In the year of 2007 the founders Martin and Gerda Essl took the decision with their children to donate a substantial part of their wealth to social activities.
The Martin und Gerda Essl Sozialpreis gemeinnützige Privatstiftung ("Essl Foundation") was founded in March 2008. It provides a financial and sustainable - even in the event of the death of the founder - endowment, to secure the annual presentation of the Essl Social Prize and to support other social activities.
In the foundation deeds are the following guiding principles anchored:
- to support people in need,
- to advance the public awareness of the necessity to support those in need and to allow those people to receive the training they require.
As a decision-making body the foundation chairman has chosen the following:
- KR Martin Essl
- Dr. Gerhard Eckert
- Rudolf Humer
