Zelmerlöw & Björkman Foundation

What Zelmerlöw & Björkman Foundation does

Zelmerlöw & Björkman Foundation (Insamlingsstiftelsen ZB Foundation) is a Stockholm-based Swedish charitable foundation established in 2013 by artist Måns Zelmerlöw and tennis legend Jonas Björkman. Its mission is to break the cycle of poverty for vulnerable children and youth by funding and supporting education, healthcare, and empowerment programs. Primary program delivery occurs in Kenya through a long-standing implementation partnership with Kenswed Organization, which operates Kenswed Academy — an upper secondary school (Gymnasium), vocational training programs (Yrkesskola, including culinary arts), boarding facilities (Internat), a healthcare clinic, a dental clinic, and a Girl Empowerment Program supporting young mothers. Complementary programs include scholarships (Stipendium), a solar-powered Mobile School for distance education, and entrepreneurship training. The foundation operates with 1–10 employees, holds a 90-konto certification under Swedish fundraising oversight, and is GDPR-compliant.

The foundation's business model is a diversified philanthropic funding stack. Revenue is generated through individual donations (one-time gifts, monthly recurring giving, testamentary bequests via Swish and the website), corporate partnerships (financial contributions, pro bono services, and cause-marketing campaigns such as ICA Maxi Bromma's per-product donation mechanism and TePe's customer-triggered dental clinic funding), major gifts from high-net-worth philanthropists, the flagship annual Zelmerlöw & Björkman Invitational tennis gala (raising 6.2M SEK in 2023 and 5.6M SEK in 2024), and an e-commerce gift shop selling gift cards, bracelets, and keyrings. Marketing channels include the foundation website, an approximately quarterly email newsletter, social media, earned media coverage, the annual gala, and partner-driven campaigns. In 2024 the foundation began expanding into domestic Swedish youth-focused programs via partnerships with Changers Hub and My Dream Now, broadening its geographic and programmatic footprint beyond Kenya.

Name

Zelmerlöw & Björkman Foundation

Legal name

Insamlingsstiftelsen ZB Foundation

Website

https://zbfoundation.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Zelmerlöw & Björkman Foundation is a Stockholm-based Swedish nonprofit founded in 2013 by Måns Zelmerlöw and Jonas Björkman that funds education, healthcare, vocational training, boarding, and empowerment programs for vulnerable children and youth in Kenya via Kenswed Organization, while expanding domestic Swedish youth initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Education Non-Profit

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Charitable foundation services
• Education program funding
• Youth empowerment programs
• Humanitarian aid services
• Nonprofit fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters via the website, including Swish payments, monthly giving subscriptions, and testamentary gifts.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Companies partner with ZB Foundation through financial contributions, pro bono services, and cause-marketing campaigns. Examples include ICA Maxi Bromma's per-product donation campaign.
3. Major Philanthropy: Large gifts from high-net-worth individuals and philanthropists, facilitated through dedicated major gift engagement.
4. E-commerce (Gåvoshop): Sale of merchandise including gift cards, bracelets, and keyrings through the ZB Foundation gift shop (shop.zbfoundation.se), with proceeds supporting programs.
5. Annual Gala Events: The Zelmerlöw & Björkman Invitational annual tennis gala and dinner generates significant donations — over 6.2 million SEK raised in 2023.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ZB Foundation is a charitable foundation that funds and operates education, healthcare, and empowerment programs for vulnerable children and youth in Kenya. Programs are delivered through the local partner Kenswed Organization and include secondary schooling, vocational training, boarding facilities, healthcare, dental care, scholarships, a solar-powered Mobile School, and gender-specific empowerment initiatives. Funds are raised via individual donations, corporate partnerships, and an annual fundraising gala.

