What Theodora Foundation does

Theodora Foundation is a Swiss non-profit foundation established in 1993 by brothers André and Jan Poulie in memory of their mother. It operates healthcare clowning services through 75 professionally trained artists called 'Giggle Doctors' (Docteurs Rêves / Traumdoktoren / Dottor Sogni) who deliver weekly visits to children aged 0–16 in Swiss hospitals, specialist care centers for children with disabilities, and children's hospices. The Foundation runs seven distinct programmatic offerings: core hospital visits (Giggle Doctors), surgical accompaniment (Operation Dreams), pediatric emergency department visits (Emergency Giggles), pediatric hospice visits (Planet of Dreams), specialist care center visits (Mr and Ms Dream), interactive sensory musical performances (Little Orchestra for the Senses), and childhood obesity program support (The Lil' Champs). It serves 62 institutions with approximately 119,000+ child visits per year and has recorded 2 million cumulative visits since founding.

The Foundation's underlying 'technology' is specialized artistic methodology rather than software: a one-year part-time training program for professional artists, certified since 2024 with a Certificate of Advanced Studies in the Art of Giggle Doctoring (CAS GiD) in collaboration with Hochschule für Gesundheit La Source and Academia Teatro Dimitri. Core operations are supported by a head office in Lonay (VD) and a regional office in Hunzenschwil (AG). Direct-to-consumer distribution means the Foundation bypasses intermediated service delivery: it organizes and finances visits directly with healthcare institutions, providing the service free of charge to children. Underlying commercial/donor infrastructure includes a multi-language website (theodora.ch), integrated donation portals, webshop (merchandise, Switzerland-only delivery), and outbound channels to corporate partners (Helsana, ŠKODA, Volg, Novartis, Nestlé, DHL, and others) via a tiered partnership program.

The Foundation generates revenue entirely through donations and ancillary sales, with no government subsidies. Per 2025 data, the funding mix is 68% private donations, 13% corporate partner contributions, 7% legacies and bequests, 6% solidarity actions (events such as Semaine du Bonheur and GivingTuesday), 6% other income, plus merchandise webshop sales. Cost economics allocate 82% of donations to the core mission (Giggle Doctor visits), 13% to fundraising and communications, and 5% to European-level program activities. It is recognized as a tax-exempt Swiss non-profit (CHE-107.613.291) since June 1995 and is a founding member of the European Federation of Healthcare Clown Organizations (EFHCO). An international network of independent Theodora organizations operates in England, Spain, and Italy, with Swiss-supported activities in Belarus and Hong Kong.

Name

Theodora Foundation

Legal name

Fondation Théodora

Website

https://theodora.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Theodora Foundation is a Swiss non-profit organization founded in 1993 that operates seven healthcare clowning programs, employing 75 professionally trained Giggle Doctors to deliver weekly visits to children in 62 hospitals, specialist care centers, and children's hospices across Switzerland, serving over 119,000 visits annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Clowning Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pediatric Hospice & Palliative Care (HLADAHAI)

Keywords

• Healthcare clowning services
• Pediatric hospital visits
• Therapeutic art programs
• Nonprofit foundation programs
• Children's hospice visits

Headquarters

HQ city

Blonay

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: Private individual donations form the largest revenue stream at 68% of total funding in 2025.
2. Corporate Partner Contributions: Annual contributions and in-kind support from corporate partners, representing 13% of total funding in 2025. These contributions cover administrative costs, allowing private donations to flow to core mission.
3. Legacies and Bequests: Inheritance and legacy donations representing 7% of total funding in 2025.
4. Solidarity Actions: Fundraising campaigns and events such as Semaine du Bonheur, GivingTuesday, and other solidarity campaigns, representing 6% of total funding in 2025.
5. Webshop Sales: Online store selling merchandise including apparel, accessories, and gift items.
6. Other Income: Other income sources representing 6% of total funding in 2025.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Theodora Foundation organizes and finances weekly visits by 75 professionally trained Giggle Doctors (artist-clowns) to children aged 0-16 in hospitals, specialist care centers for children with disabilities, and children's hospices across Switzerland. Services are delivered free of charge to children through seven specialized programs covering general hospitalization, surgical accompaniment, emergency department visits, palliative care, disabilities, sensory musical experiences, and childhood obesity support.

