Oslo Sanitetsforening

What Oslo Sanitetsforening does

Oslo Sanitetsforening is a Norwegian nonprofit organization (ideell organisasjon) founded in 1896 as Kristiania Sanitetsforening, making it Norway's oldest local association affiliated with Sanitetskvinnene (Norske Kvinners Sanitetsforening), the country's largest women's organization with 44,000 members across 550 local associations. The organization delivers free health, social, and community services to women, children, and families in Oslo, with particular emphasis on vulnerable populations including immigrant women, domestic violence survivors, and at-risk youth. Its service portfolio spans youth mentorship (Sisterhood), family support (Home-Start, Motherhood, Barseltreff), violence-recovery services (Ressursvenn, NORA, Oslo Krisesenter drop-in), physical wellness (morgenyoga, barselyoga, gravidyoga), language integration (Språkvenn), health education (Helsekafé, Kvinner i fokus lectures), and counseling (Støttesamtaler, Veiledningssenteret drop-in for children as next-of-kin). All activities are provided free of charge to participants, with no membership requirement for most services.

The organization's flagship initiative is Kvinnehelsehus Oslo, a 200-square-meter women's health house opened in April 2024 on the 5th floor of Tøyenhelsa H32 in partnership with Bydel Gamle Oslo — described as Oslo's first women's health house, functioning as a low-threshold 'health compass' connecting underserved women to appropriate services. The organization operates from two physical locations (Solskinnsveien 12 on Smestad and Kvinnehelsehus Oslo on Tøyen) and is supported by ~13 paid staff, a board led by Foreningsleder Maria Lundberg, and a substantial volunteer network. Its technology footprint is limited to standard nonprofit tools — the osf.no website, MailMojo newsletter platform, encrypted sikkermail.osf.no service, and pameldinger.no event registration — with no proprietary platform or digital product.

The revenue model combines recurring membership fees (registered with the N.K.S. secretariat and including the Fredrikke magazine), traditional fundraising (May flower / fastelavnsris sales), institutional grants from foundations (Sparebankstiftelsen, Stiftelsen Dam, Stiftelsen Kaare Berg, Klaveness Stiftelsen), municipal support from Oslo Kommune, and corporate sponsorship (Roche). The organization holds three wholly-owned subsidiaries (Oslo Sanitetsforening Eiendom AS for property management, Brusetkollen AS for institutional care, and Forvaltning AS for management services). The go-to-market approach is community-led: participant acquisition occurs through volunteer networks, word-of-mouth, partner referrals from Oslo Krisesenter, Helsestasjonen, Sanitetskvinnene's national network, and in-person events such as the annual Kvinnehelsedagen, with digital channels (website calendar, monthly newsletter, Facebook, Instagram) supporting awareness rather than transactional conversion.

Name

Oslo Sanitetsforening

Legal name

Oslo Sanitetsforening

Website

https://osf.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1896

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Oslo Sanitetsforening is a 130-year-old Norwegian nonprofit and the oldest local association of Sanitetskvinnene, providing free women's health, family support, and violence-recovery services to women, children, and families across Oslo through two locations including the 2024-launched Kvinnehelsehus Oslo.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG), Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (MNCH) Programs (BPADAIAC)

Keywords

• Women's health services
• Community social services
• Family support programs
• Nonprofit welfare services
• Volunteer health programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: The organization collects membership fees from its members. All members of the association are registered with personal information at the N.K.S. secretariat, and membership includes subscription to the members' magazine Fredrikke, newsletter, and SMS communications. Members can opt out of contact via these channels.
2. Donations and fundraising: The organization raises funds through traditional fundraising activities including the sale of maiblomsten (May flower) and fastelavnsris (Lenten decorations). Proceeds historically funded tuberculosis work and now support programs for children and youth. Additionally, the organization receives grants and donations from public bodies (Oslo Kommune), foundations (Sparebankstiftelsen, Stiftelsen Dam, Stiftelsen Kaare Berg, Klaveness Stiftelsen), and private companies (Roche).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Oslo Sanitetsforening is an ideell (nonprofit) women's health and welfare organization that delivers free, low-threshold health, social, and community services for women, children, and families in Oslo. Its portfolio spans counseling, support groups, parenting and family programs, language cafés, yoga, crisis support, and volunteer-based mentoring, delivered primarily through two physical locations — Solskinnsveien 12 at Smestad and Kvinnehelsehus Oslo at Tøyen.

