Heinrich Böll Stiftung NRW

What Heinrich Böll Stiftung NRW does

Heinrich Böll Stiftung NRW e.V. is a regional political education foundation (politisches Bildungswerk) headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany, operating across North Rhine-Westphalia. Founded in 1991 (originally as Ökologie-Stiftung NRW) and renamed after Nobel laureate Heinrich Böll, the organization is registered as a non-profit eingetragener Verein and is part of a nationwide network of 16 state-level Heinrich Böll Stiftungen affiliated with the federal Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung e.V. and aligned with Bündnis 90/Die Grünen. Its mission is to enable democratic participation and civic engagement, positioning itself as a "Scharnier" (hinge) between civil society, politics, and science.

The foundation's product portfolio centers on experiential civic training programs (Demokratie-Fitness, Demokratie-Trainingslager), continuing education (GreenCampus), a 9-month mentoring program, and the annual Böll-Forum NRW. It also produces thematic publications including the Böll.Thema magazine and recurring atlases (Wasseratlas, Wirtschaftsatlas, Konzernatlas), and operates a decentralized Grüne Salons discussion network across multiple NRW cities (Bielefeld, Soest, Bochum, Dortmund, Aachen, Langenfeld, Gelsenkirchen). Delivery is anchored on a community-led, event-driven GTM: ~100+ free seminars, workshops, training camps, educational trips, and salons per year, with channel partnerships via Volkshochschulen and welfare organizations (e.g., AWO). Technology is minimal — a Drupal website, double opt-in newsletter, and webinar tools — with no proprietary AI/ML, apps, or APIs.

The revenue model is primarily non-commercial: recurring annual state government grants from the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (Zuwendungen des Landes NRW) constitute the dominant income stream, supplemented by membership dues (starting at €5/year for youth under 27), public donations, and nominal publication sales. The foundation employs ~8 paid staff at the Düsseldorf Geschäftsstelle, supported by student assistants, interns, and an elected volunteer board. Recent leadership changes include the September 2025 appointment of Dr. Julia Hagen as Geschäftsführerin (succeeding Iris Witt) and a full board refresh in November 2025. Pricing is essentially freemium: all seminars and events are free of charge, while publications are free as digital downloads with optional paid print copies.

Name

Heinrich Böll Stiftung NRW

Legal name

Heinrich Böll Stiftung NRW e.V.

Website

https://boell-nrw.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Heinrich Böll Stiftung NRW e.V. is a non-profit political education foundation in Düsseldorf, Germany, offering free civic training programs, publications, and discussion events to citizens of North Rhine-Westphalia, funded primarily by state government grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Political Education Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

Keywords

• Political education programs
• Democratic engagement training
• Civic empowerment services
• Non-profit foundation services
• Continuing political training

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. State Government Funding (Zuwendungen des Landes NRW): The primary revenue source is annual government funding from the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, which requires reporting on the use of funds. This is a recurring, institutional grant model.
2. Membership Dues: The organization is an eingetragener Verein (registered association). Members pay annual dues. Youth membership ('Junge Mitgliedschaft') is priced at €5 per year. Membership supports the organization's mission and provides a community revenue stream.
3. Donations and Sponsorship: The foundation solicits donations from the public to support its educational programs and activities. Donations are acknowledged with official donation certificates for tax purposes.
4. Publication Sales: Some publications (e.g., the Wirtschaftsatlas, Böll.Thema magazine) are distributed either free for download or at low cost for physical copies (e.g., 'kostenlos (zzgl. Versandkosten)'). This provides minor revenue from print fulfillment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Heinrich Böll Stiftung NRW is a non-profit political education foundation that delivers free seminars, training camps, continuing education, mentoring, and discussion forums across North Rhine-Westphalia. It also produces thematic publications (atlases, magazine, dossiers, traveling exhibition) focused on democratic participation, ecological sustainability, social justice, and green political values. Its audience is individual citizens, civil society actors, and partner institutions in NRW.

Product overview

Heinrich Böll Stiftung NRW is a political education foundation offering a diverse portfolio of programs, publications, and discussion formats. The core offerings include training programs (Demokratie-Fitness, Demokratie-Trainingslager), seminars for political management, continuing education (GreenCampus), and mentoring programs. The foundation also produces thematic publications including the Böll.Thema magazine and various atlases (Konzernatlas, Wasseratlas, Wirtschaftsatlas). Discussion formats include Grüne Salons NRW and the Böll-Forum NRW. The offerings emphasize democratic education, civic engagement, sustainability, and social justice, all aligned with the green political values of the foundation's namesake Heinrich Böll.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Demokratie-Fitness: Training concept for democratic participation and skills
• Demokratie-Trainingslager
• Grüne Salons NRW
• GreenCampus
• Der Heinrich
• Böll Forum NRW
• Mentoring-Programm

