FAQ

The foundation is named after Freya von Moltke. She was an active member of the Kreisau Circle, a resistance group against the Nazi regime, and organised the three major conferences at the Moltke family estate in Kreisau. After the war, she emigrated first to South Africa and later to the United States. Since the 1960s, she pursued the vision of transforming her old family estate into a centre for German-Polish reconciliation. She was one of the most fervent advocates for the New Kreisau.

When our foundation was established in Germany in 2004 to secure the future of the memorial and meeting site in Polish Kreisau/Krzyżowa, Freya von Moltke lent her name to the foundation. She insisted that the name include “for the New Kreisau,” as it was this forward-looking place of encounter that was closest to her heart.

Read more about our namesake, her biography, and her vision.

The foundation aims to promote international understanding and peaceful coexistence in Europe. At the heart of its work is Kreisau/Krzyżowa – a site of German resistance against the Nazi regime, German-Polish reconciliation, and European exchange and development. The Freya von Moltke Foundation financially and ideologically supports Kreisau’s peace-building work, ensures the long-term maintenance and expansion of the international youth meeting and memorial site, and encourages active engagement with history.

Learn more about the foundation’s goals, its establishment, and its structure.

Together with our benefactors, donors, and partner organisations, the foundation supports projects that bring young people from across Europe together. We strengthen Kreisau as a vibrant international meeting and memorial site, promote this place that stands as a symbol of courage, reconciliation, and civil resistance, and bring the history of Kreisau/Krzyżowa to life. Since March 2022, we have also supported Kreisau in becoming a safe haven for refugees from Ukraine.

As an independent, non-profit community foundation based in Berlin, the foundation is not affiliated with any political parties or national governments. It is supported by around 400 benefactors and numerous other contributors. The foundation is composed of a Foundation Council, an Advisory Board, and an Office. The Foundation Council, which operates on a voluntary basis, serves as the central governing body. It is advised by the equally voluntary Advisory Board. The Office handles all operational tasks of the foundation and serves as the first point of contact.

Our events and trips offer excellent opportunities to learn more about the foundation’s work and meet the people behind it.

You can stay informed about current projects and events through our newsletter.

Our annual reports and foundation newsletters provide deeper insights into our activities.

There are many ways to support the foundation:

• With a general or project-specific donation, you support international youth exchanges and help implement projects that vividly convey Kreisau’s history to the public.
• By contributing to the capital fund, establishing a named fund, or creating a trust foundation, you help ensure the long-term preservation of Kreisau as a vibrant meeting and memorial site.
• As a member of the Circle of Friends, you assist our office in fulfilling its diverse tasks and objectives.
• You can support our foundation’s work through targeted sponsorship as a foundation, company, association, or other organisation.
• By volunteering your time and ideas, you help the foundation achieve its goals while contributing valuable personal engagement.

As a non-profit community foundation, our work relies on the commitment of numerous individuals and supporting organisations. If you would also like to get involved with Kreisau and support our foundation, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to connecting with you!

We are delighted that you wish to support the work of our foundation with a donation.

You can donate directly via the online donation form on our website or by bank transfer to:

Freya von Moltke Foundation for the New Kreisau
IBAN: DE79 1208 0000 4052 0068 00
BIC: DRESDEFF120

With your one-time or regular donation, you support ongoing projects. These may include educational projects in Kreisau, remembrance work initiatives, specific events, or publications by our foundation. You can also choose to make targeted donations, which will benefit a specific project. Here, you can find our current projects.

Thank you for your support!

By contributing to the foundation’s capital or establishing a named fund, you can become a benefactor of the Freya von Moltke Foundation. This makes you part of a committed community of individuals dedicated to providing the New Kreisau with a long-term perspective and supporting Kreisau/Krzyżowa as a vibrant space for encounters and remembrance. You can also establish your own dependent foundation with similar objectives, which our foundation will manage in trust. Young individuals can participate in the “Young Benefactors Initiative.”

Would you like to make an endowment to the capital fund, establish a named fund, or create a trust foundation?
Then please get in touch with us! We look forward to speaking with you.

With an annual contribution starting from €1,000 for individuals and €3,000 for companies, you can join the Friends Circle of the Freya von Moltke Foundation. Your support directly benefits our administrative office and ensures the foundation’s operational capacity. You help us organise numerous events, trips, and benefit concerts, as well as promote Kreisau and its historical legacy to the public.

Would you like to become a member of our Friends Circle? Join directly or feel free to contact us.

A fundraising campaign on the occasion of a birthday, anniversary, or even a memorial service is a wonderful way to support the work of our foundation.

If you wish to organise a fundraising activity, you can use the following bank details:

Freya von Moltke Foundation for the New Kreisau
IBAN: DE52 1208 0000 4052 0068 01
BIC: DRESDEFF120
Reference: [Occasion for the donation + name and address of the donor]

Feel free to contact us before your private event. This will allow us to discuss how the donations will be used and address any questions regarding donation receipts. We will also be happy to send you informational materials.

Including our foundation in your will is a generous and meaningful decision that enables us to secure our work in the long term.

• You can designate the foundation as the beneficiary of a bequest. In doing so, you specify that a certain amount of money, a property, or a valuable item will be transferred to the foundation upon your death.
• In your will, you can also outline specific conditions or wishes regarding how the foundation should use your inheritance, such as for a particular project or area.
• Alternatively, you can designate the foundation as a (partial) heir, ensuring that a portion or all of your assets go to the foundation after your death.
• Another option is to make an endowment during your lifetime, which will continue to make an impact in your name.

