Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen

The Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen is the largest and oldest foundation association in Europe, founded in 1948. With around 4,300 members and over 9,800 affiliated foundations through foundation administrations, the association represents the interests of German foundations to politics and society.

The Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen offers a wide range of services aimed at supporting its members in their work. The main services include:

• Consulting: The association provides comprehensive consulting on all matters related to foundations.
• Networking: Through working groups and numerous events, the association facilitates the exchange of experiences and professional discussions among members.
• Training: Regular events and training offerings contribute to the professionalization of foundation work.
• Network Building: The association creates independent platforms for presentation and networking with its members[3].

The main mission of the Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen is to create optimal framework conditions for the establishment and operation of foundations. The association is committed to ensuring that foundations can effectively fulfill their tasks and concerns in the present and future. The values of the association are based on solidarity, transparency, and the promotion of the common good.

The association is committed to the principle of solidarity, which allows both small and large foundations, as well as non-profit organizations and private individuals, to become part of the community. This is achieved through a contribution assessment based on the financial capacity of the members[3].

The Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen is strongly engaged in promoting sustainability and transparency in the foundation sector. This includes:

• Transparency Initiative: The association is one of the initiators of the Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft by Transparency International Germany, which aims to promote transparency and accountability in the foundation sector[1].
• Social Engagement: Every year, foundations in Germany engage with at least 5.4 billion euros for the common good, highlighting the importance of the association and its members for societal development[1].
• Recommendations for Corporate Foundations: The association has published ten recommendations for non-profit corporate foundations aimed at maximizing the benefits of foundations and ensuring long-term social engagement[4].

The Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen is a central actor in the German foundation sector, advocating for the interests and operations of foundations. Through its comprehensive services, commitment to transparency and sustainability, and strong networking with members, the association significantly contributes to the promotion of the common good and the strengthening of the foundation landscape in Germany.

• 1 - https://www.stiftungen.org/verband/ueber-uns.html
• 2 - https://www.stiftungen.org/impressum.html
• 3 - https://www.stiftungen.org/mitgliedschaft/mitglied-werden.html
• 4 - https://www.stiftungen.org/fileadmin/stiftungen_org/Verband/Was_wir_tun/Veranstaltungen/AK-Unternehmensstiftungen/Zehn-Empfehlungen-Unternehmensstiftungen.pdf
• 5 - https://www.stiftungen.org/stiftungen/zahlen-und-daten/liste-der-groessten-stiftungen.html