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 in 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.
From its project office in Jerusalem, HSF works across four focus areas: inclusive economic development, social understanding and participation, environmental sustainability and international political dialogue. 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 work in Jerusalem
Few cities in the world carry as much historical, religious and political significance as Jerusalem. Its unique beauty, its importance to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and its central role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict make Jerusalem a natural place for HSF's regional office and its work to advance democracy, peace and development.
Working from Jerusalem also means engaging with the region’s complex realities and Germany’s particular responsibility towards Israel.
Our values
HSF maintains close ties with the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), a center-right political party based in Bavaria which currently forms part of Germany's federal government and leads the Bavarian state government. The Foundation is named after Hanns Seidel, former Chairman of the CSU and Minister-President of Bavaria, who as a lawyer 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.
Israel’s legitimacy and security are fundamental points of reference for HSF's work in Israel and the region, reflecting Germany's longstanding commitment to Israel's right to exist as part of its raison d’État.
Our team
The HSF Jerusalem Team brings together professionals from Jerusalem and Germany with experience in project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Reflecting the region's diversity, our colleagues come from diverse Jewish, Christian and Muslim backgrounds, including members of the Orthodox Jewish community. They share a commitment to peace and sustainable 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. For information in Hebrew and Arabic see עב\عر