What Stiftung Deutsche Schlaganfall-Hilfe does

Stiftung Deutsche Schlaganfall-Hilfe is a private charitable foundation (Stiftung des privaten Rechts) headquartered in Gütersloh, North Rhine-Westphalia, founded by Liz Mohn and operating for over 30 years. It is the leading non-governmental organization in Germany dedicated exclusively to stroke, addressing prevention, acute care, rehabilitation, and long-term support for an addressable population of roughly 270,000 stroke incidents per year in Germany (approximately 60,000 in NRW). The foundation serves stroke survivors across all age groups (including children via the Schlaganfall-Kinderlotsen program), their families, the general at-risk public, and medical professionals, operating without a parent company and relying on donations and earned-income channels.

The foundation's product surface combines digital tools and human-delivered services. Core digital products include the FAST-Test mobile app (iOS/Android) for symptom recognition with direct 112 emergency call access, an online stroke risk test generating personalized risk profiles, and the 'Im Schlaglicht' quarterly Zoom event series that drew 2,300+ participants in H1 2025. Service offerings include the Schlaganfall-Lotsen navigator program, trained volunteer Schlaganfall-Helfer, certified Stroke Unit and Qualifizierte Sanitätshäuser directories, self-help group coordination, regional Partnerbüros, and the SPORTnachSCHLAG sports rehabilitation initiative with Landessportbund NRW and BRSNW. Content assets include the quarterly health magazine 'Thala' and a German-language educational library covering the acute-to-recovery continuum.

The foundation operates a donation-led nonprofit model. Core services — counseling, the expert hotline, the digital event series, the online risk test, and the FAST-Test app — are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. Revenue is generated through charitable donations (private individuals, corporate donors, institutional funders; processed via Fundraisingbox by Wikando GmbH), supplemented by one-time sales of publications and the 'Thala' magazine through the Medien- & Warenkorb e-commerce shop. The foundation holds the DZI-Spendensiegel, Erbschaftssiegel, and an external data protection certificate from 3cert GmbH, and is supervised by Bezirksregierung Detmold.

Name

Stiftung Deutsche Schlaganfall-Hilfe

Legal name

Stiftung Deutsche Schlaganfall-Hilfe

Website

https://schlaganfall-hilfe.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stiftung Deutsche Schlaganfall-Hilfe is a German charitable foundation providing stroke prevention, acute care navigation, rehabilitation support, and long-term patient services to stroke survivors, families, and the general public across Germany through digital tools, programs, and a nationwide partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Charity Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Stroke/Neuro-Rehabilitation SNFs (HLADADAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Balance, Fall Prevention & Gait Training In-Home (HSABADAH)

Keywords

• Stroke prevention services
• Patient navigation programs
• Health information publishing
• Volunteer support programs
• Stroke rehabilitation coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Gütersloh

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The foundation's primary revenue stream consists of donations from private individuals, corporate donors, and institutional funders. The organization holds the DZI Donation Seal and operates online donation forms, direct bank transfers (Sparkasse Gütersloh-Rietberg), and online fundraising campaigns. Targeted giving options allow donors to support specific programs.
2. Publications and Media Shop Sales: The foundation sells informational brochures, materials, and the quarterly health magazine 'Thala' through its Medien- & Warenkorb (media and shopping cart) e-commerce platform. Publications cover topics including stroke prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and living with stroke. Orders are shipped via logistics partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Stiftung Deutsche Schlaganfall-Hilfe is a non-profit foundation providing stroke prevention education, acute care navigation, rehabilitation support, and long-term peer support for stroke survivors, families, and the general public in Germany. Its core offerings include the FAST-Test mobile app, online stroke risk assessment, the Schlaganfall-Lotsen (stroke navigator) post-discharge care program, the Schlaganfall-Helfer volunteer companion program, a toll-free helpline, certified Stroke Unit quality certification, and an information publication program including the quarterly Thala health magazine.

Product overview

Stiftung Deutsche Schlaganfall-Hilfe (German Stroke Foundation) operates as a nonprofit charitable organization providing a portfolio of information services, screening tools, counseling, and support programs for stroke prevention, acute care, rehabilitation, and long-term living with stroke. The core digital products include the Thala health magazine (a quarterly publication addressing stroke topics), the FAST-Test app (for stroke symptom recognition with emergency call integration), and an online stroke risk test. Service offerings encompass the Schlaganfall-Helfer volunteer companion program, Schlaganfall-Lotsen navigation services, Schlaganfall-Kinderlotsen for pediatric stroke families, an online shop (Medien- & Warenkorb), digital events via Zoom, telephone expert consultations, self-help group coordination, and directories of certified stroke units and qualified medical suppliers. The organization also provides funding for sports programs (SPORTnachSCHLAG) and maintains a network of regional partner offices throughout Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FAST-Test: A mobile application for recognizing stroke symptoms using the FAST test methodology
• Schlaganfall-Lotsen
• Schlaganfall-Helfer
• Im Schlaglicht
• Thala

