The main principles which drive Grupo Santillana's business activities are its commitment to the promotion of cultural activities and the improvement of education. These aspects of our mission take on different forms at different times: some are permanent, such as the activities of the Santillana Foundation, and some are specific to a given time and place.

Since the Santillana Foundation was established as a private foundation in 1979, it has invested a great deal of effort in support of promoting culture and improving education in Spain and Latin America. To further develop its activities in these areas, in 1989 it set up the Santillana Foundation for Latin America, with its head office in Santa Fe de Bogotá (Columbia), and in 2004 it opened a new office in Buenos Aires (Argentina).

In Spain, the Foundation has two main offices: one in Santillana del Mar (Cantabria), where cultural events and exhibitions are held, and the other in Madrid, where the activities connected with education are carried out. These include the Monographic Weeks which are held every year in November, under the general theme Learning for the future, with significant interest among teachers and experts in charge of education policy in Spanish-speaking countries.