Friends of Hungary Foundation
The Friends of Hungary Foundation (Magyarország Barátai Alapítvány) is an NGO established in 2011 with the declared aim of fostering connections among Hungarians abroad and strengthening ties between the diaspora and the homeland. As part of its activities, the foundation operates two news portals, Hungary Today in English and Ungarn Heute in German, through a Hungary-based limited liability company called Friends of Hungary. In addition, it publishes the Friends of Hungary magazine, which is mailed to thousands of Hungarians living outside the country.
Media assets
News portal: HungaryToday.hu, UngarnHeute.hu
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
The Friends of Hungary Foundation (Magyarország Barátai Alapítvány in Hungarian) was created by 13 Hungarian personalities, six of whom have since passed away. It has traditionally been led by prominent public figures, and in July 2024 a major leadership change took place when long-standing president E. Sylvester Vizi resigned. He was succeeded by István Stumpf, a former Constitutional Court judge and government commissioner, who now serves as President of the Board of Trustees.
The editorial operations of the news portals have also seen adjustments, with Dr. Dániel Deme appointed as editor-in-chief in 2024. Managing directors of the foundation’s operating company have included Orsolya Karlócai and Miklós Verseghi-Nagy, with Katalin Bényei listed as the acting director.
Source of funding and budget
Financially, the Friends of Hungary Foundation relies on private donations, many of which come from major corporations. Among these are state-owned enterprises such as the oil and gas company MOL and the pharmaceutical group Gedeon Richter, alongside other private contributors. While the foundation acknowledges these donors, it does not make its annual financial reports publicly available, and no detailed budget data for 2024 or projections for 2025–2026 have been disclosed. There is no evidence of direct state budget allocations to the foundation, but the reliance on donations from companies with state ownership underscores its proximity to government resources.
Editorial independence
In terms of editorial positioning, the foundation presents itself as a value-based and non-partisan initiative, aimed at providing information about Hungary’s achievements to the global community of “friends of Hungary.” However, in practice its two news portals have consistently supported the government led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Orbán himself has regularly appeared at the foundation’s annual conferences, which has reinforced perceptions of its close ties to Fidesz. Journalists and analysts interviewed for this report in 2023 and 2024 noted that the foundation’s media outlets have increasingly functioned as vehicles for government narratives, often amplifying the ruling party’s agenda rather than offering balanced reporting.
September 2025