# Wilhelm Sander Foundation

Wilhelm Sander Foundation is an Endowment / Foundation based in Munich, Germany.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Munich, Germany
- **Region:** Europe
- **Address:** Zweigstraße 10, 80336 Munich, Germany
- **Founded:** 1974
- **Assets under management:** 756 (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** www.wilhelm-sander-stiftung.de
- **LinkedIn:** https://de.linkedin.com/company/wilhelm-sander-stiftung

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The Wilhelm Sander Foundation was established in 1974 from the estate of Wilhelm Sander, an entrepreneur who built his fortune in medical sutures and real estate. Its mandate centers on funding clinical and experimental cancer research in Germany and Switzerland. The foundation has supported more than 2,700 projects since inception. Capital deployment spans direct real estate ownership and listed securities. Confirmed holdings include the Hitdorf Housing Estate in Leverkusen, a Munich office building and a Swiss portfolio managed through Sander Immobilien AG. The capital markets sleeve, valued at approximately $226 million, comprises stocks, bonds, and Pfandbriefe and represents 25-30 percent of total assets. Geographic reach covers Germany and Switzerland with additional administrative presence in Neustadt an der Donau and Leverkusen. The foundation employs 16 professionals. It maintains Sander Immobilien AG as a wholly owned Swiss operating subsidiary for property management and holds membership in the Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen. February 2026: Sponsored the Mini-symposium on Tumor Microenvironment in Zurich to mark the foundation's 50th anniversary. Governance separates investment and grant decisions through a board and a distinct Foundation Council. This structure channels operating income from real estate directly into research grants without external fund commitments or co-investment vehicles.

## Sectors

- Medical Research
- Real Estate

## People

- Ernst G. Wittmann — Chairman of the Board
- Ralf Reichartz — Member of the Board of Directors
- Harald Spiegel — Chairman of the Foundation Council
- Jörg Koppenhöfer — Honorary Chairman

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Wilhelm Sander Foundation?

Ernst G. Wittmann serves as Chairman of the Board. The board oversees asset allocation while the Foundation Council, chaired by Harald Spiegel, approves grant strategy.

### How does Wilhelm Sander Foundation source research projects?

The foundation issues open calls and maintains direct relationships with university clinics in Bavaria. It has funded more than 2,700 projects since 1974.

### Does Wilhelm Sander Foundation commit to external funds or only direct grants?

The foundation makes direct grants to researchers and institutions. No external fund commitments are disclosed in available records.

### What share of assets is held in real estate?

Real estate forms the majority of the portfolio. Confirmed direct holdings include residential and commercial properties in Germany plus a Swiss portfolio through Sander Immobilien AG.

### What is the foundation's known posture on co-investments?

No co-investment activity with external managers is recorded. Capital is deployed through direct property ownership and internal capital markets management.

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/wilhelm-sander-foundation

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