Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

The Friedrich Ebert Foundation is a German political foundation associated with the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). Much of it's work is concerned with policy research, however it is also active internationally as a lobby group, promoting, amongst other things, trade unions, democracy movements and international co-operation between Social Democrat interest groups in Europe and North America. It also provides funding for a variety of projects internationally as well as scholarships for students studying in Germany.

History

The foundation was formed in 1925 as the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (English - Friedrich Ebert Foundation) by Friedrich Ebert, an SPD politician who was the first President of the Weimar Republic of Germany (1919-1933). The original aims were given as encouraging political and social education, providing university scholarships for selected German students and the somewhat vague aim of "contributing to international understanding and co-operation". The party was banned by the Nazi's prior to the second World War, but re-emerged in the new Federal Republic in 1947.