We place particular emphasis on gender democracy, meaning social emancipation and equal rights for women and men.

[3][16] In March 1996, a Green Party convention demanded that the separate foundations become one and the motion was passed with a large majority.

[17] The statutes drafted for this new unified foundation defined gender democracy and issues related to migration and diversity as key fields of activity.

On 1 July 1997, the newly founded Heinrich Böll Foundation began its operations at headquarters located in Berlin's Hackesche Höfe.

[21] In August 2023, the Heinrich Böll Foundation announced that Masha Gessen was the winner of the Hannah Arendt Prize for Political Thought.

The following areas figure large in many of its projects and publications: The foundation's present headquarters (since 2008) in the centre of Berlin provide approximately 7,000 square metres of floor space with modern offices for ca.

In recognition of this innovative project that significantly improves the energy efficiency of IT systems the foundation was presented with the Green CIO Award.

[37] Lastly, the atrium and internal courtyard create natural convection currents that serve to ventilate the building all year long.

(...) Under these circumstances, the Ethiopian office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation cannot, in the foreseeable future, fulfil its mission of promoting democratisation, gender justice and sustainable development.

(...) The closure of the Foundation's office in Ethiopia should therefore also be taken as a sign of protest against the ongoing restriction of human rights and democratic development in the country.

The office focuses on five programme areas: climate & energy, foreign & security policy, democracy & society, economic governance & G20, and gender.

Through organising events and inviting international visitors, the office promotes the exchange of ideas and concepts between North America and the rest of the world.

[44] In addition to its political and cultural work, the Heinrich Böll Foundation also offers scholarships for university and PhD students.

The candidates selected are expected to achieve a high degree of academic excellence, serve their communities, be interested in politics and social issues, and support the ideals the foundation stands for.

Last year, a total of 852 undergraduate and graduate students as well as 235 doctoral candidates received financial support (57% women, 43% men).

[60] Awardees include the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), Ingrid Betancourt, Wangari Maathai, and Zhang Sizhi.

[63] Awardees include Ágnes Heller, François Furet, Massimo Cacciari, Michael Ignatieff, Julia Kristeva, Tony Judt, Timothy D. Snyder,[64] and Roger Berkowitz.

[66] Awardees include Marcel Ophüls for Hôtel Terminus: The Life and Times of Klaus Barbie, Michael Winterbottom for In This World, and Bille August for Goodbye Bafana.

The award goes to women whose outstanding commitment has helped make gender democracy a reality and who have fought against gender-based discrimination and anti-gay resentments.

[68] As an example, the 2017 Anne Klein's Women's Award went to South African activist Nomarussia Bonase who, with the Khulumani support group, is campaigning for reparations for over 100,000 victims of apartheid.