Vollstifts

Vollstifts is a German term used in ecclesiastical and historical contexts to denote a collegiate or canonical foundation with full legal personality and complete endowment rights. A Vollstift typically comprises a chapter of canons or canonesses who share in the governance of the foundation and receive revenues tied to their office. The foundation’s charter or Stiftbrief outlines its property, income, duties, and the privileges of its members. The chapter usually elects or appoints its head, such as a provost or dean, depending on local tradition. The defining feature is the full status of the foundation and its members within the ecclesiastical structure, distinguishing it from smaller or dependent stifts.

Historically, Vollstifte developed in the medieval and early modern periods within the German-speaking lands as endowed religious communities attached to cathedrals or princely foundations. They often played significant roles in education, culture, and pastoral care, with revenues allocated to support the canons and the running of the house. Over time, many Vollstifte were secularized, dissolved, or reorganized, though some endure as charitable, cultural, or religious institutions under contemporary church or state arrangements.

In contemporary usage the term appears mainly in historical scholarship and descriptions of traditional ecclesiastical law. It is less common in everyday language, with modern references more likely to use general terms such as foundation, Stift, or collegiate foundation.