Stiftung Humor Hilft Heilen gGmbH

What Stiftung Humor Hilft Heilen gGmbH does

Stiftung Humor Hilft Heilen gGmbH (HHH) is a Bonn-based charitable foundation founded in 2008 by Dr. Eckart von Hirschhausen, a German physician and comedian. The organization operates three interconnected program pillars: (1) professionally trained clinic clown visits (Klinikclownvisiten) at pediatric wards, nursing homes, and palliative care units nationwide in Germany, delivered in pairs on a 1–4 times monthly cadence with ~3-hour visit durations under formal one-year partnership agreements; (2) humor workshops and seminars for nursing staff and nursing students, including the academically validated 'Freude pflegen' curriculum developed in partnership with Universität zu Lübeck; and (3) scientific research projects evaluating humor interventions, including an OP-escort clown program (award-winning MSD Gesundheitspreis 2023 'Evidenztransfer') and a longitudinal nursing-student study published in Frontiers in Public Health (2021). Additional offerings include virtual clinic clown visits, the co-produced 'PflegeTacheles' podcast with VRK insurer, and the 'Humor hilft Hygiene' hand-disinfection awareness campaign with UKB Bonn.

The foundation is structured as a gemeinnützige GmbH (non-profit limited liability company) with approximately eight staff (2 full-time, 1 part-time, 2 mini-job, plus 4 freelance/honorary roles) augmented by a variable volunteer base and an artistic leadership team of three. It runs no proprietary technology platform; operational tooling consists of standard SaaS (Mailchimp for newsletters, PayPal for donations) and a WordPress website. Brand recognition is anchored by Dr. von Hirschhausen's personal media presence and the foundation's red-nose visual identity. HHH is fully certified under Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft, holds full EFHCO membership (since June 2024), and operates under German tax-exempt status valid until 2027.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable giving: individual donations, corporate sponsorships, gifting sponsorships (Geschenkpatenschaften), testamentary bequests, and event-based fundraising — most notably RTL's annual 'Wir helfen Kindern' Spendenmarathon (€160,000 received in the 2025 cycle) and benefit concerts by Lions Clubs. The foundation's largest single donor, dm-drogerie markt GmbH + Co. KG, contributes approximately 13% of annual revenue, with additional material contributions from RTL Stiftung, Sparkasse KölnBonn, Bosch Cents for help e.V., and multiple Lions and Zonta Clubs. Programs are delivered via direct partnerships with healthcare providers across Germany; facility-side costs are shared with HHH's fundraising proceeds.

Name

Stiftung Humor Hilft Heilen gGmbH

Legal name

Stiftung HUMOR HILFT HEILEN gGmbH

Website

https://humorhilftheilen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stiftung Humor Hilft Heilen gGmbH is a Bonn-based charitable foundation, founded in 2008 by Dr. Eckart von Hirschhausen, that funds professionally trained clinic clown visits, nursing humor workshops, and academic research on humor in German healthcare facilities and nursing schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Charity and Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Health Promotion & Public Health Education (Community Workshops) (EDAAAFAG)

Keywords

• Clinic clown visits
• Humor workshops nursing
• Healthcare charity programs
• Nursing staff training
• Humor research healthcare

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations (Allgemeine Spende): One-time and recurring donations from private individuals supporting HHH's mission to bring humor into healthcare settings.
2. Corporate Sponsorships and Company Donations: Companies support HHH through sponsorship packages and direct corporate donations, including gifting sponsorships and corporate giving programs.
3. Major Donor Revenue: A significant portion (~13%) of annual revenue comes from dm-drogerie markt GmbH + Co. KG; additional major donors include RTL Stiftung, Sparkasse KölnBonn, Bosch Cents for help e.V., and various Lions Clubs.
4. Bequests and Testamentary Donations (Erbschaft): Individuals leave testamentary donations to HHH, providing long-term sustainable funding; HHH is exempt from inheritance tax, ensuring full value of bequests reaches programs.
5. RTL Spendenmarathon and Charity Events: Participation in RTL's annual Wir helfen Kindern Spendenmarathon generates large-scale donations (e.g., 160,000 EUR in 2025/2026 cycle); benefit concerts by Lions Club and Musikverein Affalterbach also raise funds.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Stiftung Humor Hilft Heilen gGmbH is a charitable foundation that funds and coordinates professional clinic clown visits to hospitals, pediatric wards, nursing homes, and palliative care units across Germany, including OP-escort services for children facing surgery. The foundation also delivers humor seminars and workshops for nursing teams and nursing students, and supports and initiates scientific research on the effectiveness of humor interventions in healthcare settings. All programs are financed through donations, corporate sponsorships, bequests, and charity events.

