The Heinrich Böll Foundation is closely linked to the German political party Alliance 90/The Greens. Based in Berlin, it is federally organized and independent from the party. It operates 28 offices worldwide.
To achieve our goals, we seek strategic partnerships with partners worldwide who share our values. We are an independent organization, that is, we determine our own priorities and policies.
On the international level, we are working on the following issues:
- democratization and crisis prevention
- climate change and energy policies
- gender politics
- globalization and sustainability
- natural resource management and livelihood preservation
Our namesake, the writer and Nobel Prize laureate Heinrich Böll (1917 – 1985) personifies the values we stand for: freedom, civic courage, tolerance, open debate and the appreciation of art and culture as independent spheres of thought and action.
Throughout his life, Heinrich Böll was a committed supporter of persecuted fellow writers, civil rights activists and political prisoners across all political boundaries.
The name and works of Heinrich Böll are a synonym for the political and social involvement of the citizen, protection and development of civil rights and democratic commitment, as well as civil courage and engagement. The Foundation feels indebted to his courageous and uncompromising civil spirit.