Admission to the Circle of Friends of the Kurt Wolff Foundation

Membership in the Friends of the Kurt Wolff Foundation is aimed at independent publishers with a broad program of literature and non-fiction. Interested companies must have been active on the market for at least two years, publish four or more titles annually, and distribute their books professionally with ISBNs, through book wholesalers, and via their own website. Furthermore, they must not be a subsidy-based publisher, and their annual turnover must be under 5 million euros. After a positive review by the advisory board, publishing members benefit from exclusive networking advantages: these include inclusion in the annually published catalog "Es geht um das Buch," participation in publisher meetings during the Leipzig and Frankfurt Book Fairs, as well as opportunities to contribute at the reading island of independent publishers and other events organized by the foundation.

The Friends group promotes the visibility and networking of independent publishers nationwide. Members are entitled to use the foundation’s logo, receive special conditions at international fairs, and are included in the Kurt Wolff Foundation’s email distribution list. An annual contribution starting at 300 euros strengthens the association and guarantees close collaboration. Applications can be submitted to the advisory board on an ongoing basis; admissions are decided by the committee without providing reasons. By pooling expertise and resources, the Friends group helps to sustainably secure the diversity of the publishing landscape in Germany and to promote the exchange of independent publishing houses on both national and international stages.