Blå Kors

What Blå Kors does

Blå Kors is Norway's largest nonprofit actor in the addiction field, founded in 1906 and headquartered in Oslo (Storgata 38), with operations across ~60-62 distinct entities in the country. It addresses the full lifecycle of addiction-related social harm through three integrated service areas: prevention and upbringing (especially for children and youth), specialized addiction treatment (interdisciplinary specialized treatment, TSB, for alcohol, narcotics, medications, gambling, gaming, and pornography), and inclusion (work reintegration, housing, street-level outreach, follow-up after treatment). Core products include the Blå Kors Kompasset therapy service for youth aged 13-35 raised in homes with addiction; Blå Kors Klinikkene treatment clinics; Blå Kors Barnas Stasjon family support centers; Blå Kors Gatenært street-level services; Blå Kors Boligtiltak housing programs; Blå Kors Videregående Skoler adapted secondary schools; Blå Kors Arbeid og Inkludering work-inclusion services; the Foreldreguiden parent resource bank; and anonymous youth chat services (Snakkompsyken.no, Snakkommobbing.no). Technology use is modest: online therapy platforms, anonymized chat interfaces, Google Analytics and Facebook/Meta Pixel for marketing analytics, Microsoft 365 for productivity, Vimeo/YouTube for content, and a dedicated AI policy page on the website. There are no proprietary AI/ML products, in-house models, or disclosed AI-driven features.

The business is a mixed-revenue nonprofit model. Funding sources include charitable donations (one-time, monthly recurring via Vipps/card, D2D field fundraising, telemarketing), corporate gifts (suggested tiers of 15,000-50,000 NOK for specific programs, tax-deductible), testamentary/bequest gifts (facilitated via a partnership with Ræder Bing Advokatfirma), membership fees (100-500 NOK annually, ~1,800 active members), and government/public-sector funding via driftsavtaler with Norwegian regional health authorities. Services to end users are predominantly free; outpatient clinics apply standard Norwegian health-system co-pays. Fundraising efficiency is high: a 96.2% purpose percentage (2023) per Innsamlingskontrollen certification, with only 3.8% to administration and fundraising. Distribution occurs through direct in-person delivery at ~60 physical sites, self-serve digital channels for no-referral services, and referral-mediated access via GPs, NAV (Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration), and child welfare services for most clinical programs. Blå Kors is a member of International Blue Cross (~40 global member organizations) and an umbrella for 12 national organizations and religious communities in the substance field, with H.K.H. Crown Princess Mette-Marit as patron.

Name

Blå Kors

Legal name

Blå Kors Norge

Website

https://blakors.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Blå Kors is a 120-year-old Norwegian nonprofit that delivers addiction prevention, specialized treatment, family support, street-level outreach, housing, adapted education, and labor-market inclusion across ~60-62 entities nationwide, serving 42,750 individuals and reaching 1.8 million through prevention in 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Welfare and Addiction Treatment Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Student Wellness & Prevention Programs (Substance Use, Sexual Health, Bullying) (EDAJAIAG)

Keywords

• Addiction treatment services
• Substance abuse prevention
• Family support programs
• Social welfare services
• Youth mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Skien

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices44 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Charitable donations and fundraising: Primary revenue source. Blå Kors receives donations from private individuals through one-time gifts, monthly recurring giving, Vipps, door-to-door field recruitment, telemarketing, and corporate donations. The organization is certified by Innsamlingskontrollen with a stated purpose percentage of 96.2% (2023).
2. Government and public sector funding: Blå Kors receives government grants and public funding through regional health authority agreements (driftsavtaler med regionale helseforetak) to operate treatment institutions, outpatient clinics, and social services under the Norwegian welfare system.
3. Membership fees: Annual membership fees ranging from 100 to 500 NOK depending on membership type (individual, couple, family, youth). Provides approximately 1,800 active members as a revenue stream.
4. Corporate and business partnerships: Corporate gifts and business sponsorship arrangements. Companies can contribute through targeted donations for specific programs (e.g., 15,000 NOK for seasonal clothing for families, 25,000 NOK for leisure activities, 50,000 NOK for meals). Tax deductible for businesses.
5. Testamentary and memorial gifts: Bequests and testamentary gifts from individuals, often facilitated through partnerships with law firms offering free legal advice for testament drafting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Blå Kors is Norway's largest non-profit actor in the addiction field, delivering a comprehensive ecosystem of social welfare services including addiction prevention programs, specialized addiction treatment (TSB) at multiple clinics, therapy for youth affected by family addiction, family support centers, adapted secondary schools, housing and street-level outreach for homeless people, work inclusion programs, and child welfare services. The organization operates approximately 60 service businesses across Norway, reaching roughly 42,750 service users and 1.8 million people through prevention programs annually.

