The Ellen Böhme Foundation was set up by the late Dr Walter Böhme and Helga Böhme from Neuss as a non-profit foundation for development aid. It was established a legally independent foundation in 2004 under the terms of the Foundation Act of North-Rhine Westphalia. It has its own Board of Trustees and Executive.

It aims   principally to provide support to children and young people, particularly in the areas of early childhood and education. Furthermore, aid for children and young people, support for orphans, education and training, adult education, and the promotion of understanding between peoples., are among its designated purposes.

Since 2010 the Ellen Böhme Foundation has been administered as an independent foundation by the W. P. Schmitz Foundation.