Fürstlich und Gräflich Fuggersche Stiftungen

What Fürstlich und Gräflich Fuggersche Stiftungen does

Fürstlich und Gräflich Fuggersche Stiftungen is a 500-year-old German charitable foundation headquartered at Fuggerei 56 in Augsburg, Bavaria, established in 1521 by Jakob Fugger. Its core social mission is operating the Fuggerei, the world's oldest continuously operating social housing settlement, which houses approximately 150 financially needy Catholic Augsburg citizens in 67 terraced houses comprising 140-142 apartments at an annual cold rent of €0.88 plus three daily prayers. The foundation is governed by an honorary Familienseniorat (Family Senior Council) with three active lineages sharing authority — Fugger-Kirchberg, Fugger von Glött, and Fugger-Babenhausen — currently chaired by Alexander Erbgraf Fugger-Babenhausen as the 16th-generation steward since January 1, 2022.

The foundation's financial model is anchored in sustainable forestry operations across foundation-owned forests in Laugna, Bocksberg, and Emersacker, which have generated approximately 70% of operating financing since the late 18th century. Tourism and museum admissions account for approximately one-third of Fuggerei maintenance costs, with 2023 ticket prices of €8 (adults), €7 (reduced), €4 (children aged 8-17), and €15 for the Augsburg-resident annual family pass. Donations flow through the Fuggerei Förderstiftung, established in February 2022 at Stadtsparkasse Augsburg's HAUS DER STIFTER. Supplementary revenue streams include Christmas tree sales, firewood, and Fuggerei honey.

The foundation maintains a substantial cultural and research infrastructure: four on-site museums (Museum of History and Living, Museum of the Residents, Museum of Everyday Life, and a WWII bunker museum), the Fugger Archive in Dillingen housing 27,000 records and 16.7 terabytes of digitized materials spanning 650 years, and an active events program including the Fugger Forum public lecture series, academic congresses, and the annual €10,000 Fugger Science Prize. The NEXT500 initiative, launched for the 500th anniversary in 2021-2022, pursues global replication of the Fuggerei model through the Fuggerei Code framework, with the first 'Fuggerei of the Future' groundbreaking in Sierra Leone in December 2022. The foundation operates with 1-10 employees and no public subsidies.

Name

Fürstlich und Gräflich Fuggersche Stiftungen

Legal name

Fürstlich und Gräflich Fuggersche Stiftungen

Website

https://fugger.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fürstlich und Gräflich Fuggersche Stiftungen is a 500-year-old German charitable foundation operating the Fuggerei, the world's oldest social housing settlement housing ~150 needy Augsburg citizens for €0.88 annual rent, financed via forestry, tourism admissions, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Housing Services

NAICS

Other Residential Care Facilities (623990), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA), Large Campus / Multi-Building Assisted Living Communities (HLADABAG)

Keywords

• Social housing services
• Historical archive management
• Sustainable forestry operations
• Cultural heritage tourism
• Charitable foundation administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Augsburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tourism and Museum Admissions: The Fuggerei generates revenue through paid entry to its museums and the settlement complex. Visitor admissions account for approximately one-third of the total costs required to maintain the social settlement. A new pricing structure took effect January 2023: adults €8, reduced €7, children (8–17) €4, annual family pass €15 for Augsburg residents.
2. Forestry and Sustainable Forest Management: Since the late 18th century, the Fuggersche Stiftungen has been primarily financed through returns from its own forestry operations. The foundation forests in Laugna, Bocksberg, and Emersacker are managed under modern sustainable principles and serve as the most important financing source for the foundations. Approximately 70% of the financial needs are covered by forestry revenues.
3. Christmas Tree Sales: The Fuggersche Stiftungen sell Christmas trees (Nordmann firs, spruces, and pines) from their own tree cultures during the Advent season on the Markusplätzle in the Fuggerei. Revenue from tree sales flows directly into the maintenance of the Fuggerei.
4. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Donations and financial contributions from individuals and organizations support the Fuggerei's maintenance and operations. The Fuggerei Förderstiftung, housed at the HAUS DER STIFTER of Stadtsparkasse Augsburg, accepts donations and endowments to the foundation's capital. Firewood sales from the forest operations also contribute minor revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Fürstlich und Gräflich Fuggersche Stiftungen operates the Fuggerei, the world's oldest continuously operating social housing settlement (founded 1521 in Augsburg), providing affordable housing to approximately 150 needy Catholic Augsburg citizens for €0.88 annual cold rent. It complements this with four on-site museums, guided public/group/school tours, a historical archive in Dillingen, sustainably managed foundation forests, cultural events (Fugger Forum, conferences), an annual science prize, and the NEXT500 initiative supporting the global replication of its social housing model.