Product overview

ZB Foundation operates as a charitable organization offering a portfolio of interconnected education and support programs for vulnerable children and youth in Kenya. The core offering centers on Kenswed Academy, which provides upper secondary education (Gymnasium) alongside vocational training (Yrkesskola) in areas such as culinary arts. Complementary services include safe boarding facilities (Internat), scholarships (Stipendium), and the solar-powered Mobile School for students unable to attend physically. Health support is delivered through the Kenswed Hospital and dedicated dental clinic. Special initiatives address girls' empowerment (including support for young mothers) and entrepreneurship development. The foundation also operates a gift shop for merchandise sales. Donations are facilitated through Swish mobile payments, one-time gifts, monthly giving, and philanthropy programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gymnasium (Upper Secondary School)
• Yrkesskola (Vocational School)
• Internat (Boarding Facilities)
• Mobile School
• Stipendium (Scholarships)
• Girl Empowerment Program
• Hälsovård (Healthcare)
• Tandvård (Dental Care)
• Entreprenörskap (Entrepreneurship)
• Gåvoshop (Gift Shop)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6.2 million SEK raised at the 2023 ZB Invitational gala
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 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 minor and core.

• Changers HubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ZB Foundation partnered with Changers Hub to launch new youth-focused initiatives in Sweden, expanding the foundation's domestic activities beyond its traditional Kenya programs.
• My Dream NowminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ZB Foundation partnered with My Dream Now as part of its new Sweden-based youth initiative, complementing the partnership with Changers Hub.
• Kenswed OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenswed Organization is ZB Foundation's primary local implementation partner in Kenya. They operate Kenswed Academy (secondary school), the vocational school, boarding facilities, healthcare clinic, and the Girl Empowerment Program. ZB Foundation funds and supports these programs through this partnership.
• TePecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTePe supports the Kenswed dental clinic with financial resources, oral health products, educational materials, and annual fundraising campaigns. The partnership includes a customer-triggered donation program where TePe customers contribute to the clinic.
• Nordea OpenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNordea Open (Båstad tennis tournament) named ZB Foundation as its charity partner for 2023, with the tournament's fundraising proceeds directed to ZB Foundation's education programs.
• ICA Maxi BrommaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDuring November campaigns, ICA Maxi Bromma donates 5 SEK per product sold to ZB Foundation's work, running cause-marketing campaigns to support children's education.
• CentirominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of ZB Foundation, listed on the foundation's partner page.
• AteaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of ZB Foundation, listed on the foundation's partner page.
• FastighetsbyrånminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of ZB Foundation, listed on the foundation's partner page.
• MateusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of ZB Foundation, listed on the foundation's partner page.
• QeepminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of ZB Foundation, listed on the foundation's partner page.
• AfrikaresorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of ZB Foundation, listed on the foundation's partner page.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Rädda Barnen (Save the Children Sweden): Major Swedish NGO focused on children's rights, education, and protection globally; competes for the same Swedish individual donors and corporate CSR partnerships but with broader remit.
• UNICEF Sweden: Larger institutional player in the same children's-rights and education space; competes for the same Swedish individual and corporate donor pool but operates at vastly greater scale globally.

Direct peers

• Pencils of Promise: Education-focused non-profit building schools and supporting students in developing countries; comparable mission (education access), celebrity-driven fundraising, and student-sponsorship model.
• Reach for Change: Swedish-founded social enterprise supporting social entrepreneurs working on children and youth issues; comparable in mission (youth empowerment), Swedish origin, and corporate partnership model.
• Room to Read: Global non-profit focused on literacy and girls' education in low-income countries; comparable integrated education-and-girls'-empowerment model and donor-driven funding approach.
• Plan International Sweden: International NGO with Swedish operations focused on children's rights, education, and girl empowerment; comparable mission focus on education and girls' empowerment in developing countries.
• Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA): Swedish non-profit delivering education, healthcare, and community development in a fragile region; comparable Swedish identity, integrated program model, and international donor base.
• Postkodstiftelsen: Major Swedish grantmaking foundation funding projects for children and youth; comparable Swedish non-profit identity, youth focus, and grant-distribution model.
• Jochnick Foundation: Swedish philanthropic foundation funding international development and youth empowerment; comparable Swedish grantmaking identity and education/youth focus.
• War Child Sweden: Swedish charity supporting education and protection for children in conflict-affected regions; comparable mission (children/youth welfare), Swedish donor base, and celebrity-driven fundraising model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zelmerlow-bjorkman-foundation

Compliance2 records

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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