Arche Im Nauen
Arche Im Nauen is a Swiss non-profit community in Dornach (canton of Solothurn), part of L'Arche Suisse, providing residential accommodation, daily accompaniment, and workshop activities for adults with intellectual disabilities as one of three Swiss L'Arche communities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersFribourg, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Arche Im Nauen does
Arche Im Nauen is one of three community locations operated by L'Arche Suisse, a non-profit association registered under articles 60+ of the Swiss Civil Code with its registered office in Fribourg. Founded in 1985 in Hochwald (now Dornach, canton of Solothurn) and celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025, Im Nauen provides residential accommodation, daily accompaniment, and workshop activities for adults with intellectual disabilities. Across the three Swiss communities — Im Nauen (Dornach, SO), L'Arche Fribourg (FR), and L'Arche La Corolle (Versoix, GE) — the federation supports 94 people with intellectual disabilities, employing 178 collaborators including part-time staff, alongside 76 trainees, civil servants (Zivildienst), and volunteers.
The core offering is not a product or technology platform but a model of inclusive shared living in which people with and without intellectual disabilities share daily life, activities, and decision-making. Workshop programs produce handcrafted goods (wood items, stationery, pottery, ceramics, weaving) that serve both as skill-building activities for community members and as modest fundraising channels. L'Arche Suisse participates in the international L'Arche Federation, founded in 1964 by Jean Vanier, which now spans 150 communities in 38 countries and over 12,000 members.
The business model is non-commercial. Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) cantonal subsidies, as each community is recognized and financed by its respective Swiss canton (Solothurn, Fribourg, Geneva) as an authorized disability facility; (2) membership dues paid by the three constituent communities to the L'Arche Suisse national association; and (3) tax-deductible donations and fundraising campaigns (e.g., the solidarity hike benefiting L'Arche Tecklenburg). The national association is led by a national leader (Virginie Kieninger, 65% position) and a board chaired by Franziska Suter. Go-to-market is community-led rather than sales-driven: members, volunteers, trainees, civil servants, and donors are recruited through personal relationships, open community events, newsletters ("Yodel"), social media, and international federation gatherings.
Arche Im Nauen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Arche Im Nauen
- Legal name
- Association L'Arche Suisse
- Website
- https://arche-suisse.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Arche Im Nauen is a Swiss non-profit community in Dornach (canton of Solothurn), part of L'Arche Suisse, providing residential accommodation, daily accompaniment, and workshop activities for adults with intellectual disabilities as one of three Swiss L'Arche communities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Arche Im Nauen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Support Services
- NAICS
- Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)
- SIC
- Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)
Keywords
Where Arche Im Nauen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fribourg
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Arche Im Nauen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Government Subsidies: L'Arche communities are recognized and financed by their respective cantons as authorized facilities for people with disabilities, fulfilling applicable quality standards.
- Membership Dues: Communities pay membership fees to the national L'Arche Suisse association.
- Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations. L'Arche Suisse organizes fundraising campaigns including a solidarity hike benefiting L'Arche communities in countries with limited public support.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Arche Im Nauen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Arche Im Nauen operates as one of three community-based residential and day-support homes within L'Arche Suisse, providing shared living, daily accompaniment, and workshop activities for adults with intellectual disabilities in Dornach (canton of Solothurn). The community combines residential care with artisanal workshop programs (woodwork, stationery, pottery, ceramics, weaving) where members with disabilities create handcrafted products, supported by professional staff, trainees, civil servants, and volunteers. The community is financed primarily through cantonal subsidies as an authorized disability facility, with supplementary funding from donations and membership fees paid to the national L'Arche Suisse association.
Product overview
Arche Im Nauen is part of L'Arche Suisse, a Swiss federation of three inclusive communities supporting adults with intellectual disabilities. The organization offers a range of handcrafted products created in workshop settings by community members. The product portfolio includes woodwork, stationery, pottery, ceramics, and weaving items produced by members such as Darryl, Elisabeth, and Tobias. Products are sold to raise awareness about the talents of people with disabilities and support the community's mission. The workshops provide meaningful work, skill development, and social inclusion for participants.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Arche Im Nauen Residential Community (Dornach) Community-based residential and daily support home for adults with intellectual disabilities located in Dornach (Unterdorfstrasse 18, 4143 Dornach), in the Swiss-German speaking region. Provides shared living, daily accompaniment, and participation in workshops; recognized and financed by the canton of Solothurn as an authorized disability facility.
- L'Arche Im Nauen Workshop Products Combined handcrafted products including woodwork, stationery, pottery, ceramics, and weaving creations made by community members such as Darryl, Elisabeth, and Tobias at the Im Nauen workshop. Sold to raise awareness about the talents of people with intellectual disabilities and to support the community's mission.