Product overview

Blå Kors is a Norwegian non-profit organization operating approximately 60-62 businesses across the country, organized as a single unified social services portfolio rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The organization provides services in three main areas: upbringing/prevention (especially for children and youth), addiction treatment (the largest non-profit provider in Norway), and inclusion. Key products include: Blå Kors kompasset (therapy for young people aged 13-35 affected by addiction at home), Blå Kors behandling/klinikker (addiction treatment clinics offering interdisciplinary specialized addiction treatment), Blå Kors barnas stasjon (family support services), Blå Kors chat-senter (anonymous chat services for youth), Blå Kors barnevern (child welfare), Blå Kors barnehager (non-profit kindergartens), Blå Kors ferier (vacation programs for vulnerable families), Blå Kors gatenært (street-level outreach), Blå Kors videregående skoler (adapted upper secondary schools), Blå Kors arbeid og inkludering (work inclusion services), Blå Kors boligtiltak (housing services), Blå Kors steg for steg (follow-up after treatment), Blå Kors spilleavhengighet (gambling addiction treatment), Blå Kors krisesenter (crisis center), Foreldreguiden (parent guidance portal), Ressursbank (educational resource library), and Blå Kors Ung (youth organization). The organization reaches approximately 42,750 people annually and is affiliated with International Blue Cross.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Blå Kors Kompasset: Therapy and counseling services for young people aged 13-35 who have grown up in homes with alcohol or other addiction problems.
• Blå Kors Barnas Stasjon
• Blå Kors Gatenært
• Blå Kors Klinikk
• Snakkompsyken.no
• Snakkommobbing.no

Products and services

• Blå Kors Kompasset Free therapy service for young people aged 13-35 who have grown up in homes with parental or sibling addiction (alcohol, drugs). Offers individual therapy, group therapy, couples/family therapy, counseling, and online therapy, accessible without referral. Available at locations in Oslo, Bergen, Lillehammer, Sandnes, and Trondheim.
• Blå Kors Behandling (Klinikker) Addiction treatment clinics offering specialized interdisciplinary treatment (TSB) for alcohol, narcotics, medications, gambling, gaming, and porn addiction. Operates multiple clinics nationwide including Oslo sentrum, Oslo vest, Skien, Lade (Trondheim), Innlandet (Eina), Haugaland, Tjeldsund, and Loland. Inpatient treatment free through regional health authority agreements; outpatient subject to standard Norwegian co-pays.
• Blå Kors Barnas Stasjon Family support service providing guidance and support for families with complex challenges. Offers meals, activity programs, guidance, and support with clothing and equipment. Operates 10+ locations across Norway including Oslo, Trondheim, Kristiansand, Drammen, Skien, Hamar, Mandal, Lyngdal, Askøy, and Fredrikstad.
• Blå Kors Chat-senter (Snakkompsyken.no / Snakkommobbing.no) Anonymous chat services for children and youth where young people can talk anonymously with professionals about mental health (Snakkompsyken.no) and bullying (Snakkommobbing.no). Free and accessible without referral.
• Blå Kors Barnevern Child welfare service offering guidance, assessment, care, and treatment for children and families. Operates Blå Kors Barnevern Malvik and other child welfare units.
• Blå Kors Barnehager Private, non-profit kindergartens focused on seeing each individual child and the group as a whole. Includes Aglo barnehager and Blå Kors barnehage Øvrebø.
• Blå Kors Ferier Organized vacation programs for families with low income or mental health/addiction challenges, providing safe experiences for children and parents.
• Blå Kors Gatenært Street-level outreach services offering meals, social community, activities, social work, and guidance for people with addiction challenges or homelessness. Operates 8 locations across Norway (Oslo, Bergen, Fredrikstad, Gjøvik, Horten, Alta, Åkra, Kristiansand).
• Blå Kors Videregående Skoler Upper secondary schools with adapted teaching, small class sizes, no homework, and higher adult density that create opportunities for mastery. Includes schools Hop, Seiersborg (Follo and Fredrikstad), Grimstad, Øvrebø, and Aglo.
• Blå Kors Arbeid og Inkludering Work and inclusion services helping people into employment and activity. Includes job counseling, work training, café/catering, car detailing, painting services, and reuse store. Operates at locations in Oslo, Ringerike, Fredrikstad, and Sarpsborg.
• Blå Kors Boligtiltak Housing services for people with addiction challenges and/or other psychosocial challenges. Located in Oslo, Fredrikstad, Kristiansand, Tromsø, Ålesund, and Sarpsborg.
• Blå Kors Steg for Steg Follow-up services after treatment and incarceration, providing step-by-step support for people seeking change in areas of addiction, crime, and mental health. Operates in Drammen, Grenland, Trondheim, and Haugesund.
• Blå Kors Spilleavhengighet Free remote treatment service for adults with gambling and gaming addiction problems, without referral required.
• Blå Kors Krisesenter Crisis and incest center providing safety and help for families with acute need, including services for Fredrikstad and Hvaler.
• Blå Kors Ung Separate child and youth organization within Blå Kors providing leisure activities and support for young people.
• Blå Kors Internasjonalt arbeid International prevention work as part of the organization's charitable mission, including membership in International Blue Cross with approximately 40 member organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96.2% of donations go directly to program activities (2023)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Helsesykepleierne NSF (Norwegian Nurses Organisation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelsesykepleierne NSF provided professional input and expertise in developing the Foreldreguiden content, ensuring the materials meet professional standards for use by health nurses and parents.
• Ræder Bing AdvokatfirmaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRæder Bing Advokatfirma offers free legal assistance to individuals wishing to draft a will that includes Blå Kors as a beneficiary. This partnership enables Blå Kors to receive bequests and provides a valuable service to donors — no obligation to include Blå Kors in the will is required.
• International Blue CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlå Kors is a member of International Blue Cross, a global network of approximately 40 member organizations working with addiction prevention and treatment. This membership provides international collaboration, knowledge sharing, and reputational strength.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Frelsesarmeen Norge: Norwegian arm of the Salvation Army, operating addiction treatment, housing, social services, and family support programs with a faith-based identity. Directly comparable in mission, target population, and reliance on a mix of government contracts and charitable donations.
• Kirkens Bymisjon: Faith-based Norwegian social welfare nonprofit that provides overlapping services including street-level outreach, housing for vulnerable populations, work inclusion, and family support across Norway. Targets similar populations (homeless, addiction, poverty) with a similar diaconal operating model and fundraising mix.
• Borgestadklinikken: Specialized addiction treatment clinic located in Skien (Blå Kors's home city), providing TSB services for alcohol, drug, and gambling addiction under regional health authority contracts. Directly competes with Blå Kors Klinikk Skien for patient referrals in the Grenland region.
• Stiftelsen Bergensklinikkene: Norwegian nonprofit foundation operating specialized addiction treatment clinics in the Bergen region, directly comparable to Blå Kors Klinikkene's TSB services. Competes for the same regional health authority driftsavtaler and patient referrals for alcohol, drug, and gambling addiction treatment.

