Our Mandate
Intentional Future
The Unger Foundation operates on a simple principle: success carries with it a profound responsibility. We believe true legacy is not measured in assets accumulated, but in value created for society. Our mission is to apply the same discipline, rigor, and long-term vision of our commercial ventures to philanthropy.
Human Potential
Animal Welfare
Environmental Stewardship
Cultural Preservation
Pillar 1: Human Potential
We actively empower the next generation. Our commitment is focused on providing tools and opportunities for those with the drive to build a better future.
- The Munich Scholars: A family-endowed fund offering full university scholarships and personal mentorship to high-achieving students from Munich.
- Future Founders Grant: Provides crucial seed capital and advisory to young entrepreneurs with innovative, socially-conscious business ideas.
- STEM Labs Network: Funding the establishment and upgrade of modern science and technology labs in underserved schools across Germany.
Pillar 2: Animal Welfare
Our commitment to animals is deep and personal. We focus on providing direct care, supporting local infrastructure, and protecting vulnerable species.
- The K-9 Retreat: A state-of-the-art sanctuary in the Bavarian Alps providing peaceful, lifelong care with full veterinary support for retired police and military dogs.
- Munich Shelter Alliance: A program providing critical funding to a network of local shelters for medical care, facility upgrades, and adoption drives.
- Apex Conservancy: A global initiative that uses drone technology and data analytics to monitor and protect endangered birds of prey and their habitats.
Pillar 3: Environmental Stewardship
We take a strategic, technology-forward approach to conservation, focusing on projects with measurable, long-term impact on global ecological health.
- The Alpine Carbon Sink: A large-scale reforestation project with a goal of planting one million trees to restore vital ecosystems and capture carbon in the Alps.
- Clean Water Initiative: Funding the construction and maintenance of wells and advanced filtration systems in rural communities in Southeast Asia.
- Sustainable Tech Fund: Investing in promising, early-stage companies that are accelerating innovation in renewable energy and circular economies.
Pillar 4: Cultural Preservation
A future without a past is hollow. We proudly fund projects that protect and share humanity's greatest artistic and intellectual achievements.
- Landmark Restoration Grant: Funding the painstaking restoration of historical landmarks, from Bavarian castles to Venetian palazzos.
- Digital Scriptorium Project: A partnership with leading universities to digitize and preserve fragile classical manuscripts, making them freely accessible to scholars worldwide.
- Artisan Support Fund: Providing grants to workshops and schools that teach traditional crafts, ensuring these vital skills are passed to the next generation.
Our Journey
The Unger Foundation is formally established in Munich with a clear mandate to apply a disciplined, long-term investment philosophy to philanthropy.
The Munich Shelter Alliance is launched, providing the first round of critical funding to animal shelters in and around Nico Unger's hometown.
The foundation endows the Unger Chair for Sustainable Systems at the Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), a major commitment to future innovation.
Construction begins on The K-9 Retreat in the Bavarian Alps. The first Landmark Restoration Grant is awarded to the Neuschwanstein Castle preservation project.
The Clean Water Initiative breaks ground in Southeast Asia. The Alpine Carbon Sink initiative launches with the acquisition of its first major land parcel for reforestation.
The Munich Scholars program accepts its inaugural class, and the Sustainable Tech Fund makes its first five strategic investments.
The foundation announces a ten-year, nine-figure commitment to all four pillars, solidifying its role as a key player in strategic philanthropy.
"Capital is simply a form of energy. You can either let it dissipate, or you can focus it with intention to create something meaningful. This foundation is our intention."