What Barndiabetesfonden does

Barndiabetesfonden is a Swedish charitable foundation (stiftelse) and associated national association (Riksförening) founded in 1989 by Professor Johnny Ludvigsson of Linköping University and Inger Rosander of Östgötateatern. The foundation is Sweden's largest financier of type 1 diabetes research and is the only Swedish fundraising organization focused exclusively on type 1 (not type 2) diabetes. It funds approximately 30 research studies annually through open competitive grant applications assessed by an independent Scientific Council, with cumulative contributions exceeding 187 million SEK since inception.

The organization serves the 70,000+ people in Sweden living with type 1 diabetes, their families, the research community, and corporate partners, through a portfolio of digital and physical products. These include: the Klick peer-support app for teenagers aged 13–18 (700+ users by end of 2024); Hoppets påse (Hope's Bag) distributed to ~500 newly diagnosed children aged 0–11 annually at hospital diagnosis points; the Himla gott, himla bra educational cookbook for schools; the Vård i tid national awareness campaign launching November 2025; the three-year Typ 1 liv digital services project; the Råd- och stödlinje telephone advice line; the Fadderverksamhet mentorship program; the member magazine Sticket; a branded web shop; and the annual Rapporten om typ 1-diabetes advocacy report.

Barndiabetesfonden is financed entirely by voluntary donations and operates a multi-channel fundraising model including individual one-time and monthly giving, corporate 'Företagsvän' partnerships (managed by a dedicated Företagsansvarig), membership fees, web shop sales, events (Barndiabetesloppet), and testamentary gifts. Institutional project funding comes from partners such as ICA Stiftelsen, Postkodlotteriets stiftelse, and Allmänna Arvsfonden. The foundation benefits from royal patronage by H.K.H. Kronprinsessan Victoria since 1993, holds a 90-konto (Svensk insamlingskontroll), and is a member of Giva Sverige. It has stated a vision to find a cure for type 1 diabetes by 2040.

Name

Barndiabetesfonden

Legal name

Barndiabetesfonden

Website

https://barndiabetesfonden.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Barndiabetesfonden is a Swedish charitable foundation founded in 1989 and the country's largest funder of type 1 diabetes research, distributing approximately 30 grants annually. It serves 70,000+ T1D patients in Sweden through research funding, peer-support programs, the Klick app for teens, Hoppets påse for newly diagnosed children, and advocacy work.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation - Type 1 Diabetes Research and Patient Support

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Type 1 diabetes research
• Charitable foundation fundraising
• Patient peer support
• Diabetes awareness advocacy
• Nonprofit research grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual donations and monthly giving: Voluntary donations from private individuals, including one-time gifts and recurring monthly donations. This is the primary source of funding for the foundation's research grants.
2. Corporate partnerships and sponsorships: Companies can become 'Företagsvän' (Corporate Friends), enter strategic partnerships, make corporate donations, or organize company fundraising activities. Dedicated corporate relationship manager handles these relationships.
3. Membership fees: Annual membership in Barndiabetesfondens Riksförening. Individual and family memberships, as well as lifetime memberships, are available for an annual fee determined at the annual meeting.
4. Web shop sales: Sale of branded merchandise including the Milli dragon plush toy and books (99–399 SEK), stickers, reflective gear, jewelry, and other items. Revenue supports the foundation's activities.
5. Events and campaigns: Barndiabetesloppet (running event) conducted virtually and at local venues across Sweden. Participants fundraise as part of the event. Also includes commemorative gifts (minnesgåvor), testamentary gifts, and share dividend donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Barndiabetesfonden is Sweden's leading non-profit foundation dedicated exclusively to type 1 diabetes. Its core offering is the funding of type 1 diabetes research through annual competitive research grants (approximately 30 studies per year), complemented by patient and family support programs including peer mentorship (Fadderverksamhet), a teenage peer-support app (Klick), a support package for newly diagnosed children (Hoppets påse), and a telephone advice line staffed by a diabetes nurse. The foundation also runs awareness campaigns, publishes educational materials and an annual report, and operates a web shop selling branded merchandise.

