Bertelsmann Foundation

Neoliberal lobby groupFoundation

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Motto	Inspiring People. Shaping the Future.
Formation	1977
Founder	Reinhard Mohn
Headquarters	Gütersloh, Germany
Type	Foundation
Subgroups	Fundación Bertelsmann
Sponsor of	Atlantic Council,European Forum Alpbach,Zentrum Liberale Moderne,Democracy and Culture Foundation
Membership	Werner J. Bauer,Liz Mohn,Wolf Bauer,Philipp Rösler,Thomas Buberl,Ralph Heck,Wolfgang A. Herrmann,Christoph Mohn,Carolina Müller-Möhl,Viviane Reding,Jürgen Stark,Tim Arnold,Franziska Brantner,Elmar Brok,Caio Koch-Weser,Thomas Fischer,Peter Frey,Klaus-Peter Siegloch,Dieter Stolte,Kurt Biedenkopf

The Bertelsmann Foundation (German: Bertelsmann Stiftung) is one of the most influential neoliberal think tanks in Germany. It propagates the privatization of public policies and promotes competition at all levels of society.

History

The Foundation was founded in 1977 by Reinhard Mohn, the patriarch of the huge media corporation Bertelsmann Group (which includes such brands as Penguin Random House). In 1993 he transferred the majority of the share capital of the Bertelsmann Group to the foundation. As a result, Mohn saved his wife Liz Mohn and his children Christoph and Brigitte about two billion euros in inheritance tax. Another advantage of this structure is that the group cannot be sold to third parties, but - thanks to the Bertelsmann Foundation and other legal structures - remains in the hands of the Mohn family.

With the help of the foundation, Reinhard Mohn's ideas are spread to German society. The Bertelsmann Foundation advocates more competition and more efficiency within the state sector, such as higher education or the health sector. At the same time, the foundation is committed to more private civic engagement. Among other things, through studies and foundation-related organizations, it influences the public discourse.

Methods

The foundation regularly has a impact on public debates through various projects. This is achieved, for example, through the numerous studies that are published by the foundation or institutes commissioned by it and that are given broad media coverage.

The foundation also contacts political decision-makers directly, for example at seminars such as the International Bertelsmann Forum or the annual Bertelsmann Party. A paper by the foundation states: "it [the Bertelsmann Foundation] should also develop its ability to advise political decision-makers directly"

It finances several think tanks, like Centrum für angewandte Politikforschung(CAP);Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung (CHE) to influence the school system;Centrum für Krankenhausmanagement (CKM) to influence hospital and health policies;and Bertelsmann Wissenschaftsstiftung for economic and social research.

Member List

The member list (see top of page) includes present and former board members and associaties.