Stiftung Westfalen-Initiative für Eigenverantwortung und Gemeinwohl

What Stiftung Westfalen-Initiative für Eigenverantwortung und Gemeinwohl does

Stiftung Westfalen-Initiative für Eigenverantwortung und Gemeinwohl is a private charitable foundation (Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts) established by Martin Leicht in 2006, headquartered in Münster, Nordrhein-Westfalen. It operates under the German Stiftungsgesetz NRW with supervisory oversight from Bezirksregierung Münster and is governed by a Vorstand chaired by Dr. Hans Moormann, with Anne König MdB serving as Chair of the Kuratorium and Christoph Dammermann as Managing Director. The foundation's work is grounded in the Catholic social principle of subsidiarity — supporting responsibility and initiative at the most local level possible across families, schools, associations, and neighborhoods — and is one of the larger private charitable foundations operating in the Westfalen-Lippe region.

Its portfolio of programs is entirely non-commercial and free to beneficiaries. Core offerings include the Startup Teens Westfalen-Challenge (a regional startup ideas competition for students aged 14–19), SchülerZukunftsGipfel (student-organized conferences on future topics, most recently expanded to OWL with 200+ participants at Marta Herford), Westfalen-Akademie (free civic education training), WestfalenBeweger (process coaching for volunteer associations), GEEG Elternarbeit (holistic parenting education), and Sprache und Selbstmanagement (language and integration courses for Ukrainian refugees). Cultural programming includes the 'Fido, der Außerwestfälische' animation series co-produced with Juli Film, the Westfalen Connection film competition, and the Westfälische Friedensgespräche. A podcast series, 'Engagiert in Westfalen', and active social media presence (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram) extend the foundation's reach.

The revenue model is structurally a foundation: an endowment seeded by founder Martin Leicht, supplemented by project-specific grants and co-funding from public bodies (LWL, NRW Ministry of Culture), peer foundations (Bertelsmann Stiftung, Robert-Enke-Stiftung, WEPA Stiftung), and corporate sponsors (Sparkassen). With 5 employees, the foundation operates a hub-and-spoke model in which programs are delivered through institutional partners — schools, public agencies, cultural organizations, and implementation partners such as Agentur Get People, Cyrano Kommunikation, and Startup Teens — rather than through direct service delivery. The 2025–2026 period has been marked by active involvement in the 1250 Jahre Westfalen jubilee and the launch of new programmatic verticals including adolescent mental health prevention and structured young-adult leadership development.

Name

Stiftung Westfalen-Initiative für Eigenverantwortung und Gemeinwohl

Legal name

Stiftung Westfalen-Initiative für Eigenverantwortung und Gemeinwohl

Website

https://swi.nrw

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Private charitable foundation in Münster, Germany promoting subsidiarity, personal responsibility, and Westphalian identity through youth entrepreneurship programs, family education, association coaching, cultural projects, and refugee integration across the Westfalen-Lippe region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Education and Community Development Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

Keywords

• Civic education programs
• Youth entrepreneurship training
• Volunteer organization coaching
• Family education services
• Cultural philanthropy

Headquarters

HQ city

Münster

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 Endowment / Donor Funding: The foundation operates as a private charitable foundation funded by Martin Leicht (founder/stifter). It receives contributions from donors, corporate sponsors, and public institutions to sustain its educational and community programs.
2. Project Grants and Sponsorship: The foundation receives project-specific grants and co-funding from public bodies (LWL, NRW Ministry of Culture), cultural foundations (Bertelsmann Stiftung, Robert-Enke-Stiftung), and corporate partners (WEPA Stiftung, Sparkassen).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stiftung Westfalen-Initiative is a private charitable foundation that provides free educational, civic, and cultural programs in the Westphalia region of Germany. Its core offerings include youth entrepreneurship competitions, student-led conferences, training for volunteer associations, family parenting education, refugee language courses, and cultural projects such as an animation series and film competition. Programs are funded by donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships and are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries.

