What does "Famtastisch" stand for?
Famtastisch: FAMily and fanTASTIC
Our foundation was established by a family – and this is reflected in our name. The word “fantastic” (German: fantastisch) refers to our exceptional partners, who embody our familial atmosphere based on trust and mutual respect.
Our team
We all want to make a difference. We all want to have a positive impact. And everyone on our team brings their own unique individual perspectives and experiences to the table.
Hi, I’m Caro.
As a mother, I get worried when I think about my children’s futures in 20, 30 or 40 years: What will a world without biodiversity look like? How will climate change impact us as a society in Germany, Europe and around the world? And how is it possible that we have been aware of climate change and the corresponding future scenarios for so long, and yet we continue to barrel towards this future with blinders on? I want to do my part to effect change.
But not only that: I want to take a different approach to foundation work – personal, partnership-based, and as a learning organisation. Why? I’ve seen for myself what doesn’t work from an NGO perspective: a short-term planning horizon, overdependence, and too little trust in the autonomy of the organisation. Instead, I listen to organisations and I’m genuinely interested in hearing what they need, I ask a lot of questions, and I learn something new with every discussion.
Caroline Wetzke
Managing Director
Hi, I’m Markus.
Farming is basically in my DNA. From harvesting potatoes to transplanting seedlings, my lifelong connection with food started at my grandparent’s farm and my uncle’s plant nursery. In recent years, I’ve become even more aware of what we eat. I have actively observed how nutrition affects me and my energy levels. I find it incredibly important to acknowledge the value of food. Which is why I’m so pleased that I can work towards this goal at Famtastisch.
I enjoy guiding and shaping transformations. I have worked in the philanthropy sector for many years. At Famtastisch, I can devote my efforts and my experience to a different role. When it comes to the team, I want to be the person I wish I had by my side earlier in my career: someone who shares their experience and knowledge, who inspires and encourages others, but who also knows their own limits. In my role as a Board Member, that means not getting actively involved in the day-to-day, but rather listening, advising and connecting.
Markus Hipp
Board Member
Hi, I’m Sandra.
I’ve learned from my children that the simplest questions are often the most difficult to answer. Why are we pushing our planet so far beyond its limits? Why are wealth, opportunity and privilege distributed so unfairly? I want to give them honest answers that also take a critical look at our own actions.
More than anything, I love spending time outside in nature with my family, whether it’s in our own backyard, in the forest or in the fields at our communal farm. And it’s there at I am reminded time and again: It’s the fundamental things like community, friendship and a connection to nature that make people happy.
What do I appreciate most about the Famtastisch Foundation? The whole team, from board members to project managers, sees itself as a learning organisation. When it comes to funding sustainable, future-oriented solutions, we focus on partnership and teamwork. We combine healthy nutrition, sustainable agriculture and social justice. At the same time, humanity, trust, and mutual respect and appreciation are always at the forefront.
Sandra Khusrawi
Funding Partnerships
Hi, my name is Anna!
As a child, I used to go on forage walks with my grandma through forests and meadows. Bringing home purslane, brooklime, or clumps of nettles is, until today at least, as much fun as collecting Sailor Moon stickers once used to be.
As a passionate filmmaker, I incorporate social justice, resource scarcity, the climate crisis, and its effects into my projects, looking to the future with great concern but also hope and wanting to help shape it in a positive direction.
For a sustainable, self-resilient, and fair future, the following things are needed above all: strong cooperation and networks, and a constant exchange of knowledge based on trust and shared ideals. At the Famtastisch Foundation, I am encouraged to work together on these topics, which are essential to me personally. I can use this drive to act in a meaningful way, supporting it with my out-of-the-box thinking.
Anna Lazarescu
Team Assistant
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Hi, I’m Katharina.
I love bringing people together so that they can shape a positive future together. At Famtastisch, I can do exactly that: build bridges, provide support, and facilitate shared learning and action.
I know that trust is often crucial to whether cooperation really works. This is particularly noticeable in networks and alliances that are under pressure. All the more reason why I appreciate that the Famtastisch Foundation not only provides support based on trust but also specifically creates spaces for encounter and collaboration.
What fascinates me most about nutrition is how many areas it touches—from climate and biodiversity to health and social issues—and the immense potential this transformation holds. And in my everyday life, I find joy in my little back-garden vegetable patch, cooking, and long meals with friends.
Katharina Hinze
Senior Grants Manager