The Robert Bosch Fellowship Alumni Association publishes quarterly newsletters to celebrate alumni milestones, publicize events & share transatlantic news. You’ll find the most recent edition below. If you’re not getting the newsletter and want to, please email and we’ll update our distribution list. To access our archive of newsletters, please click here. 

An Update on RBFAA’s Future

Hallo ihr Lieben,

Over the past nine months, the RBFAA Board has been exploring how best to sustain and strengthen our community for the long term. As indicated in our most recent newsletter, we’re writing now with an update on where we’ve landed.

The short version: RBFAA is running low on funds and running an independent nonprofit on volunteer power alone is no longer sustainable. At last year’s Annual Meeting, our members gave us a clear endorsement to explore a partnership with the American Council on Germany (ACG). We’ve done that work. We believe we’ve found a potential path forward that preserves what matters most about this community while giving it the infrastructure and resources to thrive.

We know you have questions. We’ve tried to answer them.

• For an overview, see the summary in the next section.
• For the details, jump to the Q&A further down.
• To review the slides from the session with ACG President Steve Sokol at the Annual Event in NYC,  click here.
• Weren’t able to make the September roundtables or the Annual Meeting but still have questions? Email us at .

Finally, in the spirit of maximum transparency, we’ve included the draft Letter of Intent (LOI) itself as the final section of this update. The LOI serves as an overarching roadmap for the potential partnership between the RBFAA and ACG, documenting the “why” of the proposal and its benefits for both organizations.

We look forward to hearing from you.

The RBFAA Board

1. Summary

After an extensive exploration of options for sustaining and strengthening the Robert Bosch Fellowship alumni community, RBFAA and the American Council on Germany (ACG) have developed a framework for a potential partnership.

The proposed approach: RBFAA will wind down its independent nonprofit entity and transfer its assets to ACG, while the Bosch Fellow alumni community will continue as a distinct and visible community within ACG. We’ll be guided in this process by Thomas Gump (Bosch XXXIII), who has kindly agreed to act as our pro bono legal counsel.

What would change:
RBFAA would no longer operate as a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its assets would be transferred to ACG.

What would not change:
The Bosch Fellowship alumni community, its identity and legacy, its programming priorities, its alumni relationships, and its ability to come together would continue within ACG.

What would be better:
Members would gain access to ACG’s network, staff support, infrastructure, programming, regional reach and convening power — starting with six months of complimentary ACG membership for all 600+ RBFAA alumni.

What would be protected:
Current RBFAA funds would be transferred and remain specified for Bosch alumni activities; alumni information would be subject to agreed privacy and data-management practices; and Bosch alumni would have an ongoing governance and leadership role within ACG.

What comes next:

In the coming months, the RBFAA Board and ACG staff will continue to explore operational alignment and respond to any feedback. We will keep RBFAA members informed of any significant outcomes beyond what we have already shared.

The objective is ensuring that the Bosch Fellowship alumni community has a sustainable future, with more opportunities to connect, contribute, and build on the legacy we share.

1. FAQ

Q1. What would RBFAA members gain?

A1. The goal of this new proposed structure is to provide Bosch alumni with more opportunities and greater reach than RBFAA can provide on its own. Members would benefit from:

• Access to ACG’s network and programming, including virtual and in-person events, webinars, conferences, study tours, and other knowledge resources
• A broader geographic reach, including opportunities through ACG’s 21 regional Warburg Chapters across the U.S. and opportunities to engage with ACG members in Europe
• A larger platform for Bosch alumni expertise, with intentional opportunities for alumni to serve as speakers, panelists and contributors to ACG programs and public discussions
• New opportunities for collaboration and visibility, including co-branded events and joint programming
• Professional and community-building opportunities through ACG’s existing infrastructure and network
• Continued Bosch alumni gatherings, whether as standalone events or in conjunction with major ACG events
• The possibility of developing a new Bosch legacy initiative in the future, such as a fellowship, scholarship or next-generation transatlantic program.

Q2. Would the RBFAA remain a distinct alumni community with ACG?

A2. Yes. One of the most important principles in the draft agreement is preserving RBFAA’s identity and legacy.

The Bosch Fellow community would have a distinct identity and visibility within ACG. Honoring the RBFAA brand, history and story is critical. The RBFAA logo and co-branding could continue to be used where appropriate, consistent with ACG’s brand standards.

The name would evolve because RBFAA would no longer be an independent legal entity. The term “Association” would be dropped but Robert Bosch Fellowship Alumni (RBFA) could continue to be used.

In other words, the legal organization would change but the alumni community would not.

Q3. Would Bosch alumni have a voice in shaping the new alumni community’s structure and existence?

A3. Yes. The current RBFAA Board would transition to a Robert Bosch Fellow Alumni Steering Committee within ACG.

The Steering Committee would help shape Bosch alumni priorities, communications and programming, and would work directly with ACG staff. For example:

• The Steering Committee would have a defined role in guiding Bosch alumni activities and priorities.
• ACG would designate a staff liaison to work with the Steering Committee.
• The Steering Committee would help guide the use of funds transferred from RBFAA for Bosch alumni activities.
• For an initial period, two seats on the ACG Board would be reserved for Bosch alumni — one for a member of the Steering Committee and one for any Bosch alumnus who meets ACG’s Board criteria. Each seat would carry two three-year terms.
• After those initial terms, Bosch alumni could continue to serve on the ACG Board when they meet ACG’s Board expectations.

This would create an opportunity for Bosch alumni to have a meaningful voice not only in their own community but also in the broader work of ACG.

