NORDMETALL-Stiftung

What NORDMETALL-Stiftung does

NORDMETALL-Stiftung is a private charitable foundation (Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts) established on January 28, 2004 by the employer association NORDMETALL e.V. The foundation is headquartered at Kapstadtring 10 in Hamburg and operates across five northern German states: Hamburg, Bremen, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and northwestern Lower Saxony. Its work is organized into three pillars: Education and Science (focused on MINT/STEM education, including the 51-school MINT-Schule network, lüttIng., LeadershipLab.SH, and MINT-Matchmaking), Society (civil society engagement, democratic participation, and service-learning through Lernen durch Engagement), and Culture (museum transformation via Das relevante Museum and the 15-festival REIHE_15 network).

The foundation operates as an operative and grant-making entity: it designs and runs programs directly through competency centers and regional networks while also distributing grants to schools, museums, festivals, and civil society organizations. Its business model is funded by contributions from NORDMETALL e.V.'s approximately 290 member companies, which together have contributed 75 million EUR to the foundation's endowment and employ 140,000 people in northern Germany in industries including automotive, aerospace, shipbuilding, satellites, engines, and medical devices. The foundation does not sell products or services; instead it deploys contributed capital through grants ranging from approximately 5,000 EUR for individual programs to over 135,000 EUR for flagship initiatives like the MINT-Schule network.

In 2025 the foundation distributed 1,423,667 EUR across 25 projects, bringing cumulative funding since 2004 to over 26 million EUR. The organization runs a small team of 8 employees led by Managing Director Kirsten Wagner, with a board chaired by Thomas Lambusch. Strategic decisions are made in close coordination with the founder NORDMETALL e.V., and the foundation's operations are governed by a Kuratorium (supervisory board) that includes state-level political figures such as Schleswig-Holstein's education minister.

Name

NORDMETALL-Stiftung

Legal name

NORDMETALL-Stiftung

Website

https://nordmetall-stiftung.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NORDMETALL-Stiftung is a Hamburg-based charitable foundation founded in 2004 by the NORDMETALL e.V. employer association that distributes grants and runs programs in MINT education, civil society, and culture across five northern German states, deploying over 1.4 million EUR annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation Grant-Making

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Charitable grant-making
• STEM education programs
• Cultural institution funding
• Civil society support
• Regional foundation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation endowment and contributions: Funded by NORDMETALL e.V. employer association whose approximately 290 member companies employ 140,000 people in northern Germany. Member companies contributed 75 million euros to the foundation's endowment. Foundation distributes grants to charitable projects in education, science, culture, and society.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NORDMETALL-Stiftung is an operative and grant-making charitable foundation that develops, funds, and coordinates projects in three thematic pillars: Education and Science (MINT/STEM programs for schools), Society (civil engagement and democratic participation), and Culture (museum and music festival transformation). It awards grants, runs competency centers, and builds regional networks across Northern Germany (Hamburg, Bremen, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, northwestern Lower Saxony), distributing over 1.4 million euros annually to partner institutions.

