Sarah Wiener Stiftung

What Sarah Wiener Stiftung does

Sarah Wiener Stiftung is a non-profit charitable foundation (gemeinnützige Stiftung) founded in 2007 by chef Sarah Wiener and headquartered in Berlin-Kreuzberg (Wrangelstr. 31, 10997 Berlin). The foundation's mission is nutrition education for children in Germany, operating across Kitas (kindergartens), primary schools, family centers, and neighborhood centers. It reaches approximately 1.85 million children through programs delivered in roughly 19,000 facilities by a network of over 40,000 pedagogical professionals, supported by 41 permanent staff, 2 student staff, and around 20 honorary trainers nationwide.

The foundation operates five core programs: "Ich kann kochen!" — a nationwide cooking-education initiative co-developed with health insurer BARMER, covering roughly 14.5% of all German Kitas; "Essen entdecken!" — excursion-based food-origin discovery journeys through ~30 partner farms and businesses; "Essenszeit!" — a Berlin family-cooking program; "Ernährungslots:innen" — neighborhood-based nutrition advisors active in Berlin's Marzahn-Nord, Hellersdorf-Nord, and Neu-Hohenschönhausen districts; and "Familienküche" — family cooking resources, including the Schmackofatz game launched in 2024. Supporting these are free downloadable materials, a Praxisdialog webinar series, and an editorial blog. The foundation's underlying technology is non-proprietary educational content and pedagogy rather than a software platform; in 2024 it relaunched its website and brand identity to broaden reach.

The foundation's business model is entirely donation- and grant-based. All programs are free to participants (Kitas, schools, families). Revenue streams include individual and corporate donations, grant funding from foundations (Deutsche Postcode Lotterie, Stiftung RTL, Werner-Coenen-Stiftung, Stiftung Berliner Sparkasse, etc.), public-sector funding (Berlin Senate administrations for Justice/Consumer Protection and Urban Development, Bundesprogramm Ökologischer Landbau, Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank), and a co-financing partnership with BARMER health insurer (accounting for over 10% of the 2024 budget). The foundation is governed by a 7-member board chaired by founder Sarah Wiener, holds tax-exempt charitable status recognized in 2021, and is a participant in the Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft and UNESCO BNE 2030.

Name

Sarah Wiener Stiftung

Legal name

Sarah Wiener Stiftung

Website

https://sw-stiftung.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Sarah Wiener Stiftung is a Berlin-based non-profit foundation providing free nutrition education programs for children across Germany, reaching 1.85 million children via Kitas, schools, families, and a 40,000-strong network of pedagogical professionals through its core programs "Ich kann kochen!", "Essen entdecken!", and others.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Nutrition Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Nutrition & Meal Programs (CACFP/Snack Programs) (EDACAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Menu Planning, Nutrition & Dietary Accommodation Services (Allergens, Special Diets) (EDAEAEAD), Nutrition & Diet Education (Meal Planning, Macros, Healthy Cooking) (EDAAAHAA)

Keywords

• Child nutrition education
• Cooking education programs
• Food literacy programs
• Sustainable eating initiatives
• Early childhood nutrition

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin-müggelheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations from individuals and companies: The foundation receives donations from private donors and corporate sponsors who support its educational mission.
2. Funding partnerships: Major funding from partners including BARMER (over 10% of total budget), Bundesprogramm Ökologischer Landbau (BÖL), Deutsche Postcode Lotterie, Stiftung RTL - Wir helfen Kindern e.V., Senatsverwaltung für Justiz und Verbraucherschutz, Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung Bauen und Wohnen, Bezirksamt Berlin-Mitte, Landessportbund Berlin, Zukunftsstiftung Landwirtschaft, Stiftung Berliner Sparkasse, Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, Haema, Sunshine Catering, Stiftung Deutsche Bahn, Werner-Coenen-Stiftung.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sarah Wiener Stiftung delivers free, hands-on nutrition education programs for children in Germany. Its core programs include 'Ich kann kochen!' (cooking training for Kita and primary school educators in cooperation with BARMER), 'Essen entdecken!' (food origin discovery journeys via partner farms), 'Familienküche' (family cooking resources), 'Essenszeit!' (family nutrition ambassadors in Berlin), and 'Ernährungslots:innen' (neighborhood nutrition advisors in Berlin). Programs are offered free of charge to Kitas, schools, and families nationwide.

