Stiftung Buchkultur und Leseförderung des Börsenvereins des Deutschen Buchhandels

The Stiftung Buchkultur und Leseförderung des Börsenvereins des Deutschen Buchhandels is a legally recognized foundation under civil law, whose purpose is the selfless promotion of the public good in material, intellectual, and moral fields. It initiates and supports projects that strengthen reading competence and motivation among children and adolescents (e.g., reading competitions, reading bags, quality seal for book kindergartens), promotes German-language literature through the awarding of prestigious book prizes (German Book Prize, German Non-Fiction Prize, Alfred Kerr Prize for Literary Criticism), and organizes cultural-political activities to promote the book as a leading medium and to stimulate societal exchange of ideas.

The purpose of the foundation is the selfless promotion of art and culture, education, and upbringing through the development and preservation of German-language book culture. It sees itself as a central actor that, through reading promotion and cultural projects, strengthens the reading competence of young people, enhances the public perception of the book, and anchors literary diversity in society.

The foundation's activities are primarily aimed at children and young people – from school beginners and kindergarten children to students of all age groups – as well as their educational institutions such as schools, daycare centers, libraries, and local bookstores. In addition, publishers, reading promotion initiatives, and cultural institutions benefit from collaborations and, together with the foundation, promote German-language book culture as well as emerging literary talent.