What Fondation de Vernand does

Fondation de Vernand is a Swiss public-utility foundation (fondation d'utilité publique) headquartered in Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Canton de Vaud, established in 1972 by INSIEME-VAUD (the cantonal association of parents of persons with intellectual disabilities). It delivers comprehensive, lifecycle support services for over 600 children, adults, and elderly individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders, organized into two main sectors: Enfance & Transition (childhood and transition) and Adultes (adult services). The service portfolio spans early intervention (Service Éducatif Itinérant, SEI), specialized schools using TEACCH and Denver methods for autism, socio-professional workshops (including Eco Tri Recycling and BLED Plaines du Loup), residential facilities ranging from fully supervised group homes to independent-living apartments, autism-specific microstructures with the Pôle Autisme Multidisciplinaire (PAM), home support (Accadom), and a dedicated aging facility (Maison Pour nos Aînés, MPA). Operations are distributed across 31 locations in 13 municipalities and staffed by more than 500 employees across nearly 30 job functions.

The foundation's revenue model is a hybrid typical of Swiss social-sector non-profits, dominated by recurring subsidies from the Canton de Vaud (the primary funder and surveillance authority) and supplemented by private donations, tax-exempt legacies and inheritances, activity revenue from socio-professional workshops (Atelier 4ème Gamme, Eco Tri Recycling, Ver'Zen restaurant, Christmas sales), and modest work-integration service contracts. There is no commercial pricing to end beneficiaries; service access is governed by social-services referral and public funding. The foundation is ISO 9001:2015 certified and complies with criteria for Latin social institutions, governed by a Foundation Council of 5–9 members that includes mandated parent representation.

Operationally, the foundation's technology stack is centered on specialized pedagogical methodologies (TEACCH, Denver model, structured environments) rather than software platforms; no proprietary technology, AI capabilities, or digital product offerings are documented. Marketing and stakeholder engagement occur through the quarterly Esprit de Vernand journal, an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube (including the FOCUS documentary series), biennial Festi'Vernand inclusive festival (5,000+ spectators), Christmas artisan sales, and partnerships with Swiss public broadcaster RTS. Strategic posture emphasizes geographic anchoring within Canton de Vaud, deepening autism specialization, addressing the emerging aging-with-disability demographic, and embedding beneficiaries into ordinary community settings through partnerships with EPFL, housing cooperatives, and municipal authorities.

Name

Fondation de Vernand

Legal name

Fondation de Vernand

Website

https://fondation-de-vernand.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Swiss public-utility foundation in Canton de Vaud delivering lifelong support (education, housing, vocational, and aging care) to 600+ individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism across 31 locations, funded primarily by cantonal subsidies, donations, and socio-professional activity revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Social Care Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Autism care programs
• Specialized education services
• Residential care facilities
• Vocational integration programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Subsidies: Public subsidies from the Canton de Vaud represent the primary funding source for operational activities and services
2. Private Donations: Individual donations supporting specific projects such as logopedia, adapted sports, tandem bikes, animal mediation, and circus activities
3. Legacies and Inheritances: The foundation is exempt from inheritance taxes, allowing full legacy contributions to support its mission
4. Activity Revenue: Revenue from activities including workshops, artisanal products (4th range Atelier), Eco Tri Recycling services
5. Work Integration Services: Socio-professional structures providing work opportunities with follow-up services for adults with disabilities

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fondation de Vernand is a Swiss public-utility foundation that delivers lifelong care, education, and social integration services to more than 600 children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders. Its portfolio spans early childhood intervention (Service Éducatif Itinérant), specialized schools, socio-professional workshops, residential homes, day centers, autism-specific microstructures, home support, and dedicated facilities for aging beneficiaries. Operating from 31 sites across 13 municipalities in the Canton of Vaud, the foundation coordinates multidisciplinary teams applying TEACCH and Denver pedagogical methods.

Product overview

Fondation de Vernand is a comprehensive social services organization offering a coordinated portfolio of care, education, and support services for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders across their entire lifespan. The organization operates as a unified ecosystem comprising two main sectors: Enfance & Transition (childhood and transition services) and Adultes (adult services). Core offerings include the Service Éducatif Itinérant (SEI) for early intervention, specialized schools, socio-professional workshops (including Eco Tri Recycling and BLED), residential living facilities, day centers, autism-specific microstructures with the PAM, home support services, and a dedicated aging facility (MPA). The Foundation also runs inclusive programs including the biennial Festi'Vernand festival, the FOCUS video documentary series, the institutional journal Esprit de Vernand, inclusive choir and circus programs, and therapeutic activities like tandem cycling. Services are coordinated across 31 locations in 13 communes throughout the canton of Vaud, Switzerland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Esprit de Vernand: The institution's journal/newsletter published regularly
• Festi'Vernand
• Ver'Zen
• FOCUS
• GIPAH