Products and services

• Demokratie-Fitness

Quantifiable outcome

• Free seminars provided to the public across NRW (exact number not publicly disclosed)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung e.V. (Federal Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NRW foundation is one of 16 state-level Heinrich Böll Stiftungen that together form the Stiftungsverbund (foundation network). They share the mission of Heinrich Böll, work on joint projects (Verbundprojekte) like 'Wirtschaften mit Zukunft', share resources and publications, and collaborate on national and international programs.
• Volkshochschule (VHS) LangenfeldminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCooperation partner for Demokratie-Trainingslager events. VHS Langenfeld co-hosts and co-promotes training camp programs, leveraging its local venue and educational infrastructure.
• Volkshochschule DortmundminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCooperation partner for Demokratie-Trainingslager in Dortmund, demonstrating a recurring partnership model with municipal adult education centers across NRW.
• AWO Unterbezirk Gelsenkirchen-BottropminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCooperation partner for Demokratie-Trainingslager in Gelsenkirchen, illustrating collaboration with welfare organizations.
• Bündnis 90/Die Grünen NRWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation maintains close ties with the NRW state chapter of the Green Party, as evidenced by joint event appearances (e.g., party leadership attending Böll Forum events) and shared political values. While organizationally independent, they operate within the same political ecosystem.
• BUND (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe BUND co-produces the Wasseratlas (Water Atlas) 2025 with the foundation, demonstrating collaborative publication partnerships with environmental organizations.
• Rosa-Luxemburg-StiftungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-published the Konzernatlas 2017, a collaborative data atlas on corporate power in the agri-food industry, alongside several other German foundations and NGOs.
• Oxfam DeutschlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-published the Konzernatlas 2017, a collaborative publication on the agricultural and food industry.
• GermanwatchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-published the Konzernatlas 2017, a collaborative publication on corporate power in the agri-food sector.
• Le Monde diplomatiqueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-published the Konzernatlas 2017, a collaborative publication on the agricultural and food industry.
• All other Heinrich Böll State Foundations (15 sister foundations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation is part of a nationwide network of 15 other state foundations (Landesstiftungen) across Germany that share resources, publications, and program development. Each operates independently but collaborates on cross-regional initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb): Federal government agency for political education, providing grants, publications, and civic-education programming nationwide. Comparable in mission and target audience, though funded directly by the federal government rather than through party-affiliated structures.
• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung e.V. (Federal Foundation): The federal parent organization of the NRW foundation. Operates the same green-aligned political-education mission nationally and internationally, producing the Böll.Thema magazine, Konzernatlas, and Wasseratlas that the NRW foundation also distributes. Comparable as the umbrella entity within the same Verbund.

Direct peers

• Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung: Die-Linke-affiliated political foundation with state-level structures, political education programming, and a similar mix of seminars, publications, and grants. Already a publication partner of the NRW foundation (Konzernatlas 2017), making it a closely comparable operational peer.
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES): Germany's oldest and largest political foundation, affiliated with the SPD. Operates the same political-education model (seminars, publications, civic training) with state-level structures, comparable funding mix (state + federal grants + donations), and a parallel Landesstiftungen network across all 16 states.
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS): CDU-affiliated political foundation operating the same political-education and civic-engagement model with state foundations, academies, and a comparable publication and event portfolio. Direct peer on dimensions of mission, structure, and funding model.
• Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung: CSU-affiliated political foundation with state academies (including in NRW) offering political Bildung, civic training, and publications. Direct peer in scope, funding model, and program structure.
• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Bayern: Direct sister state foundation within the same Verbund, operating with the same mission, brand, and program model in Bavaria. The most structurally comparable peer: same scale, same funding profile, same program formats, same parent network.

Regional players

• Stiftung Demokratie Saarland: Independent state-level political education foundation in Saarland, operating with a comparable model (seminars, civic training, public funding). Relevant as a regional peer with a similar civic-education mission and non-partisan positioning.

Emerging players

• BUND (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland): Major German environmental NGO. Already a co-publication partner (Wasseratlas 2025) and operates in adjacent civic-engagement and sustainability-education space. Comparable in green-aligned mission and publication model.
• Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband (DVV): National umbrella for the Volkshochschulen (adult education centers) that co-deliver the foundation's Demokratie-Trainingslager (VHS Langenfeld, VHS Dortmund). Operates a parallel civic and political education program via the public adult education system.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/boellnrw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boellnrw
• Instagraminstagram.com/boellnrw/?hl=de

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Heinrich Böll Stiftung NRW