A Founder is the person who legally authorises the registration of a Private Interest Foundation. This is done by requesting the registration agent to establish a Foundation on certain conditions and also by moving legal ownership of certain property to the Foundation to hold under the terms of the Charter for the benefit of the Beneficiaries.

A minimum of one Founder is usually required.

If assets which are jointly owned by two (or more) persons, are to be transferred to the Foundation it may be more appropriate for the Foundation to be established at the request of joint Founders.

The name of a Founder appears in the Charter which is filed in the public register to give birth to a Foundation. However certain jurisdictions (most notably Seychelles) permit the deployment of a nominee Founder to protect the identity of the creator of the Foundation.