Past Projects

Attic Sculptures on the City Palace (Germany)

The Foundation supported the Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten with the restoration of selected sculptures on the attic of the State Parliament in Potsdam, the former City Palace. The donation first enabled fundamental research on the attic sculptures, which resulted in a comprehensive photo documentation of the attic sculptures. Then, sculptors in Berlin/Potsdam and Saxony were commissioned to restore or make copies of the statues.

Three groups were formed, which completed the picture of the attic at important points and made the building appear “alive” again. Due to the support of the Foundation, ten attic sculptures were back on display at the Landtag and the substance of additional sculptures was analyzed for possible restoration.

Design Thinking Research Program at Stanford d.school (USA)

The Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford University in California was founded to prepare a generation of innovators to tackle complex challenges. Referred to as the d.school, the institute brings together students and faculty in engineering, medicine, business, law, the humanities, sciences, and education to develop innovative, human-centered solutions to real-world challenges. The creation of the Stanford d.school jump-started the world-wide movement of design thinking in higher education, sparking many new degree programs, institutes, and d.school-like entities in colleges and universities. The Foundation supported the Design Thinking Research Program at the Stanford d.school until 2022.

Education Program at the Children’s World ANOHA (Germany)

The Children’s World ANOHA is more than just a children’s museum. Run by the Jewish Museum Berlin, it is a place that caters to the interests and needs of children between three to twelve years old. It aims to playfully introduce children to important social matters – such as nature conservation, religion, and inter-human cohabitation. Young children are encouraged to approach others in an open-minded and respectful way and to be curious about the new or the unknown. The history of Noah’s Ark thereby represents the conceptual and creative starting point for all offerings. The Hasso Plattner Foundation supported the educational programming at the museum. 

Isisombululo Project (South Africa)

The Isisombululo Project, based in the Western Cape of South Africa, was focused on HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis prevention, youth care, and education. Many of its health care initiatives have been successfully handed over to the Department of Health in the Western Cape. The project reached the end of its funding in 2022, with several of its initiative being managed by the Faculty of Health Sciences at UCT. The Inkcubeko Youth and Science Centre in Thembalethu, George, continues to operate as part of the Embark in Knowledge initiative. 

KIT-Stiftung (Germany)

The KIT-Stiftung is a charitable foundation promoting the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in the fields of research, education, innovation, and academic life. The Hasso Plattner Foundation supported the charitable activities of the KIT-Stiftung with a one-time donation in 2022, with a focus on initiatives that aim to strengthen the connection between computer science and medical technology.

Notre Dame (France)

The cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris is not only a national monument of France but also a central element of European culture. Therefore, the Hasso Plattner Foundation quickly decided to support the cathedral by means of a donation to the respective fund of the Republic of France after the devastating fire in April 2019. This was also meant as a gesture to underline the European spirit and the French-German friendship in a moment of dismay.

Oceana (USA)

Oceana Inc., a US-registered nonprofit organization, is one of the largest international advocacy organizations focused solely on ocean conservation. The organization’s offices around the world allow it to run strategic, directed campaigns that achieve measurable outcomes to maintain or improve the biodiversity of our oceans. The Hasso Plattner Foundation was particularly involved in a project protecting habitats and kelp in Chile’s marine ecosystem.

PAMS Foundation (Tanzania)

The PAMS Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental protection. Through partnerships with local communities and key stakeholders, PAMS aspires to protect wildlife by combating illegal wildlife trafficking throughout Africa, encouraging environmental education, and facilitating peaceful human-wildlife coexistence. The Hasso Plattner Foundation supported PAMS initiatives focusing on capacity extension and reinforcement in the Ruvuma Region (Tanzania) and preserving the Banco National Park (Côte d’Ivoire). For instance, in the Ruvuma Region, PAMS focused on conflict mitigation between humans and elephants and ran environmental education programs at secondary schools.  

Solidarity Fund (South Africa)

The Solidarity Fund is a South African public benefit organization initiated by the president, Cyril Ramaphosa. The independently administered Fund was created as a response to the COVID-19 crisis in South Africa as a consolidated platform for individuals, the public, and the private sector to contribute to COVID-19 initiatives.

The Hasso Plattner Foundation already supported various projects in South Africa and other African countries. By means of this donation, the Foundation wanted to reaffirm its partnership with South Africa and continue to support it in its time of need.

Established in 2015, the Hasso Plattner Foundation promotes philanthropic initiatives that aim to educate and inspire generations in the areas of Science and Education, Social and Conservation, as well as Art and Culture. Rather than giving one-off grants for projects, at the Foundation we predominantly establish and run long-term projects in partnership with experts in relevant fields. At times and on our own initiative, we might support specific projects with one-time donations. It is generally not possible to support individuals or individual projects. We kindly ask you to refrain from sending requests for funding and ask for your understanding if we have to decline requests of this kind.