Stiftung errichten

Do you have (private) assets that you would like to use for specific purposes? Then setting up a foundation may be the solution for you.

If you wish to set up a foundation with legal capacity, you as the founder determine the purpose of your foundation and undertake to endow it with assets (usually cash, securities or real estate), the income from which will be used to finance the foundation's work. You also give the foundation a name and appoint its bodies (board of directors and, optionally, a board of trustees). A foundation charter, also specified by you as the founder, regulates the internal organization.

The foundation acquires its legal capacity through state recognition. Recognition for the foundation is granted if the requirements under foundation law are met.

Possible purposes for a charitable foundation are, for example

• Science and research,
• health care,
• art and culture,
• Youth and elderly care
• education and vocational training
• sport and much more.

A foundation can be set up during your lifetime, but also upon your death.

• Statement of assets
• Foundation deed or foundation statutes

Corresponding assets of at least € 25,000 and (joint) founder's will.

The recognition of charitable foundations with legal capacity is free of charge; a fee is charged for private foundations, but costs may be incurred for other foundations depending on the work involved.

1. Consideration of which purposes are to be pursued with the foundation and which assets are to be contributed, if necessary with the advice of the Supervisory and Service Directorate
2. Drafting the foundation business including the foundation statutes (using the templates on the ADD website)
3. Coordination with the foundation authority and the responsible tax authority (in the case of a tax-privileged foundation)
4. Recognition of the foundation on the basis of the agreed foundation business including the statutes by the ADD as the foundation authority.

The state foundation supervisory authority ensures that the foundations are managed in accordance with the State Foundation Act and the foundation statutes. It ensures that the will of the founder is permanently adhered to or not changed more than necessary. Supervision should be handled in such a way that the decisiveness and sense of responsibility of the foundation's bodies are not impaired.

Further information can be found on the website of the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Interior and Sport.

By establishing a foundation, founders are able to permanently dedicate private assets to a specific purpose. The purpose of the foundation is defined in the foundation's articles of association and is generally covered by the income/revenue from the foundation's assets (e.g. interest on capital).

Please contact the Supervisory and Services Directorate in Trier if you wish to set up a foundation.