Instytut Dobrej Śmierci

What Instytut Dobrej Śmierci does

Instytut Dobrej Śmierci (Fundacja Instytut Dobrej Śmierci) is a Polish non-profit foundation founded in 2020, headquartered in Warsaw at ul. Noakowskiego 12/4, and registered as a Fundacja under Polish law (NIP 5214063265, KRS 0001095995). It is the first and most prominent Polish organization dedicated to open dialogue and education about dying, death, and grief, operating across three pillars: Akademia IDŚ (structured training and workshops), Spotkania (Death Café meetings, thematic gatherings, and bereavement circles), and Kolektyw IDŚ (a multidisciplinary collective of professionals from medicine, linguistics, anthropology, art, and psychotherapy). The organization trains medical professionals, funeral industry workers, HR and organizational leaders, and the general public, and reaches customers through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop that sells training tickets, digital recordings, and the RISE Ritual Design Toolkit.

The foundation's technology stack is entirely composed of standard off-the-shelf tools rather than proprietary platform infrastructure: Google Analytics for traffic analysis, MailerLite for newsletter distribution, Vimeo and YouTube for video content, Zoom for online training delivery, and a hosted e-commerce storefront processed via Paynow (mBank), Autopay, BLIK, PayPal, and iMoje. There is no proprietary software product, mobile app, or AI component. Programmatic international reach is limited, with the organization primarily serving the Polish market but engaging internationally through events such as the World Congress for Psychotherapy 2025 in Vienna.

The business model is a hybrid non-profit revenue mix. The largest stream is paid training and workshop fees sold through the e-commerce shop, supplemented by one-time digital product sales (recordings at 75–395 PLN, the RISE Toolkit at 195–295 PLN) and donations solicited via the 'Wesprzyj nas' (Support us) channel. Grants are a structural pillar of funding, including the multi-year SPLOT Wartości 2025-2028 program supporting 2026 activities. The organization relies on a 5-person internal team augmented by the multi-disciplinary Kolektyw, which contributes content and individual grief-support practices as a referral and engagement base.

Name

Instytut Dobrej Śmierci

Legal name

Fundacja Instytut Dobrej Śmierci

Website

https://instytutdobrejsmierci.pl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Instytut Dobrej Śmierci is a Warsaw-based non-profit foundation that provides education, training, and community dialogue on dying, death, and grief, serving medical professionals, funeral industry workers, HR leaders, and the general public through its Akademia IDŚ, Death Café meetings, and Kolektyw.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Death Education and Bereavement Support Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Caregiver Support, Coaching & Training (HLADALAG), Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL), End-of-Life Emotional & Spiritual Support (Chaplaincy/Counseling) In-Home (HSABAFAH)

Keywords

• Death education
• Grief support training
• End-of-life communication
• Bereavement counseling services
• Funeral industry training

Headquarters

HQ city

Warszawa

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training and workshop fees: The primary revenue stream comes from paid training programs offered through the Akademia IDŚ (Academy). Training covers topics such as grief support, communication with dying patients, ritual design, and organizational loss. Courses are sold in multiple formats (workshop, webinar, lecture) and durations (2h, 4h, full-day) at varying price points. Ticket sales are handled through the online shop.
2. E-commerce product sales: The organization operates an online shop selling products including the RISE Ritual Design Toolkit (195-295 PLN), expert conversation recordings (e.g., 'Obok Ciebie na ostatnim etapie życia' at 395 PLN, 'Zawsze jesteś w moim sercu' lecture recording at 75 PLN), and potentially other digital and physical products. The shop also processes ticket sales for events and training.
3. Grants and donations: The organization receives grant funding, including from the SPLOT Wartości 2025-2028 program. It also solicits donations through the 'Wesprzyj nas' (Support us) section of the website. The organization is registered as a non-profit foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Instytut Dobrej Śmierci delivers education and dialogue about dying, death, and grief through three pillars: (1) Akademia IDŚ, structured training and workshops for medical professionals, the funeral industry, businesses/organizations, and the general public, offered in online and in-person formats; (2) Spotkania, community gatherings including Death Café meetings, thematic meetings, and bereavement circles; and (3) Kolektyw IDŚ, a multidisciplinary collective whose members contribute educational content and offer private grief-support practices. The foundation also runs an online shop selling training tickets, expert conversation recordings, and the RISE Ritual Design Toolkit, supported by grants and donations.

