Deutsche Gesellschaft für Stiftungsförderung

What Deutsche Gesellschaft für Stiftungsförderung does

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Stiftungsförderung (DGS) is a German private limited liability company (mbH) that operates as a boutique foundation advisory and management firm composed of specialist lawyers (Fachanwälte). The firm is headquartered in Angelbachtal, Baden-Württemberg (registered at Amtsgericht Mannheim, HRB 716670), with Michael Rudolf serving as Managing Director. DGS provides qualified advisory to high-net-worth individuals, families, companies, public institutions, and associations on the establishment of legally independent foundations and trust foundations (Treuhandstiftungen), as well as ongoing fiduciary administration for existing foundations under service contracts (Geschäftsbesorgungsvertrag).

The firm's core service lines are Stiftungsgründungsberatung (foundation formation consulting), Stiftungsverwaltung (ongoing foundation administration including accounting, tax returns, and asset management), Steuerliche Vorteilsberatung (tax benefit advisory around §10b EStG deductions), and Stiftungsmarketing (visibility and PR support for administered foundations). Technology is not a meaningful input — DGS is a professional services firm delivering legal, tax, and administrative work product; its primary digital asset is the stiften.de content site, which serves as an inbound lead-generation and education hub.

DGS monetizes through consulting and fiduciary service fees quoted on request, with no publicly disclosed pricing. It distributes via direct advisory (phone, email, contact form, in-person meetings) nationwide across Germany, and generates referral flow through cooperation partnerships with Stiften und Leben e.V. (Deutsche Gemeinnützige Stiftervereinigung), BW-Bank (LBBW), and the Rudolf und Kollegen law firm. Customer logos referenced on the site are administered charitable foundations (Nina Leopold Stiftung, Stiftung Urmensch von Mauer, Elfriede und Gisela Maunz Stiftung) whose downstream beneficiaries include Deutsche Krebshilfe, SOS Kinderdörfer, Deutscher Tierschutzbund, Caritas, Diakonie, universities, senior homes, and hospices.

Name

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Stiftungsförderung

Legal name

DGS – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Stiftungsförderung mbH

Website

https://stiften.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Stiftungsförderung is a German boutique law-and-advisory firm of specialist lawyers that helps individuals, families, companies, and public institutions establish and administer charitable foundations, including trust foundations (Treuhandstiftungen), on a nationwide basis in Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Östringen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Formation Consulting: DGS charges fees for advising individuals, companies, public institutions, and associations on establishing legally independent foundations and trust foundations (Treuhandstiftungen). This includes conceptualizing tailored foundation structures, drafting founding documents, coordinating with regulatory authorities, and tax planning.
2. Foundation Administration & Management: DGS provides ongoing fiduciary management of foundations through a service contract (Geschäftsbesorgungsvertrag), covering communication with beneficiaries, disbursement administration, bookkeeping, annual financial statements, tax returns, asset management, and compliance monitoring.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Stiftungsförderung mbH (DGS) is a specialist law firm (Kanzlei) composed of recognized specialist lawyers (Fachanwälte) that advises and supports individuals, companies, public institutions, and associations in establishing legally independent foundations and trust foundations (Treuhandstiftungen). In addition to formation consulting, DGS provides ongoing foundation administration — including fiduciary management, bookkeeping, annual financial statements, tax returns, asset management, and compliance — as well as tax-benefit advisory and foundation marketing services for existing foundations.

