Stiftung Gesellschaft macht Schule gGmbH

What Stiftung Gesellschaft macht Schule gGmbH does

Gesellschaft macht Schule gGmbH (GMS) is a Munich-based non-profit (gemeinnützige GmbH) founded in 2003 as a civic initiative in response to the 2000 PISA study and converted to its current legal form in 2012. It operates as an on-site school cooperation partner in all-day programs at three Munich schools (one primary, two secondary) in the districts of Obergiesing and Pasing/Neuaubing, serving 244 children and adolescents in school year 2025/26, of whom 71–95% have a migration background. Its core product is a psychosocial prevention and personality-development concept delivered through 52 structured courses covering sports, creative arts, media literacy, language/reading promotion, resilience training, democracy education, and career orientation, plus a new socio-pedagogically supervised learning space (GMS Oase, launched 2025) and an individual mentoring program for school-to-career transitions.

The underlying methodology is a multi-year, relationship-intensive pedagogical model focused on building self-efficacy, self-perception, self-control, and conflict-resolution skills; it is externally validated through a long-standing scientific evaluation partnership with Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), whose 'respectU' study (Anna Gieschen, 2021) earned the DeGEval-Nachwuchspreis 2024. GMS holds three separate PHINEO Wirkt-Siegel awards (2015, 2016, 2025), is recognized as Träger der freien Jugendhilfe under §75 SGB VIII, and is a signatory of the Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft.

The organization charges nothing to students or schools. Revenue (~€1.01M in FY2024/25, essentially flat over the past four years) is generated entirely through a diversified mix of foundation/association grants (32%), public subsidies from Bavarian/municipal sources (23%), self-generated internal funds (23%), corporate partnerships (10%), and private donations (12%). Corporate partner tiers are subscription-based (Supporter €5K, Power Partner €10K, Power Partner Plus €15K annually), as is the age-tiered Förderkreis membership (€50–€500/year). The organization is owned by four private shareholders (Nicola Keim, Beatrice Rodenstock as chair, Kathrin Presser-Velder, Christine von Preyss), overseen by a three-member Kuratorium, and managed by CEO Ilka Ann Wörner; there is no parent company, external investor, or venture funding.

Name

Stiftung Gesellschaft macht Schule gGmbH

Legal name

Gesellschaft macht Schule gGmbH

Website

https://gesellschaft-macht-schule.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gesellschaft macht Schule gGmbH is a Munich-based non-profit that delivers psychosocial prevention, personality-development, and career-orientation programs at three partner schools, serving 244 disadvantaged children and adolescents with 20 trained pedagogical staff and a scientifically evaluated (LMU Munich) curriculum.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Education & Social-Pedagogical Services

NAICS

Other Schools and Instruction (6116)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• Youth education services
• Psychosocial prevention programs
• School partnership programs
• Career orientation services
• Social-emotional learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Association Grants: 32% of revenue (FY 2024/25). Grants from foundations, associations, and umbrella organizations supporting educational equity and youth development.
2. Public Subsidies: 23% of revenue (FY 2024/25). Government funding and public subsidies from municipal and state (Bavarian/Landesregierung) sources.
3. Private Individuals and Companies: 22% of revenue (FY 2024/25). Combined private donations (12%) and corporate partnerships/sponsorships (10%).
4. Internal Funds: 23% of revenue (FY 2024/25). Self-generated funds from the organization's own resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Stiftung Gesellschaft macht Schule gGmbH is a Munich-based non-profit that delivers on-site psychosocial prevention and personality development programs at partner primary and secondary schools. It offers a portfolio of socio-pedagogical projects (respectU, empowerU, beo+, Eine Note Besser!, GMS Oase) plus course offerings in sport, art, language, media, and career orientation, all aimed at socially disadvantaged children and adolescents. Programs are delivered free of charge to students and schools, funded instead by public subsidies, foundation grants, corporate partnerships, and private donations.

