SSBL

What SSBL does

SSBL Stiftung für selbstbestimmtes und begleitetes Leben is a Swiss non-profit foundation (Stiftung) established in 1972 in Emmen, Canton of Lucerne, providing residential, day-care, guest-stay, and day-employment services for adults with disabilities. With approximately 860 staff across 10 locations, the foundation operates up to 305 residential places across 37 residential groups plus 80 day-employment positions, supplemented by therapy (Heilpädagogisches Reiten, Therapiebad), vocational training across 10 professional tracks with ~88 apprentices, and community-integration programs such as the Galerie im Kloster Rathausen, Geschenkshop, and Restaurant pro nobis. Service delivery includes residential Wohnplätze, Tagesplätze, Gastplätze, Tagesbeschäftigung, and add-on offerings (Kompass housing navigator, atelier workshops, gallery, restaurant, therapy pool, therapeutic riding).

The foundation's business model is anchored by a Leistungsauftrag (service mandate) from the Canton of Lucerne, which provides the core public funding base for institutional disability care under Swiss social-services law. SSBL is a private nonprofit under Swiss civil law, governed by a Stiftungsrat and managed by an executive board (Geschäftsleitung) currently chaired by Walter Dellenbach (since 2023). Supplemental revenue streams include ZEWO-certified donations channeled via a digital Spendenshop and funeral/event/legacy giving; client fees for selected services such as leisure programs and therapeutic riding; gift-shop and restaurant revenue at the Rathausen and Luzern-Allmend sites; and gift-shop sales of client-produced artisan goods through geschenkshopssbl.ch. The foundation deploys only standard web/commercial infrastructure (Worldline payment iFrame, Google Analytics, Vimeo, solique ag recruiting platform) and has no proprietary technology platform, software stack, or AI/ML capability.

SSBL's go-to-market is a direct-to-consumer mandate model: prospective clients and families access the foundation via an Aufnahmeberatung & Anmeldung intake pathway; the canton funds ongoing care; donors, volunteers, and community partners are engaged via website content, public events (SSBL-Fäscht, Adventsmarkt, Mother's Day Brunch, Vernissages, Stadtlauf), the Zebi education fair for apprentice recruitment, and earned media in regional outlets (Tele 1, Luzerner Zeitung, Entlebucher Anzeiger). The foundation holds ZEWO, UND, and SODK-OST certifications, signalling trustworthy donation handling and work-life-balance standards, and pursues a Strategy 2030 emphasizing self-determination (Selbstbestimmung), community participation (Teilhabe), and personalized housing arrangements.

Name

SSBL

Legal name

SSBL Stiftung für selbstbestimmtes und begleitetes Leben

Website

https://ssbl.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

SSBL is a Swiss nonprofit foundation providing residential, day-care, guest-stay, and employment services for adults with disabilities in the Canton of Lucerne, funded primarily through a cantonal Leistungsauftrag across 10 locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Care and Social Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

Keywords

• Disability care services
• Assisted living facilities
• Residential care homes
• Vocational training programs
• Community integration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Emmen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Cantonal Mandate (Leistungsauftrag des Kantons Luzern): SSBL operates under a service mandate from the Canton of Lucern. Government funding from the canton forms the core financial basis for providing residential and daytime care services to adults with disabilities.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Donations from private individuals, organizations, and community groups. A digital Spendenshop enables targeted giving. The Sternsingeraktion Gelfingen raised nearly CHF 3,000 for SSBL Hitzkirch. ZEWO-certified donation practices.
3. Client Service Fees: Revenue from client fees for services, including leisure activities (Ferien und Freizeit), therapeutic services (Therapien und Hilfsmittel), and therapeutic riding (Heilpädagogisches Reiten). Meals at the pro nobis restaurant and gift shop sales also generate revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SSBL is a nonprofit foundation that provides residential housing, day care, guest care and day-employment for adults with disabilities at 10 locations across the Canton of Lucerne, operating under a formal Leistungsauftrag (service mandate) from the Canton of Lucerne. Its core offerings encompass 37 residential groups (capacity up to 305 Wohnplätze), approximately 80 day-employment positions, therapeutic services (therapy pool, therapeutic riding), vocational training across 10 professional directions, and inclusive community-integration programs such as the 'z'mitts drin' model. Supporting offerings include a digital Spendenshop for donations, a Geschenkshop selling client-made products, the Galerie im Kloster art gallery, and the Restaurant pro nobis open to the public.

