Rudolf-August Oetker-Stiftung

The Rudolf-August Oetker-Stiftung für Kunst, Kultur, Wissenschaft und Denkmalpflege is a legally independent foundation under German civil law, founded in 1998 in the East Westphalian city of Bielefeld. It was created in memory of Rudolf-August Oetker and consolidates the Oetker family's philanthropic engagement in the cultural sphere. Its predecessor was the Dr. August Oetker Stiftung, which was dissolved in the mid-1990s. The foundation is dedicated to strengthening art and culture with a broad spectrum of funding. Its work is guided by the motto 'Für eine lebendige Kultur' (For a living culture). It supports measures of monument preservation and restoration, promotes exhibitions and the acquisition of significant cultural assets, and funds art-historical research. In addition, it provides financial assistance for cultural events as well as educational and outreach formats. The foundation's funding activities focus on projects dedicated to the preservation, acquisition, presentation and exploration of historical art and cultural assets, with the aim of making this cultural heritage accessible from a contemporary perspective and keeping it alive for future generations. As a grant-making foundation, it pursues exclusively and directly charitable purposes. Since its founding in 1998, it has supported more than 500 projects. Its funding is concentrated within the entire German federal territory. The foundation is based in Bielefeld and is represented by a board; since 2022 Birgit Sander has served as a board member, and since 2025 Anna Hoffmann has also been a board member. The foundation maintains an official website at rao-stiftung.de, where it provides information about its funding areas, projects and application procedures.

The Rudolf-August Oetker-Stiftung für Kunst, Kultur, Wissenschaft und Denkmalpflege was founded in 1998 in Bielefeld as a legally independent foundation under German civil law. It was established in memory of Rudolf-August Oetker and serves to bundle the Oetker family's commitment to art, culture, science and monument preservation. Its predecessor was the Dr. August Oetker Stiftung, which was dissolved in the mid-1990s. Since its founding, the foundation has supported more than 500 projects across Germany. Its funding spectrum includes monument preservation and restoration, the acquisition of artworks for museums, the promotion of exhibitions, and the support of research projects in these fields. The foundation's work is guided by the motto 'Für eine lebendige Kultur' (For a living culture), emphasizing the dynamic role of art and culture in the present. In terms of governance, the foundation has been represented by Birgit Sander as board member since 2022. In 2025, Anna Hoffmann also became a board member. The foundation continues to operate as a grant-making entity, pursuing exclusively and directly charitable purposes and concentrating its funding within the entire German federal territory.

• 2025

  Anna Hoffmann becomes board member.

• 2022

  Birgit Sander becomes board member.

• 1998

  Foundation established in Bielefeld.

A grant-making foundation dedicated to strengthening art and culture, with a focus on heritage conservation, research, and contemporary cultural engagement.

1. 1RAO Stiftungrao-stiftung.de
2. 2Stiftung – RAO Stiftungrao-stiftung.de
3. 3Rudolf-August Oetker-Stiftungwikidata.org
4. 4Rudolf-August Oetker-Stiftungde.wikipedia.org