help and hope Stiftung

What help and hope Stiftung does

help and hope Stiftung is a legally capable charitable foundation under German civil law (rechtsfähige Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts), founded 23 December 2005 and headquartered at Gut Königsmühle, a 12-hectare historic estate in Dortmund-Mengede that the foundation acquired in May 2016. The organization operates programs for families with children and for educational institutions across North Rhine-Westphalia, structured around experiential learning at the Gut Königsmühle site. Its offerings comprise Mehrtagesprogramme (3- and 5-day residential programs in the forthcoming help and hope Haus), Eintagesprogramme (single-day project programs in subjects such as nature, team-building, food origins, fairness and democracy, and digital media), Ferienbetreuung holiday care for children aged 6–14, U6-Angebote for infants and parents (FIP-Café, Stillcafé, Griffbereit, KIDIX, Lesezeit), and the Schulstarter-Aktion which in 2026 distributed 2,500 school supply packages across 49 Dortmund primary and special-needs schools.

The core operating model combines (i) donations from individuals, corporate sponsors (Gold/Silver/Bronze tiers including TEDi, Dortmunder Volksbank, ATLAS GmbH, Lusebrink Kinderstiftung, Baker Tilly), and other foundations; (ii) program fees, with published unit pricing of €69 per person/night for multi-day stays (full board and pedagogical program), €50 plus €5 per child for single-day programs, and €50 flat for courtyard usage; and (iii) event revenue (Clown August tickets at €5 via Eventim Light, Flohmarkt booth fees at €20). Distribution is principally on-site at Gut Königsmühle and via online booking, direct school outreach, and partner referrals through the Kommunales Integrationszentrum Dortmund and the kefb Catholic adult and family education organization. Marketing is conducted through the redesigned website, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, email newsletters, press releases, and community events.

Governance is provided by a five-member executive board (Vorstand) chaired by Sandra Heller and a seven-member supervisory board (Kuratorium) chaired by Stefan Heinig. Operations are supported by 13 employees, with Nathalie Varga as Pedagogical Director (Pädagogische Leitung), Laura Kirch heading administration (Leitung Verwaltung), and Fabian Neuser leading on-site estate management (Leitung Hofmanagement). An independent audit is conducted by Baker Tilly. The foundation is a member of the Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen, and its operations are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and NRW BNE (Education for Sustainable Development) guidelines. The organization's identity is that of a regional nonprofit education-and-welfare operator centered on a unique physical site, with no meaningful proprietary technology stack.

Name

help and hope Stiftung

Legal name

help and hope Stiftung

Website

https://helpandhope-stiftung.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

help and hope Stiftung is a Dortmund-based German charitable foundation that operates experiential educational, holiday-care, and family programs for disadvantaged children and youth out of Gut Königsmühle, a 12-hectare heritage estate. It is funded primarily through donations and corporate sponsors, with paid school and kindergarten programs and the forthcoming help and hope Haus guesthouse extending its reach.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Youth Education and Family Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs (EDAJAGAH), Family-School Collaboration & Inclusion Planning Support (EDAKABAK)

Keywords

• Children education programs
• Out-of-school learning
• Youth holiday care
• Charitable foundation services
• School project days

Headquarters

HQ city

Dortmund-Mengede

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation is almost entirely financed through donations (Spendengelder). It receives one-time donations, project-specific donations, and ongoing support from corporate and individual donors at Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers.
2. Program Fees: Revenue generated from educational programs including multi-day stays (69€ per person per night including full board and pedagogical program), single-day project programs (50€ base fee plus 5€ per person), and playground/cafe usage fees.
3. Venue Rental and Events: Income from events such as the Clown August show (5€ tickets), flea market stand fees (20€ per stand), and potentially other event-based revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

help and hope Stiftung is a charitable foundation that operates Gut Königsmühle, a 12-hectare estate in Dortmund-Mengede, as an out-of-school learning and experience location for children, youth, and families. It sells multi-day and single-day educational programs to schools and kindergartens, holiday care for children aged 6–14, U6 programs for families with infants and toddlers, and runs the Schulstarter-Aktion annual school-supply initiative. The upcoming help and hope Haus (bookable from 2027) adds overnight guesthouse capacity for up to 100 guests.

