Based in Essen, Germany, Stiftung Mercator is organized into three ‘competence centres’ – Education; Research and higher education; and International relations. Its grantmaking budget for 2009 is approximately €32 million, an increase of 50 per cent over last year. This planned long-term growth will continue despite the financial crisis as the founding family has stood by its decision to significantly increase its philanthropic investment.

Bernhard Lorentz, President