About us
The Allianz Foundation supports people and organisations driving progress towards open, resilient and climate-just societies. The Foundation works both operationally and as a grant-maker, supporting projects across Europe in the fields of Sustainable Cities, Trustworthy Information and Socially Engaged Arts. Its mission: enabling better living conditions for the next generations.
Who we are.
As an independent foundation, the Allianz Foundation is committed to supporting a transformation towards sustainability.
To achieve this, the foundation pursues three strategic goals:
- For empowered people – Promoting participation and equal opportunities for all
- For open societies – Strengthening diverse and resilient societies
- For a livable planet – Protecting nature and the environment
The Foundation promotes and supports people and organisations who face the challenges of our times. We support and connect risktakers working on sustainable cities, trustworthy information and socially engaged arts – everyone who dares to test new societal models of living together beyond the beaten path.
There is a great deal at stake. We are confronted with rising nationalism, widening social divisions and accelerating climate change – global crises that are deeply interconnected and mutually reinforcing. Where sea levels rise, social hostility follows. The ground for right-wing narratives grows where the societal climate passes a tipping point. And it is often those who have contributed least to these crises who are hit hardest by them.
The Allianz Foundation is positioned at the interface of these challenges. We are working towards solutions that challenge conventional paradigms. The risks for the future are incalculable if we do not act today.
What we do.
Socially Engaged Arts, Sustainable Cities, Trustworthy Information
Our goals: to strengthen civil society, foster cultural innovation and accelerate the transformation of our societies towards carbon neutrality.
We pursue this through three focus areas that shape how people, societies and the planet experience change. Individually, each area drives change in its own right. Together, we believe they can generate an impact that reaches far beyond what any one of them could achieve alone.
Socially Engaged Arts
Socially Engaged Arts open spaces for solidarity, including marginalized voices and enabling collectively supported creative solutions to the sustainability transformation.
Sustainable Cities
Most people live in cities. The concepts and concrete actions around buildings and neighborhoods should become more regenerative and inclusive, enabling a liveable urban future for all.
Trustworthy Information
In a fragmented and commercially transformed media environment, public discourse depends on trustworthy information and a broader ecosystem of its producers.
What we believe.
The work done by the Allianz Foundation is built on the firm belief that open and diverse societies, social justice and a liveable environment go hand in hand.
We are convinced that “business as usual” is no longer an option in light of the pressing challenges of our times. The window for preventing climate change from reaching irreversible levels of temperature increases is closing quickly. The war at the heart of Europe has shown us the vulnerability of a world order built on peace and collaboration. Increasing nationalism shows that solidarity and individual freedom for all are no longer a given but need to be realised every day.
We need a new culture of solidarity, a new relationship between humans and nature, a transformation going beyond political regulation and technological innovation. True change often comes from the margins and niches in society – initiated and pioneered by people outside the mainstream. It can be inspired by artistic forms that examine the previously unfamiliar. Art and culture can especially be catalysts for change because they do not serve a specific purpose. They have the power to create spaces, build bridges and strengthen Europe's civil societies — their pluralism and cohesion — in the long term.
We see Europe not just as a geographical or political entity but as a model of solidarity across borders. This includes the transfer of ideas and practices to and from extra European contexts. Europe can become a powerhouse of transformation. It can stand for diversity, solidarity, and unconditional commitment to a carbon-neutral future – despite all crises. The Allianz Foundation is convinced that the transition towards a climate neutral future is possible without leaving anyone behind, creating a fairer and just society for all.
We work within a pan-European network of partners and funded projects. Europe is our home and the centre of our activities.
Five flagship programmes support our mission:
Our Board of Trustees
- Sergio Balbinot (Chairperson), former member of the Board of Management of Allianz SE
- Emilia Macarie (Deputy Chairperson), Chief Sustainability Officer, Allianz SE
- Lauren Day, Group Head of Communications, Allianz SE
- Michael Diekmann, former Chair of the Supervisory Board of Allianz SE
- Susanna Krüger, Executive Director, SEND (Social Entrepreneurship Network Deutschland)
- Prof. Dr. Guido Palazzo, University of Lausanne
- Dr. Christof Schenck, Executive Director, Frankfurt Zoological Society