Product overview

The Sarah Wiener Stiftung operates as a charitable foundation focused on nutrition education for children in Germany. Its offering consists of multiple interconnected programs: 'Ich kann kochen!' is the flagship nationwide initiative developed jointly with BARMER, providing free cooking training for Kita and primary school educators. 'Essen entdecken!' takes young children on discovery journeys about food origins through partner farm excursions or self-organized trips. 'Essenszeit!' and 'Ernährungslots:innen' are Berlin-focused programs providing family nutrition support and neighborhood-based advisory services. The 'Familienküche' program delivers family-oriented cooking resources. Supporting these programs are free educational materials (sensory exercises, recipe cards, seasonal calendars), Praxisdialog webinars, and an editorial blog. The foundation also operates a donation platform and event registration system through its website.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ich kann kochen!: Joint nutrition initiative with BARMER, Germany's largest nutrition education initiative for kindergarten and primary school children
• Essen entdecken!
• Essenszeit!
• Ernährungslots:innen
• Familienküche

Products and services

• Ich kann kochen! A nationwide nutrition education initiative for Kita and primary school children in Germany, providing free training for pedagogical staff and educators on cooking with children. It is a joint initiative of the Sarah Wiener Stiftung and BARMER health insurance.
• Essen entdecken! A free educational program for Kita children that takes them on discovery journeys to learn about the origins of food. Available with partner farms or through self-organized excursions to chosen discovery locations.
• Essenszeit! A Berlin-based program offering 'Genussbotschafter:innen für Familien' (enjoyment ambassadors for families) who help strengthen cooking and nutrition skills of families.
• Ernährungslots:innen

Quantifiable outcome

• 14.5% of all Kitas in Germany participate in Ich kann kochen! program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RESTLOS GLÜCKLICH e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023Partner in Berlin Nutrition Strategy with their own Ernährungscoaches. Working together with LebensMittelPunkte Berlin and Sarah Wiener Stiftung to strengthen family nutrition in Berlin neighborhoods.
• LebensMittelPunkte BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023Partner in Berlin Nutrition Strategy with Ernährungscoaches. Part of the Ernährungslots:innen ecosystem in Berlin.
• Biohof HefeleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganic farm in Upper Bavaria (Ainhofen, family-owned since 17th century) hosting Kita groups for 'Essen entdecken!' excursions. One of ~30 partner farms and businesses in the program.
• VDD (Verband Diätassistenten)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman Dietitians Association. Sarah Wiener participated in VDD-Kongress in Wolfsburg to promote nutrition education.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Techniker Krankenkasse (TK): Major German statutory health insurer operating prevention and child-health programs. Comparable to BARMER as a peer insurer and potential sponsor/funding counterpart for nutrition education initiatives targeting children and families.
• AOK Bundesverband: Germany's largest statutory health insurance group operating alongside BARMER. Comparable as a potential funding partner and operator of disease-prevention/nutrition programs for children; BARMER's partnership with the foundation mirrors similar insurer-charity structures AOK pursues.

Direct peers

• Slow Food Deutschland: German branch of the global Slow Food movement promoting good, clean, fair food through education and community programs including school gardens and taste education. Comparable in its food-literacy education focus and overlap with the foundation's 'Essen entdecken!' farm-excursion model.
• aid infodienst Ernährung, Landwirtschaft, Verbraucherschutz: German information service for nutrition, agriculture, and consumer protection, providing educational materials and training programs. Comparable as a direct peer producing nutrition education materials and educator training, with similar target audiences of educators and families.
• Food Revolution Network: Jamie Oliver's global initiative teaching cooking and food education, particularly to children and families. Comparable as a celebrity-chef-founded nutrition education organization with similar mission, content-driven approach, and grassroots school/community program model.

Broad incumbents

• Bertelsmann Stiftung: One of Germany's largest private foundations operating education, health, and social programs. Comparable as a large German foundation with education-focused programming, though with significantly broader mission scope.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (DGE): German Nutrition Society promoting scientific nutrition knowledge through education, standards, and policy work. Comparable as a Germany-wide nutrition-education organization though focused more on professional guidance and standards than direct Kita/school program delivery.
• Bundeszentrum für Ernährung (BZfE): Germany's federal nutrition center providing nutrition information and education nationwide. Directly comparable as a publicly funded German institution delivering nutrition education to consumers and professionals, though it operates at federal scale rather than as a private foundation.
• Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband: Federation of German consumer centers delivering advice and education on nutrition, health, and consumer topics. Comparable as a publicly-supported organization offering nutrition education across Germany, though with broader consumer-rights scope beyond children's nutrition.

Emerging players

• Edible Schoolyard Project: Alice Waters' nonprofit bringing food education into school gardens and kitchens. Comparable as a chef-founder-led children's food literacy nonprofit using school-based gardens/cooking, with similar practical 'learning by doing' pedagogical approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/sarahwienerstiftung

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sarah Wiener Stiftung