If you are considering including the foundation in your will, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are available to answer any questions and discuss how your testamentary donation or endowment can best fulfil your wishes and goals.

Yes, your donations and endowments are tax-deductible, as our community foundation is recognised as a non-profit organisation. Both individuals and organisations can benefit from this.

• For donations and endowments up to €300, a payment receipt or the bank’s transaction confirmation (account statement) combined with this document is sufficient as proof for the tax authorities.
• For donations and endowments exceeding €300, you will receive a donation receipt (confirmation of donation) from us. To ensure this, please provide your contact details either in the online donation form or in the reference field of your bank transfer. This receipt is required to claim your donation or endowment in your tax return.

Your support helps us realize important projects and create sustainable change. Thus, your donation or endowment is not only a valuable contribution towards our shared goals but also offers tax benefits for you.

We are committed to the effective and responsible use of your financial support.

• We carefully select projects and ensure they are well-planned and have clear objectives. This ensures that your financial contributions are used where they can bring the greatest benefit.
• We closely monitor administrative expenses to maximise the share of financial support directly allocated to project implementation.
• We continuously monitor project progress and assess their effectiveness. This allows us to make timely adjustments and improve the impact of our work.
• We provide regular and open updates about our activities and finances, including detailed reports on how financial contributions are utilised and the results achieved. You can review our office’s financial reports in our annual publications.
• Our projects are led by professionals with extensive experience and expertise in their respective fields, ensuring your financial support is utilised effectively and purposefully.
• We maintain regular communication with our donors, benefactors, the community of founders, and members of the Friends Circle. You will receive updates about the progress of the projects you support, allowing you to see the concrete impact of your financial contributions.
• Our finances are rigorously audited by the relevant supervisory authority. This provides additional assurance regarding the correct and effective use of your financial support.

Do you have further questions about how your financial support is used? Please don’t hesitate to contact us! We look forward to speaking with you.

Transparency in the use of donations, endowments, and support is of utmost importance to us, as it strengthens the trust of our supporters and the public in our work.

• We publish regular reports about our activities, finances, and the results achieved. These reports are accessible to anyone interested and can be reviewed in our annual publications.
• If donations or support are intended for specific projects or areas, we use these funds exclusively for the designated purpose. We provide detailed accounts of how such purpose-bound funds have been utilized.
• Our annual financial statements and reports are reviewed by the appropriate supervisory authority. The financial reports from our office can be found in our annual publications.
• We keep our benefactors, donors, supporters, and sponsors informed about ongoing projects and the utilisation of funds via newsletters, emails, personal communications, or updates on our website.
• We ensure that all resources are used efficiently and responsibly, in line with our foundation’s objectives and in compliance with German foundation law.
• We promote open communication with our benefactors, donors, supporters, and the public. Feedback and enquiries about our work and the use of funds are taken seriously and addressed transparently.
  
  Do you have a direct question for us? Please feel free to contact us!

The protection and security of your personal data are of utmost importance to us. We strictly adhere to legal data protection regulations and handle your data responsibly and confidentially. In our privacy policy, we inform you about the type, scope, and purpose of the collection, use, and processing of personal data in connection with the use of our website, as well as your rights.

• We only collect data necessary for processing your donation, endowment, or involvement. This may include your name, address, contact information, and payment details.
• Your data will only be used for the purpose for which it was collected, such as processing your donation, issuing a donation receipt, or communicating with you.
• Personal data is securely stored and retained only as long as necessary to fulfil its purpose or as required by legal retention periods.
• Your data will not be shared with third parties without your explicit consent unless required by law.
• You have the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict the processing of your personal data at any time. You may also object to the processing of your data.
• We take all necessary technical and organisational security measures to protect your data from unauthorised access and misuse.
• We provide clear and transparent information about the use of your data and are available to address any questions you may have.

We recognise that trust in the careful handling of personal data is the foundation of successful collaboration. Therefore, we take our responsibility in this area very seriously and are available to address any questions or concerns regarding your data.

Kreisau/Krzyżowa is a small village with a profound history. It was here that the members of the Kreisau Circle met in 1942 and 1943 to envision a post-Nazi Germany. It was also the site of the German-Polish Reconciliation Mass in 1989. Today, Kreisau/Krzyżowa stands as one of Europe’s largest international centres for remembrance and dialogue, serving as a vibrant place for building bridges.

Learn more about the compelling history of this location and the current efforts of the Kreisau organisations to promote democracy, understanding, and a peaceful Europe.

The legacy of Kreisau is carried forward by three organisations based in Poland and Germany: the Kreisau Initiative e.V., the Kreisau Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe, and the Freya von Moltke Foundation for the New Kreisau. Each has distinct historical origins and areas of focus, but they are united by a shared conviction: democracy thrives on understanding and dialogue. All of these organizations aim to convey the legacy of resistance and the spirit of German-Polish reconciliation to new generations. Their goals are pursued in partnership with over 100 organizations worldwide.

Each year, we organise a trip to Kreisau, inviting supporters of the foundation and other interested individuals to personally experience this unique site of remembrance and encounters.

Feel free to contact us or subscribe to our newsletter, where we announce these trips.

Anyone wishing to visit Kreisau privately, for training sessions or events, can contact the International Conference Centre of the Kreisau Foundation in Krzyżowa directly.