Product overview

The Theodora Foundation operates seven distinct therapeutic visit programs delivered by professionally trained Giggle Doctors (clown doctors). The core offering is The Giggle Doctors (hospital visits), complemented by Operation Dreams (surgical accompaniment), Emergency Giggles (emergency department visits), Planet of Dreams (hospice visits), Mr and Ms Dream (specialized institution visits), Little Orchestra for the Senses (interactive musical performances), and The Lil' Champs (childhood obesity support). The Foundation also maintains an online shop for merchandise. All programs share the common mission of bringing moments of joy, comfort, and imagination to children in medical settings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Giggle Doctors: The professional artists employed by the foundation who visit children in hospitals, specialist care centers, and children's hospices. They are specially trained and work in close consultation with nursing staff. Also known as 'Docteurs Rêves' (French), 'Traumdoktoren' (German), and 'Dottor Sogni' (Italian).

Products and services

• The Giggle Doctors Weekly visits by professionally trained Giggle Doctors (clown doctors) to children aged 0-16 in Swiss hospitals, bringing moments of joy, comfort, and lightness through imaginative, poetic interactions tailored to each child's individual needs and current state.
• Operation Dreams Surgical accompaniment program in which Giggle Doctors support children before and after operations, transforming the surgical process into a fantasy journey to reduce stress, anxiety, and perceived wait times.
• Emergency Giggles Evening visits to pediatric emergency departments where Giggle Doctors reduce perceived wait times, ease family anxiety, and support hospital staff during high-stress periods.
• Planet of Dreams Program bringing moments of lightness to children's hospices, with Giggle Doctors visiting allani in Bern and Flamingo in Fällanden to create joyful moments for children with life-limiting conditions, their families, and nursing staff through music, magic, and sensitive interactions.
• Mr and Ms Dream Visits to specialized institutions for children with disabilities, where Giggle Doctors provide moments of laughter and enjoyment through a delicate, poetic approach tailored to each child's needs.
• Little Orchestra for the Senses Interactive musical performance for children with disabilities, consisting of an artist duo presenting a simple scenic story that appeals to all senses with minimal words and improvisational moments.
• The Lil' Champs Motivation program for children with obesity in which specially trained artists participate in therapeutic programs, combining therapy with humor and entertainment to help children develop joy in movement.
• Theodora Online Shop

Quantifiable outcome

• 119,000+ child visits per year in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered ambassador, core partner, main partner, premium partner, social partner, supporter and supplier partner.

