FAZIT Foundation

The FAZIT Foundation's purpose is to protect the editorial independence and content direction of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung against influence from majority shareholdings. The foundation is structured as a nonprofit limited company and maintains its nonprofit status through the promotion of science, research, education, and training.
The foundation's board of trustees simultaneously manages the foundation's operations. Members of the FAZIT Foundation's board of trustees are appointed through co-optation—that is, they are elected by current board members. Upon appointment, newly elected members must purchase a share of the FAZIT Foundation's capital stock. All board members hold equal shares (11%). Upon departure, a board member must return their shares. This procedure ensures equal voting rights for all board members while restricting the influence of majority shareholdings.
The FAZIT Foundation's board of trustees comprises prominent members. Ulrich Wilhelm (government spokesman under Merkel I and II administrations, former director of Bavarian Broadcasting) currently serves as chairman. Andreas Barner (former chairman of Boehringer Ingelheim) is deputy chairman. Other prominent members include Jens Weidmann (former president of the German Federal Bank), Peter M. Huber (former constitutional court judge), Birgitta Wolff (former president of Goethe University Frankfurt), Cornelia Woll (president of Hertie School Berlin), Monika Hermanns (legal expert), and Renate Köcher (director of the Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research).