Product overview

NORDMETALL-Stiftung is an operatively and grant-making foundation established by the employer association NORDMETALL e.V. on January 28, 2004, with its seat in Hamburg, Germany. The foundation develops and funds charitable projects in three main areas: Education and Science (focusing on MINT/STEM education), Society (civil society engagement and democratic participation), and Culture (supporting museums and music festivals). The organization does not offer commercial products or services but rather provides funding, networking, and programmatic support to educational institutions, schools, cultural organizations, and civil society initiatives across Northern Germany (Hamburg, Bremen, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and northwestern Lower Saxony). The foundation's programs include MINT-Schule network certification, lüttIng. technical education projects, LeadershipLab.SH for school leadership, MINT-Matchmaking for career orientation, Lernen durch Engagement (Service-Learning), Das relevante Museum professional development program, REIHE_15 music festival network, and various other initiatives aimed at talent development, social cohesion, and enriching Northern Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MINT-Schule Network (Exzellenz-Netzwerk) A recognition and support program certifying 51 non-gymnasium secondary schools across five northern German states for excellence in STEM education, connecting them with industry, training and resources.
• lüttIng. Technical Education Program A hands-on school program in which student teams design and build technical projects, reaching 186 students in Schleswig-Holstein in 2025/26.
• LeadershipLab.SH Professional development program for school leaders and supervisors in Schleswig-Holstein, delivered through events, workshops and network meetings.
• MINT-Matchmaking Pilot program strengthening MINT career orientation at MINT-Schools by connecting students with regional employers, developed with academic partner Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg.
• Lernen durch Engagement (LdE) Competency Center Service-Learning program supporting schools to integrate civic engagement into classroom teaching, operated through competency centers in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Bremen.
• Das relevante Museum Multi-year reflection and capacity-building program for museum professionals on societal relevance, visitor orientation, diversity and inclusion, run jointly with Stiftung für Kunst, Kultur und Geschichte.
• REIHE_15 Festival Network Network of 15 classical, jazz and new-music festivals across northern Germany collaborating on diversity, inclusion and young-audience programming, including U30 ticketing initiatives.
• New Perceptions (Kunsthalle Bremen) Strategic partnership program with Kunsthalle Bremen supporting a youth curatorial board to drive audience diversification and inclusive programming.
• QplusAlter Program supporting elderly and care-needy people to maintain independent living through neighborhood-based support networks, operated by Evangelische Stiftung Alsterdorf.
• zukunft.digital Transfercamp and project series connecting Hamburg schools with university partners to support digital projects and AI implementation in classrooms.
• Kinnings Academy Foundation-funded leadership development program for young change-makers from eastern Germany, delivered at Schloss Hasenwinkel.
• Zukunftswege Ost Regional focus initiative supporting civic engagement and structural development in eastern Germany, with focus region Vorpommern.
• Allianz für gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt Nationwide alliance of 14 foundations coordinated by NORDMETALL-Stiftung for knowledge transfer and joint projects supporting social cohesion and civil society.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 26 million EUR invested in charitable projects since 2004
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Deutscher Stiftungstag 2026majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Foundation supports Deutscher Stiftungstag 2026 in Hamburg under theme 'Aus Freiheit handeln' (Acting from Freedom). Hamburg will also host 2026 event.
• Institut für Ökonomische Bildung (IÖB), Carl von Ossietzky Universität OldenburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Academic partner for MINT-Matchmaking pilot project, providing scientific evaluation and guidance for MINT career orientation at schools in Bremen and northwestern Lower Saxony. Develops practical guide on good MINT career orientation.
• Senator für Kinder und Bildung BremenmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Government partner for LdE Bremen pilot program, working with State Institute for Schools, Volunteer Agency Bremen, and Barthel Foundation to establish LdE in Bremen education system.
• Kunsthalle BremencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with youth curatorial board (New Perceptions) focused on opening the museum to younger and more diverse audiences, promoting diversity and participation. Foundation has supported Kunsthalle for years in strategic opening process.
• RAA – Demokratie und Bildung Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperating partner for Lernen durch Engagement competency center in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, supporting schools with consulting, training, and networking. Also implementing partner for Zukunftswege Ost focus region Vorpommern.
• Stiftung für Kunst, Kultur und GeschichtecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder of Das relevante Museum program, working together since 2019 to support museums in strengthening societal relevance through collaboration, reflection, and visitor orientation.
• IQSH (Institut für Qualitätsentwicklung Schleswig-Holstein)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState education institute partnering on LdE Schleswig-Holstein (where competency center successfully transferred to regular structures in 2023) and MINT-Schule network.
• Evangelische Stiftung AlsterdorfmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject initiator and operator of QplusAlter program, supporting elderly and care-needy people to live independently through neighborhood support networks. Foundation supports since 2019.
• Barthel-StiftungmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder of LdE Bremen pilot program alongside NORDMETALL-Stiftung, Senator for Children and Education, and other partners.
• REIHE_15 Festival Network (15 festivals)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 15 northern German music festivals (Detect Classic, feel.jazz, Frequenz Festival, Gezeitenkonzerte, Jazz Baltica, Kammermusikfest Sylt, Musikfest Bremen, NORDLIED-Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Musikfestival, Schönberger Musiksommer, Sea Sounds Festival, Stadtteiloper/ Zukunftslabor, Sternstunden Festival, Urban String Open Air, Usedomer Musikfestival) promoting diversity, inclusion, and young audience development.
• Allianz für gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt (14 foundations)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationwide foundation network coordinated by NORDMETALL-Stiftung, strengthening exchange, knowledge transfer, and project-based cooperation for an open society and active civil society.
• State Ministries (Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Bremen, Lower Saxony)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with education ministries across five northern German states for MINT-Schule networks, LdE programs, and various educational initiatives. Includes Bildungsministerium MV, Kultusministerium Niedersachsen, and others.
• Starkeeper Foundation (Festspiele MV)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 20-year partnership (2004-2025) with Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, contributing nearly 2.9 million EUR and concluding with 90,000 EUR in 2025 plus 15,000 EUR endowment.
• Kinnings AcademymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supports Kinnings Academy program for young change-makers from eastern Germany, funding leadership development modules at Schloss Hasenwinkel.
• Tu Hamburg and Universität HamburgmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partners for zukunft.digital project, facilitating student participation in supporting Hamburg schools with digital projects and AI implementation.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Stiftung Lesen: National foundation focused on reading and literacy education in Germany. Comparable as an operative education grantmaking foundation with strong state-ministry partnerships, though focused on literacy rather than STEM.

