Lebenshilfe Dortmund

What Lebenshilfe Dortmund does

Lebenshilfe Dortmund (legal name: Lebenshilfe für Menschen mit Behinderung Dortmund e.V.) is a registered non-profit association (e.V.) founded in 1976 and headquartered in Dortmund, Germany, delivering a comprehensive portfolio of disability support services across the full beneficiary lifecycle. Operations are organized through two wholly-owned subsidiaries — Lebenshilfe Dortmund Wohnen gGmbH (residential housing) and Lebenshilfe Kinder, Jugend & Familie gGmbH (child, youth and family services) — covering early intervention (Frühförderung), inclusive daycare (Kita Körne with 75 places), school accompaniment (Schulbegleitung), foster family services (Pflegekinderdienst), short-term and long-term residential care for children and youth (Brechten, 24 places), adult residential facilities (Wohnstätte Am Schlosspark with 24 residents and Wohnstätte Hostedde with 33 residents), supported independent living (Ambulant Unterstützes Wohnen serving 100+ individuals), and an extensive counseling suite spanning legal, nursing, FASD, migration-background, and child protection advisory services.

The revenue model is entirely social-services funded: cost-acceptance agreements with German statutory health insurance (Krankenkassen), welfare authorities (Jugendamt under SGB VIII), long-term care insurance (SGB XI), and rehabilitation/participation bodies (LWL under SGB IX), supplemented by Aktion Mensch project grants (e.g., FASD Netzwerk from July 2018) and association membership fees and donations. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated with public funders per service category. There is no fee-for-service retail offering; services are accessed via prescriptions, allocations from municipal welfare offices, or self/family referral.

The organization operates from six sites across Dortmund (Brüderweg headquarters, Berliner Straße daycare, Heinrich-Heine-Straße Brechten residential, Am Schlosspark residential, Tettenbachstraße Hostedde residential, plus a Hörde branch) and is triple-affiliated with Bundesvereinigung Lebenshilfe, Landesverband Lebenshilfe Nordrhein-Westfalen, and the Deutscher Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband (DPWV). Governance comprises a Vorstand led by Melanie Gronewäller (1st Chair / Geschäftsführerin) and Krystian Waletzko (2nd Chair / Deputy Managing Director), an Aufsichtsrat chaired by Alfred Vesper, and a multidisciplinary departmental leadership team covering Wohnen, Kinder/Jugend/Familie, Förderzentrum, Schulbegleitung, Pflegekinderdienst, and AUW operations.

Name

Lebenshilfe Dortmund

Legal name

Lebenshilfe für Menschen mit Behinderung Dortmund e.V.

Website

https://lebenshilfe-dortmund.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lebenshilfe Dortmund is a registered German non-profit association providing a comprehensive disability services portfolio — including residential care, supported independent living, inclusive daycare, early intervention, school accompaniment, foster services, and specialized counseling — for children and adults with disabilities across the Dortmund region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Social Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ), Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC), Physical Disabilities & Mobility Support Childcare (HSAAAIAD)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Residential care facilities
• Early intervention programs
• Foster family services
• Inclusive education support

Headquarters

HQ city

Dortmund

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Social Services Funding: Government-funded social services through public health insurance (Krankenkassen), welfare funds, and youth welfare services (Jugendamt). Services are funded through Germany's social security system including SGB VIII (Child and Youth Welfare), SGB XI (Social Care Insurance), and SGB IX (Rehabilitation and Participation of Disabled Persons).
2. Membership Fees and Donations: Association membership fees and voluntary donations from supporters.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lebenshilfe Dortmund is a registered non-profit association that provides a comprehensive portfolio of disability services for children, youth, and adults with intellectual disabilities, complex multiple disabilities, and autism spectrum disorders in Dortmund, Germany. Its core offerings include residential care facilities (Wohnstätten), supported independent living, short-term and long-term housing for children and youth, early intervention (Frühförderung), inclusive daycare (Kita Körne), school accompaniment, foster family services, specialized counseling (including FASD, legal, migration-background, and child protection), and inclusive leisure and sports programs. Services are delivered through two operating subsidiaries — Lebenshilfe Dortmund Wohnen gGmbH and Lebenshilfe Kinder, Jugend & Familie gGmbH — and funded primarily through the German social security system under SGB VIII, SGB IX, and SGB XI.

