What Lernort Stadion e.V. does

Lernort Stadion e.V. is a Berlin-based, member-controlled non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) that functions as the umbrella organization for a nationwide network of 34 independent learning centers located inside professional German football stadiums spanning the 1st–3rd Bundesliga leagues. Formally incorporated in 2014 but rooted in activities that began in 2009, the association delivers free political, civic, and historical education workshops primarily to young people aged 14–18, with a stated focus on disadvantaged youth. It engages approximately 30,000 participants annually and has cumulatively reached more than 200,000 youth since inception, supported by a 6-person secretariat in Berlin and a network of 60+ trained instructors across the country.\n\nThe core product is the "Lernort" (learning venue) model, which transforms physically and emotionally resonant stadium spaces into non-formal classrooms covering democracy, European integration, migration, anti-discrimination, and critical media literacy. The curriculum rests on a 15+ year methodology library (Methodensammlung) and is externally validated through consecutive Phineo Wirkt-Siegel impact certifications. Beyond the physical centers, the association operates branded programs including Kick for Europe (European integration), #TeamDemokratie (democracy education with a digital reach of ~600,000), Europa ist ja hier!, Abwehrkette (an anti-discrimination reporting and response service launched in 2022), Fairplay im Netz (digital/media literacy), the Franco-German Une-Deux//Doppelpass, and under the EU Erasmus+ framework the CEFS project (March 2025–March 2026). Governance is exercised through a member assembly with refreshed board leadership under Anne Geisler, who took the chair in February 2025.\n\nThe operating model is a hybrid in which end-user services are provided free of charge to participants, while revenue is generated entirely through grants and donations from a diversified pool of public and private funders. Named funding sources include DFL Stiftung, Bundesliga Stiftung, the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs (BMFSFJ), the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Aktion Mensch, and Deutsche Postcode Lotterie. Distribution is community-led through fan projects and club partnerships, and the organization reports a 93% positive recommendation rate among participants. International program leadership is held by Anne Worrmann. The organization has set a stated goal of 100% coverage of all 1st–3rd league stadiums.

Name

Lernort Stadion e.V.

Legal name

Lernort Stadion e.V.

Website

https://lernort-stadion.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lernort Stadion e.V. is a Berlin-based non-profit association coordinating 34 stadium-based learning centers that deliver free political and civic education workshops to disadvantaged youth aged 14–18 inside professional German football stadiums.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic and Political Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps (EDAMALAK), Youth Development & Sports Outreach Programs (EDAIAGAG)

Keywords

• Civic education programs
• Youth development services
• Political education workshops
• Non-formal learning programs
• Community education initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Government Funding: Primary funding from German foundations and government bodies including DFL Stiftung, Bundesliga Stiftung, BMMSFSJ, Auswärtiges Amt, and Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung. Additional support from Deutsche Postcode Lotterie and Aktion Mensch.
2. Donations and Membership: Organization accepts donations and has a supporting membership program (Fördermitglied) for ongoing support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lernort Stadion e.V. delivers free political education workshops and project weeks to socially disadvantaged youth (aged 14-18) through 34 independent learning centers embedded in professional football stadiums across Germany. Sessions cover democracy, diversity, participation, sustainability, media literacy, and violence/conflict prevention, delivered in a low-threshold, experiential format that leverages the emotional appeal of football. Programs are provided free of charge to participants and complemented by national initiatives, international youth exchange projects, an anti-discrimination referral service (Abwehrkette), and published educational methodologies.

Product overview

Lernort Stadion e.V. operates as a single unified educational offering — a network of 34 learning centers located within professional football stadiums across Germany, coordinated under the umbrella of the association. The core product consists of political education workshops and project weeks delivered in stadiums on match-free days, addressing topics such as democracy, diversity, participation, sustainability, media literacy, and violence/conflict prevention for socially disadvantaged youth. The portfolio includes national programs (such as the Learning Centers themselves, #TeamDemokratie, and Abwehrkette anti-discrimination service) and international projects (Kick for Europe, Europa ist ja hier!, Une-Deux//Doppelpass, CEFS). Supporting resources include the Methodensammlung and Fairplay im Netz educational materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Europa ist ja hier!: An interactive education and activation project that used participatory city walks and creative formats to raise awareness among young people in football cities about European solidarity and democratic values.
• Kick for Europe
• #TeamDemokratie
• Abwehrkette
• Civic Education in the Football Stadium (CEFS)
• #imkaefig
• Refugee Eleven

