COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

BARD COLLEGE BERLIN A LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITY GGMBH
ANNANDALEONHUDSON, NY · EIN 320105791 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE B42 · Education · Large ($10M-$50M) · berlin.bard.edu
revenue
$16.0M
expenses
$17.4M
net assets
$-3.6M
employees
176
volunteers
35
program ratio
88%
mission · from form 990

BARD COLLEGE BERLIN (BCB) WAS FORMED TO BE A MODEL FOR CHANGE IN EUROPEAN EDUCATION BY PROVIDING A LIBERAL ARTS ALTERNATIVE. IT IS ALSO INSPIRED BY THE IDEAL OF PROVIDING AN IN-DEPTH INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AS A WAY OF ENCOURAGING INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING. THE TEACHING MODEL IS THE ANGLO-AMERICAN LIBERAL ARTS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Bard College Berlin is a liberal arts university offering an Anglo-American style education as a model for change in European higher education. It provides an international learning environment for students from around the world, emphasizing interdisciplinary study and global understanding. The institution is located in Berlin, Germany, and operates as a global partner of Bard College in New York.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

German Studies Program
Teaches German language and cultural studies, including advanced training and outreach at refugee reception centers and language institutes
Liberal Arts Degree Program
Interdisciplinary undergraduate program delivering a U.S.-style liberal arts education in Europe, with concentrations in humanities, social sciences, and arts
Studio Art Program
Offers studio art instruction and facilities management for students, including ceramics and sculpture, led by practicing artists and supported by technical staff
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • Higher Education Degree Programs 2 activities
    • Confer dual American and German Bachelor of Arts degrees
      Confers both an American BA and a German BA upon qualifying students, leveraging the integration of U.S.-style liberal arts education with the German higher education system.
    • Deliver undergraduate liberal arts education in the humanities and social sciences
      Provides intensive, transdisciplinary undergraduate education through small seminars taught in English, offering programs in humanities, arts, and social thought with a shared core curriculum and opportunities for specialization. The curriculum emphasizes writing, critical thinking, and discussion-based learning for a highly international student body.
  • Research and Scholarly Fellowship Support 1 activity
    • Conduct research on democratic engagement and public issues
      Supports faculty and student research and artistic work focused on democratic participation, public discourse, and contemporary societal challenges.
  • Public Awareness and Educational Outreach 1 activity
    • Host public academic events and lectures
      Organizes public lectures and academic events on topics such as intellectuals in times of crisis and the politics of history, contributing to public discourse and intellectual engagement.
  • Study Abroad and Global Immersion Programs 1 activity
    • Operate a residential campus fostering intercultural exchange
      Maintains a residential campus that supports cross-cultural dialogue and academic exchange within a diverse community of students and faculty representing over 50 nationalities and nearly as many languages.
  • School Governance & Strategic Oversight 1 activity
    • Provide governance and institutional fundraising
      Provides governance oversight and financial support for the university through an international Board of Governors that leads fundraising and strategic development.
  • Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 1 activity
    • Provide internship and professional experience opportunities
      Operates an internship program that places students in fields such as human rights, arts, publishing, urban planning, technology start-ups, and education to complement academic learning with practical experience.
  • Youth Global Leadership & Model UN Programs 1 activity
    • Run student leadership and global engagement programs
      Operates global fellowship programs, conferences such as the Get Engaged Conference, and student-led initiatives that foster leadership, civic engagement, and connections with activists worldwide.
  • Human Rights Advocacy & Accountability 1 activity
    • Support displaced scholars and students and promote academic freedom
      Supports threatened scholars, students, and institutions through network collaboration to sustain access to education and defend academic freedom, particularly in crisis-affected regions.
  • Alumni Community Building 1 activity
    • Support student and alumni engagement and professional development
      Facilitates alumni participation through campus visits, lectures, events, and mentoring programs; supports student initiatives and fosters a global alumni network engaged in further study and professional work.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Deliver German language instruction and teacher training
      Provides German language instruction at refugee reception centers and offers advanced teacher training courses in collaboration with external institutions such as Klett/Langenscheidt and the Berlin School of Economics and Law.
    • Operate a sculpture school and public art workshops
      Founded and operates the School of Sculpture in Berlin-Reinickendorf, offering public workshops in stone sculpture using traditional and modern techniques.
    • Operate residential and short-term academic programs in European culture and philosophy
      Runs a one-year undergraduate program and a six-week intensive residential program focused on European and world intellectual traditions, including philosophy, literature, and culture, supplemented by electives and engagement in Berlin’s cultural life.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$15.97M
Contributions & grants$5.07M32%
Program service revenue$10.58M66%
Investment income$255K2%
Other revenue$65K
expenses
Total expenses$17.36M
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$5.97M
Grants paid out$5.55M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$42.07M
Cash$108K
Investments$0
Liabilities$45.67M
Net assets$-3.60M
Liquid reserves0.1 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +35.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