Product overview

Barndiabetesfonden is a Swedish charitable foundation (formed 1989) focused solely on type 1-diabetes research funding, awareness, and patient support. Its core offering is the financing and awarding of research grants (forskningsanslag) and the Johnny Ludvigsson research prizes. The organization operates a suite of digital and physical products including: the Klick peer support app for teenagers (13–18 years) with type 1-diabetes; Hoppets påse (Hope's Bag) — a support package for newly diagnosed children aged 0–11 containing the Milli educational dragon plush toy, storybook, and activity book; the Himla gott, himla bra educational cookbook and study materials for schools (grades 5–9); the Vård i tid national awareness campaign; the Typ 1 liv digital support project; the Råd- och stödlinje telephone advice line; the Fadderverksamhet peer mentorship program; a web shop selling branded merchandise; and the annual Rapporten om typ 1-diabetes advocacy report series. Barndiabetesfonden also publishes the member magazine Sticket. The portfolio is not a unified software platform but a collection of research funding programs, digital tools, educational resources, and support services united by the organization's mission to cure type 1-diabetes by 2040.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Klick: Peer support app for teenagers aged 13-18 living with type 1 diabetes, launched in 2023.
• Barndiabetesloppet
• Rapporten om typ 1-diabetes

Products and services

• Forskningsanslag (Research Grants) Annual competitive research grants awarded to Swedish researchers conducting type 1 diabetes research aimed at preventing, curing, or alleviating the disease. Applications reviewed by an independent Scientific Council.
• Klick – app för ungdomar (Klick app) A free peer-support mobile app for teenagers aged 13-18 living with type 1 diabetes, enabling them to share experiences, gain inspiration, and receive support from peers. Available on iOS and Android.
• Hoppets påse (Bag of Hope) A free support package for children aged 0-11 newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Contains the Milli dragon plush toy, storybook ('Min vän draken Milli'), activity book, caregiver brochure ('Ett steg i taget'), 500 SEK ICA gift card, and one year of free family membership. Distributed via hospitals and pediatric clinics.
• Himla gott, himla bra (Educational Cookbook and Study Material) An educational cookbook developed in collaboration with ICA Stiftelsen to teach young people about nutrition, health, and the connection between food and health. Designed for use in schools (grades 5-9) and at home, with accompanying teacher materials.
• Fadderverksamhet (Peer Mentorship Program) A mentorship program connecting individuals and families affected by type 1 diabetes with peer supporters (faddrar) who also live with the condition, providing emotional support, advice, and shared experiences for those dealing with a new or existing diagnosis.
• Råd- och stödlinje (Telephone Advice Line) A telephone advice line staffed by a diabetes nurse (Eva), available on Wednesday evenings 17:00-20:00, for people with type 1 diabetes or their relatives who have questions or need support.
• Rapporten om typ 1-diabetes (Annual Type 1 Diabetes Report) An annual report series published by Barndiabetesfonden since 2022, focusing each year on different aspects of type 1 diabetes and its impact on affected individuals, families, and society.
• Tidningen Sticket (Member Magazine) The membership magazine 'Sticket' distributed regularly to all members of Barndiabetesfondens Riksförening, providing news, information, and stories related to type 1 diabetes and the organization's activities.
• Barndiabetesfondens Webbshop (Online Merchandise Shop) An online shop selling Barndiabetesfonden branded merchandise, including the Milli dragon plush toy and books (99-399 SEK), stickers (79 SEK), Lill-Sticke items (129 SEK), Diabetesdroppen jewelry (199 SEK), and Blå Knuten reflective gear (159 SEK for 3-pack). Operates on the QuickButik platform with Visa, Mastercard, and Swish payments; ships across Sweden.
• Johnny Ludvigsson-priset (Johnny Ludvigsson Prize) Annual awards presented by Barndiabetesfonden to two outstanding researchers in the Nordic region and Sweden, named after the foundation's founder and world-renowned type 1 diabetes researcher Johnny Ludvigsson.
• Barndiabetesloppet (Charity Run) Annual charity run held virtually and at local venues across Sweden, where participants fundraise while running to support type 1 diabetes research.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 187 mkr awarded to research since 1989; approximately 30–34 studies funded annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• H.K.H. Kronprinsessan Victoria (Royal Patron)coreOthers · 1 January 1993Since 1993, H.K.H. Kronprinsessan Victoria has served as patron (beskyddare) of Barndiabetesfonden. She has visited the foundation in Linköping multiple times, participated in jubilees and scientific symposiums, presented awards, and inaugurated research centers. Her royal patronage provides significant credibility and visibility.
• Funktionsrätt SverigecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarndiabetesfonden is a member of Funktionsrätt Sverige, a collaborative organization working for the right of all people to fully participate in society. Through this membership, the foundation contributes the perspective of people living with type 1 diabetes to policy discussions and advocacy efforts.
• Svensk Förening för Pediatrisk Endokrinologi och DiabetescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarndiabetesfonden collaborates with Svensk Förening för Pediatrisk Endokrinologi och Diabetes (part of Barnläkarföreningen) on the 'Vård i tid' national awareness campaign to improve early diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in young children, launching November 2025.
• Giva SverigecoreOthersBarndiabetesfonden is a member of Giva Sverige, the Swedish fundraising associations' industry body. Membership signals adherence to ethical fundraising standards and transparent operations. The foundation also holds a 90-konto (90-account), indicating supervision by Svensk insamlingskontroll.
• Peppy AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeppy Agency, experts in social and emotional learning for children, collaborated with Barndiabetesfonden and ICA Stiftelsen in developing the Milli dragon character and associated educational materials for Hoppets påse.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Diabetes UK: UK's leading diabetes charity, funding research, running support services, and advocating for patients. Directly comparable in operating model (research grants + community programs + advocacy) though covering both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
• Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF): Breakthrough T1D is the largest global funder of type 1 diabetes research and a direct peer to Barndiabetesfonden. Both organizations focus exclusively on T1D, fund peer-reviewed research grants, run community support programs, and rely on individual donations and corporate partnerships. JDRF operates at much larger scale globally.
• Beyond Type 1: A US-based T1D-focused nonprofit combining digital community platforms, peer-support programs, and grantmaking. Highly comparable to Barndiabetesfonden's Klick app + community association approach, with stronger digital-first execution and broader social reach.
• Diabetes Research Institute Foundation: A US-based nonprofit dedicated solely to funding cure-focused type 1 diabetes research. Closely comparable to Barndiabetesfonden in mission (research-only T1D focus), peer-reviewed grant model, and donor-dependent revenue mix, but with a US footprint and larger fundraising base.