Product overview

Stiftung Humor Hilft Heilen (HHH) operates as a charitable foundation offering three interconnected service pillars: (1) Klinikclownvisiten – professionally trained clowns visiting hospitals, nursing homes, and palliative care units, including special OP-escort services for children; (2) Humor workshops for nursing staff and students, including the 'Freude pflegen' curriculum developed with University of Lübeck; and (3) Scientific research evaluating humor interventions in healthcare. The organization also provides digital services including virtual clinic visits and the 'PflegeTacheles' podcast. HHH's offerings combine direct patient/caregiver engagement with educational programs and evidence-based research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Klinikclownvisiten (Clinic Clown Visits) Professionally trained clowns work in pairs to visit patients on pediatric wards, in nursing homes, and on palliative care units 1-4 times per month, providing joyful encounters at eye level with a wink. Each visit lasts approximately 3 hours including a handover meeting.
• OP-Begleitung durch Klinikclowns (Clinic Clown OP Escort Service) Clowns accompany children to the operating room, providing emotional support and creating moments of joy before surgery to reduce anxiety and fear.
• Humor-Workshops für Pflegekräfte (Humor Workshops for Nursing Staff) Humor seminars and workshops teaching concrete humor techniques that nursing professionals can apply for themselves and for patients in stressful clinical everyday situations. Over 2,000 healthcare workers have been trained across Germany.
• Freude pflegen Curriculum Innovative teaching curriculum developed with Universität zu Lübeck for stress management and increasing work motivation in nursing trainees, based on Positive Psychology principles.
• Virtuelle Klinikclownvisiten (Virtual Clinic Clown Visits) Digital clinic clown visits enabling remote engagement with chronically ill children and their families via video connection, extending the reach of the clown program beyond physical hospital visits.
• PflegeTacheles Podcast Podcast series co-produced with VRK featuring discussions with nursing professionals about challenges, best practices, and solutions in healthcare, available on Spotify and other platforms.
• Forschungsprojekte (Research Projects) Scientific studies and research projects evaluating the effectiveness of humor interventions in healthcare settings, conducted in cooperation with universities and clinics.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90 nursing students in 'Freude pflegen' study showed stabilized humorous attitude over time vs. control group decline; humor correlated with reduced stress and higher work enjoyment (Universität zu Lübeck)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Versicherer im Raum der Kirchen (vrk)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Co-producer of the 'PflegeTacheles' podcast alongside HHH. vrk is a health and pension insurer serving church-related institutions. The partnership combines nursing advocacy with insurance products for the nursing sector.
• Tony Bauer (Comedian / RTL Project Patron)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024German comedian and project patron for HHH during RTL's Wir helfen Kindern 2024 Spendenmarathon. Accompanied HHH clowns for a day at Sana Kliniken Duisburg and provided testimonial on humor's healing power.
• Agaplesion Bethesda Klinik UlmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Zonta-funded humor workshops; participated in the 11-workshop program for nursing staff alongside Agaplesion Bethesda Wohnen und Pflegen. Jörg Hillmann (Referent Personalentwicklung) provided positive feedback.
• Universität zu LübeckcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner conducting longitudinal studies on HHH's 'Freude pflegen' curriculum with nursing students. Led by Prof. Dr. Corinna Peifer (Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie) and Dr. Marek Bartzik. Study published in Frontiers in Public Health (2021).
• Alexianer-Misericordia GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the 'Freude pflegen' research project. Alexianer Pflegeschule in Münster served as the intervention site with ~90 nursing students. Peter Ahaus (stellv. Schulleiter) confirmed positive outcomes. Also a major employer partner in healthcare education.
• Institut für Hygiene und Öffentliche Gesundheit am Universitätsklinikum Bonn (UKB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with HHH and Verbund für Angewandte Hygiene e.V. on the 'Humor hilft Hygiene' campaign, producing a video on hand disinfection for children at the Eltern-Kind-Zentrum (ElKi) Bonn.
• European Federation of Hospital Clowning Organizations (EFHCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHH became a full member of EFHCO in June 2024 after passing quality assessment, aligning with European standards for hospital clowning and enabling international knowledge exchange.
• Die BrückenKöpfe GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcept and participation agency in healthcare. Founder Jürgen Graalmann serves on HHH's advisory board and promotes HHH's mission through his network.
• Universitätsklinikum Bonn (UKB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner10+ year partnership for clinic clown visits at UKB, including the OP escort program (e.g., child Lennard escorted to heart surgery). Also collaborated on 'Humor hilft Hygiene' campaign. UKB trained staff through HHH workshops.
• Musikkorps der BundeswehrminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPerforms at the annual benefit concert organized by Lions Club Ludwigsburg-Monrepos, with proceeds supporting HHH's clinic clown visits.
• Klinikum Ludwigsburg (RKH Gesundheit)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner10+ year partnership for clinic clown visits at the Kinder- und Jugendmedizin clinic. Prof. Dr. Jochen Meyburg (Ärztlicher Direktor) participates in donation ceremonies. Also site of wand painting project with artist Jakob Möhring.
• AWO LudwigsburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWO facilities (Hans-Klenk-Haus, Ludwigsstift) host regular HHH clinic clown visits. Alexandra Metzger (Geschäftsführung) provided testimonial on the positive impact.
• Amt für Stadtgrün der Bundesstadt BonnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided booth space at the Bonner Frühlingsmarkt, enabling HHH to engage directly with the public and raise awareness and donations.
• WDR (Westdeutscher Rundfunk)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman public broadcaster covered HHH's clinic clown work at multiple facilities, including WDR Lokalzeit Bonn features and radio interviews, providing significant media exposure.
• ARTEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEuropean TV channel produced 'Superkraft Lachen' documentary (January 2025) featuring HHH's work, reaching international audiences.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwwzaKu1wgHEkMyIBhNFSIw
• Facebookfacebook.com/HUMORHILFTHEILEN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stiftung-humor-hilft-heilen-ggmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/stiftung_humor_hilft_heilen/?hl=de

Compliance1 record

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

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stiftung Humor Hilft Heilen gGmbH