Product overview

Lebenshilfe Dortmund is a social services organization providing a comprehensive portfolio of support services for people with disabilities and their families. The offering includes residential care (Wohnstätten in Bodelschwingh and Hostedde, ambulatory supported living, and short-term housing for children and youth), early intervention and daycare (Frühförderung and Kita Körne), school accompaniment, foster care services, and various counseling offerings. The services span housing, childcare, education, family support, leisure activities, and specialized consultations on disability-related topics including FASD, legal matters, and child protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Besondere Wohnformen (Wohnstätten) Residential care facilities for adults with intellectual and complex multiple disabilities, including Wohnstätte Am Schlosspark (24 residents) and Wohnstätte Hostedde (33 residents), offering wheelchair-accessible single rooms and day structure programs.
• Wohnen in Hausgemeinschaften Community living arrangements enabling people with disabilities to live individually in social spaces with various support projects offering a broad spectrum of housing options.
• Ambulant Unterstütztes Wohnen (AUW) Supported independent living services for people with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorders, supporting over 100 individuals living in their own apartments or shared accommodations in Dortmund.
• Wohnberatung Housing consultation services helping people with disabilities, family members, and legal guardians make decisions about suitable housing forms, including assistance with applications and transition processes.
• Frühförderung (Interdisziplinäre Frühförderung) Early intervention services for children from birth to school age, including developmental diagnostics, therapeutic support (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy), and family counseling provided at the office, branch location, or home environment.
• Kita Körne Inclusive daycare facility in Körne caring for 75 children aged 4 months to 6 years in 4 groups, open Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 16:30, offering 35 or 45 hours weekly care with vegetarian meals prepared fresh daily.
• (Kurzzeit-)Wohnen für Kinder und Jugendliche mit Behinderung Short-term and long-term residential care for children and youth with disabilities in Brechten, offering 12 short-term, 8 long-term, and 4 independent living group placements for children from age 6 and young adults.
• Schulbegleitung School accompaniment services providing individual support and assistance in lessons, breaks, school trips, and after-school care, with coordinators available from 6:30 AM during school terms.
• Pflegekinderdienst Foster care service informing, advising, training, and accompanying prospective foster parents, including quality standards aligned with LWL requirements for children with disabilities in Westphalian foster families.
• Allgemeine Beratung Comprehensive counseling on all questions related to disability, including financial assistance, disability ID applications, and regular information events for parents, relatives, and interested parties.
• Beratungs- und Kontaktstelle für Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund und Behinderung Culturally sensitive counseling services for people with migration backgrounds and disabilities, offering consultations in multiple languages including Turkish, Arabic, Azerbaijani, French, English, and Polish.
• Pflegeberatung Nursing consultation covering care, nursing insurance, caregiver relief, aids, and household services, including mandatory consultation visits according to SGB XI.
• FASD Beratung (Dortmunder FASD Netzwerk) Specialized counseling on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders funded by Aktion Mensch since July 2018, providing education, counseling, prevention, and networking for families and affected individuals.
• Rechtsberatung Legal consultation on rights of people with disabilities, offering initial legal advice sessions with attorney Wolfgang Sträter, limited to 30 minutes per session at no cost.
• Beratung im Themenfeld Kinderschutz (§ 8b SGB VIII) Anonymous specialist counseling for professional confidentiality holders on child protection, assessing child welfare concerns and providing guidance for children with disabilities who face higher risk of experiencing violence.
• Freizeit und Sport Leisure and sports programs including vacation care for children and youth with disabilities, recreational meetings, courses, and rehabilitative sports including swimming groups and inclusive football.