Product overview

Instytut Dobrej Śmierci is a Polish non-profit foundation (Fundacja Instytut Dobrej Śmierci) offering education and support around dying, death, and grief. Its core offerings are organized around three pillars: (1) Akademia IDŚ — a structured training and workshop platform offering courses on grief support, end-of-life communication, and organizational resilience, available in multiple formats and durations; (2) Spotkania — dialogue gatherings including Death Cafe, thematic meetings, and Kręgi (circles); and (3) Kolektyw IDŚ — a multidisciplinary collective whose members offer private grief support practices. The organization also operates a Sklep (online store) selling tickets to training and events, digital recordings (nagrania) such as 'Obok Ciebie na ostatnim etapie życia' and 'Zawsze jesteś w moim sercu', and specialty tools like the RISE Ritual Design Toolkit. Physical products ship via InPost; digital products are delivered immediately via customer account. A newsletter subscription service rounds out the offering, keeping subscribers informed about events and educational content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Akademia IDŚ – Training and Workshops (Polish: Akademia IDŚ – Szkolenia i warsztaty) Comprehensive structured training and workshop platform on dying, death, mourning, and accompaniment. Offered in multiple formats (workshop, webinar, lecture), durations (2h, 4h, full-day), and delivery modes (online via Zoom and in-person). Targets medical professionals, funeral industry workers, organizational leaders, and the general public through distinct tracks.
• Death Café, Thematic Meetings and Bereavement Circles (Polish: Spotkania – Death Cafe, spotkania tematyczne i Kręgi) Dialogue-based gatherings using the Death Café format, thematic meetings, and Kręgi (support circles) to facilitate open conversations about death, mortality, and grief. Designed for the general public and held both in-person and online (Death Café Online monthly), these meetings create safe community spaces that reduce isolation and strengthen participants' sense of groundedness and belonging.
• Grief Is Not an Illness – Foundational Training on Grief and Contemporary Grief Models (Polish: Żałoba to nie choroba – szkolenie) A training course providing foundational knowledge on the grief process, secondary losses, and the contemporary grief models including the continuing bonds concept. Delivered by Izabela Jachnicka and Maria Puchalska, available in multiple formats (in-person or online, as workshop, webinar, or lecture) and durations. Intended for professionals and the general public seeking structured grief literacy.
• How to Support Wisely in Grief – Training for Grief Supporters (Polish: Jak mądrze wspierać w żałobie? – szkolenie) A training course for people who support others in grief, covering communication skills, self-care for caregivers, and practical support strategies. Delivered by Maria Puchalska and Izabela Jachnicka in 2-hour or 4-hour formats. Aimed at professionals, volunteers, family members, and community supporters who want to provide more competent grief accompaniment.
• How to Talk About Death with a Dying Patient and Their Loved Ones – Medical Training (Polish: Jak rozmawiać o śmierci z umierającym pacjentem i jego bliskimi? – szkolenie) A training course for medical professionals on conducting difficult conversations with terminal patients and their families, covering empathy, communication strategies, and truth-telling. Delivered by Anja Franczak, Agata Malenda, Maria Puchalska, Ania Charko, and Marta Banout-Ślusarczyk. Aimed at doctors, nurses, palliative care staff, hospice workers, medical students, and emergency responders.
• How to Support a Patient and Their Loved Ones in (Anticipatory) Grief (Polish: Jak wspierać pacjenta i jego bliskich w (nadchodzącej) żałobie? – szkolenie) A training course covering anticipatory grief, micro-rituals, and communication strategies for supporting patients and families through end-of-life transitions. Delivered by Maria Puchalska. Targeted at healthcare professionals and caregivers supporting patients and families facing imminent loss.
• Loss and Resilience in the Organization – Workshop for Leaders and Teams (Polish: Strata i odporność w organizacji. Warsztat dla liderów i zespołów) A 5-hour in-person workshop for business leaders, HR professionals, and managers on navigating organizational change through a grief-informed lens, building empathy-based workplace culture, and supporting employees through personal and professional losses. Delivered by Agata Malenda, Maria Puchalska, and Ania Charko. Aimed at HR directors, team leaders, and managers building grief-informed workplace practice.
• RISE – Ritual Design Toolkit (Polish: RISE – Ritual Design Toolkit) A toolkit for designing farewell and memorial rituals, sold at 195.00–295.00 PLN through the IDŚ online shop. Available as a physical product (shipped via InPost within Poland) and/or digital product (immediate account-based access, 1-year license term). Intended for individuals, families, funeral professionals, and ceremony designers who want a structured methodology for creating meaningful rituals.
• Expert Conversation Recording: Next to You in the Last Stage of Life (Polish: Obok Ciebie na ostatnim etapie życia – nagranie) A paid recording (nagranie) of an expert conversation on being present at the last stage of life, priced at 395.00 PLN. Delivered as a digital product with immediate account-based access. Targeted at family members, caregivers, and professionals seeking expert guidance on end-of-life accompaniment.
• Lecture Recording: You Are Always in My Heart (Polish: Zawsze jesteś w moim sercu – nagranie wykładu) A paid digital recording of a lecture priced at 75.00 PLN, available with immediate delivery via the customer's account. Aimed at the general public interested in accessible expert content on grief and remembrance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 visitors to the Wind Phone project in Japan (inspiration for Warsaw initiative)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World Congress for Psychotherapy (WCP 2025)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Instytut Dobrej Śmierci was an official partner of the WCP 2025 conference held in Vienna (July 16-19, 2025) at Sigmund Freud PrivatUniversität. The institute was represented by Kamila Midor who led a workshop on cognitive linguistics and psychotherapy. Over 400 lecturers and 2000+ attendees participated.
• Stowarzyszenie Otwarty JazdówminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The Open Jazdów Association supported the establishment of the 'Telefon na wietrze' (Wind Phone) social project in Warsaw, modeled after a Japanese initiative by Mr. Sasaki. The association provided support for the location on the Jazdów area in Warsaw.
• Paweł Kowalski (designer)minorOthersDesigner who adapted the Wind Phone project concept (originally by Mr. Sasaki in Japan) for Warsaw implementation, in collaboration with Instytut Dobrej Śmierci and Katarzyna Boni.
• Tatsuji Yabuuchi (Japan)minorOthersFacilitated correspondence between Katarzyna Boni of Instytut Dobrej Śmierci and Mr. Sasaki (creator of the Wind Phone in Otsuchi, Japan), enabling the adaptation of the project to Warsaw.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hospice UK: UK national charity representing hospice and palliative care providers, including professional education, advocacy, and workforce development. A broad incumbent that operates in the same serious-illness/end-of-life education space as Instytut, but at sector-association scale.
• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO): US membership organization for hospice and palliative care providers, offering professional training, certification, and public education. Operates in the same serious-illness/end-of-life training space as the Akademie IDŚ medical track, but at established trade-association scale.
• Dying Matters (Hospice UK): UK-wide public awareness campaign run by Hospice UK that promotes talking about dying, death, and bereavement. A broader incumbent addressing the same cultural taboo as Instytut Dobrej Śmierci, but at national-campaign scale rather than as a focused training foundation.

