You support museums, science or social commitment: There are more than 24,000 foundations in Germany. There were also new start-ups in Hesse last year. The state is one of the federal states with the highest density of foundations.
Darmstadt/Giessen/Kassel (dpa/lhe) - Despite the low interest rate phase that will persist in 2022, more than 160 foundations with legal personality with total assets of 51.8 million euros were recognized in Hesse last year. This emerges from the balance sheets of the responsible regional councils in Darmstadt, Gießen and Kassel. In the previous year, 247 foundations were established.
As in the previous year, in 2022 there was again a clear gradient in new start-ups from south to north. There were 149 in the area of responsibility of the Darmstadt authority, Giessen 14 and Kassel reported a new foundation. "This is also due to the fact that no consulting company with a foundation administration currently has a location in the administrative district of Kassel," said the North Hessian authority.
The Darmstadt Presidium plays an important role within the Hessian foundation landscape, it was said from there. "It oversees more than 2,000 foundations with total assets of around seven billion euros, which distribute their income for charitable, charitable or church purposes or to support family members."
The low interest rate level for financial investments, which will also continue in 2022, will make it difficult for foundations to fulfill their purposes from the income from the investments, according to Gießen. Against the background of the interest rate level, the continued high number of charitable foundations is remarkable, said Darmstadt for his area of responsibility.
However, there is still a trend towards non-profit family foundations. They served to provide for family members and could be used as an instrument against the splitting up of private or business assets.
According to the Federal Association of German Foundations, there are around 24,650 foundations with legal capacity under civil law nationwide. "92 percent of the foundations pursue charitable purposes and promote, for example, educational opportunities or are committed to research into rare diseases," says the website. The creation of a foundation with legal capacity is regulated in the Civil Code. Recognition takes place in Hesse by the regional councils.
According to the Federal Association, in 2021 Hesse was the state with the highest density of foundations under civil law with legal capacity. With 40.4 foundations per 100,000 inhabitants, only the federal states of Bremen (45.3) and Hamburg (79.0) have more.
