Benfactors Martin and Gerda Essl established the Essl Foundation as a private non-profit foundation in 2007. The aim of this is to support social projects.
From the year 2008 onwards the Essl Social Prize with a share of 1,000,000 Euro will be given to projects by social entrepreneurs which prove to be exceptional, pathbreaking and efficient.
In addition further innovative social projects are initiated and supported, such as the Essl Social Index.