for Ukrainian scholars, journalists, artists, archivists, and writers who are documenting the experience of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Supported formats include reporting, oral testimony collection, photo and video work, podcasts, and literary texts. The author retains full intellectual property rights. As of 29 May 2026, the call is OPEN. Deadline: 31 May 2026. Apply at: iwm.at/documenting-ukraine/apply →

Vidnova Support Fund (via Commit gGmbH) – grants for Ukrainian NGOs covering urgent operational needs: software, equipment, psychological support for the team, retaining key staff, and more. Fund budget: €200,000; maximum grant: €5,000. The 2026 round is CLOSED (deadline 8 January 2026). Watch for the next round at vidnova.org →

Vidnova Fellowship (via Commit gGmbH) – a fellowship programme for civil society activists from Ukraine who are based in Ukraine or abroad. Includes a monthly stipend of €500 for 6 months and €4,000 for implementing a project. Current round status: vidnova.org/fellowship →

Bosch Stiftung main grant portal – no open calls at this time. The foundation publishes thematic calls for organisations worldwide, but exclusively through formal invitations. Monitor: bosch-stiftung.de/en/news/open-calls →

How to get in front of the foundation

The Robert Bosch Stiftung states clearly on its website: “We cannot process or respond to unsolicited funding requests or project ideas. Please refer to our current calls for proposals.” This is a rule the foundation actively enforces.

The process works as follows. The foundation publishes thematic calls, clearly stating what it is looking for and where there is a realistic chance of funding. From the applications received it selects the most suitable organisations and invites them to submit a full project proposal. After that: discussion, financial review, and signing of a grant agreement.

There is an online portal at bosch-stiftung.de where you can submit a project idea. But without an active published call, this form typically gets no response.

The more realistic path for Ukrainian organisations in 2026 is through the foundation’s partners: Commit gGmbH (Vidnova), IWM Vienna (Documenting Ukraine), and iac Berlin (Foundations for Ukraine). These organisations hold direct contracts with the foundation and distribute funding to implementing partners.

Who should monitor this foundation

The Robert Bosch Stiftung funds strategically and with a long-term horizon. The Ukrainian organisation profiles most relevant to its current work:

Veteran reintegration and social support NGOs. One of the foundation’s stated Ukraine priorities is support for veterans and internally displaced people. The “Fix what’s broken” programme funds reintegration of veterans into culture and education.

Cultural organisations and media. Documenting the wartime experience, preserving cultural identity, supporting authors and journalists who remained in Ukraine. The direct entry point here is Documenting Ukraine via IWM.

Local NGOs and recovery organisations. The foundation explicitly focuses on “local context” and backs organisations working on recovery in specific communities rather than just in capitals.

Mental health and psychological support organisations. The mental dimension is one of four pillars in the foundation’s Ukraine strategy. Supporting the psychological wellbeing of Ukrainians and the NGOs working in this area is a stated priority.

Academic activists and civil society professionals. Vidnova Lab backs practitioners with an academic profile: people at the intersection of civil society, research, and professional expertise.

Summary: Robert Bosch Stiftung for Ukrainian organisations