Gerda Henkel Stiftung

The Gerda Henkel Stiftung is a German private foundation dedicated to supporting science, scholarship, and the preservation of cultural heritage worldwide.

Founded in 1976 by Lisa Maskell in memory of her mother, Gerda Henkel, the foundation has become a leading patron of the humanities, with a special focus on history, archaeology, art history, and heritage studies. From its headquarters in Düsseldorf, it funds research projects, fellowships, and international collaborations across more than 100 countries.

One of its flagship initiatives is the Patrimonies Funding Programme, which provides critical support to projects that preserve endangered cultural heritage in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Through this programme, the Stiftung has empowered communities to document, safeguard, and share their unique histories with the world.

In 2022, the Stiftung awarded a grant to the Green Institute, Nigeria, under the Patrimonies Programme, to help preserve and document the vernacular architecture and cultural traditions of Aiyetoro. This support laid the foundation for the creation of the Ayetoro Digital Museum, ensuring that the community’s heritage can be protected against loss and made accessible globally.

Today, the Gerda Henkel Stiftung continues to embody its founding vision — that knowledge of history and preservation of culture are essential for human dignity, identity, and peace.