our story
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timeline
2021
The Althafen Foundation was established in 2021 by Vitali Kivmann— a serial entrepreneur, investor, and CEO of Althafen Real Estate. Born in Riga, Latvia, Vitali graduated from the Technical University of Berlin and went on to build a successful career in finance, real estate, and entrepreneurship. Alongside his business activities, he has supported numerous cultural and charitable initiatives in Berlin.
Jennifer Nowak-Mischkowsky joined the foundation from its earliest days as Chief Operating Officer, helping to build a platform for independent initiatives across the charity, arts, healthcare, education, and welfare sectors. In its first phase, the foundation served as a flexible structure for supporting socially meaningful projects and strengthening civic engagement through philanthropy.
2023
In 2023, the Althafen Foundation entered a new chapter under the artistic direction of cellist and cultural entrepreneur Mark Prihodko, whose Belarusian, American, Israeli, and German background reflects the international spirit of the foundation’s evolving vision.
Mark spearheaded the foundation’s strategic and artistic development, transforming its vision into a structured platform for impact. At the heart of this new direction was the combination of commercial, philanthropic, and artistic expertise to create sustainable and scalable models for artist development and the non-profit cultural sector.
Marylea Van Daalen, a lifelong supporter of arts and culture, was among the first to recognize and champion this innovative approach. As Head of the Board from 2023, she worked closely with Mark to advance the foundation’s development, strengthen its governance, and establish the conditions for its long-term growth.
Together, they began building an international community of prominent artists, advisors, donors, and cultural leaders united by a shared commitment to innovation, excellence, and the sustainable development of artists.
2025
By 2025, the foundation’s suite of advancement programs — and the mission behind them — had resonated with non-profit organizations and cultural leaders across the world. This shared vision gave rise to the Global Impact Circle, an international alliance of foundations and partners committed to driving the arts and education industries forward through collaboration, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.
Operating through the administrative base of the Althafen Foundation in Berlin, the Global Impact Circle brings together organizations that believe in a new model of cultural advancement: one that empowers artists, strengthens institutions, and creates long-term impact across borders.
current
Today, the Althafen Foundation continues to implement its mission through project acceleration, artist development, and the administration of global advancement programs. With the Executive Board overseeing strategic development, and the Honorary and Advisory Boards ensuring the quality, relevance, and integrity of the foundation’s impact, Althafen works in close collaboration with its international network of partner foundations.
Through the Global Impact Circle, the foundation now serves not only as a platform for individual projects, but as a catalyst for a broader global movement — uniting artistic excellence, education, philanthropy, and entrepreneurial thinking to shape the future of the non-profit cultural sector.