Direct peers

• End of Life University: US-based education platform (podcast, courses) training professionals and the public on end-of-life topics including death doula work and grief. Closely comparable in the Akademie IDŚ model of structured educational programs on dying and bereavement.
• Death Cafe: Global grassroots movement that hosts informal Death Café gatherings for people to talk about death. Operates the same dialogue-based, community-led model that Instytut Dobrej Śmierci runs in Poland, making it the most directly comparable peer on the meetings/community pillar.
• The Order of the Good Death: US-based death-positive movement that builds public awareness and education around death, dying, and funerary practices. Comparable in mission (death education, cultural change) and approach (multi-disciplinary voices, public-facing campaigns) to Instytut Dobrej Śmierci.
• The Conversation Project: US public engagement initiative focused on encouraging end-of-life conversations between patients, families, and clinicians. Directly overlaps with Instytut's Akademie training on talking with dying patients and families, serving similar medical and lay audiences.

Emerging players

• Lantern: US-based end-of-life planning platform offering educational content and tools to help consumers prepare advance directives and funeral plans. Comparable in offering practical end-of-life education to lay audiences, though focused on planning tools rather than facilitator-led training.
• Compassion & Choices: US nonprofit focused on improving end-of-life care through education, advocacy, and clinical tools. Shares the mission of mainstreaming conversations about dying and grief, with overlap on the medical-professional training audience Instytut serves.

Regional players

• Fundacja Hospicyjna: Largest Polish hospice foundation, focused on hospice care delivery and palliative care advocacy in Poland. Operates in an adjacent Polish ecosystem with overlapping audience (medical professionals, grieving families) but delivers clinical services rather than education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@instytutdobrejsmierci
• Facebookfacebook.com/Instytut.Dobrej.Smierci
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/instytut-dobrej-smierci
• Instagraminstagram.com/instytut_dobrej_smierci

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Instytut Dobrej Śmierci