Product overview

Oslo Sanitetsforening is Norway's oldest local association of Sanitetskvinnene (Norwegian Women's Health Organization), founded in 1896, and operates primarily through its flagship project Kvinnehelsehus Oslo (opened April 2024). The organization offers a broad portfolio of health and community support programs, predominantly targeting women, children, families, and vulnerable populations. The core offering is organized around Kvinnehelsehus Oslo as a central hub, supplemented by a network of programs spanning: youth support (Sisterhood, Mat & Prat, Livsstyrketrening), family support (Home-Start, Motherhood, Barseltreff), violence survivor services (Ressursvenn, NORA, Oslo Krisesenter drop-in, Veiledningssenteret), health education (Helsekafé, Kvinner i fokus, Drop-in veiledning), physical wellness (Yoga in three variants), language integration (Språkvenn), and practical volunteer initiatives (Strikk for premature). The portfolio functions as an integrated ecosystem of low-threshold services designed to complement the public health system — Kvinnehelsehus Oslo acts as the central coordinator ('helselos' / health compass) connecting women to appropriate services, while the broader programs operate both at Kvinnehelsehus Oslo and at the Solskinnsveien 12 venue on Smestad.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kvinnehelsehus Oslo: Oslos første kvinnehelsehus - a low-threshold women's health house offering support, networks, and knowledge to women in vulnerable situations. Located at Hagegata 32 on Tøyen, opened April 2024.

Products and services

• Kvinnehelsehus Oslo Oslo's first dedicated women's health house, located at Tøyen; offers a broad range of free, low-threshold health, social, and community services for women, children, and families under one roof.
• Solskinnsveien (Smestad site) Long-standing local site at Solskinnsveien 12, Smestad in Oslo, delivering programs and activities for women, children, and families.
• Home-Start Volunteer home-visit support program for families with young children, providing practical and emotional support from trained volunteers in the home.
• Sisterhood Support program offering a safe community for women, including vulnerable women and survivors, to build networks and mutual support.
• Ressursvenn Volunteer-buddy program pairing participants with a personal resource friend for regular social contact and support.
• Språkvenn Language-buddy program that pairs newcomers with volunteer Norwegian-language practice partners to support integration.
• NORA Support offering for women, including survivors of violence, providing counseling and group-based support services.
• Motherhood Program supporting mothers through the transition into motherhood, including peer support and resources for new and expectant mothers.
• Barseltreff Postnatal meetups for new mothers and their babies, providing peer support and informal guidance during the postnatal period.
• Mat & Prat Shared meal and conversation group offering a low-threshold social gathering to reduce isolation and build community.
• Livsstyrketrening Life-skills training program providing group-based sessions to strengthen participants' coping and life-management skills.
• Yoga Yoga classes offered as a low-threshold wellness activity for participants across the organization's programs.
• Helsekafé Health café offering informal health information, peer conversation, and access to health-related resources for participants.
• Kvinner i fokus Women-focused program offering thematic sessions and discussions on issues affecting women's health and wellbeing.
• Drop-in veiledning Drop-in counseling service providing free, on-demand guidance and conversation support without appointment.
• Drop-in med Oslo Krisesenter Drop-in service delivered in collaboration with Oslo Krisesenter, providing crisis support for survivors of domestic violence.
• Støttesamtaler One-to-one support conversations providing confidential emotional support to participants on demand.
• Strikk for premature Volunteer knitting initiative producing clothing and items for premature babies at Oslo hospitals.
• Veiledningssenteret Counseling center offering structured guidance and support services for women, children, and families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88 women took cervical screening at Kvinnehelsedagen 2026, many for the first time
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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, major and minor.

