The competition for the Leonardo School Award is named after the universal genius, artist and scientist Leonardo da Vinci and was initiated by the Wiesbaden Foundation. The Leonardo School Award was implemented for the first time in the 2004/05 school year; the competition is financed exclusively by sponsors and takes place every two years.

The aim is to motivate young people to work in teams to develop and implement ideas for projects in various categories. Pupils from all secondary schools in Wiesbaden, including American schools from Year 7 onwards, are invited to take part. With "Leonardo on Tour", information about the Leonardo School Award will also be provided locally in the schools. The Leonardo School Award is embodied in a sculpture developed by Wiesbaden communication designer Andreas Bell. The Leonardo Club, a platform through which pupils can get actively involved, gain experience, learn about professional fields and network, was launched in 2013.

The Wiesbaden Foundation supports the implementation and organization, provides funding and brings students and institutions together.