“The University of Mannheim Foundation is based on an idea and initiative by the Freunde der Universität Mannheim, which was still called Gesellschaft der Freunde der University (GdF) back then. On 2 January 2000, Prof. Carl-Heinrich Esser, Dr. Harald Maurer, and I established the predecessor of the foundation. After ABSOLVENTUM established another foundation in the meantime, the boards of both associations agreed to join forces and merge the foundations. This led to the creation of the current University of Mannheim Foundation in 2005.”

Dr. Josef Zimmermann
Vice chair of the board of the University of Mannheim Foundation and one of its founders

“I am very happy to support the University of Mannheim in continuing to perform as well as it has and in building on its excellent reputation in the face of increasing international competition in the long term. High-quality research benefits not only the university itself, but also the economy and society—far beyond the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region.”

Dr. Hans-Peter Wild
Owner of the Wild Group and initiator of the Beste-Köpfe-Programm

“We thank not only the donors listed here, but all associations and individuals who have supported the University of Mannheim Foundation for 20 years. Without your donations, endowments or testamentary gifts, our projects, such as research funding or the Deutschland Scholarship, would not be possible.”

Prof. Dr. Thomas Fetzer
President of the University of Mannheim and chair of the University of Mannheim Foundation

“As a family business based in Mannheim, it is natural and a pleasure for us to support the University of Mannheim. We do this on an ongoing basis every year with an endowment to the foundation’s capital, the proceeds of which facilitate a variety of projects, as well as with a project-specific donation—currently for the planned European Center of Sustainable Management.”

Dr. Susanne Fuchs
Chair of the administrative board of RUDOLF FUCHS SE & Co. KG