Regional players

• Caritas Norge: Norwegian Catholic welfare organization providing refugee integration, family support, and social services across Norway. Operates as a faith-based nonprofit with similar reliance on donations and government contracts, competing for the same donor and volunteer base.

Broad incumbents

• Røde Kors Norge: Norwegian Red Cross, the country's largest humanitarian nonprofit with overlapping activity in youth support, refugee services, and social inclusion. Operates at a much larger scale across a broader humanitarian mandate but competes for the same volunteer pool and donor wallet in Norway.
• St. Olavs Hospital HF (TSB-avdelingen): Public hospital trust operating the largest TSB (tverrfaglig spesialisert rusbehandling) department in Trondheim, providing specialized addiction treatment under regional health authority ownership. Represents the public-sector alternative to Blå Kors's nonprofit clinic model.

Emerging players

• Mental Helse Norge: Norwegian national mental health peer support and advocacy organization with significant overlap in youth mental health and family support services. Operates peer support lines and self-help groups that partially overlap with Blå Kors's Kompasset therapy and Snakkompsyken chat services.

Others

• Norsk Sykepleierforbund (NSF): Norwegian Nurses Organisation, which through its Helsesykepleierne division provided professional input on Blå Kors's Foreldreguiden content. Acts as an enabling ecosystem partner for Blå Kors's prevention work rather than a direct competitor.
• Actis - Rusfeltets samarbeidsorgan: Norwegian umbrella organization for addiction policy and advocacy representing ~40 member organizations in the substance use field. Comparable in ecosystem role to Blå Kors's umbrella function over its 12 member organizations, and shares prevention-policy goals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCndjYJ7PwWJOcPfazJjlQDA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Borgestadklinikken
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bl-kors-norge
• Instagraminstagram.com/blakors
• Xx.com/blakors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries14 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 Blå Kors