Evangelische Schulstiftung in der EKD

What Evangelische Schulstiftung in der EKD does

Evangelische Schulstiftung in der EKD (ESS EKD) is a public-law foundation (Stiftung öffentlichen Rechts) under the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), headquartered in Hannover and founded in 1994. Originally established to finance the founding of new evangelical schools in eastern Germany after reunification, the foundation has evolved into a nationwide (länderkirchenübergreifend) operator of programs that support the nearly 1,000 Protestant schools in Germany, having contributed to the founding of nearly 200 such schools since inception.

The foundation runs a portfolio of distinct programs rather than a unified product platform. Core offerings include the AI-Literacy professional development program (currently accompanying 15 schools), the Gottesdienstlots*innen student worship-design program with its accompanying 'So geht Gottesdienst' online learning platform and ~50-unit teacher handbook, the 'Umbau inklusive' barrier-removal funding program (up to EUR 14,500 per application), the 'Sichtbar evangelisch' annual identity award, student scholarships for learning aids, trauma pedagogy and antisemitism digital lecture series open to state schools, and an annual inclusion/AI expert conference. Underlying technology includes an interactive web-based learning platform (lernerfolg.info), integrations with YouTube, EasyMeet24/Zoom for events, Twingle for donations, DigiWalk for digital tours, and Piwik for analytics.

The foundation is a non-profit entity with 11-50 employees and is funded primarily through EKD allocations and donations processed via Twingle GmbH. All programs, seminars, publications, conferences, and accommodation are provided free of charge to participating schools and teachers, with travel costs generally borne by participants. Governance rests with a Foundation Board chaired by Oberlandeskirchenrat Thomas Hofer and operational leadership provided by Pädagogische Geschäftsführerin Dr. Ina Döttinger, in office since January 1, 2022.

Name

Evangelische Schulstiftung in der EKD

Legal name

Evangelische Schulstiftung in der EKD

Website

https://schulstiftung-ekd.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Evangelische Schulstiftung in der EKD is a public-law foundation under Germany's Evangelical Church that funds and supports nearly 1,000 Protestant schools nationwide through free programs including AI-Literacy training, inclusion grants, worship-design curricula, and teacher professional development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-Profit Education Foundation Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (8131), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Attendance, Engagement & Truancy Intervention Services (EDAJAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental, Health & Safety / Sustainability (EHS, Environmental Compliance CE) (EDAAALAO), Teacher/Provider SEL Coaching & Implementation Training (ECE) (EDACAOAH), In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses) (EDACAIAB), Individualized Learning Plans & Differentiated Instruction Materials (IEP/IFSP-Aligned) (EDACAJAE)

Keywords

• Education foundation services
• School inclusion programs
• Teacher professional development
• Faith-based school funding
• Student scholarship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation operates as a public-law foundation (Stiftung öffentlichen Rechts) under the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). It is funded primarily through donations and charitable contributions. The website prominently features a donation mechanism via Twingle GmbH for online donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Evangelische Schulstiftung in der EKD (ESS EKD) is a public-law foundation under the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) that provides funding, professional development, and program support to Protestant/evangelical schools across Germany. Its portfolio includes startup funding for new schools, AI-literacy training for teachers, inclusion-focused grants (e.g., barrier removal and student scholarships), seminar series, and student empowerment programs such as Gottesdienstlots*innen (student-led worship design).

Product overview

Evangelische Schulstiftung in der EKD operates as an educational foundation supporting Protestant schools across Germany. Its portfolio consists of multiple distinct programs rather than a unified product platform: AI-Literacy für Kollegien provides professional development on AI competencies for teachers; Gottesdienstlots*innen trains students in worship design with an online learning platform; inclusion programs (Umbau inklusive, Stipendien für Hilfsmittel, ResonanzRaum R²) fund and support inclusive education; Sichtbar evangelisch is an award program for Protestant identity; and various seminar series (Evangelische Erkennbarkeit, Traumapädagogik) provide continuing education. The foundation also supports student entrepreneurship through MO(NU)MENT MAL! and the Naturkultour student company. Publications including prayer books and material handbooks complement the training offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AI-Literacy für Kollegien an evangelischen Schulen
• Gottesdienstlots*innen (Worship Guides)
• Umbau inklusive (Inclusive Conversion)

