The Kunstmuseen Krefeld have established the “Kunststiftung an den Kunstmuseen Krefeld” to promote art, culture, and research over the long term. The foundation was initiated by museum director Katia Baudin with the support of the City of Krefeld and Mayor Frank Meyer. The foundation’s goal is to sustainably strengthen the Kunstmuseen Krefeld as a place of cultural encounter and scholarly exchange. One of the foundation’s priorities is the expansion of the Krefeld Art Museums’ collection. Donations of artworks or financial contributions to the nonprofit foundation offer donors tax benefits and the opportunity to actively support the development of the Kunstmuseen Krefeld. In addition, the foundation supports exhibitions, research projects, and collaborations with other nonprofit institutions. The foundation’s board of directors consists of Katia Baudin, director of the Kunstmuseen Krefeld and chair of the board; Dr. Birgit Roos, former chair of the board of Sparkasse Krefeld; and Prof. Dr. Ulrich Krempel, former director of the Sprengel Museum Hannover. From the outset, the foundation has received financial contributions from both private and public sources, as well as numerous works of art by prominent artists.

The exhibition Adolf Luther. Seeing Is Beautiful in May 2025 marked the beginning of the Adolf Luther Foundation at the Kunstmuseen Krefeld—a close, long-term partnership between the Kunstmuseen Krefeld and the Adolf Luther Foundation whose purpose is to strengthen Krefeld as a national site for Concrete Art. The cooperation will take the form of joint activities such as exhibitions, public programs, research and conservation projects, and more. After the exhibition, a room in the KWM’s Collection in Motion—its dynamic collection presentation—will be permanently devoted to the Adolf Luther Foundation for changing presentations. Both institutions will benefit through increased visibility, new programs, and innovative approaches to dialogue with the public.

The general and independent foundation was established in 1997 by Marianne Ebers (1919–1998) in memory of her husband, the Krefeld entrepreneur Heinz Ebers (1906-1991). The foundation set itself the task of promoting the development of the Kunstmuseen Krefeld by expanding its collection.