Q4. What would happen to RBFAA’s money and other assets?

A4. RBFAA’s current financial assets and other resources would be transferred to ACG as part of the transition.

The funds would not simply disappear into ACG’s general operating budget. The draft agreement calls for transferred RBFAA funds to be maintained in a designated, trackable account and used to support Bosch alumni activities and priorities.

The funds would be:

• Specifically identified and tracked within ACG
• Used to support Bosch alumni activities and priorities
• Exempt from ACG administrative fees
• Guided by the Steering Committee in cooperation with ACG staff and approved through ACG’s normal processes.

RBFAA would also retain the ability to raise money for Bosch alumni events and programs, with those funds remaining in a designated Bosch alumni account. Once the proposed transition is complete, membership dues paid to ACG would go into ACG’s general operating budget. RBFAA’s current funds and any donations made specifically to Bosch alumni programming would remain in the designated Bosch alumni account.

Q5. What would happen to RBFAA’s records and alumni information?

A5. The transfer would include RBFAA’s organizational records and resources, including alumni contact information, photographs and archives, and communications materials. A specific plan would be developed for transferring and managing these materials.

Protecting alumni trust and privacy is an explicit part of the draft agreement. The parties agree to establish guidelines for how alumni information would be stored, accessed and used, including consent and opt-out practices for Bosch alumni communications.

Q6. What would ACG provide?

A6. One of the principal benefits of this arrangement is that ACG would provide the infrastructure that RBFAA has increasingly had to manage through volunteers.

ACG would take responsibility for areas such as:

• Accounting and financial management
• Tracking the designated RBFAA funds
• Database and data management
• Website and other administrative support
• ACG staff coordination.

Bosch alumni volunteers would remain central to programming, community-building and shaping priorities.

Q7. What about membership and dues?

A7. RBFAA and ACG currently have different approaches to membership and dues.

The agreement would not impose an immediate one-size-fits-all dues structure. Instead, the organizations aim to work together on a membership approach that:

• Keeps participation accessible
• Recognizes that members live in different geographic locations
• Offers different levels of benefits depending on membership level.

As part of the transition, all 600+ RBFAA alumni would receive complimentary ACG membership for six months. This proposal aims to give members an opportunity to experience ACG’s programming, network and benefits before any longer-term membership arrangements are determined.

We’ll share more details on proposed long-term membership arrangements as the transition progresses.

III. Draft Letter of Intent

The following is the draft Letter of Intent developed jointly by RBFAA and ACG. We are sharing it in the interest of transparency as we finalize the details of our partnership.

The American Council on Germany (“ACG”) and the Robert Bosch Fellowship Alumni Association (“RBFAA”) (collectively, the “Parties”) acknowledge their shared commitment to promoting transatlantic understanding, strengthening relations between the United States and Germany, and fostering networks of leaders and practitioners dedicated to advancing these objectives. In furtherance of these common purposes, the Parties intend to enter into formal negotiations to explore and pursue the integration of the activities and community of RBFAA into ACG in a manner that preserves the unique identity, traditions, and contributions of the Bosch alumni network.

The Parties recognize that RBFAA’s identity and value derive from its members, programs, and legacy rather than from its status as a separate legal entity. Accordingly, the Parties intend that, following the dissolution of RBFAA’s 501(c)(3) organization and the transfer of its assets to ACG, the RBFAA shall continue as a distinct and visible initiative within ACG. Such integration is intended to ensure continuity of the RBFAA community, provide appropriate mechanisms for alumni engagement and programmatic input, and preserve the traditions and goodwill associated with the Bosch Fellowship alumni network.

The Parties further acknowledge that this integration is expected to create mutual benefits: RBFAA alumni will gain access to ACG’s institutional infrastructure, administrative support, chapter network, and broader programming platform. ACG will benefit from the network, expertise, and active engagement of the Bosch alumni community. The Parties intend to collaborate in developing programs and initiatives that elevate alumni participation, promote informed public discourse, and advance shared transatlantic objectives.

This Letter of Intent, and an accompanying operational Annex, are intended to set forth the principles, expectations, issues for exploration, and areas of initial agreement that shall guide the formal discussions about the integration process and the ongoing relationship between the Parties. The Parties agree to conduct such discussions in a spirit of mutual respect, transparency, and cooperation, with the objective of ensuring that the combined strengths of ACG and the RBFAA community enhance their collective ability to advance their respective missions and serve the broader transatlantic community.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties acknowledge and agree that this Letter of Intent is intended solely to express their current intentions and to provide a framework for continued discussions regarding a potential integration of RBFAA into ACG. Except as may be expressly agreed in a definitive written agreement, this Letter of Intent shall not create any legally binding obligation requiring either Party to consummate such integration. The Parties recognize that completion of the proposed integration remains subject to further due diligence, review, and mutual agreement regarding its terms and overall desirability. In the event that the Parties determine that integration is not in their respective best interests or are otherwise unable to reach agreement on a definitive arrangement, each Party shall remain independent and continue its operations as a separate entity. In such circumstances, the Parties affirm their shared commitment to maintaining a constructive relationship and to pursuing opportunities for ongoing cooperation, joint programming, and collaboration in furtherance of their common mission and objectives.

Lastly, the Parties further express their mutual intention to conduct good-faith discussions and negotiations regarding the proposed integration in an efficient and timely manner. Accordingly, the Parties intend to complete their evaluation of the proposed integration and to determine, by mutual agreement, whether to proceed with such integration within ninety (90) days following the Effective Date of this Letter of Intent, unless such period is extended by written agreement of the Parties.