Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation

The EKR Foundation's mission is to enhance compassionate care for the seriously ill and or dying and to further the acceptance of death as a part of life (versus those that see death as a separate event apart from life) through our work in partnering, supporting, providing availability of grief resources and education in compassionate care.

The Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation is 501(c)(3) non-profit organization inspired by the life of psychiatrist, humanitarian and hospice pioneer, Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. The Foundation was begun one year after Elisabeth’s death by her son, Ken Ross. Over the course of the last fifteen years, EKR Foundation chapters have been created on four continents that continue her mission to develop hospice, palliative care, and grief support. In 2019, most of Kübler-Ross’ archives were donated to Stanford University which will create a digital library to make her papers available to the public.

Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, author of the seminal book, “On Death and Dying” published 24 books, in 44 languages including: Armenian, Bahasa, Hebrew, Malayalam, Mongolian, and Urdu. In her expansive body of work, she discussed care and support for the seriously ill, their families, the grieving and all who struggle with the effects of loss. Over 10 million copies of her books have been sold. Though Elisabeth is often described as the “death and dying lady” or the “creator of the Five Stages” she often referred to herself as the “life and living lady”.

It is in the spirit of embracing all of life, which includes death, that we further the mission and vision of Elisabeth through the work of the Foundation that bears her name. The EKR Foundation continues her work of supporting hospice projects, palliative care, and grief support on five continents through our various international chapters.