Product overview

SSBL Stiftung für selbstbestimmtes und begleitetes Leben is a social services foundation operating as a platform of interconnected care and support services for adults with disabilities in the canton of Lucerne. The core offering consists of residential housing (Wohnplätze) for up to 305 adults across 37 groups at 10 locations, supplemented by day care (Tagesplätze), guest care (Gastplätze), and approximately 80 day employment positions (Tagesbeschäftigung). Supporting services include a Geschenkshop selling client-made products, a Spendenshop enabling targeted donations, the Galerie im Kloster showcasing client art, a therapy pool, therapeutic riding, and the Kompass housing navigator. The foundation operates restaurants and garden workshops, all aligned with Strategy 2030 promoting self-determination and societal participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kompass: New residential offering with individually adapted infrastructure for clients
• Wohnen und Arbeiten z'mitts drin
• Atelier Kreativ
• Atelier Musisch Basal
• Sunflower-Lanyard Initiative

Products and services

• Wohnplätze (Residential Housing) Residential housing for adults with disabilities at 10 locations in the Canton of Lucerne, offering 37 residential groups with capacity for up to 305 residents. Housing is individually adapted to each client's needs and operates under a cantonal Leistungsauftrag.
• Tagesplätze (Day Care) Day care and employment opportunities for adults with disabilities, providing meaningful daytime activities and social integration through workshops and ateliers across SSBL locations.
• Gastplätze (Guest Care) Temporary or short-term care placements for people with disabilities, providing family caregivers respite while ensuring continuous support for guests during their stay.
• Tagesbeschäftigung (Day Employment) Work and employment programs providing approximately 80 day-employment positions for adults with disabilities across various atelier and workshop settings within the SSBL network.
• Spendenshop (Digital Donation Shop) Digital donation platform allowing donors to contribute to specific causes including client wishes, holidays and leisure activities, therapies and aids, and therapeutic riding programs.
• Geschenkshop (Gift Shop) Gift shop selling handcrafted products created by SSBL clients, including gift items from the Atelier Kreativ workshop, with locations at Rathausen and Luzern-Allmend plus an online shop at geschenkshopssbl.ch.
• Galerie im Kloster (Art Gallery) Art gallery located in the monastery of Rathausen showcasing artworks created by SSBL artists, open to external artists and featuring rotating exhibitions accessible to the public.
• Heilpädagogisches Reiten (Therapeutic Riding) Therapeutic horseback riding program that improves body perception and concentration, with donations supporting individual clients' annual participation in the program.
• UK-Kochbuch (Accessible Communication Cookbook) Accessible Communication Cookbook created collaboratively by SSBL and BSZ Schwyz with nearly 300 clients. Uses supported communication (UK) symbols and METACOM pictograms to make cooking accessible to people with disabilities. Available for CHF 5.00 (plus shipping).
• Kompass (Individualized Housing Navigator) New housing offer with individually adapted infrastructure for each client, functioning as a directional guide for personalized living arrangements aligned with SSBL's Strategy 2030.
• Restaurant pro nobis Restaurant operated by SSBL offering midday meals, available to clients, staff and the general public, located at Rathausen, hosting events such as the Mother's Day Brunch with LSO-Quartett concerts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 70 SSBL Runners participated in the Luzerner Stadtlauf 2026, demonstrating community participation and physical activity.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SBB (Swiss Federal Railways)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SBB distributes Sunflower-Lanyards (green ribbons with sunflower pattern) free of charge and without proof requirement at all SBB travel centers across Switzerland since spring 2026. The lanyard makes invisible disabilities visible and SBB staff are trained to recognise it.
• KESB Hochdorf (Child and Adult Protection Authority)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The KESB Hochdorf commissioned two large artworks from SSBL's Atelier Kreativ for their staircase. The artworks were officially unveiled at a vernissage in March 2026, with the artists present to sign their works.
• InsiemecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Insieme Lucerne organises holiday programmes (Bewohnerferien) for SSBL clients. SSBL supports these holidays through donations and collaborative planning. A specific summer holiday with Insieme was listed as a completed fundraising goal.
• Harley Club Chapter LucernecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 202529-year ongoing partnership. The Harley Club hosts annual outings for SSBL clients at Rossweid in Entlebuch. In 2025, 120 participants from SSBL and HPZ Schüpfheim enjoyed motorcycle rides and a festive gathering. The club also makes generous donations.
• BSZ SchwyzcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025BSZ Schwyz collaborated with SSBL on the UK Cookbook project (Kochbuch aus der HSL-Küche). Students worked with SSBL clients to collect recipes and create a cookbook using supported communication (UK) and METACOM pictograms. A non-profit project priced at CHF 5.
• Die RodteggminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Representatives from Die Rodtegg visited SSBL's open atelier day in May 2025, creating inter-institutional connections in the disability care sector.
• BlickfeldminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Representatives from Blickfeld attended SSBL's open atelier day in May 2025, strengthening sectoral networks in disability services.
• Luzern Live FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Luzern Live Festival included SSBL clients and their caregivers in their volunteer team for the second time. Clients performed tasks such as serving beverages, selling festival wristbands, and delivering pizzas, demonstrating community integration through employment.
• Worldline S.A.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Worldline S.A. processes online donation payments for SSBL via an embedded iFrame on the SSBL website. Donation form data is transmitted to Worldline for payment processing.
• HPZ Schüpfheim ( Heilpädagogisches Zentrum)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025HPZ Schüpfheim participates in joint events with SSBL, including the 29th annual Harley Club outing to Rossweid, alongside SSBL clients.
• LSO-QuartettminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025The LSO-Quartett performed at the Mother's Day Brunch concert in the Klosterkirche at Rathausen, providing a musical programme as part of the event.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Blickfeld: Disability services organization in the Lucerne region that participated in SSBL's open atelier day; provides comparable day-care and integration programs for adults with disabilities.
• Stiftung Rossfeld: Bern-based foundation offering residential schooling, vocational training, and supported living for children, youth, and adults with disabilities, with comparable residential + day program + apprenticeship structure.
• Stiftung Wagerenhof: Large Uster-based residential and workshop foundation for people with disabilities, operating across multiple sites with housing, day employment, and therapy services analogous to SSBL.
• Die Rodtegg: Lucerne-based disability foundation providing residential, day, and workshop services for adults with disabilities, directly comparable to SSBL's mandate and service mix within the same canton.
• Stiftung Brüttelenbad: Swiss disability foundation operating residential groups, ateliers, and day programs in the Seeland/Bern region, with a service portfolio directly parallel to SSBL's offerings.
• Stiftung Joël: Swiss foundation providing residential care, workshops, and supported employment for people with disabilities, with a comparable multi-site cantonal operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Pro Infirmis: Switzerland's largest disability advocacy and service organization, providing counseling, supported living, and inclusion programs nationwide with a comparable disability-services mandate at national scale.
• Insieme Schweiz: National umbrella association for organizations supporting people with intellectual disabilities; collaborates directly with SSBL on holiday programs and represents the broader category of Swiss disability advocacy and service providers.
• Curaviva Schweiz: Swiss industry association for care homes and social institutions; SSBL operates in the residential disability care category represented by Curaviva's membership base.

Regional players

• HPZ Schüpfheim (Heilpädagogisches Zentrum): Heilpädagogisches Zentrum operating in the Entlebuch region of Canton Lucerne; participates in joint SSBL events such as the Harley Club outing and offers comparable disability education and care services in a sub-region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7450254192163717120

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 SSBL