In 2007, the Bertelsmann Stiftung celebrated 30 years of successful project work and promotion of social change. Since being launched in 1977 by Reinhard Mohn, the Bertelsmann Stiftung has invested around €666 million in over 700 projects. Today, it is one of the largest foundations in Germany.

The Bertelsmann Stiftung's project work is based on Reinhard Mohn's conviction that ownership of capital brings with it an obligation to contribute to society and that civic engagement is critical for society to flourish. The foundation's varied projects thus reflect the longstanding tradition of social commitment as maintained by the Bertelsmann and Mohn families, founders of the Bertelsmann AG media group. In light of these commitments,  it is all the more important to provide a transparent accounting of the foundation's history and development.

On the following pages you can discover more about the Bertelsmann Stiftung's history and about how its projects have developed over the years -- for example our Carl Bertelsmann Prize, the International Bertelsmann Forum or the "Neue Stimmen" International Singing Competition, not to mention other programs.