GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung (Future Foundation for Development)

What GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung (Future Foundation for Development) does

GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung (Future Foundation for Development) is a German rechtsfähige Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts headquartered in Bochum, operating as a charitable development-cooperation grantmaking organization. It channels donations from German and international individuals, families, and companies into long-term partnerships with 77 local organizations across 17 countries in Africa (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe), Asia (Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines), and Latin America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru). The foundation's programmatic model is structured around six — recently seven with the addition of Nothilfe (emergency aid) — interconnected thematic fields: emancipatory education, renewable energy, holistic health, microcredit, human and environmental rights, and organic agriculture, supplemented by a Patenschaften (sponsorship) program providing individual, group, and corporate sponsorships at approximately 31 EUR per month for children and students in partner schools.

The foundation generates no commercial product or service revenue. Its income is entirely donation-based: 6.61 million EUR in 2025 from 4,311 donors, of which 5.08 million EUR was disbursed as project funding. Per DZI 2025 calculation, 90.8% of incoming donations were applied directly to program work, with 9.2% covering administration and fundraising and 7.4% allocated to project accompaniment. Capital is structured as a Stiftungskapital (foundation capital) of 2.14 million EUR plus donor-funded Stiftungsfonds, Zustiftungen, widerrufliche Schenkungen, and testamentary giving instruments. There is no proprietary technology platform; operations run on conventional financial-management and database-driven partner-and-sponsorship administration.

The foundation operates within the GLS Gruppe alongside GLS Bank (which provides rent-free office space and administrative services valued at approximately 35,000 EUR annually plus a dedicated savings bond channeling interest income to the foundation) and GLS Treuhand e.V. (which administers Stiftungsfonds, co-operates the 'Schenken wirkt' gifting platform, and is the residual-asset beneficiary). Governance comprises a Vorstand led by Dr. Annette Massmann, a seven-member Stiftungsrat, a six-member Kuratorium, and an independent Ombudsperson (Dr. Richard Everett, since August 2022). The organization holds the DZI Spendensiegel in its best cost-efficiency category and is a member of the Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft.

Name

GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung (Future Foundation for Development)

Legal name

GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung

Website

https://zukunftsstiftung-entwicklung.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung is a German Bochum-based nonprofit foundation that channels donations from 4,311 supporters into long-term partnerships with 77 local organizations across 17 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, focusing on education, organic agriculture, health, microcredit, renewable energy, and rights.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Cooperation

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Development cooperation funding
• Child sponsorship programs
• Organic agriculture projects
• Charitable donation management
• Renewable energy initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Bochum

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. Public Donations and Sponsorships: The foundation's primary revenue comes from individual and institutional donors, sponsors, and supporters. In 2025, 4,311 donors contributed to revenues of 6.61 million EUR, of which 5.08 million EUR flowed into project funding. Donations are collected via direct bank transfers, SEPA direct debit mandates, and the 'Schenken wirkt' gifting platform operated jointly with GLS Treuhand and sister foundations. The foundation also receives occasional funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Revenue is entirely charitable in nature with no commercial product or service revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung is a German nonprofit foundation that provides long-term funding, capacity-building, and accompaniment to 77 partner organizations implementing development cooperation projects in 17 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The foundation's work covers six thematic fields: emancipatory education, organic farming, holistic health, microcredit, renewable energy, and human/environmental rights, and is supported through individual donations, child and family sponsorships (Patenschaften), endowments, bequests, and foundation funds.

Product overview

GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung is a charitable foundation focused on development cooperation in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The organization does not offer a technology product platform; instead it provides grantmaking services including project cooperation (project partnerships with organizations in 17 countries), child and family sponsorships (Patenschaften) for educational support, donation management services, and various funding mechanisms such as foundation funds (Stiftungsfonds), endowments (Zustiftungen), and testamentary giving. The core offerings are charitable programs rather than software products or technology services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Project Cooperation (Projektkooperation) Long-term partnerships with 77 project organizations across 17 countries focusing on organic farming, emancipatory education, holistic health, microcredits, renewable energy, and human/environmental rights; the foundation provides funding, capacity-building, and accompaniment to implementing partners.
• Child and Family Sponsorships (Patenschaften) Sponsorship programs supporting children's education and family welfare at partner schools in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, India, Nepal, Brazil, and Peru; available as individual, group, or corporate sponsorships at approximately 31 EUR per month.
• Donation Services (Spenden) One-time and regular donation processing with transparent allocation to development projects, including occasion-based donations (Anlassspenden) and sponsorship donations; donations collected via direct bank transfers, SEPA direct debit mandates, and the 'Schenken wirkt' gifting platform.
• Foundation Funds (Stiftungsfonds) Individual foundation fund creation allowing donors to establish a 'mini foundation' with funds managed by the organization for development cooperation projects.
• Endowments (Zustiftungen) Contributions to the foundation's endowment capital that remain invested, with returns supporting long-term development work.
• Revocable Gifts (Widerrufliche Schenkungen) Flexible donation arrangement allowing donors to retain revocation rights in case of economic hardship while funds support development work.
• Testamentary Giving (Vererben) Estate planning services allowing donors to include the foundation in wills for long-term impact on development projects.
• Service Projects (Serviceprojekte) Third-party project administration services where the foundation forwards donations to partner organizations like DEEPAM therapy center in South India.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90.8% of donations applied directly to program work (2025)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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.

