Heinrich Böll's call on citizens to meddle in politics is the example upon which the work of the Foundation is modeled. The Heinrich Böll Foundation strives to stimulate socio-political reform by acting as a forum for debate, both on fundamental issues and those of current interest. To realise the objectives stated in its by-laws, the Foundation provides encouragement and support to groups and individuals living up to the responsibility of shaping a more peaceful world, of protecting the environment, and of promoting respect for human rights throughout the world. The Foundation also supports research into the mechanisms of this century's two German dictatorships, thus paving the road for a sustainable democratic future.

The Foundation promotes a vision of a democratic society open to immigrants and places particular importance on attaining gender democracy - signifying a relationship between the sexes characterised by freedom from dependence and dominance. These collective tasks are significant aspects of both the Foundation’s internal structure and public activities. The Foundation's activities strive to promote respect among people of different nationalities, different cultural or sexual identities, and differing political opinions. The educational work of the Foundation also aims to counter discrimination against lesbians and gay men.

The Heinrich Böll Foundation's educational activities have a political basis, an ethical outlook, and strive to promote various forms of cultural expression. The Foundation supports art and culture, including literary research, as part of its political education work and as a crucial element of each society’s self-image. With its support for persecuted artists and its defense of freedom of expression, the Foundation continues in the tradition of Heinrich Böll. A shelter and work space for artists from throughout the world has been established at Böll's former residence in the Eifel region of Germany.

By way of its international collaboration with a large number of project partners – currently numbering about 200 projects in 60 countries – the Foundation aims to strengthen ecological and civil activism on a global level, to intensify the exchange of ideas and experiences, and to keep our sensibilities alert for change. The Heinrich Böll Foundation’s collaboration on socio-political education programs with its project partners abroad is on a long-term basis. Additional important instruments of international co-operation include visitor programs, which enhance the exchange of experiences and of political networking, as well as basic and advanced training programs for committed activists.

The Heinrich Böll Foundation's Study Programme considers itself a workshop for the future; its activities include providing support to especially talented students and academicians, promoting theoretical work of socio-political relevance, and working to overcome the compartmentalisation of science into exclusive subjects.

TO ATTAIN ITS GOALS...

• the Foundation is developing a series of freely accessible basic and advanced educational programmes which employ a multitude of educational forms (i.e., meetings, seminars, congresses, publications, studies, lectures, excursions);
• the Foundation co-operates with other societal initiatives and institutions in its support of measures consistent with its educational approach;
• the Foundation assists talented and personable students, artists, and scientists from all fields and of all nationalities who are committed to the goals stated in the organisation’s by-laws, and who are politically involved in society; the assistance provided might consist in general academic or artistic training, or in concrete work programmes and projects consistent with the Foundation's goals;
• the Foundation promotes international understanding by funding seminars and studies abroad;
• the Foundation supports co-operation on a partnership basis in developing countries;
• the Foundation co-operates with its affiliated state foundations (one in every federal state of Germany) and makes general funds available to them for their decentralised political education activities.