Stiftung Kinderhilfe Sternschnuppe

What Stiftung Kinderhilfe Sternschnuppe does

Stiftung Kinderhilfe Sternschnuppe is a Swiss tax-exempt charitable foundation (Stiftung) founded in 1993 and headquartered in Zürich, with a French-speaking branch (Fondation Etoile filante) in Lausanne established in 2006. The foundation serves children and adolescents up to age 18 living with serious illness or disability, along with their families, across German- and French-speaking Switzerland. It operates three core programs: Herzenswünsche (Heart's Wishes) fulfills deeply personal wishes for seriously ill or disabled children; Freizeitsterne (Leisure Stars) provides free access to 50+ partner leisure and cultural institutions via the Sternschnuppe-App, with over 45,000 excursions delivered in 2025; and Sternenprojekte (Star Projects) financially supports 91 group-activity initiatives in 2025 at residential homes, hospitals, and special education schools.

The foundation's technology stack centers on the Sternschnuppe-App (launched 2024) for Freizeitsterne bookings, a website portal for donations and applications, and an internal digital wish management system for tracking wish applications, companion assignments, and fulfillment across both language regions. Its operating model relies on approximately 11 paid staff across two offices, 75 trained volunteer wish companions (Wunschbegleiter:innen), and a 12-member medical advisory board embedded in Swiss hospitals and clinical networks.

The foundation is funded entirely through donations and generates no commercial revenue. Five donation streams are actively cultivated: private individual donations (tax-deductible from CHF 50), corporate partnerships and sponsorships (e.g., SWISS, UEFA Foundation for Children), foundation and institutional grants (from CHF 5,000), memorial donations (Trauerspenden), and legacy bequests. Donated funds are allocated as 79% to foundation purpose, 10% to communication, and 11% to administration (2025 disclosure). The foundation is supervised by the Eidgenössische Stiftungsaufsicht (ESA) and audited annually by Rekonta Revisions AG, operating under Swiss foundation law with no parent company and no venture or equity funding.

Name

Stiftung Kinderhilfe Sternschnuppe

Legal name

Stiftung Kinderhilfe Sternschnuppe

Website

https://sternschnuppe.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Stiftung Kinderhilfe Sternschnuppe is a Swiss charitable foundation founded in 1993 that fulfills wishes, funds leisure excursions, and supports projects for seriously ill or disabled children (ages 0–18) and their families across German- and French-speaking Switzerland, operating entirely on donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's charity and wish fulfillment services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Wish fulfillment charity
• Children's foundation services
• Donation-funded nonprofit
• Leisure excursion programs
• Seriously ill children support

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Private donations: Individual donors contribute one-time or recurring donations. Donations from CHF 50 and above are acknowledged. Donations are tax-deductible in Switzerland.
2. Corporate partnerships and sponsorships: Companies provide financial support, in-kind donations, or experience sponsorships (e.g., SWISS providing flight experiences). Corporate partners mentioned include SWISS, UEFA Foundation for Children, and various Swiss companies.
3. Foundation and institutional grants: Funding foundations provide project-based or recurring support. From CHF 5,000, organizations are mentioned in annual reports and website.
4. Memorial donations (Trauerspenden): Donations made in memory of deceased persons, often specified in obituaries with dedicated IBAN and reference systems.
5. Legacy bequests and inheritances: Charitable bequests, donations, or legacies through testamentary provisions to ensure wishes are fulfilled beyond donor lifetimes.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Stiftung Kinderhilfe Sternschnuppe is a Swiss non-profit foundation that fulfills wishes for children and adolescents up to age 18 who live with serious illness or disability. It operates three core programs: Herzenswünsche (Heart's Wishes) realizes individualized heart-felt wishes; Freizeitsterne (Leisure Stars) provides free entry to 50+ partner leisure and cultural institutions via the Sternschnuppe-App; and Sternenprojekte (Star Projects) funds group activities in residential homes, hospitals, and therapeutic schools. All services are provided free of charge to eligible families and funded entirely through donations.

