Over 600 foundations in Saxony - and the trend is still rising

At 3.5 percent, Saxony achieved the third-highest foundation growth of all German states last year. According to data from the Association of German Foundations, 23 new foundations were established. The national average increase was 2.1 percent, in the east 3.8 percent. With currently 658 foundations with legal capacity under civil law, the Free State continues to lead the field in eastern Germany. With 16.1 foundations per 100,000 inhabitants, it ranks 12th among the federal states in terms of the number of foundations - and is still well below the national average of 31.

On Saturday, "Stolpener Land", a community foundation founded by people who live in the castle town and surrounding villages near Saxon Switzerland, will be added to the list. Their aim is to promote cohesion and the common good in a traditional rural setting as well as social life on a broad scale. They want to create encounters, cultivate customs and be an open place for everyone "who is committed to the values of our constitution and thus to democracy, human dignity, respect, tolerance and diversity".

Foundations continue to be a trend

According to the Ministry of the Interior, the tendency to set up foundations is on the rise. The oldest foundations still active have their roots in the 16th century, while the youngest foundations are only a few weeks old. The purposes of foundations range from supporting individual cultural sites and monuments to promoting young scientists, making life easier for the sick and disadvantaged, to business purposes or supporting one's own family. The available assets vary from a few thousand to several million euros.

The foundation for the Gewandhaus in Leipzig or the numerous foundations of the Saxon savings banks, for example, secure, support and enrich cultural, artistic and social life and also relieve the burden on the Free State and local authorities through their activities, as a ministry spokesperson said. Medium-sized companies are involved in social life through corporate foundations and there are now seven community foundations that promote community and social interaction locally.

Minister of the Interior praises initiatives to establish foundations

The establishment of the Stolpener Land community foundation "demonstrates the spirit of active social cohesion across generations. Our democracy thrives on participation, not on watching," Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU) told the German Press Agency.