• GLS BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021GLS Bank is the cornerstone institutional partner of the GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung. The foundation is part of the GLS Gruppe (GLS Group) alongside GLS Bank and GLS Treuhand e.V. GLS Bank provides rent-free office space and covers administrative service costs (valued at approx. 35,000 EUR/year). Additionally, GLS Bank offers a savings bond (Sparbrief) whose interest income benefits the foundation's projects.
• GLS Treuhand e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021GLS Treuhand e.V. established the foundation as an independent legal entity on July 1, 2021, after 20 years as an unincorporated foundation. It remains closely connected and is the designated recipient of the foundation's assets upon dissolution. GLS Treuhand also administers foundation funds (Stiftungsfonds) and co-operates on the 'Schenken wirkt.' platform.
• Zukunftsstiftung Bildung (Future Foundation Education)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister foundation within the GLS Gruppe, focused on youth education and personal development. Sophie Löhlein, Head of Zukunftsstiftung Bildung, serves on the Stiftungsrat of GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung. Both foundations co-operate on the 'Schenken wirkt.' platform.
• Zukunftsstiftung Landwirtschaft (Future Foundation Agriculture)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister foundation within the GLS Gruppe, focused on strengthening organic and biodynamic agriculture. Both foundations co-operate on the 'Schenken wirkt.' platform.
• Engagement GlobalminorOthersGovernment-funded agency (financed by BMZ) acting as the central point of contact for development policy engagement. The foundation refers applicants it cannot support to Engagement Global's Mitmachzentrale for alternative funding information.
• Deutsches Zentralinstitut für Soziale Fragen (DZI)coreOthersIndependent Berlin-based institute that awards the DZI Donation Seal to organizations meeting standards for transparent fund use and low administrative costs. The foundation has held this certification, placing it in the best category for cost efficiency.
• Bengo (Beratungsstelle für private Träger in der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit)minorOthersAdvisory office for private development cooperation organizations in Germany. Listed as a network partner in Germany.
• ECOSIAminorOthersSearch engine that donates ad revenue to tree reforestation worldwide. Listed as a network partner.
• Helpdirect.orgminorOthersEuropean charitable giving portal for worldwide aid projects. Listed as a network partner.
• Venro (Verband für Nichtregierungsorganisationen e.V.)minorOthersGerman association of non-governmental organizations working in development cooperation. Listed as a network partner.
• DEEPAM (Therapiezentrum Südindien)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorService project: The foundation administers donations for DEEPAM, a therapy center in South India supporting children and youth with disabilities, forwarding contributions tax-free and issuing donation receipts on behalf of DEEPAM.
• CURACON GmbHcoreOthersIndependent audit firm that conducts annual financial audits of the foundation. The foundation publishes its audited financial statements (Wirtschaftsprüfungsbericht) and annual reports prepared by CURACON.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• GLS Treuhand e.V. Parent-related entity within the GLS Gruppe that established the foundation in 2001 and administers foundation funds (Stiftungsfonds). Directly comparable grantmaking administration activity and donor-facing services, with shared infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Kindernothilfe: German child sponsorship and development NGO focused on self-help projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Directly comparable Patenschaft model and country footprint, with similar DZI-certified cost efficiency.
• Brot für die Welt (Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung): German Protestant development service funding partner organizations in developing countries. Comparable scale, thematic breadth, and donor base with focus on hunger, education, and human rights.
• Karl Kübel Stiftung: German family foundation focused on international development cooperation, supporting partner organizations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Highly comparable grantmaking model and DZI-certified transparency profile.
• SOS-Kinderdörfer (SOS Children's Villages): Global child welfare organization with strong German donor base, offering sponsorship programs for children and family strengthening projects in the Global South. Directly comparable sponsorship product and target beneficiary.
• Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken: German foundation supporting development cooperation and intercultural exchange, with a co-financing mandate from BMZ. Directly comparable grantmaking role and partner support across the Global South.
• Andheri-Hilfe Bonn: German foundation funding self-help projects primarily in India and Bangladesh with focus on education, health, and women's empowerment. Comparable in size, scope, and long-term partnership methodology.
• Welthungerhilfe (Deutsche Welthungerhilfe): One of Germany's largest private development aid organizations, funding food security and rural development projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Highly comparable in scope, geography, and donor model, though significantly larger in scale.
• Zukunftsstiftung Bildung: Sister foundation within the GLS Gruppe focused on education and personal development. Shares the same anthroposophical/social banking ecosystem, DZI certification, and co-marketing platforms (e.g., 'Schenken wirkt').
• Misereor (Bischöfliches Hilfswerk Misereor): German Catholic development agency funding self-help projects for the Global South with a partnership-based, empowerment-oriented approach. Directly comparable mission, geography, and grantmaking methodology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/glszse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gls-zukunftsstiftung-entwicklung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about GLS Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklung (Future Foundation for Development)