Product overview

Stiftung Westfalen-Initiative operates as a non-profit foundation focused on promoting subsidiarity, personal responsibility, and civic engagement in the Westfalen region. The foundation offers a diverse portfolio of educational programs and cultural initiatives rather than commercial products. Core programs include youth entrepreneurship education through Startup Teens Westfalen-Challenge, student-led SchülerZukunftsGipfel conferences, and the Westfalen-Akademie for civic education. Additional offerings encompass family education (GEEG), language integration courses, association coaching (WestfalenBeweger), and cultural projects like the Westfalen Connection film competition and the animated series 'Fido, der Außerwestfälische'. The foundation also supports academic programs in nonprofit management, crisis counseling training, and trauma pedagogy. A podcast series 'Engagiert in Westfalen' disseminates the foundation's philosophy. All initiatives align with the foundation's mission to strengthen subsidiarity and regional identity in Westfalen.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Engagiert in Westfalen: Podcast series featuring interviews with people who inspire self-reliant and self-initiated living
• Startup Teens Westfalen-Challenge
• SchülerZukunftsGipfel
• Westfalen-Akademie
• WestfalenBeweger
• GEEG Elternarbeit
• Sprache und Selbstmanagement

Products and services

• Engagiert in Westfalen Podcast A podcast series featuring interviews with entrepreneurs, educators, politicians, and civic leaders who inspire self-reliant and self-initiated living, aligned with the foundation's subsidiarity principle. Distributed via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, podcast.de, and YouTube.
• Westfalen-Akademie Free continuing education and training programs to strengthen civic engagement for volunteer organizations and civic associations in Westphalia. Offered in partnership with other organizations.
• SchülerZukunftsGipfel Student-organized conferences where young people actively participate in moderating and discussing future topics with experts, developing skills in event management, interviews, and media production. Developed in cooperation with Agentur Get People (Markus Tenkhoff).
• Startup Teens Westfalen-Challenge Regional startup ideas competition for youth aged 14-19, organized in partnership with Startup Teens and WEPA Stiftung, promoting entrepreneurial thinking. The challenge tours across Westphalian schools with workshops and culminates in a regional final with prize money; winning teams qualify for the national Startup Teens competition.
• Elternarbeit / GEEG Holistic parenting and relationship concept (Ganzheitliches Erziehungs- und Beziehungskonzept, GEEG) promoting partnership and equal footing between parents and educators, including parent education workshops and transition support.
• Sprache und Selbstmanagement Language courses combined with career orientation and personal development for refugees, particularly from Ukraine. Co-funded with Sparkasse Münsterland Ost (€16,000 each).
• WestfalenBeweger Process-accompanying coaching program for civic associations and volunteer organizations, supporting their organizational development through coaching and seed funding.
• Westfalen Connection Film competition section within the Filmfestival Münster showcasing works by young filmmakers from the Westfalen region.
• Westfälische Friedensgespräche Political-literary event series exploring peace and international understanding through literature, organized by Westfälisches Literaturbüro Unna with foundation support.
• Fido, der Außerwestfälische Animated short series featuring an alien character exploring Westfalen's cultural history and future, co-produced with Juli Film and supported by LWL-Medienzentrum and the city of Münster.
• Nonprofit-Management and Governance Germany's first university continuing education program preparing students for leadership positions in non-profit organizations.
• Verantwortung lernen! Service-learning project integrating social engagement into school curriculum, linking academic learning with community service, in cooperation with the Amt für Schule und Weiterbildung der Stadt Münster.
• Qualifizierung zur Krisenberatung Training program for crisis counselors in suicide prevention, supporting volunteer-based crisis intervention facilities.
• Traumapädagogische Qualifizierung Professional qualification program for pedagogical staff working with traumatized children and youth in residential care.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ students participated in the first OWL SchülerZukunftsGipfel at Marta Herford with 10 startup teams pitching
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Startup Teens (Non-Profit-Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Startup Teens and the foundation jointly operate the 'Startup Teens Westfalen-Challenge', a regional entrepreneurship ideas competition for students aged 14–19. The foundation is the main co-organizer and funder. The challenge tours across Westphalian schools with workshops and culminates in a regional final with prize money. Winning teams also qualify for the national Startup Teens competition.
• LWL (Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe) and LWL-KulturstiftungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLWL is a key public partner in multiple projects including the animation series 'Fido, der Außerwestfälische', the Westphalian Peace Summit (2023), and cultural programs like Westfalen Connection. The foundation co-produces and co-funds projects with LWL's media center and cultural foundation.
• Agentur Get People (Markus Tenkhoff)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGet People, led by Markus Tenkhoff, is the primary implementation partner for the SchülerZukunftsGipfel format. The agency coaches students in event management, moderating, and media production. Get People co-developed the student-led conference format used at multiple Westphalian schools.
