LIZ MoHN Foundation
The Liz Mohn Foundation is active in the areas of international relations, leadership and business, culture and music, and young people. Our work focuses on continuing and further developing the successful formats initiated by Liz Mohn, as well as the implementation of new ideas and projects.
Liz Mohn Foundation
Who we are
The Liz Mohn Foundation continues the successful activities of the Liz Mohn Foundation gGmbH and the Liz Mohn Culture and Music Foundation within an independent institution. Liz Mohn, the organization’s founder, and Matthias Meis are the members of the foundation’s Executive Board.
One of Liz Mohn’s and the foundation’s heartfelt concerns is building bridges of understanding across languages and borders in order to bring people of different nations, cultures, professions and positions, as well as from different generations, into dialogue with each other.
At the same time, Liz Mohn has always known that if there is to be peace, prosperity and progress in the world, leaders are needed in a variety of fields – from politics to business to culture – who strengthen social cohesion and who motivate people and inspire them to be creative.
That is why Liz Mohn feels it is important for her foundation to develop people and their individual talents early on, while encouraging them to participate in society. One of our core convictions in this regard is that culture and music give people self-confidence and bring them into contact with others, and are therefore very important for each individual’s personal development and for society as a whole.
The Liz Mohn Foundation pursues solely and directly philanthropic activities. Headquartered in Gütersloh, it is an independent foundation under private law in accordance with Section 1 of the Foundation Act of the State of North Rhine–Westphalia. The supervisory authority that oversees its activities is the Detmold District Government.
Our Founder
Liz Mohn
Liz Mohn represents the fifth generation of Bertelsmann’s founding families.
As the initiator and chairwoman of her foundation, she is committed to ensuring a global transfer of knowledge.
“For me, every day is a bridge to the future which I’m keen to cross. Life has given me the great good fortune of being able to make a difference. I would like to give others the same opportunity.
I firmly believe you must attempt the impossible if you want to achieve the possible.”
She has pooled the successful activities carried out by the Liz Mohn Foundation gGmbH and the Liz Mohn Foundation for Culture and Music in order to form the Liz Mohn Foundation.
In addition to continuing the events and projects she has initiated herself, one of her special concerns as a philanthropist is launching new innovative activities that contribute to society and make our world a better, fairer and more peaceful place.
Our projects
Topics
The Liz Mohn Foundation accelerates the global transfer of knowledge based on evidence-driven findings and analysis. It does so in order to
- promote culture, especially in the field of music, and education;
- improve the quality of decision-making in politics, business and culture;
- support decision makers in leading sustainably and responsibly;
- increase understanding between nations and cultures; and
- promote young talent from different areas of society.
Current News
16. December 2025
Young people's interest in politics is growing
8. December 2025
Start of Applications and New Chair of the Jury for the NEUE STIMMEN 2026International Singing Competition
4. December 2025
Children's musical “Die Weltenspringer und das Portal der Träume” thrills audiences at Theaterlabor Bielefeld
1. December 2025
Radiant voices and big emotions: Successful Masterclass with Elīna Garanča concludes with festive Advent Concert
25. November 2025
Second module of the Future Leadership Training at BMW
19. November 2025
Liz Mohn Foundation hosts “Masterclass“ with Elīna Garanča and Advent Concert 2025
Contact
If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to contact us!