The Karl Kahane Foundation was established in 1991 by the late Karl Kahane as an independent, privately funded, non-political and non-religious charitable foundation, and is based in Switzerland.

Karl Kahane (1920-1993), who served as the President of the foundation until his death, was an Austrian entrepreneur and a close friend of Bruno Kreisky. He supported politicians and peace activists at the time of the first peace talks between Israel and Egypt and acted as a facilitator between the different parties.

Kahane said of himself: "I categorise neither my friends nor employees, neither my sympathies nor antipathies according to religion or race". He considered it his duty to be on the side of the weak and to dedicate part of the proceeds from the family companies to not-for-profit organisations.