About us
Rooted in Bavaria. Working internationally.
HSF is a German non-profit organization committed to advancing democracy, peace, and development worldwide. Mandated by the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag), the Foundation operates from its headquarters in Munich and currently supports around 90 projects in 75 countries, including throughout Asia and the MENA region. In the MENA region, HSF promotes regional dialogue and cooperation, including opportunities created by the Abraham Accords.
Timeline: 1967 Hanns Seidel Foundation established → 1979 Work in Israel begins → 1994 Work in the Palestinian Territories begins → Today Working with Israeli, Palestinian and international partners from Jerusalem
Our mission
HSF is committed to fostering sustainable peace - Shalom and Salaam - through democracy, dialogue and development. In Israel, we support democratic participation and future-oriented societies. In the Palestinian Territories, we pursue development cooperation aimed at creating sustainable economic and social opportunities. The Foundation has been active in Israel since 1979 and in the Palestinian Territories since 1994.
Operating through its project office in Jerusalem, HSF promotes inclusive economic development, social understanding and participation, sustainable ecological development, and international political understanding as its core focus areas. To achieve these goals, the dedicated team in Jerusalem collaborates with a wide network of national and international partners from various sectors.
HSF also supports students and young scholars through German academic scholarships and international internships.
Our values
HSF maintains close ties with the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), one of Germany’s governing parties and the governing party in Bavaria. The Foundation is named after Hanns Seidel, former Chairman of the CSU and Minister-President of Bavaria, who defended Jewish citizens during the Nazi era.
Our work is rooted in center-right conservative principles, including solidarity, personal responsibility and subsidiarity. Rooted in these values, HSF promotes democratic and civic education, strengthens Bavarian identity, and advances environmental stewardship through conservation and sustainable resource use, always prioritizing human dignity.
Germany's special responsibility for Israel’s security and right to exist - commonly referred to as Germany’s raison d’État - is a fundamental point of reference for HSF's work in Israel and the region.
Our team
The HSF Jerusalem team is a dynamic group of professionals from both Jerusalem and Germany, combining extensive experience in project planning, organization, monitoring, and evaluation. Reflecting the region’s diversity, the office proudly brings together colleagues of different ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds - united by a shared commitment to the people of the region and to peace and shared prosperity.
For more information see Team.
Our funding
HSF Jerusalem is directly mandated by the German Federal Parliament (Deutscher Bundestag) and fully funded from the German federal budget. Resources are allocated through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Both institutions are considered foreign political entities under Israeli law.
In accordance with Israeli law and our commitment to transparency, HSF Jerusalem’s annual financial reports are publicly available through the Ministry of Justice. HSF Jerusalem does not accept private donations. In both the current and previous fiscal years, 100% of our funding came from the same single foreign source.
Learn more about funding and transparency in our FAQs.