Broad incumbents

• American Diabetes Association: The largest US diabetes nonprofit, covering both type 1 and type 2. Operates in the same disease space with overlapping research funding, advocacy, and community support programs but at much larger scale and broader disease scope.
• International Diabetes Federation: An umbrella organization representing over 230 national diabetes associations in 170+ countries. Broad incumbent in the global diabetes advocacy and policy space; comparable in mission but very different in structure (federation vs. single-country funder).

Emerging players

• T1D Exchange: US-based T1D-focused nonprofit driving real-world evidence, clinic networks, and research acceleration. Comparable in T1D-only focus and data-driven approach, though more research-infrastructure oriented than direct grantmaking or community support.
• diaTribe Foundation: A US-based nonprofit focused on improving the lives of people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes through education, advocacy, and research support. Comparable in mission-driven health philanthropy and education focus, but emerging scale and digital-led model.

Regional players

• Svenska Diabetesförbundet: Sweden's largest patient organization for all types of diabetes, covering both type 1 and type 2. Regional peer that overlaps with Barndiabetesfonden in Sweden but competes for donor mindshare and CSR budgets with broader disease framing.

Others

• The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust (T1D Program): A major US private foundation with a substantial type 1 diabetes program funding research, technology, and care delivery. Comparable as a major T1D grantmaker but operating at much larger scale and as an endowed foundation rather than a public-facing donor charity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/barndiabetes
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCx8pa2U5xZnEEdyk6_DwRQA
• Facebookfacebook.com/barndiabetesfonden
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/barndiabetesfonden
• Instagraminstagram.com/barndiabetesfonden_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Barndiabetesfonden