Products and services

• Lernort Stadion Learning Centers (Lernzentren) Network of 34 independent learning centers operated within professional football stadiums (1st to 3rd Bundesliga league) across Germany, offering political education workshops and project weeks for youth aged 14-18 on topics including democracy, diversity, participation, sustainability, media literacy, and violence/conflict prevention. Services are free of charge to participants.
• Kick for Europe International youth exchange project funded by the German Foreign Office that brings young people from multiple European countries into football stadiums to explore European policy topics such as cohesion, diversity, tolerance, and European football history through interactive workshops, football games, stadium rallies, and creative activities.
• #TeamDemokratie Youth participation initiative from the 2021/22 football season engaging youth from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in democracy, empowerment, and political participation through events, digital formats, and festivals.
• Europa ist ja hier! Interactive educational and activation project that sensitized youth in football cities to European solidarity and democratic values through participatory city walks and creative formats.
• Une-Deux//Doppelpass Franco-German youth exchange project combining civic education, remembrance work, football, and comics, funded by the Franco-German Youth Office and implemented in collaboration with Rue de la Mémoire.
• Civic Education in the Football Stadium (CEFS) Erasmus+ small partnership project coordinated by Lernort Stadion e.V. with European partners from March 2025 to March 2026, focused on civic education in football stadium settings.
• Abwehrkette (Anti-Discrimination Referral Service) Referral counseling service against discrimination operating since 2022, providing low-threshold initial counseling for affected individuals (including employees, member organizations, and youth in learning centers) and referring them to specialized regional anti-discrimination counseling centers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of youth rate Lernort Stadion positively and would recommend it to other youth
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• FC Hansa RostockcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional football club hosting the Lernort Ostseestadion learning center since 2011.
• Fanprojekt RostockcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocio-educational fan project providing the institutional framework for the Rostock learning center.
• Fanprojekt Jena e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFan project organization hosting the Lernort Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld learning center.
• FC Carl Zeiss JenacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional football club hosting the Jena learning center at Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld stadium.
• Kreissportbund Mittelsachsen e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict sports association serving as the legal sponsor/trustee for the Chemnitz learning center.
• Chemnitzer FCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFootball club providing the stadium venue for the Chemnitz learning center.
• Outlaw Kinder- und Jugendhilfe gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth welfare organization providing the legal framework for the Münster Preußenstadion learning center.
• SC Preußen MünstercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFootball club hosting the Preußenstadion learning center in Münster.
• Rue de la MémoirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench partner organization collaborating on the Une-Deux//Doppelpass civic education and remembrance work project.
• Centrum für Angewandte Politikforschung (CAP) der LMU MünchensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute that conducted evaluation studies of Lernort Stadion programs.
• Dresdner Zentrum für inklusive politische Bildung (ZipB)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDresden center that conducted two-year scientific evaluation of inclusive political education at Lernort Stadion.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Robert Bosch Stiftung: Major German foundation and the original idea-sponsor of Lernort Stadion. Operates a broad civic-education and democratic-participation portfolio relevant to mission alignment and funding dynamics.
• SOS Kinderdörfer: Large German non-profit supporting disadvantaged children and youth through educational and social programs. Comparable target population and mission, but with broader service portfolio and residential care model.
• Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb): Germany's federal agency for political education; a major funder and producer of civic-education programming at national scale. Comparable mission and curriculum themes, broader portfolio of delivery formats.
• Aktion Mensch: Large German social lottery funding inclusion and anti-discrimination projects; a core Lernort Stadion partner. Comparable focus on civic engagement and inclusion for disadvantaged groups, with much larger national reach.

Direct peers

• Common Goal: Global football-for-good collective connecting football stakeholders to social impact organizations. Comparable use of professional football ecosystems to drive youth and community outcomes.
• Laureus Sport for Good: Global foundation funding sport-for-development programs for disadvantaged youth. Operates in the same sports-meets-social-impact niche with comparable grantmaking and youth focus.
• streetfootballworld: Berlin-headquartered global network that uses football as a vehicle for social change and youth development. Highly comparable mission, German origin, and football-based youth-education model.
• Koordinationsstelle Fanprojekte (KOS): National coordinating body for socio-educational fan projects at German professional football clubs. Lernort Stadion centers are structurally embedded in this network, making it the closest institutional peer.

Regional players

• Deutsche Sportjugend: German Youth Sport Federation running youth development and civic engagement programs through organized sports clubs. Comparable sport-based youth-development mission focused on the German market.

Emerging players

• Mehr Demokratie e.V. German non-profit advocating for direct democratic participation and civic engagement. Adjacent mission on democratic education, with a smaller, more advocacy-focused footprint than Lernort Stadion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lernort-stadion-e.v.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Lernort Stadion e.V.