Product overview

Fürstlich und Gräflich Fuggersche Stiftungen is a historical foundation organization managing the world's oldest social housing settlement (the Fuggerei, founded 1521) and related charitable activities. The organization operates as a unified foundation structure with multiple interconnected offerings: the core Fuggerei social housing with resident services; four museums documenting the settlement's 500-year history; guided tour operations; the Fugger Archive for historical research; forestry as primary financing source; and the Fuggerei Förderstiftung for donations. Supplementary offerings include the Fugger Forum public lecture series, academic conferences, the Fuggerei NEXT500 initiative for global expansion of the social housing model, and the annual Fugger Science Prize. The organization is governed by the Family Seniorate representing three Fugger lineages, with administration based at Fuggerei 56 in Augsburg.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fuggerei Förderstiftung: A supporting foundation established in 2022 to accept donations for the maintenance and preservation of the Fuggerei settlement.
• Fuggerei NEXT500

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ years of continuous social housing operations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2022Local NGO in Rothumba, Sierra Leone, directed by Rugiatu Neneh Turay, serving as the on-the-ground implementing partner for the first 'Fuggerei of the Future.' AIM is building a sustainable social settlement with a school, training center, and women's empowerment programs following the Fuggerei Code.
• PfefferminzGreen e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2022German charitable association led by Stella Rothenberger (Frankfurt), partnering with AIM in Sierra Leone to develop the 'Fuggerei of the Future.' The initiative aims to build a sustainable social settlement empowering local women and girls through education, health, and income-generating programs.
• Stadtsparkasse Augsburg (HAUS DER STIFTER)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2022The Stadtsparkasse Augsburg hosts the Fuggerei Förderstiftung under the 'HAUS DER STIFTER' (House of the Founders) umbrella, providing a platform for donors to contribute to the Fuggerei's maintenance and the NEXT500 initiative. The Sparkasse also matches donations made during the Advent season.
• MVRDVcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022International Dutch architecture firm commissioned to design the Fuggerei NEXT500 anniversary pavilion, constructed of timber from the foundation's own forests, built by Züblin Timber. The pavilion featured a pitched roof, green shutters, and a curved projection overlooking Augsburg's city hall square.
• Züblin TimbercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Construction partner that built the Fuggerei NEXT500 pavilion using timber sourced exclusively from the Fuggersche Stiftungswälder (foundation forests).
• Roland-Berger-StiftungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram Director Claudia Piatzer participated in the NEXT500 Forum on 'Mastering Need' (April 2022), contributing to the interdisciplinary exchange on how social settlements can address different expressions of need.
• Bundesstiftung BaukulturminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVorstandsvorsitzender Reiner Nagel participated in the NEXT500 Forum on 'Generating Sustainability' (March 2022), discussing the importance of sustainable construction and financing for social housing.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Wellcome Trust: A major UK charitable foundation supporting health research and cultural heritage, with a substantial endowment and significant real estate assets. Comparable to the Fuggersche Stiftungen in operating a major historical archive, supporting research through grants and prizes, and managing heritage properties as part of a foundation structure.
• VolkswagenStiftung: One of Germany's largest charitable foundations, established in 1962 to support science, technology, and humanities research. Comparable to the Fuggersche Stiftungen as a major German foundation with significant asset base, though focused on grantmaking rather than direct social housing operations.

Regional players

• Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz: Germany's largest cultural foundation, managing 17 museums, libraries, and archives including the Prussian cultural heritage collections. Comparable to the Fuggersche Stiftungen in operating multiple museums, preserving historical archives, and managing cultural heritage assets under a non-profit foundation structure, though at much larger scale and with public funding.

Direct peers

• Peabody: One of the UK's largest and oldest housing associations, Peabody has provided affordable housing since 1862. Like the Fuggersche Stiftungen, it operates subsidized residential communities for those in housing need, with comparable long-duration mission focus and charitable foundation structure.
• Augustinum: A major German operator of senior and independent living communities operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria, providing affordable housing and care services across multiple campuses. Highly comparable structure to the Fuggerei's multi-building campus serving residents in need, with similar German non-profit operating model.
• Evangelische Heimstiftung: Germany's largest Protestant welfare organization operating elder care facilities and housing across Baden-Württemberg. Comparable to the Fuggersche Stiftungen in providing subsidized residential services, operating multiple sites as a charitable foundation, and serving similar resident populations in southern Germany.
• Joseph Rowntree Foundation: A UK-based social policy research and development foundation that includes the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, one of the UK's largest not-for-profit social housing providers. Comparable to the Fuggerei in operating social housing for those in need, providing subsidized residential communities, and conducting research/advocacy on housing issues.
• Stiftung Liebenau: A German Catholic social welfare foundation operating residential care facilities, housing services, and social programs primarily in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Directly comparable to the Fuggersche Stiftungen in mission (Catholic-affiliated social housing), structure (foundation governance), and service mix (residential services for vulnerable populations).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fuggersche-stiftungen

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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