The Board of Trustees of the Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt Foundation consists of five members who are appointed by the Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany for a term of five years. The Board appoints the members of the Board of Governors and decides all fundamental questions which concern the Foundation's functions.

On October 7, 2005, Federal President Horst Köhler appointed the members of the third Board of Trustees:

The Members of the Board of Trustees

President: Dr. h. c. Wolfgang Thierse, Vice-President of the German Bundestag
Alternate: Dr. Uschi Eid, Member of the German Bundestag

Vice-President: Undersecretary of State (ret.) Dr. Jürgen Burckhardt
Alternate: Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Boll, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Bonn

Prof. Dr. Brigitte Seebacher
Alternate: Willi Lemke, Senator for Internal Affairs and Sports of the Hanseatic City of Bremen

Prof. Dr. Peter Brandt, University of Hagen
Alternate: Prof. Dr. Dr. Franz-Joseph Brüggemeier, University of Freiburg

Minister President (ret.) Dr. Bernhard Vogel
Alternate: Federal Minister (ret.) Dr. Klaus von Dohnanyi