- Handcrafted Wood Products Handcrafted wood items created by community members in the workshop setting, reflecting the unique artisanal skills of individuals with intellectual disabilities.
- Handcrafted Stationery and Paper Products Stationery and paper items crafted by community members, showcasing artisanal creativity and skills developed in the workshop programs.
- Handcrafted Pottery and Ceramics
Quantifiable outcome
- 87 adults with intellectual disabilities receive daily support across 3 communities in Switzerland
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Arche Im Nauen
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Arche Im Nauen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Arche Im Nauen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- L'Arche International FederationcoreL'Arche Im Nauen and the other Swiss communities are part of the international L'Arche federation founded by Jean Vanier in 1964 in France. The federation includes over 150 communities in 38 countries worldwide, uniting more than 12,000 members with and without intellectual disabilities. The Swiss national association holds a membership agreement with the international federation, sharing practices, supporting each other, and building an inclusive world together.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Arche Im Nauen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pro Infirmis: Major Swiss private foundation providing disability services, advocacy, and supported living across all Swiss cantons. Most direct Swiss comparator for L'Arche Suisse in terms of serving adults with intellectual disabilities through residential and community-based programs funded by cantonal contracts.
- Hft (Home Farm Trust): UK charity providing residential, day, and supported living services for people with learning disabilities across England. Closest UK comparator in operating model—small community households, workshops, and lifelong support funded by local authorities—mirroring L'Arche's structure.
- Stiftung Wagerenhof: Swiss foundation operating residential communities, workshops, and schools for people with intellectual disabilities in the Zurich area. Directly comparable as a Swiss non-profit residential disability provider with a similar community-based ethos and workshop production model.
- Stiftung Bernaville: Swiss foundation providing residential and workshop programs for adults with intellectual disabilities in the Biel/Bienne region of canton Bern. Comparable Swiss residential community operator with workshop-based employment, similar size and operating model.
- Camphill Communities International: International federation of intentional communities co-founded by Karl König in 1940, supporting people with intellectual disabilities through shared life and meaningful work in household and craft settings. Operates an almost identical residential community model to L'Arche across multiple countries, including Switzerland.
- Inclusion Handicap: Swiss umbrella association of disability organizations that also runs service programs and advocacy for people with disabilities in Switzerland. Comparable as a Swiss national disability services body, though broader in scope than L'Arche's residential community focus.
Broad incumbents
- Mencap: UK's largest learning disability charity, providing supported living, advocacy, and services across a much broader geographic and operational footprint than L'Arche. Relevant as a scaled incumbent in the same residential disability services category, but operating at significantly larger scale.
Others
- ATD Fourth World: International anti-poverty movement founded in 1957, running community-based programs prioritizing deep relationships with people in extreme poverty. Comparable values-based, community-led operating philosophy and international federation structure, though focused on poverty rather than disability specifically.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Arche Im Nauen social profiles
Digital presenceArche Im Nauen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Arche Im Nauen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Arche Im Nauen subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Arche Im Nauen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Arche Im Nauen M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Arche Im Nauen
What does Arche Im Nauen do?
Arche Im Nauen operates as one of three community-based residential and day-support homes within L'Arche Suisse, providing shared living, daily accompaniment, and workshop activities for adults with intellectual disabilities in Dornach (canton of Solothurn). The community combines residential care with artisanal workshop programs (woodwork, stationery, pottery, ceramics, weaving) where members with disabilities create handcrafted products, supported by professional staff, trainees, civil servants, and volunteers. The community is financed primarily through cantonal subsidies as an authorized disability facility, with supplementary funding from donations and membership fees paid to the national L'Arche Suisse association.
Is Arche Im Nauen a public or private company?
Arche Im Nauen is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Arche Im Nauen founded?
Arche Im Nauen was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Arche Im Nauen based?
Arche Im Nauen is headquartered in Fribourg, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Arche Im Nauen make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Subsidies are the primary driver. The others are membership Dues and donations and Fundraising.
Who are Arche Im Nauen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pro Infirmis, Hft (Home Farm Trust), Stiftung Wagerenhof, Stiftung Bernaville, Camphill Communities International and Inclusion Handicap. Mencap is listed as a broad incumbent. ATD Fourth World is listed as an others.
Does Arche Im Nauen have an API?
No public API is recorded for Arche Im Nauen.
What industry is Arche Im Nauen in?
Arche Im Nauen's product category is Disability Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLADABAJ, Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult), with a secondary code of BPAGACAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support. Its NAICS code is 62321 and its SIC code is 8050.