German Heart Foundation

What German Heart Foundation does

Deutsche Herzstiftung e.V. (German Heart Foundation), founded in 1979 and headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, is Germany's largest independent nonprofit organization serving cardiovascular patients, their families, and the general public. It operates as a registered association (eingetragener Verein) governed by an Executive Board, Supervisory Board, and Scientific Advisory Board, and runs a dedicated sub-brand, Kinderherzstiftung, for children with congenital heart defects. Its portfolio spans expert-reviewed publications (HERZ heute, HERZBLATT, Herzbericht), digital tools (Herzinfarkt-Risiko-Test, Herznotfallambulanz-Suche, Dein Herzlotse, Digitaler KinderHerzCampus), a free Herz-Sprechstunde consultation service with cardiology specialists, podcasts (imPULS), Heart Weeks (Herzwochen) public campaigns, and prevention programs including HERZSICHER, Skipping Hearts, and Rauchzeichen und nachvorn.

The foundation's underlying technology stack is a digital health information platform built on a Drupal-based website (herzstiftung.de) with online consultations, downloadable publications, podcasts, and heart-health risk calculators. The stack is supported by standard third-party integrations for payments (Stripe, PayPal, Fundraisingbox), communications (Optimizely, WhatsApp), analytics (Google Analytics, Google AdWords, Google Tag Manager, VG Wort), consent management (Cybot/Cookiebot), and legacy-giving infrastructure (DFC, Heritas); risk-test calculation is powered by a Continum AG backend that processes health data inputs. No proprietary models, patents, or AI/ML systems are disclosed as foundation-owned assets.

The business model is a nonprofit, community-led GTM motion: EUR 36 annual membership dues generate recurring subscription revenue, complemented by diversified donation streams (one-time, commemorative, corporate, court-ordered Geldauflagen, and testamentary via the 'Testament mit Herz' program), publication sales, and grants of free materials. Customer segments are horizontal — primarily heart patients and families, secondarily medical professionals, and tertiarily the general public — with no enterprise customers, no venture backing, and no parent company. The May 2026 research partnership with BIOTRONIK, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and the German Heart Center Foundation (including an endowed professorship for Digital and Translational Cardiology) marks the foundation's most significant recent move into clinical-research collaboration and AI-adjacent translational work.

Name

German Heart Foundation

Legal name

Deutsche Herzstiftung e.V.

Website

https://herzstiftung.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Deutsche Herzstiftung e.V. is Germany's largest independent nonprofit heart organization, providing patient education, expert cardiology consultations, prevention programs, and research funding to cardiovascular patients, their families, medical professionals, and the general public across Germany, primarily through a EUR 36 annual membership model supplemented by donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cardiovascular Health Nonprofit / Patient Advocacy

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Cardiology (Consultative) (HLAKABAA), Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Preventive Cardiology & Lipidology (HLAKABAF)

Keywords

• Cardiovascular health education
• Heart disease prevention
• Patient support services
• Cardiac consultation services
• Medical research funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership dues of 36.00 EUR per year, providing members with access to publications, consultation services, and event invitations.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Accepts donations from individuals, commemorative donations, large donations, corporate donations, and court-ordered donations (Geldauflagen) to support heart research and prevention programs.
3. Publication Sales: Sale of brochures, cookbooks, health guides, and other educational materials on heart health topics.
4. Testamentary Giving: Legacy gifts and testamentary donations as part of the 'Testament mit Herz' program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Deutsche Herzstiftung e.V. (German Heart Foundation) is a nonprofit association that provides cardiovascular health education, expert medical consultation, and prevention programs to heart patients, their families, and the German public. Its core offerings include an annual membership program (EUR 36.00/year), expert-reviewed publications such as HERZ heute and the Herzbericht, a Herz-Sprechstunde consultation service staffed by cardiology specialists, and digital tools like the Herzinfarkt-Risiko-Test risk assessment. The foundation funds patient-oriented cardiac research and runs prevention programs including HERZSICHER, Skipping Hearts, and Rauchzeichen.

