2026 National German American Heritage Forum
Join us in March of 2026 in beautiful and historic Charleston, South Carolina for a two-day gathering of German/Austrian American organizations and institutions from across the country. Hosted by the German-American Heritage Foundation & Museum, this inaugural workshop is designed to connect, inspire, and equip nonprofit and cultural leaders with the tools that are needed to promote our shared mission of cultural and historical preservation, education, and exchange in light of America250, the semiquincentennial celebration that will be the focus of 2026. More information will be available in the coming weeks and months.
Thank you to our wonderful partners in Charleston:
German Friendly Society, Deutscher Freundschaftsbund, Deutscher Brüderlicher Bund
March 20-22, 2026 | Charleston, S.C.
Looking Forward Together: Preserving Heritage, Embracing Change
AGENDA
Friday, March 20, 2026
Cocktail Reception at 6:30 pm
Location: St. Johannes Church, Gatch Hall, 43 Anson Street, Charleston, SC
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Sessions from 10 am to 4 pm, followed by a sightseeing program (free carriage rides & walking tour of old Charleston) and dinner
Location: Washington Light Infantry Building, 287 Meeting St, Charleston, South Carolina 29401
Session 1: How to (Re)Vitalize Your Organization
Speaker: Klaus Becker, German American businessman, founder of “Zeitgeist” Foundation, GAHF board member & former honorary consul for Germany
Session 2: From Inbox to Instagram: Communication with Members That Actually Works
Speaker: TBD
Session 3: Dream it. Fund it. Do it. Make Fundraising Work for You from Vision to Victory.
Speaker: Katja Sipple, GAHF Executive Director
Session 4: Open Forum Discussion
Moderators: Christiane R. Schmidt (GAHF Board President) and Katja Sipple
Dinner at 7 pm
Location: German Friendly Society, 29 Chalmers St, Charleston, SC 29401
The German Friendly Society requests suits and tie for men, and a nice dress or equivalent for women.
Program Highlights:
- Keynote speech and expert panels
- Actionable workshops on challenges and best practices
- Relaxed networking and idea-sharing
- Leisure time to explore Charleston and build personal connections
Maximum of 2 representatives per organization
Maximum number: 100 participants
RSVP Deadline: Friday, March 6, 2026
Questions/Comments? Email us at [email protected]
2026 National German American Heritage Seminar
Sign up for our inaugural workshop on March 21-22, 2026 in Charleston, S.C. Attendance is free, but we can only accommodate a maximum of two (2) representatives per organization, and a total number of 100 participants.