LAG SELBSTHILFE NRW

What LAG SELBSTHILFE NRW does

LAG SELBSTHILFE NRW is a state-level umbrella organization (Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft) based in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, that coordinates and represents approximately 118 self-help associations of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Founded in 1971 and operating as a registered non-profit advocacy body with seven employees, the organization provides member support services, political representation, and project-based programs aimed at strengthening the self-help movement in NRW.

Its core activities include member coordination, political advocacy for disability and chronic illness self-help, and administration of several active projects including 'SelbsthilfeHelden' (engagement and visibility for self-help groups), 'In Zukunft Inklusiv' (an inclusive future program launched 2022), 'Sicher, Stark und Selbstbestimmt' (launched September 2021), and the 'NetzwerkBüro' (network office). In February 2024 the organization founded the affiliated LAG der Werkstatt-Frauenbeauftragten NRW as a parallel umbrella body for workshop women's representatives. Governance is led by Chairman Bernd Kochanek, Managing Director Melanie Ahlke, and Deputy Chairman Oliver Totter.

The business model is grant-funded non-profit: revenues derive from statutory health insurance (GKV) project grants under §20h SGB V, subsidies from the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, and membership dues from roughly 118 member associations. The technology footprint is conventional — Matomo for web analytics and standard social media channels for outreach — with no disclosed proprietary platform, AI/ML capabilities, or notable technical infrastructure beyond basic website and office tooling.

Name

LAG SELBSTHILFE NRW

Legal name

Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft SELBSTHILFE NRW e.V. von Menschen mit Behinderung und chronischer Erkrankung und ihren Angehörigen NRW e.V.

Website

https://lag-selbsthilfe-nrw.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LAG SELBSTHILFE NRW is a Münster-based non-profit umbrella organization that coordinates approximately 118 self-help associations for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses across North Rhine-Westphalia, delivering advocacy, member support, and project-based programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy
• Self-help associations
• Chronic illness support
• Inclusion policy
• Member association services

Headquarters

HQ city

Münster

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: Tiered annual membership fees paid by member associations, local working groups (assoziierte Mitglieder), supporting members (Fördermitglieder), and individual members. Specific amounts are not publicly disclosed and provided upon request.
2. State funding (Land NRW): Financial support from the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, including project funding for initiatives like the NetzwerkBüro NRW since 1996 and project 'Sicher, Stark und Selbstbestimmt - vernetzt!' from 2021.
3. GKV Selbsthilfeförderung NRW: Financial support from the statutory health insurance associations (GKV) in NRW for self-help promotion, including project funding for initiatives like 'SelbsthilfeHelden - Selbsthilfe trifft junge Leute'.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

LAG SELBSTHILFE NRW is a registered non-profit association (e.V.) founded in 1971 that serves as the state-level umbrella organization for 118 self-help associations representing people with disabilities and chronic illnesses in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It advocates for inclusive policies, coordinates networking among member groups, and operates projects such as In Zukunft Inklusiv, SelbsthilfeHelden, NetzwerkBüro NRW, and Sicher Stark und Selbstbestimmt. The organization also publishes informational materials including the Handbuch der Selbstbestimmung - Gesundheit.

Product overview

LAG SELBSTHILFE NRW is a non-profit state-level coordination organization (Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft) for self-help associations serving people with disabilities and chronic illnesses in North Rhine-Westphalia. The organization does not offer a software product but rather provides advocacy services, coordination, and projects including: the 'In Zukunft Inklusiv' project for municipal political participation; the 'SelbsthilfeHelden' youth engagement initiative; the 'NetzwerkBüro' for women and girls with disabilities; and the 'Sicher, Stark und Selbstbestimmt' project for women representatives in workshops. Additionally, they publish the 'Handbuch der Selbstbestimmung – Gesundheit' handbook for patient self-determination in healthcare. The organization coordinates 118 member associations and operates from its office in Münster.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SelbsthilfeHelden – Selbsthilfe trifft junge Leute: A project aimed at encouraging young people to become their own heroes through self-help, promoting exchange between young people with and without chronic illnesses and/or disabilities
• In Zukunft Inklusiv
• Sicher, Stark und Selbstbestimmt – vernetzt!
• NetzwerkBüro NRW

Products and services

• Member Association Umbrella Services Core umbrella services provided to 118 member self-help associations, including advocacy representation, coordination, networking support, and collective policy engagement on disability and chronic illness issues across NRW.
• NetzwerkBüro NRW A networking office project operated by LAG SELBSTHILFE NRW that connects and supports member self-help associations across North Rhine-Westphalia.
• In Zukunft Inklusiv