Product overview

Stiftung Kinderhilfe Sternschnuppe is a nonprofit foundation operating three core programs: Herzenswünsche (Heart's Wishes) fulfills the deepest wishes of children and teenagers with illness or disability; Freizeitsterne (Leisure Stars) provides free access to partner leisure and cultural institutions via the Sternschnuppe-App; and Sternenprojekte (Star Projects) financially supports initiatives in residential homes, hospitals, and therapeutic schools. The foundation also publishes a biannual magazine and offers Reka-Ferien holiday benefits. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Zurich with a branch in Lausanne, the organization is tax-exempt and regulated by the Swiss Federal Foundation Supervisory Authority (ESA).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Herzenswünsche (Heart's Wishes) Core program that fulfills the innermost heart's wishes of children and teenagers up to age 18 with serious illness or disability, creating unforgettable experiences for the entire family. Services are provided free of charge to eligible families across Switzerland.
• Freizeitsterne (Leisure Stars) Program providing free outings and entry to 50+ partner leisure and cultural institutions (zoos, museums, theme parks, theaters) for families with children aged 6-18. Entry tickets are booked through the Sternschnuppe-App, and the foundation covers admission costs. In 2012, the program was extended to groups from homes and institutions.
• Sternenprojekte (Star Projects) Program that financially supports projects bringing joy and variety to the lives of children in residential homes (Wohnheime), hospitals (Spitäler), special education schools (heilpädagogische Schulen), and disability interest organizations. The foundation supported 91 Sternenprojekte in 2025.
• Sternschnuppe-App Mobile application launched in 2024 for booking entry tickets to Freizeitsterne partner institutions. Families register and book excursions directly through the app, which manages digital wish and excursion processing across German and French-speaking Switzerland.
• Reka-Ferien Partnership Benefit Discounted holiday benefit offering Sternschnuppe families 10% off Reka holiday village bookings in Switzerland and Parkhotel Brenscino, accessed via a promotion code obtained from the foundation.
• Sternschnuppe-Magazin Biannual magazine featuring wish stories, donation campaigns, and star projects, distributed digitally and in print to donors, partners, and supporters.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000 heart's wishes fulfilled since 1993 (as of 2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SWISS (Swiss International Air Lines)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Long-standing partnership where SWISS provides exclusive experiences for Sternschnuppe children. In November 2024, SWISS helped fulfill the 4,000th wish (Vincent becoming a cabin crew member for a day). SWISS hosts annual SWISS Kids Day events at Zurich Airport where families receive behind-the-scenes access.
• UEFA Foundation for ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership to fulfill football-related wishes. Worked together to fulfill wishes for Simon and Luigi who dreamed of seeing FC Barcelona play. UEFA Foundation provides access to football players and events.
• Reka-FerienminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Sternschnuppe families receive 10% discount on Reka holiday village bookings in Switzerland and Parkhotel Brenscino. Booking requires promotion code obtained from Sternschnuppe.
• 50+ Partner Institutions (Freizeitsterne)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner50+ institutions including zoos (Zoo Zürich, Zoo Basel, Knies Kinderzoo), museums (Technorama, Verkehrshaus, FIFA Museum), theme parks (Europapark), theaters, and cultural sites. Children receive free entry via Freizeitsterne program.
• Swiss Football National TeamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlayers from the Swiss national football team participate in wish fulfillments, meeting children at events and providing signed memorabilia.
• Circus KnieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for circus-related wishes. Nina's wish to visit Circus Knie and meet the horses was fulfilled through direct collaboration.
• Rega (Swiss Air Rescue)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRega provides helicopter experiences for wish fulfillments. Nevio's wish to learn about Rega work was fulfilled through a behind-the-scenes visit.
• VBZ (Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVBZ provides tram and bus driving experiences for wish fulfillments. Dario's wish to drive a tram was fulfilled at VBZ.
• Swiss Football AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFootball federation connects children with national team players and provides access to training sessions and matches.
• Theater Stadelhofen and Tanzhaus BaselminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for exclusive theater events for Sternschnuppe families starting in 2025. Provides adapted performances for children requiring special conditions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Make-A-Wish Foundation: The largest global wish-fulfillment organization for children with critical illnesses, operating in 50+ countries. Directly comparable mission (fulfilling heart's wishes for seriously ill children) and largely donor-funded model, though at significantly larger scale than Sternschnuppe.
• Starlight Children's Foundation: US-based charity focused on delivering happiness to seriously ill children through wish granting, hospital entertainment, and family programs. Overlaps directly with Sternschnuppe's three-program model (wishes, leisure activities, hospital programs).
• Make-A-Wish Switzerland: Swiss affiliate of Make-A-Wish International, fulfilling wishes for seriously ill children in Switzerland. Operates in the same country and serves the same population as Sternschnuppe, making it the closest in-country peer despite the foundation's claim to be the only nationwide organization of its type.

Regional players

• Wunschkonzert (Caritas der Erzdiözese Wien): Austrian wish-fulfillment initiative for seriously ill children, run in cooperation with Caritas. Comparable mission and donation model, but operating in a different DACH-region country.
• Stiftung Kinderwunsch: German wish-fulfillment foundation for seriously ill children based in Munich. Similar non-profit structure and three-pillar approach (wish fulfillment, ongoing support, family services), serving the DACH-region peer market.
• Dreams Come True: UK charity that grants wishes to children and young people with serious and life-limiting conditions. Comparable mission, age range (up to 18), and donation-funded model, but operating in a different geography.

Emerging players

• Rainbow Trust Children's Charity: UK charity supporting families with a seriously ill child, including practical and emotional support. Partial overlap with Sternschnuppe's family-inclusion mission, though it focuses on ongoing support rather than one-off wish experiences.
• Together for Short Lives: UK charity supporting children with life-limiting conditions and their families through palliative care and family services. Adjacent mission to Sternschnuppe's wish-fulfillment work but with a different service emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Global charity serving families of seriously ill children, primarily by providing accommodation near hospitals. Operates at a much larger scale, has substantial brand recognition, and competes for the same corporate donor pool as Sternschnuppe, despite a different service offering.

Others

• SOS Children's Villages: Global non-profit providing alternative care and family support for children who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care. Adjacent children's-welfare donor base and recurring-donation model, but different service category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SKSternschnuppe
• Facebookfacebook.com/StiftungKinderhilfeSternschnuppe
• LinkedInch.linkedin.com/company/stiftung-kinderhilfe-sternschnuppe
• Instagraminstagram.com/kinderhilfesternschnuppe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Stiftung Kinderhilfe Sternschnuppe