paid leadership · 5
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
LEON BOTSTEIN PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE 5 $693K
TAUN TOAY MANAGING DIRECTOR-BERLIN 5 $450K
FLORIAN BECKER MANAGING DIRECTOR 40 $154K
KERRY BYSTROM ASSOCIATE DEAN 40 $128K
CATHERINE TOAL DEAN 40 $123K
board members · 20
  • ALEX SOROS — TRUSTEE
  • ANDREW M L DIETSCHE — TRUSTEE
  • ANDREW S GUNDLACH — TRUSTEE
  • ANNABELLE SELLDORF — TRUSTEE
  • ASHER B EDELMAN — TRUSTEE
  • BARBARA S GROSSMAN — TRUSTEE
  • BRANDON WEBER — VICE CHAIR
  • CHARLES S JOHNSON III — TRUSTEE
  • DAVID E SCHWAB II — TRUSTEE
  • ELIZABETH ELY — SECRETARY
  • EMILY H FISHER — VICE CHAIR
  • FIONA ANGELINI — TRUSTEE
  • FREDRIC S MAXIK — TRUSTEE
  • GEOFFREY SMITH — TRUSTEE
  • GEORGE A KELLNER — TRUSTEE
  • HILARY PENNINGTON — TRUSTEE
  • JAMES A VON KLEMPERER — TRUSTEE
  • JAMES C CHAMBERS — CHAIR
  • JAMES H OTTAWAY — TRUSTEE
  • JINGQING CAI — TRUSTEE
relationships · 24

Who they work with

  • ACQUIN Partner — Accreditation agency that granted program accreditation for Bard College Berlin's BA programs in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought (2013) and Economics, Politics, and Social Thought (2015).
  • Bard College Government — Appoints the Board of Governors and provides institutional oversight for Bard College Berlin.
  • Bard College Network — Bard College Berlin is part of the Bard College network as a German-American university.
  • Bard College Partner — Collaborates with Bard College to deliver a U.S.-style liberal arts education within a German institutional framework.
  • Bard College Partner — Collaborates with Bard College to develop curriculum and academic programs
  • Bard College Partner — Parent institution through which Bard College Berlin is accredited in the United States.
  • Berlin School of Economics and Law Partner — Delivers advanced training courses in collaboration with the institution.
  • Berlin Senate Department for Education, Youth, and Science Government — State authority that granted initial state recognition to Bard College Berlin in 2011 under the Berlin Higher Education Act.
  • ESMT Berlin Partner — Collaborates on an Accelerated Bachelor to Master Pathway enabling Bard College Berlin students to transition into master’s programs at ESMT.
  • Freie Journalistenschule Berlin Partner — Obtained diploma in Journalism from the school, indicating formal educational affiliation.
  • Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Partner — Faculty member studied at and maintains professional connection with the university.
  • Klett/Langenscheidt Partner — Collaborates on providing advanced training courses for German language educators.
  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education Government — Accredits Bard College Berlin through Bard College in the United States.
  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education Partner — U.S. accrediting body through which Bard College Berlin awards U.S.-accredited Bachelor of Arts degrees.
  • New York State Board of Education Government — State education authority that authorizes Bard College to award degrees, enabling Bard College Berlin to confer U.S.-recognized BA degrees.
  • Open Society University Network Network — Member of the Open Society University Network, participating in initiatives such as the Get Engaged Conference.
  • Open Society University Network Partner — GHEA21 continues the work of the former Open Society University Network (OSUN, 2020–2025).
  • Ruhr-Universität Bochum Partner — Completed postgraduate studies in German as a foreign language at the institution.
  • Smolny Beyond Borders Partner — Collaborates with Smolny Beyond Borders to support displaced scholars and continue academic work affected by autocracy.
  • Spore Initiative Partner — Co-organized the event "Gastronativism: Food and Identity Politics in the New World Order" with faculty member Dr. Clio Nicastro.
  • Stiftung Mercator Partner — Hosts Bard College Berlin alumni as fellows.
  • The Orchestra Now Partner — Collaborates with The Orchestra Now on cultural and musical performances in Germany.
  • Wissenschaftsrat Government — National-level accrediting body in Germany that granted institutional accreditation and reaccreditation to Bard College Berlin.
  • Wissenschaftsrat Government — National-level accreditor for institutional accreditation in Germany.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Civic Engagement Through Integrated Learning
    methodology: civic_engagement_through_integrated_learning
    By integrating classroom study with community-based projects, city-engaged learning, and student-led civic initiatives, the institution deepens student involvement in societal issues because applying academic inquiry to real-world contexts fosters responsibility, empathy, and practical impact.
  • Dual Accreditation Model for Global Degree Recognition
    methodology: dual_accreditation_model
    By maintaining dual accreditation through both the German national system and Bard College’s U.S. accreditation, the institution ensures degree validity and mobility across Europe and North America because institutional legitimacy in both systems enables broader access to graduate opportunities and international recognition.
  • Liberal Arts Model for International Understanding
    methodology: liberal_arts_model_for_international_understanding
    By delivering interdisciplinary, discussion-based liberal arts education through small seminars and a shared core curriculum, the institution fosters critical thinking, personal development, and global civic engagement because exposure to enduring intellectual traditions and collaborative dialogue cultivates adaptable, ethically engaged graduates prepared for complex global challenges.