Who founded the Bertelsmann Stiftung in 1977?

Reinhard Mohn founded the Bertelsmann Stiftung in 1977.

Mohn was the German businessman who transformed Bertelsmann from a publishing company into an international media group. He established the foundation in Gütersloh on 8 February 1977, and authorities officially approved it the following month. It began with an endowment of 100,000 Deutsche Marks.

Mohn envisioned an operational foundation: rather than merely distributing grants, it would develop and manage its own projects in areas such as education, social policy, health, and civic participation. In 1993, he transferred a majority of Bertelsmann’s capital shares to the foundation, helping secure continuity for the company.

That ownership history can cause confusion. The Bertelsmann Stiftung is associated with the Bertelsmann media group, but it is not the same thing as the company. Nor was it founded by Leo Kirch, Gerd Bucerius, or Axel Springer, although all were prominent figures in German media or publishing.