Products and services

• Service Éducatif Itinérant (SEI) Early intervention home-visit service for children aged 0-4 (sometimes up to 6) presenting developmental difficulties, providing weekly 90-minute specialized pedagogical sessions at family homes to support child development and parent competencies.
• École et Classes pour l'Autisme Specialized school programs for children aged 4-15 with autism spectrum disorders using TEACCH and Denver model approaches, with specialized classes integrated into ordinary schools.
• École pour Déficience Intellectuelle Specialized schooling for children and adolescents with cognitive support needs, featuring adapted environments, small class sizes, and individualized specialized pedagogy programs.
• Ateliers Socioprofessionnels Socio-professional workshops offering adapted work places with six teams developing diversified activities including production of goods, services, and crafts, with no individual productivity requirements.
• Eco Tri Recycling Integrated work team serving sustainable development in partnership with the City of Lausanne's Propreté service and EPFL, handling waste management for adults with disabilities.
• BLED Plaines du Loup Integrated work team in the eco-district of Plaines du Loup in Lausanne, operating in partnership with the cooperative housing Le Bled, established in 2023.
• Postes Intégrés Individualisés Integrated job positions in ordinary work environments with remote follow-up by socio-professional masters, providing a reassuring framework for both employee and host company.
• Lieux de Vie (Foyers et Résidences) Residential living facilities accompanying various levels of autonomy, with individual rooms preserving privacy, combining work and leisure in a secure environment for adults with disabilities.
• Centre de Jour Day center offering artistic, musical, culinary, and other activities as an alternative to work or free time, welcoming people with autism spectrum disorders and aging-related issues; opened in 2020.
• Microstructures pour l'Autisme Specialized small living units for complex autism situations with reinforced, multidisciplinary teams using TEACCH structured intervention methods.
• Pôle Autisme Multidisciplinaire (PAM) Multidisciplinary autism center offering structured activities based on the TEACCH method for residents of microstructures and external participants.
• Appartements et Habitations Groupées Intermediate apartments or grouped housing allowing independent living with daily educational support, prioritizing integration and autonomy.
• Accadom (Accompagnement à Domicile) Home support service allowing people to live in their own apartment with occasional educator support, also helping parents with disabilities maintain custody or visiting rights with their children.
• Pôle Santé Health services team providing curative care, prevention, community health approach, and palliative care support for residents.
• Maison Pour nos Aînés (MPA) Dedicated facility for aging people with intellectual disabilities, featuring four small units in modern architecture designed for mobility and autonomy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving 600+ individuals daily across all life stages
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GIPAH (Groupe interinstitutionnel des pôles d'animation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Inter-institutional group formed in 2013 connecting animation poles from various disability institutions. Enables reflection on practices, creates synergies through shared animation offerings, and promotes inclusive event programming including an open events calendar.
• INSIEME-VAUD (formerly Association vaudoise de parents de handicapés mentaux)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1972Parent association that founded the foundation in 1972. Still represented on the Foundation Council, ensuring family voice in governance and mission alignment.
• Canton de VaudcoreOthersPrimary public funding authority providing subsidies for operations. Oversight and regulatory relationship through surveillance authority.
• Ville de LausanneminorOthersCity partnership for municipal services and support.
• DGEO (Direction générale de l'enseignement obligatoire)minorOthersCantonal education authority for integration of specialized classes into public schools.
• EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)minorOthersPartnership for Eco Tri Recycling team working at EPFL facilities.
• Coopérative Le Bled (Plaines du Loup)minorOthersPartnership with housing cooperative for integrated work team placement in ecoquartier.
• Association LimitlessminorOthersPartnership for adapted sports including parkour, skate, and paddle activities at La Forge school.
• FermexploreminorOthersAgricultural/farm partnership for experiential learning activities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stiftung Balm: Swiss foundation in the Bern region providing residential care, day programs, and vocational services for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. Comparable in service mix (residential + workshops + day programs) and lifespan approach.
• Stiftung Wagerenhof: Swiss foundation offering residential, work integration, and supported living services for people with intellectual disabilities. Directly comparable as a multi-site Swiss foundation serving a similar IDD population with workshop and residential models.
• Stiftung Arkadis: Swiss foundation in Olten providing residential, occupational, and ambulatory services for people with disabilities. Comparable as a mid-sized Swiss foundation with similar workshop and residential offerings.
• Sevagram: Swiss organization providing residential and day services for people with intellectual disabilities in the Bern region. Comparable in service model, target population, and multi-site residential/workshop structure.

Regional players

• Fondation Ensemble: Geneva-based foundation serving people with intellectual disabilities through residential, day, and vocational programs. Comparable as a Romandie-region French-language peer with similar lifespan services.
• Fondation de l'Écho: Lausanne-based social foundation supporting disability and inclusion initiatives in the Vaud region. Comparable as a geographically overlapping Vaud foundation with related social mission and donor base.

Emerging players

• Lebenshilfe: Germany's largest federation of disability service providers, offering early intervention, education, housing, and work integration. Comparable in service breadth and lifespan approach, though operating under a different funding system.

Broad incumbents

• INSOS Schweiz: National umbrella association of Swiss providers of services for people with disabilities. Comparable as the overarching industry body governing the regulatory and funding framework within which Fondation de Vernand operates.
• Pro Infirmis: Switzerland's largest disability advocacy and service organization, offering housing, work, and advisory services nationwide. Comparable as a larger, broader-scope operator in the same Swiss disability services space.
• INSIEME Suisse: Swiss national association of parents of people with intellectual disabilities. Directly comparable as the parent of the founding association (INSIEME-VAUD) of Fondation de Vernand, sharing mission and family-centered governance.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FondationDeVernand1972
• Facebookfacebook.com/fondationdevernand
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondation-de-vernand
• Instagraminstagram.com/fondationdevernand/?hl=fr

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fondation de Vernand