What Buehl Foundation does

Stiftung Bühl (Buehl Foundation) is a Swiss charitable foundation headquartered in Wädenswil, Canton of Zurich, that delivers education, vocational training, residential care, and sheltered employment services to children, youth, and adults with intellectual disabilities and learning disabilities. Its service architecture is organized in three pillars: Sonderschule und Wohnen (special school education and residential living for children/youth, including the Heilpädagogische Schule, Sonderschule 15+, and a Therapeutische Wohnschulgruppe); Berufsbildung und Wohnen (vocational training and supported living, delivered through eight training businesses spanning organic gardening, organic agriculture, gastronomy, metalwork, assembly, carpentry, garden and landscape construction, and facility services, plus a newer Bäckerei-Konditorei track); and Geschützte Arbeit (sheltered employment for adults, with an Integrationsprogramm and primary-labor-market pathways such as PassParTous and Supported Education). The foundation also operates therapeutic riding (Heilpädagogisches Reiten), an on-site Bühl-Laden, an online Kunstkarten-Shop, culinary gift products, and a vacation rental (Ferienhaus Friedheim in Braunwald). There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is human-intensive and based on licensed special-pedagogical, therapeutic, and vocational expertise.

The foundation is funded through three principal streams: Swiss disability-insurance (Invalidenversicherung/IV) reimbursements for educational, vocational, and sheltered placements; voluntary donations (processed via PostFinance QR-bills and a planned-giving partnership with DeinAdieu); and sales of products and services produced by the eight training businesses through B2C retail and B2B channels. Core educational and vocational services are not charged to beneficiaries directly; pricing is effectively set by the IV reimbursement framework. Customer segments are vertically organized by need (children with intellectual disabilities, youth needing vocational preparation, adults requiring sheltered work), with geographic focus on the Zurich region and Switzerland-wide recruitment. Governance is via a foundation board led by Stiftungspräsident Andreas Müller, with executive leadership by Direktorin Brigitte Steimen and Vizedirektor Markus Betschart; the foundation is independently owned under Swiss foundation law with no parent company.

Name

Buehl Foundation

Legal name

Stiftung Bühl

Website

https://stiftung-buehl.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1870

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Stiftung Bühl is a Swiss charitable foundation in Wädenswil providing special education, vocational training, residential care, and sheltered employment across eight training businesses for children, youth, and adults with intellectual and learning disabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education and Vocational Training for People with Disabilities

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH), Disability Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs (EDAAAOAI), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Vocational training programs
• Sheltered employment services
• Residential care services
• Disability support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wädenswil

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Social Insurance (IV) Funding: Primary funding from Swiss disability insurance (Invalidenversicherung/IV) to support vocational training and educational programs.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Donations from individuals, organizations, and corporate partners to fund special programs, infrastructure, and experiences not covered by public funding.
3. Product and Service Sales: Revenue from products and services produced by the foundation's eight businesses including organic produce, metalwork, carpentry, gastronomy, and other artisanal goods.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Stiftung Bühl provides special education with residential care, vocational training across eight in-house training businesses (organic gardening, organic agriculture, gastronomy, metalwork, assembly, carpentry, landscaping, facility services), and sheltered employment for adults — serving children, youth, and adults with intellectual and learning disabilities. Complementary offerings include therapeutic riding, on-site and online retail outlets selling products made by trainees, culinary gifts, and a holiday rental property. The organization is funded by Swiss disability insurance (IV), donations, and revenue from its training-business products and services.

