The Gutenberg Foundation

The Gutenberg Foundation aims to preserve Gutenberg’s legacy and take it forward into the future. In Mainz, where Johannes Gutenberg was born, stands the Gutenberg Museum, one of the world's oldest and most important museums devoted to the history of books, printing and writing – with an impressive collection and great potential. However, over 120 years since its founding by the citizens of Mainz the museum needs to be completely modernised, both inside and out, to make it a place which is representative of Gutenberg's international standing. The current prime objective of the Gutenberg Foundation is to make a considerable contribution to the creation of the Gutenberg Museum of the future. Our aims are to increase the level of funding for the museum, to date run by the City of Mainz, on the one hand and to help finance its modernisation on the other. The Gutenberg Museum is to become an exciting place of discovery and state-of-the-art cultural exchange. Download our articles of association here (German).

We need your support for this project!

Help us by making a donation or becoming a member of the Friends of Gutenberg. We also warmly welcome you to our group of sponsors. Even the smallest donation is part of something much bigger that helps us to create the new Gutenberg Museum. Let’s join forces and work together towards the Gutenberg Museum’s modernisation!

The Gutenberg Foundation is run by the board of directors. The foundation’s board of advisors and board of trustees advise the board of directors. The Friends of Gutenberg are the body of the Gutenberg Foundation responsible for the active contribution of a large community. 

Millions for the Gutenberg Museum

The Gutenberg Foundation and its predecessor, the Förderverein Gutenberg e.V. (Gutenberg Sponsorship Association), have supported the Gutenberg Museum with several million euros in donations. The money was accrued through the acquisition of sponsors and patrons and operation of the Gutenberg Shop. It was presented to the museum for an extension in 2000 and is used for ongoing museum projects. This sum has enabled the Gutenberg Museum to make specific purchases and organise exhibitions that would not have been possible with city funding alone.

The Gutenberg Shop – a success story

The Gutenberg Shop operated by the Gutenberg Foundation has proved an invaluable aid to museum funding for over 25 years. Each article sold includes a donation which is passed on to the Gutenberg Museum. The shop is chiefly run by volunteers which helps to keep costs down. Find out more about the Gutenberg Shop here.

Gutenberg Foundation set up as a monument to voluntary work

The Gutenberg Foundation was founded in 2009 by the Förderverein Gutenberg e.V. (Gutenberg Sponsorship Association). The starting capital of €100,000 was amassed in the Gutenberg Shops through voluntary work by the citizens of Mainz – over 100 of them to date. Their enormous commitment as volunteers has been honoured by the establishment of the Gutenberg Foundation. Since the founding of the Gutenberg Museum in 1900 the commitment of the people of Mainz to their museum has tradition. It was always the local inhabitants who were the driving force behind the further development of the building and who also helped finance such projects. The Gutenberg Sponsorship Association and Gutenberg Foundation very much consider themselves to be part of this tradition.