About the EKR Foundation
About the Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation
The Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the legacy of Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross—psychiatrist, humanitarian, educator, and pioneer in hospice and end-of-life care. Founded in 2005 by her son, Ken Ross, one year after her death, the Foundation continues her work in hospice and palliative care, grief education, and public understanding of death and dying.
Over the past two decades, the Foundation has expanded internationally, with chapters across multiple regions working to promote Dr. Kübler-Ross’ mission of improving how society understands and responds to serious illness, dying, and bereavement. In 2019, a substantial portion of Dr. Kübler-Ross’ personal archive was donated to Stanford University, where it is being preserved and prepared for broader public and scholarly access through digital initiatives.
Dr. Kübler-Ross is widely known for her landmark book On Death and Dying, which introduced what later became known as the five stages. Over the course of her career, she authored 24 books translated into more than 40 languages—including Arabic, Armenian, Bahasa, Farsi, Malayalam, Mongolian, and Urdu—and her work has reached millions of readers worldwide. Although often associated with death and dying, Dr. Kübler-Ross frequently described herself as concerned above all with life and living, emphasizing compassion, dignity, and the human capacity for growth through adversity.
In honoring her legacy, the Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation continues to support education, dialogue, and compassionate care for individuals and families facing serious illness, grief, and loss, while promoting broader cultural understanding of death as a natural part of life.
Vision: We envision a world where all people and their families can have a dignified life even when approaching death and facing grief; a life where they are supported with compassion while dying and grieving by family, friends, the community, and healthcare providers who embrace all of life, which includes death and loss.
Mission: The Foundation’s mission is to enhance compassionate care for the seriously ill and the dying and to further the acceptance of death as a part of life (and not as a separate event distinct from life) through our work in partnering, supporting, and providing palliative and grief resources and education in compassionate care.
Statement of organizational values: Our work will be guided and informed by our beliefs and commitments to:
Inclusiveness: We respect every person, value diversity, and are committed to equity in care and access.
Dignity: We affirm the inherent dignity of every individual throughout life, including at the end of life.
Participation: We recognize the essential roles of families, communities, and professionals as partners in compassionate care, and we work across cultures and countries with respect for diverse traditions, values, and practices surrounding illness, dying, and grief.
Quality: We strive for excellence through thoughtful practice, education, and continuous learning.
Openness: We foster collaboration, dialogue, and shared understanding across disciplines and communities.
The Foundation participates in initiatives and collaborates with individuals and/or organizations that:
- Enhance compassionate care for the seriously ill, the dying, and/or the grieving
- Furthers the acceptance of death as a part of life (versus those that see death as a separate event apart from life)
- Enhance end-of-life care for special populations (such as those involved in hospice or palliative care for children, within the prison environment, or those living in remote populations or in developing countries, etc.)
- Improves access to properly prescribed pain management as part of the end of life process
- Enhance communication surrounding all aspects of end of life care and compassionate care of the dying and the grieving (and those that love them)
- Foster awareness of the power of unconditional love and forgiveness as an important component of one’s life journey
- Enhance compassion and understanding of those who are grieving regardless of cause or origin
- Further the wishes of the end of life patient while respecting his or her right to humane treatment and compassionate care
Please follow us on Instagram at: #elisabethkublerrossfoundation
Our most recent Form 990 is available upon request upon request.