Newsroom

Why and how is the Volkswagen Foundation committed to basic research? A conversation with Henrike Hartmann, Head of Funding, and Hanna Denecke, Head of the Exploration Team.

The Volkswagen Foundation is one of a group of six founding foundations that have set up an own Mastodon instance, 'stiftungen.social'. Ten further foundations have already joined. 

Over the next three years at least, the Foundation’s reviewers will continue to be eligible to receive a grant of 10,000 euro by lottery. No application is required; participation is automatic upon undertaking the role of reviewer.

Through its funding initiative 'Open Up – New Research Spaces for the Humanities and Cultural Studies', the Volkswagen Foundation has supported a total of 57 project teams since 2021. Even after the funding programme has come to an end, the funded projects continue to have an impact, as does the 'Distributed Peer Review' process, which was successfully trialled as part of the initiative.

Following a comprehensive overhaul, the Volkswagen Foundation’s Grants Database now features enhanced search functions and a clear, modern design.

Twice a year - at the beginning of each semester in April and October - the Volkswagen Foundation offers a free, one-hour live webinar in English on the funding portfolio. The next webinar is scheduled for 7 October 2026, 2 p.m..