Munich/Berlin, 17 August 2026 – The Maecenata Foundation has appointed new heads of its Transnational Giving programme and its foundation administration. With effect from 17 August 2026, Dr Philipp Hoelscher will take over from Marie-Christine Schwager-Duhse, who has held the position since 2021.
Through the Transnational Giving Programme, the Maecenata Foundation enables donors in Germany to make tax-deductible donations to charitable organisations abroad and, conversely, supports German organisations in receiving tax-deductible donations from abroad. The programme has been an integral part of the Maecenata Foundation since 2011 and forms part of the European Giving Europe network.
“The Transnational Giving Programme has been a key component of cross-border philanthropy for many years. I am delighted to be continuing this work and to build on it using my experience in advising non-profit organisations and foundations. The need for reliable, transparent structures for international engagement is constantly growing. This is where I intend to focus my efforts,”
said Dr Philipp Hoelscher.
“In Philipp Hoelscher, we are gaining a proven expert in the field of foundations and civil society, who has had close ties with the Maecenata Foundation for many years. At the same time, we would like to express our sincere thanks to Marie-Christine Schwager-Duhse and Kerstin Ischen for their dedicated work in establishing and successfully developing the programme and the foundation’s administration,”
said Ansgar Gessner, Executive Director of the Maecenata Foundation.
Dr Philipp Hoelscher has had close ties with the Maecenata Foundation as a Fellow since 2007 and has also been supporting the Foundation as a freelance consultant since October 2024. Prior to this, he worked at PHINEO gAG for 14 years, most recently spending eight years as a member of the executive board and, before that, as Head of Analysis & Research. He obtained his PhD in Political Science from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and previously studied at the University of Augsburg. Early in his career, he worked as a freelance consultant for organisations including the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, the Eberhard von Kuenheim Foundation and the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft. His areas of expertise include philanthropy, impact measurement, and structural and financial organisational development in the non-profit sector.
About the Maecenata Foundation
The Maecenata Foundation is an independent, charitable foundation whose aim is to strengthen and promote civil society as a fundamental prerequisite for an open and democratic society. The Maecenata Foundation has been conducting research into civil society since 1997, translating findings into political debates and facilitating cross-border donations in Europe and beyond.
Contact
Lisa Klisch, Head of Communications
T +49 30 283 879 10 07
kommunikation@maecenata.eu