Transparent Civil Society Initiative

Transparency is important to us. As a foundation that is oriented towards achieving the common good (even if we are technically not a non-profit foundation due to our Articles of Association), we support the concerns of the Transparent Civil Society Initiative. Therefore, in accordance with the initiative’s guidelines, we make these ten items of information available to the public and undertake to keep them up to date.

1. Name, registered office, address and year of foundation of our organisation

Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung (CZS), based in Heidenheim an der Brenz and Jena, Germany, founded in 1889
Office: Breitscheidstraße 10, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany

2. Complete Articles of Association as well as information on the organisation’s objectives

Statute

3. Details of tax benefits

The Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung is not a non-profit organisation. This is attributable to the Foundation’s statute, which stipulates the permanent preservation of the foundation companies as the purpose of the Foundation. As a result, the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung does not exclusively pursue charitable causes, which is why it cannot be recognised as a tax-privileged foundation.

4. Names and functions of the main decision-makers

Foundation Administration (Executive Board as defined in the German Civil Code [BGB]):

  • Minister Petra Olschowski, Chairwoman of the Foundation Administration
  • Minister Christian Tischner, Member of the Foundation Administration

 

Management:

  • Dr. Felix Streiter

 

Shareholder Council:

  • Dr. Michael Bolle, Chairman of the Foundation Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Carl Zeiss AG and SCHOTT AG
  • Martina Merz
  • Dr. Eric Schweitzer

5. Activity report

Annual report of the Carl Zeiss Foundation (only available in German)

6. Personnel structure

As of 21/04/2023:
Two board members (part-time), one managing director (full-time) and one deputy managing director (full-time), one member of the management board (part-time), ten other full-time employees, six part-time employees, one employee in parental leave, three marginally employed.

7. Information on the source of funds

Financial year 2021/2022 (reporting date 30/09/2022)

  • Income from investments: EUR 108,200,000
    (Dividends of Carl Zeiss AG and SCHOTT AG)
  • Income from other securities and from loans on financial assets: EUR 2,132,000
  • Other interest and similar income: EUR 29,000

8. Information on the use of funds

Financial year 2021/2022 (reporting date 30/09/2022)

  • Personnel expenses: EUR 1,325,000
  • Expenses for the purpose of the Articles of Association: EUR 63,573,000
  • Other expenses: EUR 2,276,000
    (administrative costs, taxes)

9. Corporate affiliations with third parties

Carl Zeiss AG (Subsidiary, 100% owned by the Foundation);
SCHOTT AG (Subsidiary, 100% owned by the Foundation);

Ernst-Abbe-Stiftung (the Chairwoman of the Foundation Administration or a person appointed by her are members of the Ernst Abbe Foundation Advisory Board), Stiftung Deutsches Optisches Museum (A representative of the Carl Zeiss Foundation has a seat on the Board of Trustees of this foundation).

10. Names of legal entities whose annual donations account for more than ten per cent of our total annual income.

Carl Zeiss AG,
SCHOTT AG
(The total dividends from the two foundation companies account for more than 90% of our annual income)