Independent, non-profit and public-benefit — established to create lasting, measurable and inter-generational impact for society.
Kelmendi Foundation is an independent, non-profit, public-benefit philanthropic institution established by the Kelmendi Family together with Kelmendi Holdings Ltd. to create lasting, measurable and inter-generational positive impact for society.
Headquartered in Kosovo, it begins locally and across the Western Balkans, with the deliberate ambition to grow into a philanthropic institution of European and, ultimately, global reach. It is conceived not as a conventional charity but as a permanent institutional platform that mobilizes financial resources, expertise, innovation and partnerships to address structural societal challenges.
At a glance
Legal form
Independent, non-profit, public-benefit philanthropic foundation
Founders
Kelmendi Family · Kelmendi Holdings Ltd.
Headquarters
Prishtinë, Republic of Kosovo
Geographic focus
Kosovo & the Western Balkans, expanding across Europe and worldwide in phases
Strategic pillars
Eight pillars, with broader themes beneath them (two-tier model)
Time horizon
Perpetual — a permanent endowment institution
Governance
Founder Council · Board of Trustees · Executive Management · committees & advisory councils
Reporting
Annual audited financial statements (EUR), impact, governance, grant & investment reports
Vision
A world in which every individual has the opportunity to live with dignity and to access education, healthcare, economic opportunity and a sustainable environment — enabling communities to thrive for generations.
Mission
To mobilize resources, knowledge, partnerships and innovation to improve lives, empower communities, advance education, promote health, support humanitarian causes, protect the environment, and foster sustainable development.
The Foundation’s conduct and decision-making are guided by ten core values that together define its institutional character.
Serving humanity is among the highest forms of service to God, expressed inclusively and respectfully toward all.
Every person deserves respect, opportunity and the means to reach their full potential.
We respond to human suffering with care, generosity and decisive action.
We operate with honesty, transparency and accountability at every level.
We responsibly manage the resources entrusted to us — including the natural world — for today and the future.
We strive for measurable, lasting and credible impact.
We invest in solutions that benefit future generations and protect the environment.
We encourage new ideas and transformative approaches to enduring problems.
Lasting impact is achieved through partnership.
Every major decision weighs its long-term consequences for those who follow.
Informed by a benchmarking review of leading global foundations, five principles anchor the Foundation’s positioning.
Built to operate in perpetuity, with capital and institutions that outlast any single decision-maker or generation.
The Foundation may hold minority, non-voting interests in Group companies and deploy the resulting dividends to finance its mission.
Family legacy is institutionalized through formal boards, committees, policies and reporting.
Impact is evidenced and reported, not merely announced — a results-based framework from the outset.
Designed to steward contributions from Group companies, the diaspora, corporates, individuals and partners under one transparent model.
The Foundation institutionalizes the family’s legacy through a layered governance architecture that separates strategic guardianship, oversight, execution, specialist advice and control — aligned with the standards of leading international institutions.
Operationalized through a core policy framework: Code of Ethics, Conflict-of-Interest, Grant-making, Investment & Endowment, Procurement, Safeguarding & Data-Protection, and AML & Donor Due-Diligence policies.
Long-term strategic guidance and protection of mission, identity and core values across generations.
Governance, oversight and stewardship of assets — family representatives, independent experts, philanthropy and business leaders, and academics.
Day-to-day leadership and delivery, led by a CEO supported by professional management teams.
Investment; Audit, Risk & Compliance; Grants & Programs; Ethics & Values; Governance & Nominations.
Specialist advice across education, health, research, sustainability, humanitarian affairs and investments.
Leadership · to be announced
Founder Council
Chair, Board of Trustees
Chief Executive Officer
Independent Trustees
Established not for a single project, generation or geography — but to serve humanity for centuries to come.