Quantifiable outcome

• Early identification and intervention for children with developmental delays can prevent or mitigate disability effects
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Landesverband Lebenshilfe Nordrhein-WestfalencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLebenshilfe Dortmund is a member of the state-level association of Lebenshilfe organizations in North Rhine-Westphalia. This membership provides access to shared resources, best practices, advocacy support, and collective representation at the state level.
• Bundesvereinigung LebenshilfecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLebenshilfe Dortmund is affiliated with the national Bundesvereinigung Lebenshilfe (Federal Association). The organization follows the principles and guidelines established in the Lebenshilfe's foundational program (Grundsatzprogramm) adopted in 2011.
• Deutscher Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband (DPWV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLebenshilfe Dortmund is a member of the German Paritarian Welfare Association, one of the major welfare organizations in Germany. This membership provides access to the association's network, resources, and advocacy platforms.
• Landesjugendamt Westfalen-Lippe (LWL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Pflegekinderdienst belongs to the Trägerverbundsysteme coordinated by LWL. The organization works according to LWL's unified quality standards for Westphalian Foster Families and Steppke programs for children with disabilities.
• Sports Clubs and Youth CentersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with local sports clubs and youth centers for inclusive sports offerings, including an inclusive football team that allows people with and without disabilities to play sports together.
• City of Dortmund and Freie TrägercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLebenshilfe participates in a cooperation with the City of Dortmund and other free welfare providers (Freie Träger) for anonymous counseling under § 8b SGB VIII for professionals with confidentiality obligations in child protection.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Von Bodelschwinghsche Stiftungen Bethel: One of Germany's largest diakonale providers of residential and community-based disability services, with similar SGB-funded models for intellectual and developmental disabilities; comparable in mission and service breadth.
• Lebenshilfe München: Munich's Lebenshilfe organization delivering comparable disability services including Wohnstätten, Frühförderung, and inclusive education support — directly mirrors Lebenshilfe Dortmund's service portfolio and structural setup.
• Lebenshilfe Berlin: Berlin branch of the Lebenshilfe movement providing residential care, supported living, early intervention, and family services for people with disabilities — same operational model, same funding base, but at larger urban scale.
• Stiftung ICP München: Specialized disability provider in Munich offering residential, school, and therapy services for children and adults with cerebral palsy and developmental disabilities — comparable in service intensity and SGB-funding model.
• Lebenshilfe Köln: Local Lebenshilfe association in Cologne offering the same integrated disability services (residential, early intervention, Kita, school accompaniment, counseling) under the same SGB frameworks. Closest functional analogue to Lebenshilfe Dortmund.
• Lebenshilfe Gießen: Mid-sized Lebenshilfe local association in Hessen providing Wohnen, Frühförderung, and Beratung under the same federal framework — comparable operational profile to Dortmund.

Broad incumbents

• Diakonie Deutschland: National Protestant welfare umbrella operating Wohnstätten, Eingliederungshilfe, and family services for people with disabilities — directly overlapping service categories and funding streams.
• Bundesvereinigung Lebenshilfe: Federal umbrella association of the Lebenshilfe movement in Germany. Lebenshilfe Dortmund is a member and follows its Grundsatzprogramm; directly comparable as the parent governing body and advocate for the same disability rights agenda.
• Caritas Behindertenhilfe und Psychiatrie: National Catholic welfare association operating extensive disability and psychiatric residential/support services across Germany; competing alternative provider of SGB-funded disability services in NRW.

Emerging players

• AWO Bezirksverband Westliches Westfalen: Regional AWO chapter operating disability support and family services in the Dortmund/NRW area; competes for the same SGB VIII/IX/XI funding and serves overlapping client populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/lebenshilfedortmund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lebenshilfe-dortmund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Lebenshilfe Dortmund