Product overview

help and hope Stiftung operates a unified portfolio of educational and leisure programs centered at Gut Königsmühle, a 12-hectare estate in Dortmund-Mengede. The offering comprises multi-day programs (Mehrtagesprogramme) and single-day programs (Eintagesprogramme) for schools and kindergartens; holiday care (Ferienbetreuung) for children aged 6-14; U6-Angebote for families with infants and toddlers; and the Schulstarter-Aktion providing school supply packages. Supporting facilities include the help and hope Haus (youth guesthouse for overnight stays), an open-access playground, and the Landcafé kleiner König. All offerings are oriented around the foundation's mission of supporting disadvantaged children and youth through sustainable education and community experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mehrtagesprogramme (Multi-day Programs)

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,500 school starter packages distributed in 2026 to first-graders from disadvantaged families across 49 Dortmund schools
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 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 minor, flagship and core.

• EDG DortmundminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2026Environmental services company co-hosting the World Clean Up Day event at Gut Königsmühle on September 20, 2026. EDG aims to sensitize visitors for environmental and resource protection through a joint trash collection activity and upcycling workshop.
• Schwarz+Matt GmbHflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 July 2026Dortmund-based branding and design agency that developed the foundation's new website as a pro bono service donation. The agency was subsequently elevated to Gold-Förderer status in recognition of this exceptional support. CEO André Schirmer stated the agency aims to give the foundation greater visibility through the modern digital presence.
• Kommunales Integrationszentrum DortmundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal integration center partnering with the foundation on the Griffbereit program for families with and without migration backgrounds. The program promotes early childhood development and multilingualism.
• kefb (Katholische Erwachsenen- und Familienbildung an der Ruhr)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic adult and family education organization partnering on KIDIX parent-child courses. The program can be attended once per child in their first year of life free of charge (up to 15 sessions), with fees for additional participation.
• Bundesverband Deutscher StiftungenminorOthersThe foundation is a member of the German Federal Association of Foundations, providing networking and institutional recognition.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Aktion Mensch e.V. Germany's largest private social lottery funding inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities, including inclusive education programs. Comparable as a nonprofit channeling funds into educational inclusion, with partial overlap given help and hope's Schulstarter work with special needs schools.
• Stiftung Lesen: Mainz-based nonprofit foundation promoting literacy and reading among children and youth in Germany. Comparable as a donation-funded Stiftung running school-facing educational programs, though narrower in scope (literacy-only) and without a physical experiential campus.

Direct peers

• Deutsche Kinder- und Jugendstiftung (DKJS): National German foundation focused on education and youth development, particularly for children facing social disadvantage. Highly comparable as a privately funded Stiftung operating programs that complement school-based education, with similar BNE/esd curricular framing.
• Children for a Better World e.V. Hamburg-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting disadvantaged children in Germany through education and participation programs. Comparable mission, donation-funded structure, and education-focused program portfolio (similar to help and hope's project days and holiday care).
• SOS-Kinderdorf e.V. One of Germany's largest charitable organizations supporting disadvantaged children and youth through residential and community programs. Directly comparable mission of enabling equal opportunities for children, with comparable reliance on donations and a mix of stationary and outreach services.
• Kindernothilfe e.V. One of Germany's largest child welfare NGOs funding education and protection projects for disadvantaged children. Comparable as a donation-driven Stiftung with portfolios weighted toward educational access for at-risk youth, though operating more internationally.
• nph Deutschland e.V. German arm of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, funding residential communities and education for orphaned and disadvantaged children. Comparable donation-funded nonprofit model centered on children and youth, though operating primarily in Latin America rather than domestically.

Broad incumbents

• Bertelsmann Stiftung: One of Germany's largest operational foundations, with major programs in education, democracy, and social cohesion. Operates in the same broad nonprofit education space but at dramatically larger scale and with policy/advocacy capabilities that help and hope does not attempt.
• Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland: Corporate foundation funding education and digital participation programs for children and youth in Germany. Comparable as a Stiftung funding K-12 educational programing, but with a corporate funder behind it and a much larger national footprint.

Regional players

• Heinz Nixdorf Stiftung: Paderborn-based German foundation supporting education, science, and community development in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe region. Comparable as a regional Stiftung with programs that benefit local children and schools, though geographically adjacent rather than overlapping.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/helpandhopestiftung
• Facebookfacebook.com/helpandhope.gutkoenigsmuehle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stiftung-help-and-hope
• Instagraminstagram.com/helpandhopestiftung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about help and hope Stiftung