What Gålöstiftelsen does

Gålöstiftelsen is a Swedish private charitable foundation (stiftelse) founded in 1830 in Stockholm, with an endowment of approximately 1.3 billion SEK and a small professional team of roughly five employees. The foundation operates from investment returns on its endowment rather than commercial revenue and distributes need-based study scholarships of 7,000-11,000 SEK per year to 1,700-2,000 recipients annually from grades 7 through high school completion, plus approximately 15 million SEK in organizational grants to about 120 nonprofit projects serving children and youth in socio-economically vulnerable areas of Greater Stockholm. Beyond direct financial support, the foundation manages the affiliated Sixten Gemzéus stiftelse (established 1963) for higher education scholarships abroad, administers the Järva i samverkan (JIS) network of 27 associations launched in 2020, and operates Gålöro, a recreation facility on Gålö island available to supported organizations.

The foundation's business model is structurally a typical Swedish nonprofit stiftelse: it sustains programs through endowment returns, donations, and Swish contributions, with a self-perpetuating board whose chair is the County Governor of Stockholm (currently Cecilia Skingsley) and which includes the Dean of Stockholm Cathedral as a permanent member. Distribution channels are both digital self-service (study scholarship applications through galostiftelsen.se and organizational grants through portal.galostiftelsen.se) and direct relationship management, with required in-person meetings for nonprofit applicants. Pricing is need-based and segmentation is horizontal, spanning four beneficiary groups: full-time students from low-income families, graduate students pursuing international studies, children and youth with disabilities (recreation support), and nonprofit organizations serving vulnerable youth.

Strategically, the foundation has been stable in scale and focus for decades, with the most consequential recent change being the discontinuation of study scholarships for university or higher education starting in application year 2025 in favor of concentrating individual grants on grades 7 through high school completion. Its geographic scope is rigidly Stockholm-only (excluding Norrtälje, Södertälje, Nykvarn, and Nynäshamn), its brand is anchored in nearly 200 years of institutional history, and its technology footprint is limited to standard web portals. The foundation is GDPR-compliant, runs an annual celebration ceremony at Storkyrkan, and operates its communications across Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, and Swedish press releases via TT.

Name

Gålöstiftelsen

Legal name

Gålöstiftelsen

Website

https://galostiftelsen.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1830

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gålöstiftelsen is a Stockholm-based Swedish charitable foundation founded in 1830 that distributes ~1.3 billion SEK in endowment-backed scholarships and organizational grants to youth and nonprofits in Greater Stockholm.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Scholarship Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), Degree-Level Scholarships (Undergrad/Masters/PhD/Postdoc) (EDAIAOAE), Need-Based Grants & Bursaries (EDAIAOAB), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Scholarship foundation
• Educational grants
• Youth support services
• Nonprofit foundation
• Charitable endowment

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation Capital Returns: Gålöstiftelsen is a charitable foundation that operates from investment returns on its endowment capital (approximately 1.3 billion SEK) rather than commercial revenue generation.
2. Donations: The foundation receives donations and Swish contributions from supporters who wish to contribute to its mission of supporting youth education in Stockholm.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gålöstiftelsen is a Swedish charitable foundation that distributes need-based scholarships and organizational grants to support youth education and welfare in Greater Stockholm. Its core offerings include study scholarships for full-time students from grade 7 through high school completion (7,000-11,000 SEK/year), higher education scholarships for international master's and doctoral studies, recreation support for youth with disabilities, and grants to nonprofit organizations serving children and youth in socio-economically disadvantaged areas (approximately 15 million SEK annually to about 120 organizations). The foundation also coordinates the Järva i samverkan network and operates the Gålöro recreation facility.

Product overview

Gålöstiftelsen operates as a scholarship foundation established in 1830, offering a portfolio of financial support products centered around three main pillars: individual study scholarships (Studiestipendium, Högre utlandsstudier), organizational support (Organisationsstöd), and recreation grants for youth with disabilities (Rekreationsstöd). The foundation also manages Sixten Gemzéus stiftelse as an affiliated entity for exceptional international studies. Beyond direct financial support, the foundation runs Järva i samverkan (JIS), a collaborative network project, and provides access to Gålöro, a recreational facility for supported organizations. Applications for most programs are processed through a dedicated digital portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Järva i samverkan (JIS): A collaborative initiative started in 2020 where approximately 20 associations work together to create safer and more meaningful leisure environments for children and young people in the Järva area.

