St. Thomas

What St. Thomas does

St. Thomas e.V. is a German nonprofit charitable association (gemeinnützig anerkannter Verein) founded on December 6, 1976 by Heidelberg psychiatrist and neurologist Prof. Dr. Frank G. Brecht, providing psychiatric aftercare services to people with mental illness or psychological disabilities. Operating as one of the first psychiatric aftercare facilities in Germany to provide open living settings for chronically mentally ill individuals, the organization currently serves approximately 270-275 people across 501 total care places spanning six locations in Baden-Württemberg (Heidelberg, Walldorf, Schwetzingen, Graben-Neudorf, Reilingen, and Ittlingen). Service categories include Besondere Wohnformen (206 residential places in special housing), Förder- und Betreuungsbereiche (231 day-structure places), outpatient assisted living (54 places), a youth facility with 10 places for ages 14-21 under §35a SGB VIII, and the Hammberger Hof therapy center combining riding stable, restaurant, and animal-assisted therapy.

The organization's service portfolio comprises residential care, day structure programs, psychotherapy, computerized cognitive training (an internally developed program regularly updated by psychologists), art and music therapy, animal-assisted therapy, work therapy, leisure programs, and family-based assisted living arrangements. Technology infrastructure consists of standard office and facility management systems; the proprietary computerized cognitive training program is the only custom-built software asset. The organization maintains an open step concept (offenes Stufenkonzept) allowing residents to progress through graduated levels of independence and return to higher care levels when needed, following Maria Montessori's principle of "as much help as necessary, as little help as possible."

The business model is funded primarily through German social welfare payments under SGB IX (Eingliederungshilfe) via negotiated Leistungsvereinbarungen with regional Leistungsträger (funding agencies including Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Landkreis Karlsruhe, and Stadt Heidelberg). Supplementary funding comes through the Frank-Brecht-Stiftung (charitable foundation established 2008) for therapeutic measures, recreation, education, infrastructure, and individual assistance beyond statutory coverage. Customers are individuals with mental illness or psychological disabilities referred through psychiatric hospitals, doctors, social services, and youth welfare offices; the organization does not engage in active commercial marketing but relies on its 47+ year reputation, professional networks, community events, and the annual Heidelberg Symposium on Social Psychiatry for awareness. Distribution is entirely direct through owned/operated facilities and outreach services in clients' own living spaces across the Rhine-Neckar region.

Name

St. Thomas

Legal name

St. Thomas e.V.

Website

https://st-thomas.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

St. Thomas e.V. is a German nonprofit psychiatric aftercare organization founded in 1976, providing residential care, day structure programs, outpatient assisted living, youth services, and animal-assisted therapy to approximately 270-275 people with mental illness or psychological disabilities across six facilities in Baden-Württemberg, funded through German SGB IX social welfare payments and the Frank-Brecht-Stiftung.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Psychiatric Aftercare Services

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Mental Health Treatment Centers (HLAFACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outpatient Mental Health Clinics & Counseling Centers (HLAFACAA), Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL)

Keywords

• Psychiatric aftercare services
• Residential mental health care
• Outpatient assisted living
• Therapeutic day programs
• Supported living services

Headquarters

HQ city

Walldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Social Welfare Funding (Eingliederungshilfe): St. Thomas e.V. operates as a recognized charitable organization (gemeinnützig) providing care for mentally ill and psychologically disabled individuals. The organization receives funding through Germany's social welfare system (SGB IX - Eingliederungshilfe), specifically through regional Leistungsträger (funding agencies). Care services are financed based on negotiated Leistungsvereinbarungen (service agreements) with cost carriers. Additional funding comes through charitable donations to the Frank-Brecht-Stiftung for therapeutic measures, recreational activities, education, infrastructure, and individual assistance beyond what public funding covers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

St. Thomas e.V. operates psychiatric aftercare facilities providing residential care (Besondere Wohnformen, 206 places), day structure and promotion programs (Förder- und Betreuungsbereiche, 231 places), outpatient assisted living (54 places), youth residential services (10 places), and family-based supported living for adults with mental illness or psychological disabilities in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Services include psychotherapy, cognitive training, art and music therapy, sports, work therapy, animal-assisted therapy at Hammberger Hof, and 24-hour care delivered by multi-professional teams under Germany's social welfare framework (SGB IX and SGB VIII).