• Sanitetskvinnene (Norske Kvinners Sanitetsforening)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2024Sanitetskvinnene is the parent organization of Oslo Sanitetsforening. The Kvinnehelsehus Oslo initiative was developed in collaboration with Sanitetskvinnene centrally, Sanitetskvinnene Oslo fylke, and other local associations in Oslo. Oslo Sanitetsforening is part of Norway's largest women's organization with 44,000 members across 550 local associations.
• Tøyenhelsa H32 (Bydel Gamle Oslo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKvinnehelsehus Oslo is samlokalisert (co-located) with Tøyenhelsa H32, where Bydel Gamle Oslo's health services for pregnant women, parents, children, and youth are based. The collaboration enables identification of needs and outreach to target populations. Kvinnehelsehus Oslo is on the 5th floor of the Tøyenhelsa building at Hagegata 32.
• Oslo KommunemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerOslo Kommune provides financial support to Kvinnehelsehus Oslo's health-promoting activities and programs. The municipality is a key public sector partner enabling the operation of the women's health house.
• Oslo KrisesentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOslo Krisesenter collaborates with Kvinnehelsehus Oslo to provide drop-in guidance sessions for people feeling unsafe around someone close to them. Drop-in sessions are held Mondays 09:00–12:00 and Thursdays 12:00–15:00 at Kvinnehelsehus Oslo. The collaboration is supported by Stiftelsen Dam (project SDAM_UTV532381).
• Kreftforeningen (Cancer Society)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKreftforeningen participated as a partner in Kvinnehelsedagen 2026, providing cancer prevention information and support at the event aimed at reaching women underserved by existing health services.
• Amathea (pregnancy counseling)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmathea, a pregnancy counseling organization, was a partner in Kvinnehelsedagen 2026, contributing to the information and support provided to women at the event.
• Helsestasjonen i bydel Gamle OslomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelsestasjonen (health station) in Bydel Gamle Oslo collaborated on Kvinnehelsedagen 2026, providing midwives for cervical cancer screening and health information to participants. The health station is co-located with Kvinnehelsehus Oslo at Tøyenhelsa.
• Sanitetskvinnene Oslo fylkemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanitetskvinnene Oslo fylke is a key partner in the establishment and operation of Kvinnehelsehus Oslo, collaborating with Oslo Sanitetsforening and other local associations in Oslo on the women's health house initiative.
• Veiledningssenteret (Sanitetskvinnene)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanitetskvinnene's Veiledningssenteret (guidance center) provides drop-in counseling sessions at Kvinnehelsehus Oslo for children and youth who are next of kin to parents with mental health challenges or substance abuse. Sessions are held Mondays 14:00–16:00, led by Marte Skeie Haugstad and Kristin Elisabeth Hånde.
• Deichman MajorstuaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeichman Majorstua (public library) collaborates with Sisterhood by lending their cinema room once a month for group activities including film screenings, yoga, and other events for girls in the program.
• Sisterhood Norge / United Sisters – Fyrhuset (Sweden)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSisterhood is inspired by 'United Sisters – Fyrhuset' in Sweden, which is based on many years of experience and good results with girls' work. The Sisterhood methodology has been further developed with additional exercises and theory.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Amathea: Norwegian pregnancy counseling organization, partner at Kvinnehelsedagen 2026. Directly comparable as a free, low-threshold women's health service provider focused on pregnancy and reproductive support — overlapping with OSF's gravidyoga and Motherhood programs.
• Kreftforeningen (Norwegian Cancer Society): Norway's largest cancer nonprofit and a partner at Kvinnehelsedagen 2026. Comparable as a health-focused voluntary organization serving women (particularly in cervical cancer screening outreach) with strong institutional funding and volunteer infrastructure.
• Oslo Krisesenter: Oslo's crisis center for survivors of domestic violence and close-relationship abuse. Direct collaborator with OSF at Kvinnehelsehus Oslo (drop-in Mon/Thu) and serves overlapping target populations of vulnerable women, including immigrant women and those needing low-threshold services.

Emerging players

• Mental Helse Ungdom: Norwegian youth mental health advocacy and support organization. Comparable as a Norwegian nonprofit offering mental health peer support and youth-focused services, overlapping with OSF's Livsstyrketrening, Sisterhood, and Veiledningssenteret drop-in offerings.

Others

• Norsk Kvinnesaksforening: Norwegian women's rights advocacy organization (founded 1884), also historically rooted. Comparable as a long-standing Norwegian women's organization focused on gender equality and women's welfare, though primarily advocacy-oriented rather than direct service delivery like OSF.

Broad incumbents

• Norske Kvinners Sanitetsforening (Sanitetskvinnene): National parent organization of Oslo Sanitetsforening, with 44,000 members across 550 local associations. Directly comparable as the umbrella women's health nonprofit running comparable programs (Veiledningssenteret, Sisterhood, Home-Start) and providing the broader framework for OSF's work.
• Røde Kors Norge (Norwegian Red Cross): Large Norwegian humanitarian nonprofit with comparable volunteer-driven health and social service programs (integration, youth, family support). Comparable scale and operating model but broader mandate beyond women's health.
• Kirkens Bymisjon: Major Norwegian social services nonprofit operating shelter, women's services, family programs, and integration support. Comparable service portfolio (women in vulnerable situations, family support, integration) but broader faith-affiliated mandate and larger geographic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/oslosanitetsforening
• Instagraminstagram.com/oslosanitetsforening
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oslo-sanitetsforening

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Oslo Sanitetsforening