Products and services

• Studiestipendium (Study Scholarship) Need-based scholarship for full-time students from grade 7 through completed high school diploma in Greater Stockholm. Amount ranges from 7,000-11,000 SEK per academic year with a parental income threshold of 650,000 SEK. Maximum age 24 for recipients.
• Högre utlandsstudier (Higher Education Abroad Scholarships) Scholarships for master's and doctoral studies abroad, awarded to academically qualified applicants (minimum 180 HE credits/degree), with age limit 32. Distributed through Sixten Gemzéus stiftelse (approximately 10 recipients, ~1.5 million SEK annually) and Gålöstiftelsen's own fund (~20 recipients, ~3 million SEK).
• Rekreationsstöd (Recreation Support) Grants of approximately 500,000 SEK annually for children and young people with disabilities (age 0-30) living in Greater Stockholm. Covers recreation trips, camp stays, aids, and leisure activities.
• Organisationsstöd (Organizational Support) Project funding for nonprofit associations (ideella föreningar) working with children and youth in socio-economically disadvantaged areas in Greater Stockholm. Approximately 15 million SEK distributed annually to about 120 projects.
• Järva i samverkan (JIS) Collaborative network project with approximately 27 member associations working to create safer and more meaningful leisure environments for children and youth in the Järva area of Stockholm. Gålöstiftelsen coordinates the network and manages the Samverkanspotten collaboration fund.
• Gålöro Recreation Facility Recreation house on Gålö island available for loan to organizations receiving support from Gålöstiftelsen. Features kitchen, 12 beds, outdoor grill, kayaks, and recreation equipment. Open May through mid-September for activities like leader training and day camps.
• Sixten Gemzéus stiftelse (Affiliated Foundation) Affiliated foundation administered by Gålöstiftelsen with capital of approximately 43 million SEK. Distributes approximately 10 scholarships per year (~1.5 million SEK) for outstanding students pursuing international studies of national interest to Sweden.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~2,000 scholarships per year enabling youth to complete education
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Järva i samverkan (JIS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020Network initiated by Gålöstiftelsen in September 2020 connecting 16 dialog partners, now grown to 27 associations working with children and youth in Järva. Gålöstiftelsen coordinates and supports the network, provides office space at Rinkebystråket 84, and manages Samverkanspotten (collaboration fund) for joint projects.
• Tekniska museet (Technical Museum)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGålöstiftelsen supports the Technical Museum's establishment in Tensta to bring interactive exhibitions, workshops, and school programs to an area historically underserved in access to technology and science resources.
• Sergels torg PlatssamverkanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with police, city authorities, property owners, and nonprofits to make Sergels torg safer and more inclusive, with interventions targeting at-risk youth.
• Sixten Gemzéus stiftelsecoreOthersAffiliated foundation (established 1963 by Captain Sixten Gemzéus) administered by Gålöstiftelsen. Distributes approximately 10 scholarships/year (~1.5 million SEK) for outstanding students pursuing international studies. Capital ~43 million SEK.
• Konung Carl XVI Gustafs 80-årsstiftelseminorOthersGålöstiftelsen contributed to the King's 80th birthday foundation supporting the scout movement's activities for children and youth.
• Ung i X-consminorOthersNonprofit organization helping young people leave criminality and substance abuse. Gålöstiftelsen has been a consistent supporter for 7 years.
• Ersta sjukhus - Professorship in Pediatric Palliative CareminorOthersGålöstiftelsen funded a professorship in child palliative care at Ersta hospital, supporting research and clinical practice development.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Svenska Institutet (Swedish Institute): Government agency administering scholarships and grants for international study and exchange. Directly comparable to Gålöstiftelsen's Högre utlandsstudier program administered through Sixten Gemzéus stiftelse, with overlapping scholarship products for Swedish students studying abroad.
• Stiftelsen Trygg-Hansas Stiftelse: Swedish grantmaking foundation supporting education and research, administered through SEB. Comparable as a Swedish grantmaking foundation with a similar endowment-funded model. A Gålöstiftelsen board member (Elisabet Svenningson) serves as Kanslichef at Trygg-Stiftelsen.
• SOS Barnbyar Sverige: Swedish branch of SOS Children's Villages, providing direct support to vulnerable children and youth in Sweden. Highly comparable as a Stockholm-based nonprofit serving children/youth with similar organizational grantmaking and direct-service models. Notably, a Gålöstiftelsen board member (Elisabeth Andersson) was formerly Secretary General of SOS Barnbyar Sverige.
• Rädda Barnen (Save the Children Sweden): Sweden's leading child rights NGO, advocating for and providing services to children and youth in vulnerable situations. Directly comparable in mission to support vulnerable Swedish children, with overlapping grantmaking and direct-service programs in the Stockholm area.
• Barnfonden: Swedish child welfare nonprofit focused on education and child protection, with both Swedish and international programs. Comparable through its grantmaking model supporting community-based organizations serving disadvantaged youth, similar to Gålöstiftelsen's organizational support function.
• Carl Tryggers Stiftelse: Swedish foundation providing scholarships and research grants primarily in science and technology. Comparable as a Swedish scholarship foundation with similar endowment-based funding model, though with a more research-focused mandate versus Gålöstiftelsen's youth-education focus.
• Stiftelsen Lars-Erik Lundbergs Stipendiefond: Swedish foundation providing scholarships for higher education studies, administered by the Lundberg family foundations. Directly comparable in providing individual scholarships to Swedish students, with similar endowment-funded operating model.
• Stiftelsen Kvinnabörsen: Swedish foundation supporting women and girls' education and economic empowerment through scholarships and grants. Comparable as a Swedish grantmaking foundation focused on educational access for disadvantaged populations, with similar scholarship-disbursement model.

Regional players

• Stockholms Stadsmission: Stockholm-based social services organization supporting vulnerable people including children and youth in Greater Stockholm. Comparable through shared geographic focus and overlap with Gålöstiftelsen's mission to support disadvantaged youth in Stockholm, particularly in socio-economically weak areas.

Broad incumbents

• Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse: Sweden's largest private research funding foundation, with capital of ~12 billion SEK making large grants to Swedish research and education. Comparable as a major Swedish grantmaking foundation, though operating at significantly larger scale and focused on research rather than individual scholarships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCaCNqFnMwsAjIQtNzBFu8og
• Facebookfacebook.com/galostiftelsen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/g%C3%A5l%C3%B6stiftelsen

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Gålöstiftelsen