Product overview

Deutsche Herzstiftung e.V. operates as a unified nonprofit health organization offering patient education, medical consultation, and prevention services for cardiovascular diseases. The portfolio includes informational publications (HERZBLATT, HERZ heute, Herzbericht), digital tools (Herzinfarkt-Risiko-Test, Herznotfallambulanz-Suche, Dein Herzlotse), consultation services (Herz-Sprechstunde), and specialized sub-brand Kinderherzstiftung for pediatric cardiac care. Prevention programs include HERZSICHER, Skipping Hearts, and Rauchzeichen und nachvorn. The organization also provides digital platforms like Digitaler KinderHerzCampus for medical professionals. Core revenue comes from memberships (36 EUR/year), donations, and informational product sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kinderherzstiftung: A dedicated sub-brand of the Deutsche Herzstiftung focused on children with congenital heart defects (angeborene Herzfehler), offering specialized information, publications (HERZBLATT magazine), support groups, seminars, recreational activities, and social law counseling for affected families.

Products and services

• Annual Membership (Herzstiftung Mitgliedschaft)
• Herz-Sprechstunde (Heart Consultation Service)
• Herzinfarkt-Risiko-Test (Heart Attack Risk Assessment)
• Herzbericht (Annual Cardiac Care Report)
• HERZ heute (Member Magazine)
• Kinderherzstiftung (Children's Heart Foundation Sub-brand)
• Digitaler KinderHerzCampus
• HERZSICHER Prevention Program
• Skipping Hearts Prevention Program
• Rauchzeichen und nachvorn Prevention Program
• imPULS Podcast Series
• Broschüre: Leben mit Kunstherz (Artificial Heart Therapy Guide)
• Herzgruppen (Cardiac Exercise Groups)
• Dein Herzlotse (Physician and Clinic Finder)
• Herznotfallambulanz-Suche (Cardiac Emergency Facility Locator)
• Testament mit Herz (Testamentary Giving Program)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BIOTRONIKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026BIOTRONIK, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and the German Heart Center Foundation announced a research and innovation partnership focused on advancing digital and translational cardiology. The cooperation spans from early-stage ideation to joint development and contract research, with initial projects focusing on AI-driven tools and advanced simulation environments to improve device-based therapies.
• Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Charité is partnering with BIOTRONIK and German Heart Center Foundation in a research and innovation partnership for digital and translational cardiology. The collaboration includes joint development, contract research, and establishment of an endowed professorship for Digital and Translational Cardiology.
• German Heart Center Foundation (DHZC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026The German Heart Center Foundation is collaborating with BIOTRONIK and Charité on digital cardiology research. DHZC and BIOTRONIK are jointly funding an endowed professorship for Digital and Translational Cardiology at Charité, positioning Berlin as a leading hub for cardiovascular research in Europe.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Austrian Heart Foundation (Österreichischer Herzverband): Austrian heart patient association providing information, support groups, and rehabilitation services. Comparable in DACH heart patient education and support-group model, though smaller scale and Austria-only.

Broad incumbents

• World Heart Federation: Geneva-based global cardiovascular health umbrella organization. Comparable in CVD prevention advocacy and international member-foundation network, though operating at global rather than national scale.
• European Society of Cardiology: Pan-European professional cardiology organization producing clinical guidelines and congresses. Comparable in cardiovascular content authority and influence over European cardiology practice, though professionally rather than patient-focused.
• Herz-Kreislauf-Klinik (German Cardiac Rehabilitation Network): German Cardiac Society (DGK) — the professional association for German cardiologists. Comparable in cardiovascular content authority but serves physicians rather than patients directly.

Direct peers

• Schweizerische Herzstiftung (Swiss Heart Foundation): Switzerland's national heart foundation providing patient information, research funding, and prevention programs in German-speaking Europe. Highly comparable in DACH-region scope and mission focus.
• Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid): Germany's largest disease-specific nonprofit, focused on cancer rather than heart disease. Comparable as a German e.V. running similar membership, donation, research grantmaking, and patient education models.
• American Heart Association: The dominant U.S. cardiovascular nonprofit with nationwide health education, CPR training, scientific statements, and research funding. Directly comparable in mission, membership model, and multi-channel patient outreach.
• European Heart Network: Brussels-based alliance of national heart foundations across Europe including Deutsche Herzstiftung. Comparable as the umbrella coordinating body for heart-focused nonprofits and policy advocacy in cardiovascular prevention.
• British Heart Foundation: The UK's largest heart-focused charity, funding research and providing patient information and support. Closely comparable as a national-scale cardiovascular nonprofit with research grantmaking, patient education, and community fundraising.
• Stiftung Deutsche Depressionshilfe: Major German disease-specific nonprofit providing patient information, research funding, and a national helpline. Comparable as a German e.V. nonprofit running similar programs in a different (mental health) therapeutic area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/herzstiftung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 German Heart Foundation