According to its own charter, the organization enables dialogue between different cultures, societies, fields of expertise. The Candid Foundation's projects "foster intercultural understanding and creative approaches in international development". The Candid Foundation facilitates dialogue between societal actors and supports mediation in conflict zones. Its members, experts and fellows advise international institutions and policymakers. The institution describes its efforts as an "antidote to intolerance, xenophobia, sectarianism and disinformation". In 2016, the Candid Foundation assumed the editorship of the German Middle East magazine
zenith and hence publishes digital content in
German,
English and
Arabic. The Candid Foundation's director general,
Daniel Gerlach, is simultaneously the chairman of the magazine's editorial board. In an interview with the German weekly magazine
Der Spiegel, Gerlach declared at the occasion of zenith Magazine's 20th anniversary that the partnership between the magazine and the organization was a pioneering feat to sustainably fund the "cultural asset" of specialised, in-depth journalism. Candid Foundation is active in various dialogue and mediation efforts in the Arab world, such as Syria and Iraq, and the Caucasus region. The organization established the media platform
Local Libya to support independent exchange of information from different regions of war-torn
Libya. It also initiated the photography contest and award "Libya Uncharted" to challenge stereotypes of Libya and facilitate dialogue about the country's diverse culture and common heritage. In 2018 the Candid Foundation launched its first grant programme for reporters and journalists in the Arab world. In 2020, a programme of longer-term grants was established for journalists in
Syria,
Algeria,
Egypt,
Iraq,
Jordan,
Lebanon,
Libya,
Morocco,
the Palestinian territories,
Tunisia,
Yemen. The Candid Foundation also initiated a series of photography contests on Muslims in Germany in Europe. In addition its media-related work, the Candid Foundation is active in research and applied science on Middle East politics and societies or the issue of
Radicalization. It developed a "qualification course for counselors in the framework of deradicalisation / counseling of the social environment" in cooperation with the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. In 2019, in cooperation with the office of the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, the Candid Foundation co-hosted the conference "EUMed means business" with 100 participants including young entrepreneurs of
small and medium-sized enterprises from the Arab world. The conference resulted in a charter of recommendations of startup entrepreneurs and experts on economic policy priorities for the MENA region. In 2022, Candid Foundation launched the initiative MENA Digital Summer School, an annual seminar for young digital entrepreneurs, journalists, scientists and art professionals destined to the interdisciplinary study of digital transformation with a focus on Europe and the MENA region. The seminar is directed by Ayad Al-Ani, a German-Iraqi transformation researcher and professor at
Stellenbosch University. The Candid Foundation is a member of the Mediterranean think tank association Euromesco and of the
Anna Lindh Foundation's Euro-Mediterranean network. In 2025, the organisation took over as the Anna Lindh Foundation's German head of network. It sponsored and co-founded the multilateral policy round table Baghdad Policy Club in the
Iraqi capital. The organization is funded through private donations and project grants from private and public donors. Among its supporters and partner institutions it states the
German Federal Foreign Office, the
BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt,
Robert Bosch Stiftung, the
Siemens Foundation, the Stiftung Mercator, and the
European Commission. == Members and founders ==