• WEPA StiftungmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWEPA Stiftung is a partner in the Startup Teens Westfalen-Challenge and hosts the annual final at WEPA's Arnsberg facility. The foundation and WEPA co-sponsor entrepreneurship education workshops for Westphalian youth.
• Bertelsmann StiftungmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-förderer of the first Schüler-Präventionskongress on mental health (May 2026). The foundation and Bertelsmann Stiftung co-funded this youth-focused prevention conference held at Cineplex Münster.
• Robert-Enke-StiftungmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-förderer and content partner for the Schüler-Präventionskongress. Provided the VR film 'Impression Depression' and a workshop facilitator (Gianluca Maione) to educate youth about depression. Co-supported the VR workshop at Hansa-Berufskolleg Münster.
• Bertelsmann StiftungmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the first Schüler-Präventionskongress on mental health (May 2026). Dr. Anja Langness from the foundation contributed a talk on post-corona loneliness and social media's ambivalent role.
• Juli Film (Münster)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJuli Film is the production company for the animation series 'Fido, der Außerwestfälische'. The foundation is a co-producer of both seasons of this educational series about Westphalian culture and history. The series was also supported by LWL-Medienzentrum and the city of Münster.
• Stadt Münster (Münster Marketing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of the 'Fido, der Außerwestfälische' animation series and supporter of the first SchülerStartUp-Gipfel held at Cineplex Münster. Also partner in various cultural events tied to the 1250 Jahre Westfalen jubilee.
• Coppenrath Verlag and Sparkassen in Westfalen-LippeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTogether with Coppenrath Verlag and the Sparkassen (regional savings banks) in Westfalen-Lippe, the foundation produced and distributed the Westfalen-Rätselbuch for third graders — a free educational puzzle book about the Westphalian region.
• GWK (Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Westfälischen Kulturarbeit e.V.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation holds a supporting membership in GWK, participates in its Kuratorium, and co-supports GWK's cultural programming for Westphalia-Lippe. GWK promotes young artists in music, visual arts, and literature and organizes cultural events.
• Education Y and RBN (Regionales Bildungsnetzwerk Münster)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with Education Y and the Regional Education Network Münster for family support programs. Jointly organized the 'Zukunftsforum Familien und Resilienz' and the 'Familien in Münster: Einfach stark!' workshop series for parents.
• Westfalen e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of events related to the 1250 Jahre Westfalen jubilee, including 'Westfalen weltweit' cultural evenings. Westfalen e.V. and the foundation jointly sponsor the student competition 'Unser Westfalen'.
• Konrad-Adenauer-StiftungminorOthersHans-Gert Pöttering, former President of the European Parliament and former chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, appeared as a guest on the foundation's podcast. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is not an operational partner of the foundation.
• Wirtschaftliche Gesellschaft für Westfalen-Lippe (WWL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWWL organizes the International Peace Prize of Westphalian Peace and co-hosts the Jugend-Konvent (Youth Convention) of the Westphalian Peace Conference with the foundation. The foundation co-designed the democratic education game 'Frieden zur Aufgabe machen' as part of the 2026 International Peace Prize program.
• Zukunfts Gesellschaft e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-initiator with the foundation of the 'Westfalen Gamechanger-Programm' — a 6-month personal development program for young adults, accompanied by executive coaches and including a 6-day in-person intensive week.
• Katholische Landjugendbewegung im Bistum Münster e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-implementer with the foundation of the Westfalen Gamechanger-Programm for young adults, alongside Zukunfts Gesellschaft e.V.
• young leaders GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the Youth-ZukunftsForum (young leaders Jugend-ZukunftsForum) in Dortmund, focused on subsidiarity, freedom, and responsibility. Held April–May 2026 with 40 engaged youth participants.
• Berkenkamp-StiftungminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-funder with the foundation of the theater project week 'Die kleine Wörterfabrik – Sprache spielerisch begegnen' at Anna-Katharina-Emerick-Grundschule in Dülmen, combining theater pedagogy with language development.
• Amt für Schule und Weiterbildung der Stadt MünstermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing cooperation partner in multiple projects including the 'MitSprache' weekend language courses for immigrant children, the project 'Familien in Münster: Einfach stark!', and the 'Verantwortung lernen!' service-learning program.
• Cyrano KommunikationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCo-developer with the foundation of the democratic education game 'Frieden zur Aufgabe machen' as part of the 2026 International Peace Prize program. Cyrano Kommunikation supports the game's design and implementation at schools.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Startup Teens: Germany-wide non-profit initiative running youth entrepreneurship competitions (Startup Teens). The foundation is the main co-organizer and funder of the Startup Teens Westfalen-Challenge, making it a direct functional peer in youth entrepreneurship education.
• Robert-Enke-Stiftung: German foundation dedicated to mental health awareness and child welfare. A co-funding partner of the foundation's Schüler-Präventionskongress, with closely aligned mission in youth mental health and education programming.