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 1.92 million people with severe disabilities in NRW are represented through the organization's advocacy efforts
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• GO NRW Alliance (Bündnis 'GO NRW - politische Teilhabe stärken')coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 December 2023Alliance for political participation including LAG Selbsthilfe NRW, Landesbehindertenrat NRW, Landesjugendring NRW, Landesseniorenvertretung NRW, Verein Politisch Selbstbestimmt Leben NRW, Sozialverband Deutschland NRW, and Sozialverband VdK NRW. Kooperationspartner: KSL NRW. Jointly advocates for changes to municipal codes requiring disability, youth, and senior representation structures.
• Junge Selbsthilfe NRW (Young Self-Help NRW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA network of self-help activists from various groups, organizations, and associations organized since 2019, representing young people aged 18-35+. Jointly implements the 'SelbsthilfeHelden - Selbsthilfe trifft junge Leute' project. Goal: Remove barriers between young people and self-help, present a modern face of self-help, and raise awareness about political participation, inclusion, and participation.
• KSL NRW (Kompetenzzentren Selbstbestimmt Leben NRW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in the 'GO NRW' alliance for political participation. The KSL centers work on the 'Bist du behindernd' campaign to raise awareness about equal participation and barrier removal.
• BAG SELBSTHILFE e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal association that provides information resources such as the 'Mein Recht auf Rehabilitation und Teilhabe' brochure. LAG Selbsthilfe NRW's expertise from ~130 member associations informed the 'Handbuch der Selbstbestimmung - Gesundheit' publication.
• NetzwerkBüro Frauen und Mädchen mit Behinderung/chronischer Erkrankung NRWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 1996, the network office has been supported by the state of NRW. It provides expert knowledge, advises institutions of integration assistance and domestic violence protection systems, and serves as a guide for women with disabilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Landesbehindertenrat NRW: The official state-wide council representing disability organizations in NRW. Directly comparable as a NRW disability advocacy coalition; LAG Selbsthilfe NRW and Landesbehindertenrat are co-members of the GO NRW Alliance.
• Aktion Mensch: Germany's largest private disability-advocacy and inclusion funder, supporting projects for people with disabilities. Directly comparable disability-mission focus, though it operates primarily as a grant-maker rather than a member association.
• Bundesvereinigung Lebenshilfe: Major German federation advocating for people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Directly comparable disability-rights mandate and self-help support services, though with a narrower intellectual-disability focus.
• BAG SELBSTHILFE e.V. Federal-level umbrella association of disability and chronic illness self-help groups in Germany. LAG Selbsthilfe NRW operates as the NRW state chapter under BAG SELBSTHILFE's broader network — directly comparable mandate and constituency.
• KSL NRW (Kompetenzzentren Selbstbestimmt Leben NRW): NRW network of competence centers for self-determined living, focused on peer counseling and disability advocacy. Directly comparable NRW-based disability advocacy and a named cooperation partner within the GO NRW Alliance.
• Sozialverband VdK NRW: NRW branch of the VdK social advocacy association serving people with disabilities and chronic illness. Directly comparable target population, advocacy model, and NRW policy work, and a fellow GO NRW Alliance member.
• Sozialverband Deutschland NRW (SoVD NRW): NRW state branch of one of Germany's largest social advocacy organizations for people with disabilities, retirees, and patients. Directly comparable advocacy scope and NRW policy engagement, including joint GO NRW Alliance membership.
• Kindernetzwerk e.V. German umbrella organization for parents' associations and self-help groups around children with chronic illnesses and disabilities. Directly comparable self-help coalition model with similar advocacy and information-provision services.

Broad incumbents

• Der Paritätische NRW: NRW branch of Germany's large umbrella association for nonprofit and social-service organizations. Comparable advocacy and member-services model, but with a much broader social-services scope beyond disability.
• Caritas NRW: NRW branch of the major Catholic welfare association, providing broad social services including disability support. Overlapping advocacy and service-provision space, but operates as a much larger incumbent with a much wider service portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lagselbsthilfenrw9552
• Facebookfacebook.com/LAGSELBSTHILFENRW
• Instagraminstagram.com/lagselbsthilfenrw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lag-selbsthilfe-nrw

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about LAG SELBSTHILFE NRW