- Over 600 foundations in Saxony - the trend is still increasing
Saxony achieved a growth of 3.5 percent in the number of foundations last year, ranking third among all federal states. According to data from the Association of German Foundations, there were 23 new establishments. The national average was 2.1 percent, and in the east, it was 3.8 percent. With 658 legally recognized foundations of civil law, Saxony remains at the top in eastern Germany. In terms of the number of foundations per 100,000 inhabitants, it ranks 12th among the federal states, with 16.1, which is still significantly below the national average of 31.
On Saturday, the "Stolpener Land" civic foundation will be added, initiated by people living in the town of Stolpen and surrounding villages near the Saxon Switzerland region. Their goal is to foster cohesion and common good in a traditional rural setting, and to promote social life broadly. They aim to create encounters, preserve local traditions, and be an open space for all who commit to the values of our constitution, including democracy, human dignity, respect, tolerance, and diversity.
Foundation trends continue to rise, according to the Ministry of the Interior. The oldest still-active foundations date back to the 16th century, while the newest are just a few weeks old. Foundation purposes range from supporting individual cultural and heritage sites, promoting scientific talent, easing the lives of the sick and disadvantaged, to corporate purposes or supporting one's own family. The available assets vary between a few thousand and several million euros.
For instance, the Foundation for the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, or the numerous foundations of Saxon savings banks, secure, support, and enrich cultural, artistic, and social life, also relieving the Free State and municipalities. Medium-sized companies engage in societal life through corporate foundations, and now seven civic foundations promote local social cohesion.
Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU) praised the initiative to establish the Stolpener Land civic foundation, saying, "This shows the spirit of active, social cohesion across generations. Our democracy thrives on participation, not on spectatorship."
The Stolpener Land civic foundation, which is being established on Saturday, aligns with The Foundation's values of democracy, human dignity, respect, tolerance, and diversity. The Ministry of the Interior has noted a continuous rise in foundation trends, with some founding dates dating back to the 16th century and others being newly established.