Broad incumbents

• Robert Bosch Stiftung: Major German corporate foundation supporting education, health, and international relations. Comparable as a corporate-affiliated operative foundation with education and society focus, though at much larger scale and national scope.
• Körber-Stiftung: One of Germany's largest operative foundations, headquartered in Hamburg, with programs in education, science, democracy, and international dialogue. Comparable as a Hamburg-based operative foundation with strong education and civic engagement focus, though at significantly larger scale.
• ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius: Hamburg-based foundation focused on education, science, culture, and the liberal-democratic order. Comparable as a northern German operative foundation with similar thematic pillars (education, science, culture) and grantmaking approach.

Direct peers

• Barthel-Stiftung: Bremen-based foundation co-funding the LdE Bremen pilot with NORDMETALL-Stiftung. Direct peer in education-focused grantmaking operating in northern Germany.
• Stiftung für Kunst, Kultur und Geschichte: Partner foundation co-funding Das relevante Museum program with NORDMETALL-Stiftung since 2019. Direct peer in cultural-institution grantmaking with comparable scale and regional focus.
• Stiftung Bildung: German educational foundation supporting projects in early education, democracy education, and child/youth development. Directly comparable as a grantmaking + operative foundation with strong education focus, though operating nationwide rather than regionally.
• Gemeinnützige Sparkassenstiftung zu Lübeck: Regional Sparkassen-affiliated foundation in northern Germany supporting education, culture, and social projects. Comparable as a regional operative grantmaking foundation with similar three-pillar structure.
• Siemens Stiftung: Corporate foundation with strong MINT/STEM education focus and international programs. Closely comparable in STEM education mission and corporate-affiliated grantmaking model, particularly relevant for NORDMETALL-Stiftung's MINT-Schule programs.

Others

• Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen: Umbrella association for German foundations, supporting the sector through networking, advocacy, and services. Comparable as a coordinating body in which NORDMETALL-Stiftung participates (Allianz für gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt), but not a direct grantmaking peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nordmetall-stiftung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about NORDMETALL-Stiftung