Friedrich-Christian-Lesser-Stiftung
About the funder
The Friedrich-Christian-Lesser Foundation is a legal, public foundation under civil law based in Nordhausen, Thuringia. Founded in 1992 by Heinz and Annelies Lesser together with their son Andreas Lesser on the occasion of the 300th birthday of the theologian Friedrich Christian Lesser (1692–1754), it primarily supports regional historical research and projects in Thuringia and Central Germany. Its activities include the establishment of the "Tabakspeicher" museum in Nordhausen, the restoration of half-timbered houses on Bäckerstraße, the publication of a series of writings (currently 49 volumes), the awarding of the Friedrich-Christian-Lesser Prize, as well as the promotion of academic conferences.
Discover matching grants for your project
- Get all grants from this funder with AI match scores
- Find out which grants fit your project
- Develop your applications with AI support
Mission & Vision
The Friedrich-Christian-Lesser Foundation is committed to raising awareness of the history of Nordhausen, Mühlhausen, and Thuringia. Our goal is to support young scholars through doctoral and postdoctoral scholarships, to assist regional research projects, and to preserve historical buildings and cultural institutions. We believe in the importance of historical research for the identity of the region and aim to make a lasting contribution to the culture of history through publications, conferences, and awards.
Target groups
The funding programs of the Friedrich-Christian-Lesser-Stiftung are aimed at historians, particularly doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, who focus on regional state and urban history in Thuringia and the Central German region. Additionally, the foundation supports projects by archives, museums, and historical societies, as well as initiatives for the restoration and preservation of listed buildings and historical collections.