Product overview

The Stiftung Bühl is a Swiss foundation providing a comprehensive range of services for children and youth with intellectual or learning disabilities. The organization operates a three-part service model: (1) Sonderschule und Wohnen offers special education combined with residential care, (2) Berufsbildung und Wohnen provides vocational training across eight training businesses including organic farming, gastronomy, metalworking, carpentry, and landscaping, with residential support, and (3) Geschützte Arbeit offers sheltered employment for adults. The foundation also operates retail outlets including the Bühl-Laden, art card shop, and culinary gift products. Additional services include therapeutic riding, a vacation rental property, and donations/fundraising programs. The organization functions as a social services provider rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sonderschule und Wohnen (Special School and Living) Special education (Heilpädagogische Schule, Sonderschule 15+) combined with therapeutic residential care (Therapeutische Wohnschulgruppe / TWSG) for children and youth with intellectual disabilities; includes residential living, therapies, and an Elternrat (parents' council).
• Berufsbildung und Wohnen (Vocational Training and Living) Vocational training delivered across eight in-house training businesses paired with supported residential living and social integration, including pathways into the primary labor market via PassParTous and Supported Education programs.
• Geschützte Arbeit (Sheltered Employment) Sheltered work and integration program for adults with disabilities, providing meaningful employment activities without overwhelming demands.
• Bio-Gärtnerei (Organic Gardening) Training business offering vocational education in organic horticulture and producing organic garden products.
• Bio-Landwirtschaft (Organic Agriculture) Training business in organic farming including animal care and a Hochstammbaum tree-sponsorship program, producing organic agricultural products.
• Gastronomie (Gastronomy) Training business offering vocational education in kitchen operations, system gastronomy, restaurant service, and logistics.
• Metallwerkstatt (Metal Workshop) Metalworking training facility offering vocational education in metal crafts.
• Montagewerkstatt (Assembly Workshop) Assembly workshop providing vocational training in assembly operations.
• Schreinerei (Carpentry) Woodworking and carpentry training business producing furniture and wood products.
• Garten- und Landschaftsbau (Garden and Landscape Construction) Horticulture and landscaping training business providing outdoor vocational education and landscaping services.
• Facility Services Facility management training covering hotel/housekeeping operations and building maintenance (Betriebsunterhalt / Unterhaltspraktiker).
• Heilpädagogisches Reiten (Therapeutic Riding) Therapeutic horseback riding program for children and youth with disabilities to support their developmental goals.
• Bühl-Laden (Foundation Shop) On-site shop at the Wädenswil campus selling products made by individuals with disabilities in the foundation's training businesses.
• Kunstkarten-Shop (Art Cards Shop) Online shop selling art cards and artistic creations produced at the foundation.
• Kulinarische Geschenke (Culinary Gifts) Gourmet gift products created by the foundation's gastronomy and bakery/confectionery vocational training businesses.
• Ferienhaus Friedheim (Vacation House Friedheim) Holiday rental property in Braunwald available for booking by visitors.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• DeinAdieuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for testamentary donation advisory services. DeinAdieu provides free legal consultation for individuals considering the foundation in their estate planning.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Specialisterne: International social enterprise focused specifically on employment and training for people on the autism spectrum and with learning difficulties; highly comparable mission and employer-facing integration model, with a global footprint.
• PluSport: Swiss umbrella organization promoting disability sports and offering adapted training and integration programs; shares the Swiss non-profit funding model and disability-inclusion orientation.
• Stiftung Arkadis: Swiss disability foundation offering residential, vocational training, and sheltered employment across multiple sites; closest operational peer within Aargau, sharing the same non-profit foundation structure and IV-funding dependence.
• Stiftung Wagerenhof: Swiss non-profit foundation providing housing, workshops, and inclusive employment for people with intellectual and physical disabilities; parallels Stiftung Bühl's combined residential + work-based model.
• Stiftung Brändi: Swiss foundation operating a similar integrated model of vocational training, sheltered workshops, and residential services for people with disabilities in Central Switzerland; comparable three-pillar service architecture and revenue mix.

Broad incumbents

• YAI: Large US-based non-profit network delivering residential, vocational, and supported-employment services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; comparable scope and multi-service platform.
• Pro Infirmis: Large national Swiss disability-services organization operating across all cantons in advocacy, housing, and assistive services; broader portfolio and geographic reach than Stiftung Bühl, with overlapping beneficiary population.
• insieme Schweiz: Swiss national federation of parent and disability associations advancing inclusion, vocational training, and supported employment for people with intellectual disabilities; sectoral incumbent with policy influence.

Regional players

• Lebenshilfe: Germany's largest non-profit federation for people with intellectual disabilities, operating workshops, housing, and inclusive employment services; structurally analogous to Stiftung Bühl but serving the German market under different funding regimes.
• Mencap: UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities across employment, housing, and advocacy; comparable integrated service ethos, although operating under NHS/local-authority funding rather than Swiss IV insurance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Buehl Foundation