Commitment

Zeppelin Group is a foundation-owned company. Today, the Zeppelin Foundation continues to hold a stake in Zeppelin GmbH via Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH. Every year, the Group donates part of its profits to the Zeppelin Foundation in Friedrichshafen. This money is used exclusively to support charitable and community initiatives. The Zeppelin Foundation is managed by the City of Friedrichshafen.

The Foundation focuses mainly on the fields of science and research, art and culture, and child and youth welfare. Wherever you go in Friedrichshafen, you will find institutions that are supported by the Foundation. These include the city hospital, the Zeppelin Museum, the Knowledge Workshop, and the adult education center, in line with the motto: "a better quality of life for all citizens."

Zeppelin Group also funds Zeppelin University (ZU), which was established in Friedrichshafen in 2003. This private, state-approved university is now attended by more than 1,000 young people studying toward bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Zeppelin University enjoys an excellent reputation, not in the least because it was the first private university in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg to be authorized to award doctoral degrees. Zeppelin University, which is among the top-ranking universities in Germany, is not only esteemed among students, however; citizens of the city of Friedrichshafen also benefit from events organized by the university.

Zeppelin Group and Zeppelin University are linked through close collaboration, through which qualified, committed employees wishing to complete a master's degree at the university are actively supported. The university is also distinguished by the range of tailor-made management development programs it offers for executive employees.

Corporate social responsibility is at the heart of Zeppelin's identity as a foundation-owned company.  That is why Zeppelin supports the education and further training of young talent from the Friedrichshafen and Ravensburg-Weingarten region through the JUST! Zeppelin Youth Foundation, in line with our principle that "Grafen receive support."

Special achievements by young people in the fields of science, technology, economics, social sciences, and cultural studies are both encouraged and promoted. The Foundation offers schoolchildren and students the opportunity to present their projects and work on a given topic as part of a competition that takes place every two years.

The best contributions are rewarded with prizes worth a total of €25,000 and also receive the JUST! Award. In awarding these sponsorship prizes, the Foundation aims to encourage young talents to realize their full potential and thereby help to shape the future.