The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung or FES (Stiftung is the German word for foundation) was founded in
1925 as a political legacy of Germany's first
democratically elected president, Friedrich Ebert, who died in that year.

Ebert, a Social democrat and trade unionist of
humble origins, had risen to hold the highest
political office in Germany (1919-1925) despite
considerable opposition from reactionary anti- democratic forces. He assumed the burden of the presidency in a country which was crisis ridden following its defeat in World War I and which did not yet have a stable democratic political system.

His own painful personal experience led him to propose the establishment of a foundation with the aim of:

• furthering a democratic, pluralistic political culture by means of political education for
  all sectors of society;
  

• facilitating access to higher education for gifted young people by providing scholarships;

• contributing to international understanding and co-operation.

Because of its commitment to democracy, the Foundation was banned by the nazi regime in 1933. It was re-established in 1947 after World War II.
Today the Foundation continues to pursue its aims through its programmes of civic and political education, international co-operation, scholarships and research, both inside and outside Germany.

The Foundation, which was immediately banned by the Nazis in 1933 and not re-established until 1947 after World War II, continues today to pursue those aims and has developed extensive programmes in each of the above areas.

Today the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is a political non profit making, public interest institution committed to the principles and basic values of social democracy in its educational and policy-oriented work.