Herbert-Wehner-Bildungswerk e.V.

What Herbert-Wehner-Bildungswerk e.V. does

Herbert-Wehner-Bildungswerk e.V. is a German state-funded non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded on September 14, 1992, headquartered in the purpose-built Herbert-Wehner-Haus at Devrientstraße 7 in Dresden, Saxony. It provides political adult education through seminars, discussion events, and educational trips (Bildungsfahrten) covering topics including German-German reunification history, the DDR dictatorship, municipal politics, sustainability, and civic engagement. The organization operates two associated entities under one roof: the main Herbert-Wehner-Bildungswerk e.V. and the Herbert-Wehner-Bildungswerk für Kommunalpolitik e.V. (founded 2013), both chaired by Dr. Christian Demuth and managed by Geschäftsführerin Karin Pritzel since 2011. Additional offerings include moderation training, online seminars via Zoom, exhibitions (including 'Die Frauen von Hoheneck' and '100 starke Frauen – 100 Ideen für die Demokratie'), and venue rental of its seminar room (up to 30 persons) and FORUM event space (up to 100 persons). Since September 2024, it also runs the state-wide aggregator portal politische-bildung-sachsen.de.

The organization is funded primarily through recurring institutional support from the Sächsische Staatskanzlei and project-based funding from the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb) via the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Demokratischer Bildungswerke (ADB), of which it has been a member since receiving bpb recognition as a Träger der politischen Bildung in 2000. Earned revenue is generated through participant fees for educational trips (ranging from €60 for a Leipzig trip to €340 for a Ruhrgebiet trip), Friends Circle membership (Freundeskreis) subscriptions starting at €64/year with reduced rates down to €16, FSJ Politik program stipends (€380/month paid to participants), and venue rental to external groups. Customer segments include the general adult public, municipal politicians and local government officials, youth and young adults aged 16–26 in the FSJ Politik program, and — since 2023 — Bundeswehr military personnel and civilian staff as a member of the Netzwerk Politische Bildung in der Bundeswehr. Marketing is conducted through a multi-channel mix including the main website, newsletter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Bluesky, press releases, and educational publications.

Name

Herbert-Wehner-Bildungswerk e.V.

Legal name

Herbert-Wehner-Bildungswerk e.V.

Website

https://wehnerwerk.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Herbert-Wehner-Bildungswerk e.V. is a state-funded German non-profit founded in 1992 in Dresden, Saxony, delivering political adult education through seminars, educational trips, exhibitions, and venue rental, serving the general public, municipal politicians, youth, and Bundeswehr personnel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Political and Civic Education Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Political Organizations (813940)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC)

Keywords

• Political adult education
• Civic education seminars
• Educational study trips
• Democracy education
• Municipal political training

Headquarters

HQ city

Dresden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional funding from Saxon State Chancellery: The Herbert-Wehner-Bildungswerk e.V. receives ongoing institutional funding from the Saxon State Chancellery (Sächsische Staatskanzlei) as its primary public funding source. This funding is based on the Saxon state parliament budget.
2. Project funding from Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung: As a member of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Demokratischer Bildungswerke (ADB), the organization receives project-based funding from the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (Federal Agency for Civic Education/bpb). ADB is an recognized sponsor of political education under bpb.
3. Participant fees for educational trips: Fee-based educational trips (Bildungsfahrten) ranging from €60 to €340 per person, including transport, accommodation, and admissions. Revenue from these fee-based programs complements public funding.
4. Venue and room rental: Rental of seminar room (up to 30 persons) and FORUM space (up to 100 persons) to external groups and organizations for meetings, seminars, and events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Herbert-Wehner-Bildungswerk e.V. is a state-supported, registered non-profit association headquartered in Dresden that delivers political adult education (politische Erwachsenenbildung) through free seminars and discussion events, fee-based multi-day educational trips to historical and political sites across Germany, online seminars via Zoom, moderation training, group-specific programs, and the FSJ Politik one-year voluntary program for youth aged 16–26. It also operates the politische-bildung-sachsen.de web portal aggregating civic education offerings across Saxony, and rents out its purpose-built seminar rooms and FORUM event venue at the Herbert-Wehner-Haus to external organizations.