Product overview

St. Thomas e.V. is a nonprofit psychiatric aftercare organization offering a comprehensive, multi-tiered system of care services for people with mental illness or psychological disabilities. The portfolio consists of three core service pillars: (1) Besondere Wohnformen providing 206 residential places across three locations with 24/7 care, (2) Förder- und Betreuungsbereiche offering 231 day-structure places for skill development through work therapy, creative activities, and animal-assisted therapy, and (3) Assistenzleistungen providing 54 assisted-living places for independent community living. Supporting these are specialized services including psychotherapy, computer-based cognitive training, art/music therapy, and leisure programs. The Hammberger Hof therapy center integrates a restaurant and riding stable for animal-assisted interventions. The Frank-Brecht-Stiftung provides supplementary funding for therapeutic measures, education, and infrastructure beyond statutory coverage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hammberger Hof: Therapy center operated by St. Thomas e.V. featuring a restaurant with Mediterranean ambiance and upscale cuisine, as well as an equestrian facility. Offers day structure programs, animal-assisted therapy, and leisure activities for people with mental illness.
• Frank-Brecht-Stiftung

Products and services

• Besondere Wohnformen (Special Living Arrangements) Psychiatric aftercare residential facilities providing 206 total places across three locations (Graben-Neudorf 86 places, Heidelberg 80 places, Schwetzingen 40 places) for adults with mental illness or psychological disabilities, offering 24/7 comprehensive care, support, and accommodation under SGB IX.
• Förder- und Betreuungsbereiche (Promotion and Care Areas)

Quantifiable outcome

• Enables approximately 270-275 people annually to receive individualized care, assistance, and support toward self-determined living

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Der Paritätische WohlfahrtsverbandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDer Paritätische is shown as a partner organization, likely representing membership in this major German welfare association which provides support in areas such as advocacy, quality standards, and professional development for social service organizations.
• Sparkasse KarlsruheminorOthersSparkasse Karlsruhe is shown as a partner, appearing in connection with donations and the organization's IBAN for bank transfers. Also sponsors the annual Heidelberg Symposium.
• RH ConstructionminorOthersConstruction partner shown in partnership section, likely involved in facility maintenance and renovation projects.
• Remote School (Fernschule)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing cooperation with a remote/flexible schooling provider enables youth at the Reilingen facility to receive necessary schooling within the institution when attending regular schools is not possible.
• Various regional institutions (ambulatory care services, addiction counseling, family relief services, debt counseling, social psychiatric services, day centers, legal guardians)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Thomas cooperates with various regional institutions for the 'Begleitetes Wohnen in Familien' program, including ambulatory care services, addiction counseling centers, family relief services, debt counseling, social psychiatric services, day centers, and legal guardians to provide comprehensive support for clients in family settings.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Asklepios Kliniken: One of Germany's largest private hospital groups with significant psychiatric and psychosomatic capacity. Adjacent to St. Thomas in the broader mental health continuum, but focused on acute hospital care rather than residential aftercare.
• SRH Kliniken: Germany-wide network of rehabilitation and psychiatric clinics. Adjacent rather than direct peer: provides inpatient and acute psychiatric services rather than the community-based aftercare that is St. Thomas's core offering.

Broad incumbents

• Der Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband: National umbrella for non-confessional non-profit social service providers in Germany; St. Thomas is a member. Comparable sector exposure via member organizations delivering SGB IX residential mental health care.
• Diakonie Deutschland: National umbrella welfare organization of Protestant social services in Germany, operating thousands of residential and outpatient care facilities. Overlaps with St. Thomas on psychiatric aftercare but at vastly larger scale and breadth.
• Caritas Deutschland: National Catholic welfare association providing residential, outpatient, and therapeutic services nationwide. Comparable care domains to St. Thomas, but operating at federation-level scale with much broader service mix.

Direct peers

• Von Bodelschwinghsche Stiftungen Bethel: One of Germany's largest non-profit social service providers, with extensive residential psychiatric care, supported housing, and therapeutic services across multiple regions. Highly comparable mission and operating model to St. Thomas, with significantly larger scale.
• Lebenshilfe Werk Main-Taunus: Local Lebenshilfe affiliate providing residential and outpatient services for people with disabilities including mental illness. Comparable at the regional SGB IX provider level, although primary focus is intellectual rather than psychiatric disability.
• Josefsheim Bigge: Olsberg-based non-profit offering residential, work, and therapeutic programs for people with mental illness and disabilities. Comparable service portfolio and SGB IX-financed operating model to St. Thomas.
• Graf Recke Stiftung: Düsseldorf-based non-profit offering residential care, assisted living, and therapeutic services for people with mental illness and disabilities. Comparable to St. Thomas as a similarly structured Eingliederungshilfe provider with multi-tier care pathways and SGB IX funding exposure.
• Stiftung Liebenau: Meckenbeuren-headquartered non-profit foundation providing residential, therapeutic, and assisted-living services for people with mental illness and disabilities in Baden-Württemberg and beyond. Direct regional and operational peer of St. Thomas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/St_Thomas_eV
• Facebookfacebook.com/sttomas.ev
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st.-thomas-e.v.
• Instagraminstagram.com/st_thomas_e_v

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about St. Thomas