Walter Blüchert Foundation

The Walter Blüchert Foundation (German: Walter Blüchert Stiftung) is a German foundation established by Prof. Dr. Gunter Thielen and named after the financier and publisher Walter F. Blüchert. It is based in Gütersloh with its registered office in Hamburg. The foundation pursues exclusively charitable purposes, focusing on welfare, youth and elderly assistance, education, and vocational training. Its work centres on overcoming social barriers and enabling equal participation in social and economic life. It develops and supports programmes for people of all ages and nationalities, particularly children and young people, often in partnership with federal states, municipalities, and other organisations. Current strategic projects include "Angekommen" for young refugees, "Hochform" for academics with refugee status, "Wir2" for single parents and their children, and "Was geht" as a competence platform for school students. The foundation also runs forums and events such as "Generation Alpha" and "FORUM kreativraum" to foster dialogue among politics, business, science, and civil society.

The Walter Blüchert Foundation was established by Prof. Dr. Gunter Thielen, former CEO of Bertelsmann, and is named after the financier and publisher Walter F. Blüchert. Blüchert built up the Blüchert Verlag in the 1950s, securing German rights to Walt Disney publications outside the comic sector. Later he worked as a consultant and broker for major printing and media companies. During his work for Bertelsmann, he met Thielen, and over the years a friendship developed. Blüchert asked Thielen long before his death in 2007 to act as executor of his will. Thielen then founded the foundation. After leaving the board of the Bertelsmann Stiftung in 2013, the Walter Blüchert Foundation began its work under his chairmanship. From the outset it was one of the financially strongest German foundations. Initially it focused on promoting education for disadvantaged children and young people. In subsequent years it expanded its engagement to include single parents and refugees. The foundation is a legally responsible foundation under civil law with its registered office in Hamburg and administrative office in Gütersloh. It is led by a board whose main task is developing projects according to the statutes and financing them from the foundation's assets. The board is chaired by Gunter Thielen, with Ingrid Kramer as deputy. The foundation council, consisting of lawyer and notary Reto Mengiardi, supervises the board's activities. The foundation pursues exclusively charitable purposes within the meaning of the German Fiscal Code. Its purpose includes the promotion of welfare, child, youth and elderly assistance, as well as education, vocational training, and student aid. It realises its goals by improving the living conditions of individuals who need help due to their physical, mental or emotional state or economic hardship. The foundation's work centres on overcoming social barriers. It advocates for permeable, supportive structures that enable all people to participate fairly in social and economic life. To this end, it promotes, develops and disseminates best practices. Its unique feature is that projects are carried out in partnership with federal states, municipalities and organisations. Currently the foundation is involved in four strategic projects: "Angekommen" develops a future perspective for young refugees and newcomers; "Hochform" supports academics with refugee status; "Wir2" trains single parents and their children; and "Was geht" is a competence platform for young school students. In addition, the Walter Blüchert Foundation has funded eight projects that have now been completed, including "Abakus", a project for traumatised children and young people with disabilities, and it was also involved in "Balu und Du". Furthermore, there is the Karin and Walter Blüchert Memorial Foundation, run by Blüchert's granddaughter Magdalena Blüchert in Hamburg.

• 2026

  FORUM kreativraum held in May 2026, bringing together education experts from across Germany.

• 2024

  Publication of the JahresJournal 2024.

• 2013

  After leaving the board of the Bertelsmann Stiftung, Gunter Thielen starts the Walter Blüchert Foundation under his chairmanship.

• 2007

  Walter F. Blüchert dies; Gunter Thielen is asked to be executor of his will.

• Foundation expands its engagement from education for disadvantaged children to single parents and refugees.

A financially strong German foundation focused on overcoming social barriers through partnership-based best-practice programmes.

1. 1Walter Blüchert Stiftung | Chancen für Einzelne. Gewinn für die Gesellschaft.walter-bluechert-stiftung.de
2. 2Walter Blüchert Stiftung – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Walter Blüchert Foundation – Wikidatawikidata.org