German Marshall Fund of the United States

The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, transatlantic organization dedicated to promoting understanding and cooperation between North America and Europe.

Founded in 1972 through a donation from the Federal Republic of Germany as a permanent reminder of the Marshall Plan, the GMF aims to strengthen transatlantic relations in the areas of politics, economics, and society. The organization was established to support the reconstruction of Europe after World War II and as a sign of gratitude to the American people for the Marshall Plan assistance[2].

The GMF supports individuals and institutions active in the transatlantic sphere by:

• Providing research and analysis on transatlantic issues.
• Organizing leadership and networking meetings between politicians, business leaders, and members of the policy and business community.
• Offering exchange programs to promote engagement in transatlantic relations.
• Supporting initiatives to strengthen democracies[3].

The GMF is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and additionally maintains six offices in Europe: in Berlin, Paris, Brussels, Belgrade, Ankara, and Bucharest. This presence allows the organization to work closely with partners on both sides of the Atlantic[3].

The GMF is funded through donations, grants (particularly from EU programs), and returns from its endowment. The original donation from the Federal Republic of Germany was 150 million DM, distributed over 15 years. Further significant contributions followed in 1986 and 2000. Today, the GMF has assets worth 175-227 million USD and incurs annual expenses between 30-39 million USD[2].

The GMF is committed to deepening understanding between Europeans and Americans and supporting cooperation. The organization promotes the exchange of practical experiences and the transfer of innovations between both sides of the Atlantic. A particular focus is on fostering leaders engaged in transatlantic relations[2].

The GMF remains active in current debates and initiatives, such as analyzing the impact of the 2024 US presidential elections on transatlantic policy debates and examining threats to US democracy. Additionally, the GMF organizes events and tours, such as the "Whistlestops4UKR" tour, aimed at strengthening support for Ukraine in local communities[3].

• 1 - https://www.gmfus.org
• 2 - https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Marshall_Fund
• 3 - https://www.gmfus.org/about
• 4 - https://www.politico.eu/article/german-greens-leader-annalena-baerbock-under-fire-for-resume-inflation/
• 5 - https://www.gmfus.org/about/our-offices