Planerladen

What Planerladen does

Planerladen gGmbH is a Dortmund-based non-profit social services organization founded in 1982 (originally as Planerladen e.V.) that delivers integration, anti-discrimination, and community development services primarily in Dortmund's Nordstadt district. Its core offerings include BAMF-recognized integration courses (Integrationskurse), the Integrationsagentur anti-discrimination housing service (operating since 2009), migration counseling for adult newcomers (MBE), conflict management, multiple youth centers (Treffpunkt Stollenpark, Treffpunkt KEZZ, JUKI), neighborhood meeting points (Quartierstreffs), and educational centers (Bildungszentrum I & II). The organization operates eight physical locations across Nordstadt and serves a population drawn from 172 nationalities, with migrants and their families, children and youth, and local residents as primary beneficiaries. Specialized programs include the Frauengesprächskreis (since 1992), Internationale Mädchengruppe, and event series such as Bürgerforum Nord trifft S\u00fcd (since 2011), Nordstadt to go! (2021–2023), and Dortmund all inclusive (2015–2017).

The organization's underlying methodology combines social work with urban planning and architecture, exemplified by its interdisciplinary team of pedagogical-social professionals and planning/construction experts. A distinctive proprietary feature is its Paired Ethnic Testing Methodology, which systematically documents discrimination in housing markets via telephone and online testing of real estate listings. Planerladen is also the Erststifter of the Stiftung Soziale Stadt (2010) covering 13 Dortmund districts and co-founder of Stiftung Leben ohne Rassismus.

Planerladen gGmbH is wholly owned by Förderverein Planerladen e.V., which functions as a nonprofit support association. Revenue is generated almost entirely through public grants from BAMF (federal integration courses), EU AMIF (migration and integration projects including INKLUDO 2.0 and INKLUDO PLUS+), federal BMI (community cohesion programs such as Nordstadt to go!), and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Services are provided free at point of use. As of October 2024, Anne Schlösser serves as sole managing director following the 2021 corporate restructuring that spun off the operating activities from the original association into the gGmbH.

Name

Planerladen

Legal name

Planerladen gGmbH

Website

https://planerladen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Planerladen gGmbH is a Dortmund-based non-profit, founded in 1982, that delivers integration courses, anti-discrimination housing services, migration counseling, youth programs, and community development for migrants, children, and residents of Dortmund's Nordstadt district.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social and Community Development Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC)

Keywords

• Social work services
• Migrant integration support
• Anti-discrimination counseling
• Community development programs
• Language integration courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Dortmund

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Grants: Primary funding from government sources including BAMF (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge) for integration courses, EU AMIF funds for migration and integration projects, federal BMI funding for community cohesion programs, and state NRW funding for various social initiatives

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Planerladen gGmbH is a non-profit social services organization delivering community-based integration, anti-discrimination, youth, and neighborhood development services to residents of Dortmund's Nordstadt district. Its core offerings encompass BAMF-recognized German language and integration courses, anti-discrimination counseling focused on housing, migration counseling for adults (MBE), conflict management, neighborhood (Quartiers-) management, open youth and children's centers, educational centers (Bildungszentrum I & II), and recurring civic engagement programs. Services are provided free at point of use through multiple physical locations and are funded primarily through public grants.

Product overview

Planerladen gGmbH is a non-profit social services organization operating as a multi-faceted community service provider rather than a technology product company. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of social, educational, and community development services centered in Dortmund's Nordstadt district. Core offerings include the Integrationsagentur (anti-discrimination service focused on housing), Integrationskurse (language and integration courses), Migrationsberatung (migration counseling), and Konfliktmanagement (conflict management). The organization operates multiple physical facilities including Quartierstreffs (neighborhood meeting points), Bildungszentrum I & II (educational centers), and several youth centers (Treffpunkt Stollenpark, Treffpunkt KEZZ, JUKI). Special initiatives include the Bürgerforum Nord trifft Süd (community event series), Nordstadt to go! (cultural tours and workshops), and Dortmund all inclusive (cross-district encounter projects). Publications such as KODIAQ documentation and WOHINDO housing guide supplement service delivery. The Stiftung Soziale Stadt foundation supports sustainable urban development. This is a service-based organization delivering direct social work, not a software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bürgerforum Nord trifft Süd: An event series initiated by Planerladen and Auslandsgesellschaft NRW e.V., organized since 2011, bringing together citizens from different city districts and backgrounds.
• Nordstadt to go!
• Dortmund all inclusive

