HOW LONG HAS THE FOUNDATION BEEN IN EXISTENCE?
Stiftung Mercator GmbH was entered in the commercial register in 1996 and commenced its work in the following year.
WHO FOUNDED STIFTUNG MERCATOR?
The Schmidt founding family established the charitable Stiftung Mercator GmbH, Essen, and the charitable Stiftung Mercator Schweiz, Zurich, and endowed them with substantial financial resources from their assets. Further assets transferred to the charitable Meridian Foundation and the charitable Cambiata Foundation, Zurich, established by the Schmidt family, are used to support the two foundations on an ongoing basis in the form of donations. The charitable Meridian Foundation is the sole shareholder of Stiftung Mercator GmbH, Essen.
With the transfer of entrepreneurial activities under the umbrella of the charitable Meridian Foundation, the Karl Schmidt family completed the transfer of assets to charitable status in 2017, which had been in preparation for many years. The charitable activities will focus on financial support for the charitable Stiftung Mercator GmbH in Essen (Germany) and the charitable Stiftung Mercator Switzerland, which are intended to contribute to social welfare, peaceful coexistence and the preservation of the natural environment in line with the wishes of the founding family. This also applies to the Cambiata Foundation, Zurich.
WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STIFTUNG MERCATOR GERMANY AND STIFTUNG MERCATOR SWITZERLAND?
The charitable Stiftung Mercator Germany, based in Essen, and the charitable Stiftung Mercator Switzerland, based in Zurich, were established by the Karl Schmidt family. Since June 2017, both foundations have been financed by the overarching charitable Meridian Foundation and the charitable Cambiata Foundation, Zurich, which was established by the latter. Stiftung Mercator Germany and Stiftung Mercator Switzerland are driven by the same guiding principles and convictions, work independently of each other and are involved in similar subject areas.
WHERE DOES THE FOUNDATION’S NAME COME FROM?
The foundation is named after the important Duisburg cartographer and cosmographer Gerhard Mercator (1512-1594). His maps and globes were more precise than any that had been available until then and were in great demand in the Age of Discovery, from the courts of the time to seafarers. They set standards for the following two centuries. The Mercator projection he developed is still used today: It enables a true-angle representation of the earth and thus makes navigation at sea considerably easier. However, this advantage could only be achieved by distorting the surfaces: The land masses of the northern hemisphere far from the equator appear significantly larger in the Mercator projection. As all former colonial countries are located in the northern hemisphere, this effect of the Mercator projection was criticized, as was the placement of Europe in the center of the world map. This communication of a cultural concept through cartographic representation provoked criticism and led to map representations by later cartographers that corrected Mercator’s geographical view of the world.
Mercator, the son of a shoemaker, had settled in Leuven after completing his studies there, where his career began. In 1544, however, he was accused of heresy and arrested – he was suspected of having Lutheran ideas. Presumably for this reason, he moved with his family to Duisburg in 1552, which was characterized by religious tolerance. However, it is also possible that he was promised a chair at the planned university, which he did not live to see founded. Mercator spent the following 42 years in Duisburg and became probably the city’s most important citizen to this day.
His name thus stands for the combination of global thinking, scientific precision and entrepreneurial action. His life also demonstrates the importance of intercultural and interreligious tolerance – values that Stiftung Mercator also promotes.
WHY IS STIFTUNG MERCATOR BASED IN ESSEN?
The Schmidts, a family of merchants and entrepreneurs, come from the Ruhr and feel a strong sense of loyalty to the region.
IS THE FOUNDATION A NON-PROFIT ENTERPRISE?
Stiftung Mercator GmbH is recognized by the Essen-Süd tax office as a non-profit corporation. We publish the current certificate here. It entitles us to issue donation receipts to recipients for the next five years from the date of issue. The articles of association are available for download.
WHERE DO THE ASSETS OF STIFTUNG MERCATOR COME FROM?
Stiftung Mercator is financed by the charitable Meridian Foundation and the charitable Cambiata Foundation, Zurich, which was established by the Meridian Foundation. The Schmidt family, the founders of the foundation, have transferred their charitable assets to these foundations.
HOW CAN I APPLY FOR A STIFTUNG MERCATOR GRANT?
In principle, anyone can apply for funding for projects that support the achievement of the clearly-defined strategic objectives in our themes. Our funding guidelines and funding application forms can be found on our website. You can also find answers there to frequently asked questions about the application procedure. If you meet the necessary criteria, you are also welcome to apply to any of our current vacancies that are published online.