Product overview

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Stiftungsförderung (DGS) is a foundation consulting and management company consisting of specialized lawyers (Fachanwälte) who provide comprehensive advisory and management services. The company operates as a service-based organization rather than a software product company. Its main offerings include: (1) Stiftungsgründungsberatung – qualified advisory for establishing independent and trust foundations; (2) Stiftungsverwaltung – professional foundation management including accounting, tax returns, and asset management; (3) Steuerliche Vorteilsberatung – tax benefit consultation; and (4) Stiftungsmarketing – marketing support for foundations. The company is based in Angelbachtal, Germany, and advises nationwide on foundation matters in close cooperation with Deutsche Gemeinnützige Stiftervereinigung and Stiften und Leben e.V.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stiftungsgründungsberatung (Foundation Formation Consulting) Qualified advisory services for establishing legally independent foundations (rechtsfähige Stiftungen) and trust foundations (Treuhandstiftungen). Targeted at institutional donors including private individuals, companies, public institutions, and associations. Covers initial ideation, foundation concept development, drafting of founding documents, coordination with regulatory authorities for state recognition (Anerkennungsverfahren), and tax planning.
• Stiftungsverwaltung (Foundation Administration) Professional management services for existing foundations under a service contract (Geschäftsbesorgungsvertrag). Covers communication with beneficiaries, contract preparation, disbursement administration, bookkeeping, preparation of annual financial statements, tax returns, asset management, and ongoing compliance monitoring.
• Steuerliche Vorteilsberatung (Tax Benefit Advisory) Consultation on tax benefits associated with foundation creation. Provides guidance on deductible contributions of up to €1 million for newly established foundations and €2 million for inherited foundations, plus annual deduction options of up to 20% of total income for private individuals, in line with §10b Abs. 1a EStG.
• Stiftungsmarketing (Foundation Marketing) Marketing and public relations support for foundations, including creation of individual flyers and brochures, PR support, and consulting to help foundations gain visibility and attract donations. Provided in cooperation with the firm's media and association partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Foundations managed by DGS distribute several thousand euros per year to charitable beneficiaries, supporting dozens of nonprofit institutions across Germany.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Rudolf und KollegenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRudolf und Kollegen is a law firm shown as a cooperation partner (Kooperationspartner) of DGS on the company website. The partnership provides legal advisory capacity and referral of clients seeking specialized legal services related to foundation formation.
• Stiften und Leben e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStiften und Leben e.V. (Deutsche Gemeinnützige Stiftervereinigung) is DGS's primary strategic cooperation partner. DGS states it works in close cooperation with this association to provide very personal advisory services regarding wealth management, financial services, insurance, and foundations. The partnership enables DGS clients to access a broader network of charitable foundation expertise.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft: German association promoting corporate and private philanthropy, particularly for science and higher education. Comparable as a parallel 'stiftungsförderung' organization in Germany, though it focuses on academic and corporate giving rather than individual foundation formation.
• Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen: Germany's national umbrella association for foundations, providing member services, networking, and policy advocacy. Comparable to DGS as a hub for foundation-related content and advisory, but operates at industry-association scale across all foundation types rather than as a paid advisor to individual founders.
• Bethmann Bank (Familie, Stiftungen & Vermögensstruktur): Deutsche Bank's private bank for family offices, foundations, and HNW succession. Comparable to DGS because it offers integrated foundation formation and administration as part of broader wealth advisory for UHNW German families—an incumbent the firm explicitly competes against via its BW-Bank/LBBW partnership.

Direct peers

• Haus des Stiftens: Munich-based center offering advisory, formation support, and administrative services for foundations and nonprofits in Germany. Highly comparable because it targets the same private founders and emerging foundations, providing bundled legal/tax/setup help analogous to DGS's Stiftungsgründungsberatung.
• Maecenata Stiftung: Munich-based philanthropic think tank and operating foundation that advises on civil-society structure, foundation management, and Stiftungsrecht. Comparable to DGS for its foundation-management consulting and educational content on German foundation practice, though it also runs programs rather than purely selling advisory.
• Phineo gAG: Berlin-based social-impact advisory that supports foundations, nonprofits, and corporate donors with strategy, governance, and impact analysis. Comparable to DGS as a professional-services intermediary operating in the German philanthropic ecosystem with a similar content-and-advisory model targeting charitable founders.

Regional players

• Active Philanthropy: Hamburg-based foundation and philanthropy advisory serving HNW individuals, families, and companies across the DACH region. Comparable to DGS as a paid foundation-advisory boutique in the German-speaking market, providing governance and set-up services adjacent to Stiftungsgründungsberatung.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Deutsche Gesellschaft für Stiftungsförderung