Foundation under private law

The foundation under private law

Foundation University Göttingen – that sounds like a new development in higher education. However, the notion of the foundation at the Georgia August is much older. The »foundation under private law « – in contrast to the University under the auspices of a public law foundation – offers students, doctoral candidates and scientists concrete advantages and important support – unbeaurocratically and fast.

Already in the 18th century, the University of Göttingen received its first foundation. Anna Vandenhoeck , widow of the first University book printer and publisher, conveyed parts of her inheritance to the University. Even in the following centuries, alumni and their heirs remembered their time as students in Göttingen and left all or part of their assets to the University or individual faculties. The legacy was often connected with the wish to use the funds for a very specific purpose. The Foundation uses range from study and research grants and the promotion of scientific work in all fields to the purchase of equipment to cancer research.

In this manner, a series of legacies and bequests to the University originated over the centuries that had the goal of promoting science and supporting scientists. A total of 23 formerly independent trusts and estates were merged in 1985 to form the Foundation of the Georg-August University Göttingen – foundation under private law. The merge enables investments and the use of proceeds to be better organized.