Products and services

• Integrationskurse (Integration Courses) BAMF-recognized German language and integration courses for migrants and refugees, providing formal language instruction and integration certification accepted by German authorities.
• Integrationsagentur (Anti-Discrimination Service for Housing) Servicestelle für Antidiskriminierungsarbeit im Handlungsfeld Wohnen — anti-discrimination counseling and support for victims of discrimination in the housing market, including documentation, advocacy, and the Siegel für Vermieter (Equal Treatment Seal) initiative for landlords.
• Migrationsberatung für Erwachsene (MBE) Migration counseling for adult newcomers, providing case management, individual consultation, and integration guidance, including specialized support for EU newcomers.
• Konfliktmanagement (Conflict Management) Neighborhood conflict resolution service helping mediate disputes and tensions among residents in Dortmund's Nordstadt, applying the KODIAQ methodology of dialogue, conflict mediation, and neighborhood activation.
• Quartiersmanagement Hafen Neighborhood management service for the Hafen district of Dortmund, supporting urban development, community engagement, and resident participation in local planning.
• Quartierstreffs (Community Meeting Points) Network of social meeting points for Germans and migrants, providing community spaces and neighborhood engagement opportunities, including the Quartierstreff Concordia and other locations.
• Open Youth and Children's Centers Three open meeting points for children, adolescents, and young adults across Dortmund Nordstadt: Treffpunkt Stollenpark (Bergmannstr. 51), Treffpunkt KEZZ (Martha-Gillessen-Str. 31), and JUKI (Münsterstr. 144), offering recreational, educational, and cultural programs.
• Bildungszentrum I & II (Educational Centers) Two educational centers delivering language courses, integration courses, literacy courses, seminars, workshops, and training programs for adults and newcomers.
• EU-Neuzuwanderung (Services for EU Newcomers) Guidance, counseling, and integration support for recent EU migrants moving to Dortmund.
• Bürgerforum Nord trifft Süd Recurring civic engagement event series, running since 2011, that brings together citizens from different Dortmund city districts to promote internationality, cultural exchange, and democratic participation.
• Frauengesprächskreis and Internationale Mädchengruppe Weekly women's discussion circle (since 1992, primarily Turkish women) and weekly international girls' group (Turkish girls aged 18-25), providing social and cultural activities outside the family environment.
• Jugendforum Nordstadt Youth forum providing civic engagement, participation, and representation opportunities for young people in the Nordstadt district.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple publications and testing studies on housing discrimination used for policy advocacy

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stiftung Soziale StadtcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2010Planerladen e.V. is the founding stifter (first founder) of the Stiftung Soziale Stadt, established to support social urban development through civic engagement in 13 Dortmund districts.
• Stiftung Leben ohne RassismuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanerladen is co-founder and board member (Beiratsmitglied) of the foundation dedicated to combating racism and promoting life without racism.
• Projektverbund NordstadtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanerladen forms the core of the Projektverbund Nordstadt along with spinoff organizations: Büro für Architektur und Stadtentwicklung BASTA, Grünbau GmbH (employment and qualification in urban renewal), and Grünbau Fairverkehrssicherungsdienst GmbH (social economy business).
• Auslandsgesellschaft NRW e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing strategic partner for the joint Bürgerforum Nord trifft Süd event series since 2011, promoting international exchange and civic engagement across Dortmund's city districts.
• Paritätischer WohlfahrtsverbandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanerladen is a member of the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband, one of the major German welfare associations, providing institutional support and networking.
• Antidiskriminierungsverband Deutschland (advd)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanerladen is a member of the German Anti-Discrimination Association, supporting national advocacy and networking on anti-discrimination issues.
• Netzwerk BürgerbeteiligungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanerladen is a founding member (Aufbaumitglied) of the Network for Civic Participation, supporting democratic participation initiatives.
• VMDO - Verbund der soziokulturellen Migrantenvereine in Dortmund e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization representing multicultural migrant associations in Dortmund, collaborating on events and programs like House of Resources.
• Grünbau gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial economy company within the Projektverbund Nordstadt, providing housing placement services (Home4you) and collaborating on housing action days.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO) Bundesverband: Major German welfare association providing integration, youth, and community services nationally. Operates comparable neighborhood-level programs to Planerladen and shares the same BAMF integration-course provider ecosystem.
• Caritas Deutschland: Germany's largest Catholic welfare association, delivering a comparable portfolio of integration, counseling, social, and community services through regional chapters. Directly comparable to Planerladen in service mix, though at national scale and with broader program breadth.
• Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK): German Red Cross national society offering migration counseling, youth work, and community programs across Germany. Comparable to Planerladen in target populations and service lines, with substantially larger scale.
• Diakonie Deutschland: National Protestant welfare association offering integration courses, migration counseling (MBE-equivalent), youth services, and anti-discrimination support. Comparable to Planerladen in mission and program lines, with far greater geographic reach.
• Malteser Deutschland: Catholic humanitarian organization providing migration and integration services, youth programs, and community engagement. Comparable in mission and welfare-association positioning, with broader national reach than Planerladen.
• Aktion Mensch: Germany's largest private social-investment funder supporting integration, inclusion, and community participation projects. Comparable in funding/advisory layer to Planerladen's grant-funded model, though acting more as a sponsor than direct service provider.

Direct peers

• Türkische Gemeinde in Deutschland (TGD): Umbrella association of Turkish-origin migrant organizations in Germany, active in integration, anti-discrimination, civic participation, and community organizing. Directly comparable to Planerladen's migrant-focused integration and women's/youth programming at the national level.
• Internationaler Bund (IB): Major German nonprofit focused on youth, education, migration, and integration services, including BAMF-recognized integration courses and MBE counseling. Most directly comparable to Planerladen in target population and service mix.
• Stiftung Mitarbeit: German foundation funding and advising civic participation, neighborhood development, and democratic engagement projects. Comparable to Planerladen's civic-participation work, Stiftung Soziale Stadt, and Bürgerforum-style programming.

Others

• Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes: Federal independent body advising on anti-discrimination law and supporting affected individuals. Comparable to Planerladen's Integrationsagentur in anti-discrimination scope, though operating as a public federal office rather than a community-based NGO.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/nordstadttogo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/planerladen-e.v

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Planerladen