In 1981, on the 100th anniverary of the founding of Beiersdorf AG, Georg Wilhelm Claussen founded the Claussen-Stiftung. At the time, he was the Chairman of the Supervisory Board for Beiersdorf AG, having previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for many years. As a trust foundation under the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft e.V., the Claussen-Stiftung began operating in 1982, represented in legal and business matters by the Verband.
In 1999, thanks to a further endowment left by Georg Wilhelm's cousin, Ebba Simon, the Stiftung increased its capital and took on Ebba Simon's name.
Since 2011, the Claussen-Simon-Stiftung has been a legally independent foundation under civil law and has its headquarters in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.