The Ratzinger Foundation, also known as The Pope Benedict XVI Foundation, is a charitable organization whose aim is "the promotion of theology in the spirit of Joseph Ratzinger." which it achieves by funding scholarships and bursaries for poorer students across the world. The foundation was launched on the initiative of former students (including 16 professors) of Joseph Ratzinger in December 2007.The foundation makes much of its money from the selling of Pope Benedict XVI's writings.