Hertha BSC Foundation

The Hertha BSC Foundation has been awarding the Wilhelm Wernicke Prize since 2020. It supports youth welfare initiatives and projects in Berlin/Brandenburg. The prize was established on the initiative of Bernd Schiphorst, Chairman of the Hertha BSC Foundation, and is an important contribution to Hertha BSC's social and charitable profile. Like the entire club, the prize represents the universal values of progress and diversity and is committed to promoting fair sporting and social coexistence in the long term.

The digital Hertha BSC Museum was created with the help of Bernd Schiphorst and the support of the club, foundation, and sponsors. With the participation of Hertha legend Erich ‘Ete’ Beer, a freely accessible online platform was created. The foundation also initiated the digitization of the club's archives, which was implemented by archive manager Frank D. Schurmann. Today, the digital museum is open to all fans.

In addition, the Hertha BSC Foundation has set itself the task of examining the role of the club during the Nazi regime. Together with contemporary historian Daniel Koerfer, it produced the book ‘Hertha unter dem Hakenkreuz – Ein Berliner Fußballclub im Dritten Reich’ (Hertha under the swastika – A Berlin soccer club in the Third Reich). It offers an in-depth analysis using previously untapped sources.

Daniel Koerfer: ‘Hertha unter dem Hakenkreuz. Ein Berliner Fußballclub im Dritten Reich’ (Hertha under the swastika. A Berlin soccer club in the Third Reich). 288 pages. Published by Die Werkstatt.

'Oder-Bolzen!' is the first major project of the Hertha BSC Foundation. With around €52,000, five soccer fields were built in Berlin and along the German-Polish Oder region starting in 2004 – in Kreuzberg, Küstrin, Bleyen, Guben, and Cedynia. Whether artificial turf, grandstands, or complete renovation, the pitches continue to provide children and young people with important spaces for exercise, socializing, and integration. ‘Oder-Bolzen!’ was thus not only a sporting initiative, but also a neighborly signal for a united Europe.

Providing long-term support for the club's young players is another task undertaken by the Hertha BSC Foundation. The focus here is on personal development. Educational trips, such as to Auschwitz, help young people to reflect on the past together and learn for the future. Personal development has always been a key theme of the educational program, as it plays a decisive role in determining our players' participation in society.

Chairperson: 
Lala Süßkind (Managing Director, Jewish Educational Institute Berlin)

Vice Chair:
Sabine Christiansen
(TV presenter)

Members:
Werner Graf
(Die Grünen Berlin)

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Wolfgang Huber
(Former Council Chair of the Evangelical Church in Germany)

Prof. Dr. Daniel Koerfer
(Professor of Modern History/Contemporary History at the Free University of Berlin; Managing Director of Koerferschen Verwaltungsgesellschaft/Cologne)

Dr. Tonio Kröger
(CEO, antoni GmbH)

Otto Schily
(Former Federal Minister of the Interior)

Iris Spranger
(Senator for Home Affairs and Sport)

Lala Süßkind
(Managing Director, Jewish Educational Institute Berlin)

Kai Wegner (CDU, Governing Mayor of Berlin)

Here you will find the application form for your project. Please only use our online form to submit your application. Please understand that processing your application will take some time. By submitting your application, you consent to the processing of your personal or institutional data by the Hertha BSC Foundation. You can find information on data protection here.

The Hertha BSC Foundation exclusively supports youth projects in the areas of sports, culture, and charity. Projects carried out by tax-privileged entities or public-law entities that serve charitable purposes—such as associations, foundations, universities, or non-profit limited liability companies—are eligible for funding. There is no legal entitlement to funding from the foundation.

Here is a link to the simplified donation receipt. If you have any questions about donations, please contact Johannes Trost.