Product overview

Herbert-Wehner-Bildungswerk e.V. is a state-funded political education organization founded in 1992, offering a portfolio of educational products centered on political adult education. The core offerings include seminars, educational trips (Bildungsfahrten), online education, moderation training, and group programs. The organization also operates an online portal (politische-bildung-sachsen.de) and maintains educational exhibitions. Rental services include the FORUM event venue and seminar rooms with associated equipment lending. Since 2023, the organization has been a member of the Netzwerk Politische Bildung in der Bundeswehr, providing tailored seminars for military personnel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Political Adult Education Seminars Free seminars and discussion events covering democracy, German reunification history, local politics, civic engagement, sustainability, and DDR history. Open to all adults regardless of background; delivered at the Herbert-Wehner-Haus in Dresden and via Zoom online.
• Educational Trips (Bildungsfahrten) Multi-day fee-based educational trips to historical and political sites across Germany, covering sustainability, structural change, DDR history, and political history. Destinations include Leipzig (€60), Brandenburg (€180), Harz (€270), Rügen (€300), Berlin (€290), and Ruhrgebiet (€340). All include transport, accommodation in double rooms, breakfast, and admissions; typically four trips per year.
• Online Education (Bildung Online) Online seminars and hybrid events delivered via Zoom, enabling remote participation in the political education program.
• Group Programs (Extras für Gruppen) Customised educational programs for group bookings on specific themes and target audiences, complementing the standard seminar portfolio.
• Moderation Training Training and seminars on moderation techniques, including visualisation, planning, and goal setting for effective group discussions and workshops.
• FSJ Politik (Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr Politik) Program One-year voluntary service program for youth and young adults aged 16–26, providing insights into political processes and civic education. Includes €380 monthly stipend, social insurance coverage, public transport discounts, and museum reductions. Typically one participant recruited per year.
• Political Education for the Bundeswehr Tailored seminars and educational trips for soldiers and civilian employees of the German Bundeswehr, covering democratic values and multi-day civic education programs. Delivered through the Netzwerk Politische Bildung in der Bundeswehr partnership since 2023.
• Exhibition 'Die Frauen von Hoheneck' Photo and documentation exhibition on the fates of political prisoners of the DDR women's prison Hoheneck, featuring black-and-white photographs by Dirk Vogel and texts by Cathia Hecker telling the life stories of 19 women and one man. Co-organised with the Forum für politisch verfolgte und inhaftierte Frauen der SBZ/DDR-Diktatur e.V.; on display until 5 October 2026.
• Online Exhibition: 100 starke Frauen – 100 Ideen für die Demokratie Online exhibition honouring women committed to democracy in Saxony, developed as part of Greta Wehner's 100th birthday commemorations (October 2024).
• politische-bildung-sachsen.de Web Portal Web portal bundling political education offerings across Saxony, with an event calendar (filterable), project days and workshops for democracy promotion at schools, plus podcasts and publications.
• FORUM Venue Rental (Herbert-Wehner-Haus) Rental of the FORUM event space at the Herbert-Wehner-Haus in Dresden, accommodating up to 100 persons, with catering kitchen and accessible facilities. Quote-based pricing via the Kommunalpolitik subsidiary.
• Seminar Room Rental Rental of a seminar room accommodating up to 30 persons, available for board meetings, working groups, and seminars. Includes moderation materials and online seminar technology. Quote-based pricing via the Kommunalpolitik subsidiary.
• Equipment Lending (Materialverleih) Loan of educational equipment including flip charts, pin boards, moderation kits, projectors, LEGO SERIOUS PLAY sets, constitutional rights memory game, conspiracy theory detection memory game, and Pride flags.
• Friends Circle Membership (Freundeskreis) Annual membership in the supporting Freundeskreis Herbert-Wehner-Bildungswerk e.V. (minimum €64/year, reduced to €16 for low-income members), with benefits including 50% discount or up to €25 off seminar participation fees. Over 400 members across Saxony and the Federal Republic of Germany.
• Wehnerwerk Newsletter Email newsletter subscription providing regular updates on events, seminars, and educational offerings.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Forum für politisch verfolgte und inhaftierte Frauen der SBZ/DDR-Diktatur e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2024Co-organizer of the exhibition 'Die Frauen von Hoheneck' (The Women of Hoheneck), displaying portraits of politically persecuted women from the DDR prison Hoheneck. The forum is an association of women who were politically persecuted and imprisoned in the Soviet occupation zone and DDR dictatorship, advocating for acknowledgment and support of those affected.
• Netzwerk Politische Bildung in der BundeswehrcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2023, official partner of the Netzwerk Politische Bildung in der Bundeswehr under the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung. Develops and delivers seminars for soldiers and civilian employees of the German military.
• Netzwerk für Demokratie und CourageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner for democracy and courage training programs in Saxony.
• Deutsche Atlantische Gesellschaft e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for transatlantic dialogue and civic education.
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung SachsenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolitical foundation affiliated with SPD, cooperating on political education programs.
• RAA SachsenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport center for democracy and civic participation in Saxony.
• Netzwerk Tolerantes SachsenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of over 100 Saxon initiatives, associations, and organizations promoting democratic culture and opposing attitudes of inequality, anti-Semitism, and racism.
• Sächsische Landeszentrale für politische BildungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaxon state center for political education, cooperating on educational offerings.
• Herbert-und-Greta-Wehner-StiftungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation established by Greta Wehner in 2003 to strengthen liberal democracy through civic education, research, and consultation. Supports and houses the Herbert-Wehner-Bildungswerk in Dresden.
• Bundestag and Saxon LandtagminorOthersInstitutional partners hosting educational visits; requires participant birth dates for security clearance.
• Volkshochschule DresdenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the joint web portal politische-bildung-sachsen.de, with director Jürgen Küfner providing endorsement for the political education portal.
• Kulturbüro Sachsen e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner through the politische-bildung-sachsen.de portal initiative, with managing director Michael Nattke supporting the platform's importance for democratic values in Saxony.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb): Germany's federal agency for civic education that funds Wehnerwerk through ADB. Operates nationally with publications, seminars, and online offerings; broader in scope but the ultimate parent-style incumbent in this category.
• Arbeitsgemeinschaft Demokratischer Bildungswerke (ADB): Umbrella association of democratic education institutions that channels bpb funding to its members, including Wehnerwerk. Operates as a peer-coordinating body rather than direct competitor, but member institutions overlap on programming.
• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Sachsen: Greens-affiliated political foundation running civic education events in Saxony. Parallels Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung; comparable in mission and adult civic education programming.

