The Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) is one of six German political foundations that for decades have played a key role not only in Germany's domestic policy but also in international affairs. In its 2025 report, the foundation presented a detailed picture of its financial capabilities, expenditure structures, and geographical priorities.
The data contained in the report make it possible to understand how large the resources at KAS's disposal are, and to what extent it allocates them to influence in Eastern and Southeastern Europe, a region that has been at the center of attention since 2022 because of the war in Ukraine.
In times of great upheaval, constant change, and advancing globalization, orientation is more important than ever. Transformations in science, technology, media, and culture require foresight and, above all, early engagement with new political challenges, which the Konrad Adenauer Foundation intends to confront, the document states.
The total budget of KAS in 2024, the data for the reporting year published in the 2025 report, amounted to 208.5 million euros. Of this amount, as much as 198 million euros came directly from grants from the federal budget of the Federal Republic of Germany. The remaining revenue consists of donations, membership fees, and income from the foundation's economic activities (including from the rental of properties and the sale of publications). This is a typical financing model for German political foundations.
The largest expenditure item of KAS is international cooperation and foreign projects; in 2024 it absorbed 113.13 million euros, or more than 54% of the entire budget. This amount covers both the maintenance of a network of about 100 foreign offices in more than 120 countries and the implementation of hundreds of educational, analytical, inclusion, and security projects. The report emphasizes that Eastern and Southeastern Europe is among the absolute financial priorities of KAS. Although the report does not provide a precise percentage breakdown for each region or country, the description of activities and key initiatives indicates that a significant share of international funds reaches this area, estimated at 25-35% of the entire foreign budget, which translates into 28-40 million euros annually.
The largest and most visible project in the region is the annual "Cafe Kyiv." In 2025, the event gathered more than 5,500 participants, 140 partner organizations, and 200 speakers. The costs of organization, including renting space, translations, transport for Ukrainian guests, stands, concerts, and workshops, are estimated at several million euros. The foundation treats "Cafe Kyiv" not only as a cultural-political event, but as a strategic platform for contacts.
Another important area is the Black Sea Security Forum in Odessa and numerous projects in the Western Balkan countries (Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia). The foundation runs programs there to strengthen the rule of law, fight corruption, social inclusion, and European integration. In 2025, KAS implemented, among others, training projects for young leaders, election monitoring programs, and media initiatives countering disinformation. Significant funds were also allocated to support the Ukrainian diaspora and reconstruction programs for that country (e.g., the Mykolaiv Water Hub).
The financial report shows that KAS has consistently increased spending on the region of Eastern and Southeastern Europe since 2022. Compared with the pre-war period, expenditures on Ukraine and the Balkan countries have grown by more than 40%. This is the result both of the geopolitical "Zeitenwende" (German for turning point - the change in Germany's security policy announced by Olaf Scholz - editor's note), which Lammert writes about in the foreword to the KAS report, and of a deliberate decision by the foundation's board to treat this area as a strategic investment in Germany's security.
In addition to direct projects, KAS also finances scholarships, youth exchanges, analytical research, and publications. In 2025, the foundation supported, among others, programs for Ukrainian students and journalists, as well as inclusion initiatives for people with disabilities in the Balkan countries (including a sign-language application in Namibia and Mongolia, but also analogous projects in the region). All foreign activity is closely linked to German foreign and development policy. KAS operates as a "think-and-do tank," combining political analysis with practical support.
KAS's financial strength results not only from the size of the state grant, but also from effective management. The 2025 report praised the previous KAS Secretary General Michael Thielen for his professional restructuring and the sale of unnecessary properties, which freed up additional resources for program activities. The new chairwoman Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer announced the continuation of the previous strategy of exerting influence through politics, scholarships, and cooperation.
[Author Aleksandra Fedorska is a journalist for Tysol.pl and numerous Polish and German media outlets]
[Title, lead, the "What You Need to Know" and "What This Means for Poland" sections, as well as some subheadings, were added by the editorial team]
What is the Konrad Adenauer Foundation? It is a German political foundation linked to the CDU party, carrying out educational, analytical, and social projects in Germany and abroad.
Where do the foundation's financial resources come from? Most of the budget comes from German state grants, supplemented by donations and its own activities.
Why is Eastern Europe a priority for it? It has been since 1989. The region gained strategic importance after 2022, among other things because of the war in Ukraine and changes in European security policy.
