In 1976 Hans Konrad Rahn set up the Rahn Musikpreis as a competition for young students at Swiss music academies and conservatoires. In the early years, the prize winners were given the opportunity of a solo performance at the Zurich University of Arts and later in the Church of St. Peter.

In 2004 Ana Patricia Rahn Erden, daughter of Hans Konrad Rahn, founded the Rahn Kulturfonds. Since then, the Rahn Musikpreis competition takes place every two years, alternating between piano and stringed instruments. The prize winners receive a substantial financial award as well as the opportunity to demonstrate their talent in a solo appearance in the large hall at Tonhalle in Zurich. They are accompanied by a well-renowned orchestra. The concert is recorded and the prize winners receive copies of the professional recording for use as a presentation CD.  In addition to the prize winners' concert, Rahn Kulturfonds also organises the Rahn Continuo concert, which takes place every two years in the small hall at Tonhalle in Zurich. Moreover, Rahn Kulturfonds arranges for the prize winners to appear in other prestigious concert series and finances the fee for each of these concert appearances.

The Board of Rahn Kulturfonds meets twice a year. It approves grants to institutions that aim to promote classical and contemporary music. It gives scholarships and lends instruments to outstanding students at music academies and conservatoires in Switzerland.

Rahn Kulturfonds receives 2% of the cashflow of RAHN AG and is supported by contributions of its benefactors. RAHN AG is a family-owned company whose tradition is successfully continued by the third generation.

Hans Konrad Rahn, 1933–2009, entrepreneur, founder of the Rahn Musikpreis