Direct peers

• Netzwerk Tolerantes Sachsen: Network of 100+ Saxon initiatives promoting democratic culture and countering discrimination, with Wehnerwerk as a member. Comparable in mission, region, and education-program delivery.
• Sächsische Landeszentrale für politische Bildung: Saxony's state agency for political education offering seminars, publications, and teacher resources. Wehnerwerk's named partner; the closest public-sector peer in scope, target audience, and geographic remit.
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Sachsen: SPD-affiliated political foundation operating in Saxony with adult civic education programs and seminars. One of Wehnerwerk's named Minor partners; directly comparable in mission, geography, and target demographic.
• RAA Sachsen – Opferberatung: Saxon support center for democracy and civic participation; named minor partner. Comparable in civic education, democratic culture work, and Saxon geographic focus.
• Volkshochschule Dresden e.V. Municipal adult education center co-developing politische-bildung-sachsen.de with Wehnerwerk. Comparable in adult continuing education programming, civic focus, and Dresden footprint.

Emerging players

• Netzwerk für Demokratie und Courage (NDC) Sachsen: Saxon branch of a youth-focused democracy and civic courage training network and named partner. Comparable in mission and target youth demographic (school and young adult segments); narrower geographic and program remit.

Regional players

• Gedenkstätte Bautzen II: Saxon memorial site for DDR political prisoners offering educational programs on dictatorship and German division. Strong thematic overlap with Wehnerwerk's Bildungsfahrten and Hoheneck exhibition work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnIzJefgAS8dQooyzdJH_kQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/wehnerwerk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wehnerwerk
• Instagraminstagram.com/wehnerwerk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Herbert-Wehner-Bildungswerk e.V.