Products and services

• Thala – Das Gesundheitsmagazin (Thala Health Magazine) A quarterly health magazine published by the foundation covering stroke prevention, treatment, recovery, and living with stroke. The publication addresses topics such as symptoms, risk factors, rehabilitation, and personal stories of affected individuals, including dedicated issues focused on gender-specific stroke risks for women.
• FAST-Test Mobile Application A mobile application implementing the FAST stroke symptom checklist with three simple questions about common stroke symptoms (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties). The app allows users to directly trigger an emergency call to 112 from within the application.
• Schlaganfall-Risikotest (Online Stroke Risk Test) An online stroke risk assessment tool based on medical-scientific principles that generates a personalized stroke risk profile for users. The profile is deleted immediately after viewing when the user leaves the page.
• Im Schlaglicht – Digitale Veranstaltungen (Digital Event Series) A free digital event series conducted via Zoom featuring expert presentations on stroke-related topics. The program includes medical subjects, practical daily life guidance, and social law questions, allowing participants to ask questions directly to specialists. Over 2,300 participants attended in H1 2025.
• Schlaganfall-Helfer (Stroke Helper Volunteer Program) A volunteer program providing training for individuals to accompany and support stroke survivors and their families in daily life. The program includes both in-person and online training options for becoming a certified stroke helper.
• Schlaganfall-Lotsen (Stroke Navigator Service) A navigation service where trained guides personally assist stroke survivors through the network of acute care, rehabilitation, and aftercare. The service addresses the care gap that often arises after patients return home from the hospital.
• Schlaganfall-Kinderlotsen (Pediatric Stroke Navigator) A specialized support program for parents of children affected by stroke. The service provides guidance, practical assistance, and emotional support throughout the recovery journey for affected children and their families.
• Medien- & Warenkorb (Media Shop) An online shop offering informational materials, brochures, and resources related to stroke. Publications can be ordered for delivery and digital downloads may be available.
• Zertifizierte Stroke Units (Certified Stroke Unit Directory) A certification program for specialized hospital stroke units, maintaining a directory of certified facilities that meet quality standards for acute stroke treatment.
• Telefonischer Expertenrat (Telephone Expert Consultation) A telephone expert consultation service where specialists answer questions every second and fourth Wednesday of the month via the main phone line.
• Selbsthilfegruppen (Self-Help Groups) Support groups where stroke survivors can exchange experiences with others, build new contacts, and receive peer support. The foundation provides guidance on finding or establishing local groups.
• Partnerbüros: Beratung vor Ort (Regional Partner Offices) Regional partner offices providing local consultation and guidance, functioning as multipliers for stroke information and support services across Germany.
• Qualifizierte Sanitätshäuser (Qualified Medical Supply Stores) A directory of qualified medical supply stores that meet standards for providing aids and equipment to stroke survivors. Certified stores are featured on the foundation's address finder and referred to patients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,300 participants in digital events in first half of 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Heritas GmbH (Erblotse)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation hosts a reference to the 'Erblotse' (Inheritance Guide) on its website, an offering of Heritas GmbH that supports users with questions about creating a will. Data sharing occurs only with explicit user consent and is anonymous.
• Landessportbund NRW e.V. and Behinderten- und Rehabilitationssportverband Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. (BRSNW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation collaborates with the State Sports Confederation of NRW and the Disability and Rehabilitation Sports Association of NRW on the SPORTnachSCHLAG project, which financially and advisory supports sports clubs in establishing rehabilitation sports groups for stroke survivors. This is the foundation's flagship community sports initiative.
• Qualified Sanitätshäuser (Medical Supply Stores)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation maintains a certification program for medical supply stores ('Qualifizierte Sanitätshäuser') that meet standards for serving stroke survivors with appropriate aids and equipment. These partners are featured on the foundation's address finder and referred to patients.
• Schlaganfall-Lotsen (Stroke Navigator) Regional PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Schlaganfall-Lotsen program involves regional implementation partnerships with local healthcare providers and self-help organizations to deploy trained stroke navigators who accompany patients transitioning from hospital to home care. The program has expanded to cities including Gladbeck and aims to become standard care.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• National Stroke Foundation (Stroke Foundation Australia): Australia's leading stroke prevention and support organization running prevention campaigns, FAST awareness, and survivor support. Directly comparable mission, but operates in Australia rather than Germany.
• Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada: Canadian health charity combining cardiovascular and stroke missions. Comparable as a national non-governmental health charity running prevention, research funding, and survivor support, with a regional (Canadian) rather than German focus.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Herzstiftung: Germany's largest cardiovascular foundation covering heart disease more broadly. Comparable as a major German health charity with overlapping donor pool, awareness campaigns, and information services, though with broader focus than stroke.
• Deutsche Krebshilfe: Germany's largest health charity with a national footprint, donor base, and information infrastructure. Comparable as a major German nonprofit health organization with similar fundraising and awareness campaigns, but focused on cancer rather than stroke.
• Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (German Red Cross): Germany's Red Cross national society providing broad health and social services including emergency response and care support. Comparable scale and national footprint, but with a broader humanitarian mandate rather than disease-specific focus.

Direct peers

• Stroke Association (UK): The UK's leading stroke charity providing information, support, and rehabilitation services for stroke survivors. Direct comparable in mission, target population, and service model (helpline, peer support, campaigning), differing only in geography.
• World Stroke Organization: Global nonprofit focused on stroke prevention, treatment, and long-term care. Directly comparable mission and worldwide Stroke Day campaigns, with the German foundation referenced as a participating member organization.
• American Stroke Association: A division of the American Heart Association dedicated to stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery. Operates the same combination of public education, FAST-Test awareness, survivor support, and healthcare professional certification as the German foundation.

Others

• Caritas Deutschland: Germany's Catholic social welfare organization providing care services, counseling, and support for vulnerable populations. Comparable as a large national nonprofit with care-navigation and aid-supply functions, though with broader social welfare rather than disease-specific focus.
• Aktion Mensch: Germany's largest private social lottery funding disability, inclusion, and youth welfare projects. Comparable as a major German social-sector nonprofit with significant fundraising infrastructure, but focused on disability inclusion rather than stroke specifically.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Schlaganfall_Dt
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DtSchlaganfallHilfe
• Facebookfacebook.com/schlaganfallhilfe
• Instagraminstagram.com/SchlaganfallHilfe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stiftung-deutsche-schlaganfall-hilfe

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Stiftung Deutsche Schlaganfall-Hilfe