Emerging players

• Education Y: Education-focused non-profit working in family support and education networks in Münster. A co-cooperation partner of the foundation on family resilience programs (Zukunftsforum Familien und Resilienz), making it a close operational peer in family education.

Broad incumbents

• Bertelsmann Stiftung: One of Germany's largest private foundations, with significant programming in education, youth development, and civic engagement. A direct co-funding partner of the foundation's Schüler-Präventionskongress, making it a strong functional peer in foundation-led educational programming.
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung: One of Germany's largest political foundations associated with the CDU, with programming in civic education and youth leadership. Referenced on the foundation's podcast (Hans-Gert Pöttering), positioning it as a peer in civic-education foundation programming.

Regional players

• GWK (Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Westfälischen Kulturarbeit): Westphalian cultural promotion society supporting young artists in music, visual arts, and literature. The foundation holds a supporting membership and serves on its Kuratorium — a direct operating peer in regional cultural grantmaking in Westfalen.
• Berkenkamp-Stiftung: Regional Westphalian private foundation supporting education and cultural projects, including co-funding of the foundation's theater-pedagogy project week. A direct peer in regional civic grantmaking within Westfalen.
• Sparkassenstiftung Westfalen-Lippe: Regional savings bank foundation supporting community projects across Westfalen-Lippe. A co-funding partner of the foundation's Westfalen-Rätselbuch and broader programming, functioning as a peer in regional civic grantmaking.
• WEPA Stiftung: Private foundation of WEPA Industrieholding, focused on regional Westphalian causes including youth entrepreneurship. A core partner hosting the Westfalen-Challenge final at its Arnsberg facility and co-sponsoring entrepreneurship education workshops.
• LWL-Kulturstiftung: The cultural foundation of Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe, focused on arts and culture in the same Westphalia region. A core strategic partner of the foundation on cultural projects including the Fido animation series and the Westphalian Peace Conference.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3jhNCuG-aA6rJ5OOIOWHFw
• Facebookfacebook.com/StiftungWestfalenInitiative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stiftung-westfalen-initiative
• Instagraminstagram.com/stiftungwestfaleninitiative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Stiftung Westfalen-Initiative für Eigenverantwortung und Gemeinwohl