• Marion KaelinambassadorOthers · 3 July 2025Official ambassador of the Theodora Foundation, engaging with media to support the mission of bringing joy to hospitalized children.
• Pasquale StramandinoambassadorOthers · 3 July 2025Official ambassador of the Theodora Foundation, engaging with media to support the mission of bringing joy to hospitalized children.
• European Federation of Healthcare Clown Organizations (EFHCO)core partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2011Theodora Foundation is a founding member of EFHCO, established in March 2011. The federation brings together international experts from art, medicine, and research in healthcare clowning.
• Helsanamain partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerAs a Swiss health and accident insurance company, Helsana insures more than 2 million people in Switzerland. They support the Theodora Foundation as a Main Partner, aligning their health-focused mission with the Foundation's work for children's well-being.
• ŠKODA Switzerlandmain partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerŠKODA Switzerland has supported the Theodora Foundation as a mobility partner for more than 20 years, most recently with an all-electric fleet. Like the Foundation, the traditional brand aims to make people's lives easier.
• Volgmain partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerVolg Konsumwaren AG is a subsidiary of the fenaco cooperative and supplies around 930 food outlets in rural areas including more than 580 Volg stores. As a partner, Volg helps bring moments of joy and distraction to hospitalized children.
• Fnac Switzerlandpremium partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerFnac is a chain of shops specializing in culture, electronics, and small appliances. Since 2019, Fnac Switzerland has supported the Foundation through regular donations and fundraising.
• Novartispremium partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerNovartis is one of the world's leading healthcare solutions providers, active in more than 140 countries with strong roots in Switzerland. Like the Theodora Foundation, Novartis is committed to improving patients' lives.
• Caramelsocial partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerCaramel is a jewellery brand for children sold exclusively in Manor shops in Switzerland. Their creations benefit families at important moments such as births or birthdays.
• MIS Trendsocial partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerMIS Trend is a leading market research company in French-speaking Switzerland founded over 40 years ago. They offer services for collecting, analyzing, and understanding data.
• Ferring Pharmaceuticalssocial partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerFerring Pharmaceuticals is a research-driven biopharmaceutical group dedicated to improving quality of life, particularly in reproductive medicine and maternal health. Based in Saint-Prex (VD).
• DebiopharmsupporterGTM or Marketing PartnerDebiopharm is an independent Swiss biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative therapies in oncology and bacterial infections. Like the Foundation, Debiopharm places the patient at the heart of every decision.
• Cleanupsupplier partnerOthersCleanup is a family business founded in 2006 and employing over 150 cleaning professionals throughout French-speaking Switzerland.
• blue Cinemasupplier partnerOthersblue Cinema is a cinema company in German-speaking Switzerland operating cinemas in Basel, Bern, Biel, Lucerne, Emmenbrücke, St. Gallen, Abtwil, Winterthur, and Zurich. Part of Blue Entertainment AG owned by Swisscom.
• Arena Cinemassupplier partnerOthersArena Cinemas AG operates four multiplex cinemas with a total of 44 screens in Fribourg, Geneva, Lugano, and Zurich.
• Pathé Cinemassupplier partnerOthersPathé Cinemas is Switzerland's largest cinema operator with 70 cinemas in major cities, committed to mutual assistance, kindness, and support.
• Parker HannifinsupporterGTM or Marketing PartnerParker Hannifin is one of the world's leading suppliers of motion and control technologies, contributing to customer success for over 100 years.
• NestlésupporterGTM or Marketing PartnerNestlé is one of the world's leading food companies, supplying people with food products since 1867.
• PharmacieplussupporterGTM or Marketing PartnerSince 2007, the pharmacieplus group has supported the Foundation through publications and donations collected in their pharmacy network.
• DHLsupporterGTM or Marketing PartnerDHL is a German parcel and express delivery service with 380,000 employees present in more than 220 countries.
• VisilabsupporterGTM or Marketing PartnerVisilab is an optical company in Switzerland present in all language regions with around 80 shops offering optometric services and eyewear.
• Leuthard GroupsupporterGTM or Marketing PartnerSince 2010, the Leuthard Group has been a partner of the Foundation. The construction and real estate company is based in Freiamt and Knonau.
• DQ SolutionssupporterGTM or Marketing PartnerDQ Solutions is an authorized Premium Partner offering Apple products, consulting, and services with around 300 employees in branches across Switzerland.
• Loosli GroupsupporterGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Loosli Group is a third-generation Swiss family-owned business crafting high-quality custom-made kitchens, bathroom furniture, and interior fittings since 1956.
• Hochschule für Gesundheit La Sourcecore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe School of Health La Source in Lausanne collaborates with the Foundation on training Giggle Doctors, particularly in theoretical courses about hospital environments and hygiene.
• Academia Teatro Dimitricore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Academia Teatro Dimitri is a theater academy that collaborates with the Foundation on artistic training for Giggle Doctors.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondation-theodora

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Theodora Foundation