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 200 new evangelical schools founded in Germany since 1994 with foundation support
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Schule im Aufbruch e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 April 2025ESS EKD partnered with Schule im Aufbruch e.V. for the 'FREI DAY' support program for evangelical schools — a program enabling schools to implement project-based learning days.
• Wings of Hope Deutschland (Stiftung)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 September 2024The foundation cooperates with Wings of Hope Deutschland on the digital lecture series on trauma pedagogy ('Traumapädagogik'). The series, now in its fourth edition, provides pedagogical support for teachers and school staff dealing with traumatized (including refugee) children. Regina Miehling from Wings of Hope serves as the lecturer. Events are held on the Campus des Deutschen Schulpreises of the Robert Bosch Stiftung and funded through EKD resources.
• Evangelische Hochschule BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2024The 'Inklusion und KI' (Inclusion and AI) expert conference on March 14-15, 2024 in Berlin was jointly organized by the ESS EKD and the Evangelische Hochschule Berlin. The conference brought together ~120 participants from research and practice to discuss opportunities and challenges of AI in inclusive schooling.
• Zentrum für Erwachsenenbildung des Stephansstifts (Hannover)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 25 August 2022The seminar series 'Evangelische Erkennbarkeit und religiöse Sprachfähigkeit' (Evangelical Recognizability and Religious Language Proficiency) is hosted at the Stephansstift adult education center in Hannover. The venue provides the physical space for the four two-day modules.
• Campus des Deutschen Schulpreises (Robert Bosch Stiftung)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2022The trauma pedagogy lecture series is hosted on the Campus des Deutschen Schulpreises platform, operated by the Robert Bosch Stiftung. The platform provides the virtual event infrastructure for the four-part lecture series.
• Barbara-Schadeberg-StiftungminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2022The Barbara-Schadeberg-Stiftung co-supports the 'Teilhabe ermöglichen – Stipendien für Hilfsmittel' (Participation Grants for Learning Aids) program, providing at least 10 scholarships of up to 400 EUR per student per year for children at evangelical schools who need specific learning materials or aids.
• Initiative Neues Lernen e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The initiative co-moderates the 'ResonanzRaum R²' (Resonance Space) professional development series for evangelical schools undergoing inclusive transformation. The series combines expert lectures with peer networking and exchange.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Robert Bosch Stiftung: A major German foundation active in education and democratic society, which operates the Campus Deutscher Schulpreis — the platform ESS EKD uses for its trauma pedagogy series. Comparable as a high-profile German education funder and direct program partner.
• Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland: A German corporate foundation funding education, digital learning, and integration initiatives. Comparable as a private foundation with a national footprint in K-12 education programs and teacher professional development.
• Stiftung Lesen: A German non-profit foundation promoting reading literacy and media competence in schools, families, and communities. Comparable as a national non-profit foundation driving K-12 literacy and media-focused school programs across Germany.
• Karl Kübel Stiftung: A Hessian-based family foundation focused on early childhood, education, and family support. Comparable as a privately funded German education foundation running multi-year programs and international development cooperation projects.
• Joachim Herz Stiftung: A Hamburg-based private foundation funding education, science, and economic development, with notable programs in K-12 STEM and inclusion. Comparable as a German private foundation running national education programs and co-funding partners in the same philanthropic ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Deutsche Schulakademie: A German non-profit that recognizes and networks outstanding schools through the Deutscher Schulpreis and related programs. Comparable focus on K-12 school quality, professional development, and a national peer network of innovative schools.

Direct peers

• Schulstiftung des Bistums Essen: A Catholic diocesan school foundation in Germany that operates and sponsors Catholic schools in the Ruhr region. The most direct confessional peer to ESS EKD: a church-affiliated non-profit foundation supporting and operating a portfolio of K-12 schools with comparable funding and program structures.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Kinder- und Jugendstiftung (DKJS): A major German non-profit foundation supporting children and youth through school-based programs on participation, digital education, and inclusion. Comparable mission overlap on K-12 program funding and teacher training across Germany.
• Stiftung Bildung: A national German education foundation that advocates for educational equity and funds school-level projects across Germany. Directly comparable as a non-profit foundation channeling private and philanthropic capital into K-12 innovation, though secular rather than confessional in mission.
• Bertelsmann Stiftung: One of Germany's largest private operating foundations, with a major education portfolio (including the former workplace of ESS EKD's managing director Dr. Döttinger). Comparable as a large German education funder driving school reform and inclusion research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/schulstiftung.ekd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/evangelische-schulstiftung

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Evangelische Schulstiftung in der EKD