founding

Founding is the act of establishing an entity, settlement, or institution, marking its origin and legal or formal identity. It applies across many domains, including corporations, non-profit organizations, cities or towns, universities, churches, and governments. The founding date is the point at which the entity begins to exist as a distinct legal or organizational unit.

In corporate and organizational contexts, founding involves articulating purpose, selecting a legal structure, composing governing documents, registering with authorities, and often securing initial capital. Founders may be individuals or groups who conceive the idea and undertake the initial formation work. In civic or municipal contexts, founding may involve chartering a town or city, granting land, or establishing a governing framework and rights of residents.

Legal recognition is a common feature of founding; the creation of a legal entity, such as a corporation, introduces rights and obligations separate from its founders. Founding documents—charters, articles of incorporation, bylaws, or constitutions—define purpose, governance, and long-term objectives.

Founding may precede or coincide with complex historical processes. Some entities undergo refounding or reorganization, changing name, scope, or governance. Founders are often celebrated as key figures; when several individuals contribute equally they are described as co-founders.

The concept is distinct from later development stages such as growth, expansion, or dissolution, though those stages may follow founding. Founding remains a reference point in institutional histories and is commonly cited in anniversaries and commemorations.