Product overview

Stiftung Gesellschaft macht Schule gGmbH operates as an educational nonprofit offering multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include respectU (a socio-pedagogical prevention concept for middle schools), empowerU (democracy education), beo+ (career orientation), and the GMS Oase (protected learning space). These work alongside a diverse course catalog including Team & Spiel/Sport, Kreation!, Kochen & Backen, Medienkompetenz, Rhythmik, Zirkus, Fit for Future, Resilienztraining, and Sprach- und Leseförderung. The organization also provides professional development through 'Beziehungsstark im Schulalltag' training and individual support via the GMS Mentoring Programm. The project 'Eine Note Besser!' extends services to primary schools. Together, these programs form a holistic educational ecosystem addressing social-pedagogical support, personal development, career preparation, and academic reinforcement for children and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• respectU A socio-pedagogical prevention concept implemented at middle schools that develops personal and social competencies such as self-efficacy, self-perception, self-control, and conflict resolution through team trainings and diverse course offerings.
• empowerU Project at middle schools focusing on democracy education and news literacy, where students engage with democracy and current events through media projects and interactive classroom activities.
• beo+ (Berufsorientierung Plus) Career orientation project that supports students in transitioning from school to vocational training, including job application training, workplace visits at partner companies, and individual coaching.
• Eine Note Besser! Intensification hours at primary school providing language and reading promotion, help with weekly planning tasks, and social training for children with difficult starting conditions.
• GMS Oase A socio-pedagogically accompanied learning and experience space serving as a protected retreat where students can calm down, resolve conflicts, learn, be creative, or simply breathe without disrupting class flow.
• Beziehungsstark im Schulalltag Twelve-module attachment-oriented empowerment training program for pedagogical professionals that addresses professional, emotionally stable, health-promoting, and relationship-strong pedagogical attitudes.
• GMS Mentoring Programm Individual coaching program for students providing personalized support for career orientation and the transition from school to professional life.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students significantly improved personal and social competencies (self-efficacy, self-perception, self-control, conflict resolution) between school year start and end, as measured by scientific evaluation (LMU Munich, project 'respectU', Anna Gieschen, 2021).
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nanotec Electronic GmbH & Co. KGcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 April 2023Nanotec is GMS's corporate patron (Unternehmenspate), providing company visits, practical workshops (e.g., encoder assembly), job application training, and career orientation support for GMS students. Students have signed apprenticeship contracts with Nanotec. The partnership exemplifies GMS's bridge between education and employment.
• Literaturhaus München (Literature House Munich)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on joint programs and events as referenced in the GMS newsletter. Nature of collaboration includes cultural and educational events.
• Schneider BräuhausminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurant partner hosting the annual 'Wunschkugel' (wish globe) Christmas action, where GMS students decorate Christmas ornaments with their wishes that are displayed in the restaurant. Donations of €10 per globe support GMS programs. The restaurant also hosts children for meals and supports GMS events.
• Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific evaluation partnership for the 'respectU' project. LMU researcher Anna Gieschen conducted rigorous evaluation showing significant improvements in self-efficacy, self-perception, self-control, and conflict resolution among GMS students. Evaluation published as Master's thesis (2021) and DeGEval award-winning (2024).
• Giesinger BahnhofminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner hosting the 'GUCK MAL! – Junge Perspektiven aus Giesing' photo art exhibition (July 2025), showcasing student photography work.
• Serviceplan GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCreative and marketing agency partner supporting the 'GUCK MAL!' photo exhibition project as part of the Giesinger Bahnhof exhibition.
• Galerie Jahn und JahnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArt gallery partner contributing to the curatorial work of the 'GUCK MAL!' photo exhibition.
• MYPOSTERminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner supporting the 'GUCK MAL!' photo exhibition, likely providing poster/print production.
• SZ Gute Werke (Süddeutsche Zeitung Gute Werke)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSelected as one of four social projects featured in the 'Herzkammer' (Heart Chamber) at the Tollwood Sommerfestival 2026, managed by SZ Gute Werke. Provides visibility and fundraising platform for GMS.
• CIVIS – Das DemokratiespielminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with CIVIS game developer Lena Scholle for democracy education training for GMS pedagogical staff. The CIVIS game enables students to learn democratic processes through interactive classroom activities.
• SprachBewegung e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in the 'empowerU' project at Mittelschule Wiesentfelser Straße, supporting language development through movement-based activities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Karl Kübel Stiftung: German family foundation supporting children, families, and education through direct programmatic interventions and partnerships. Overlaps with GMS in target population (disadvantaged children), focus on early intervention and personality development, and non-profit delivery model.
• Stiftung Lesen: National German foundation promoting reading and literacy skills, with significant on-site school programming and programs for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Direct overlap with GMS's Sprach- und Leseförderung (language and reading promotion) offerings and similar funder mix (foundations, public subsidies, corporate partners).
• Teach First Deutschland: Germany-based nonprofit focused on educational equity for disadvantaged students through school-based programs and teacher leadership development. Highly comparable to GMS in mission (closing educational gaps) and operating model (on-site school partnerships), though uses a fellowship/teacher-deployment model rather than direct pedagogical staff.
• Stiftung Bildung: German foundation focused on educational equity and democratic education, working through on-site school programs and pedagogical innovation. Comparable to GMS in mission, school-based delivery model, and reliance on foundation/corporate/donor funding mix.
• ArbeiterKind.de: Germany's largest nonprofit supporting first-generation university students from non-academic backgrounds through mentoring and peer networks. Comparable to GMS in its mission of educational equity, school-to-career pathway support, and volunteer-driven community-led model, though focused on higher education rather than K-12.

Broad incumbents

• Bertelsmann Stiftung: One of Germany's largest foundations, with significant programs in education, demographic change, and social cohesion. Compares to GMS in funding Germany's education nonprofit ecosystem and commissioning research on educational equity, though operates as a grantmaker rather than direct service provider.
• SOS-Kinderdorf: Germany's largest youth welfare organization operating residential villages, family programs, and education support nationwide. Like GMS, it is a Träger der freien Jugendhilfe and serves disadvantaged children with psychosocial support — but at much larger scale and broader scope.

Others

• PHINEO: German social-impact analytics nonprofit that awards the Wirkt-Siegel that GMS has received three times. Functions as an ecosystem participant — evaluator, advisor, and capacity-builder for nonprofits like GMS rather than a direct competitor, but deeply connected to GMS's positioning in the German education nonprofit landscape.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/gesellschaft_macht_schule
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stiftung-gesellschaft-macht-schule-ggmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Stiftung Gesellschaft macht Schule gGmbH