What Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart does

Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart is a charitable foundation under German civil law (Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts), founded on January 31, 2001, and headquartered at Olgastraße 57A in Stuttgart, Germany. It is governed by a six-member voluntary Vorstand (Board) chaired by Wilfried Porth, with Irene Armbruster as Managing Director (Geschäftsführerin), a project office staffed by 11–50 professionals and supplemented by FSJ Kultur volunteers, and is continuously certified with the Gütesiegel für Bürgerstiftungen since 2003. The foundation convenes citizens, businesses, social services, cultural institutions, political actors, and city administration through its signature 'Runde Tisch' (Round Table) methodology — a moderated participatory process that co-develops solutions to urban challenges and channels financial and operational support to resulting projects. Primary program areas span children and youth (Stuttgarter Kinderstiftung, 24-Tage-Lauf für Kinderrechte), refugees and migrants (Zuflucht Stuttgart, Gemeinsam! Gute Orte, MuKiZ for Rom:nja families), end-of-life care (Palliativ-Netz Stuttgart), elderly social connection (Plaudertelefon), dementia (Projekt Unvergessen with VfBfairplay), food rescue (Supp_optimal, 7 distribution sites), neighborhood civic engagement (Stadtteilvernetzer, Little Pots, Schnelle Hilfe micro-grants up to €1,000, new Rankhilfe community-garden grants up to €1,000 annually), inclusion (Förderinitiative Mittendrin), and the annual Stuttgarter Bürgerpreis civic award.

The foundation's revenue model is donation-driven rather than commercial: it receives open and purpose-designated donations from citizens, corporate partners (Deutsche Bank, BW-Bank, Breuninger Stiftung, Robert Bosch Stiftung, FLÜWO Stiftung, Mercedes-Benz Mobility, Stuttgarter Golfclub Solitude, Jazz Open Stuttgart), and institutional donors; generates endowment returns from a €13.0 million capital base built by 175 founding donors (matched by the City of Stuttgart) and 100+ subsequent Stuttgarter Stifter contributing €2,500 endowments; administers trust foundations (Treuhandstiftungen) under its umbrella for a recurring fee; and runs event-based fundraising such as the Charity Golf-Cup, 24-Tage-Lauf, and Die Lange Tafel. In 2024 the foundation recorded €2.8 million in donations and €2.6 million in project volume (cumulative since 2001: €16.3 million raised, €14.2 million deployed). All programs are free at the point of use for beneficiaries; funding flows outward via four published grant tiers (Schnelle Hilfe up to €1,000, Little Pots €500 + workshops, Rankhilfe up to €1,000, Gemeinsam! up to €2,000), with no technology platform, software product, or AI/ML capability described in the source material.

Name

Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart

Legal name

Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart

Website

https://buergerstiftung-stuttgart.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart is a charitable civic foundation (Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts) founded in 2001 that convenes citizens, business, and city administration through moderated Round Tables to fund and coordinate social projects for children, refugees, the elderly, and palliative-care populations across Stuttgart.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations (offene und zweckgebundene Spenden): The foundation receives open-ended donations that go toward project support as decided by the foundation, as well as purpose-designated donations earmarked for specific projects. Donations come from Stuttgarter citizens, corporate partners, and institutional donors.
2. Endowment income (Erträge aus dem Stiftungsvermögen): The foundation endowment generates annual returns that fund operations and projects. The endowment was built from founding donors (each contributing a minimum contribution), was matched by the City of Stuttgart at founding, and has been supplemented by additional endowments and trust foundations over time.
3. Trust foundations (Treuhandstiftungen): Individuals and families can establish their own purpose-specific trust foundations under the Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart umbrella, paying an annual fee for professional administration. This provides a recurring revenue stream and expands the foundation's capital base.
4. Event-based fundraising: The foundation organizes fundraising events such as the Charity Golf-Cup, Food Rescue Dinner, and Die Lange Tafel. Proceeds support the foundation's project work and the Stuttgarter Kinderstiftung.
5. Cause-based giving (Anlassspenden): Individuals are encouraged to request donations to the foundation in lieu of gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, corporate events, etc. A dedicated guide is provided for this purpose.
6. Legacy bequests (Letztwillige Zuwendung): The foundation can be designated as heir, co-heir, or legatee in wills, providing a long-term pipeline of future funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart is an independent civic foundation (Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts) that promotes civic engagement in Stuttgart through the 'Runde Tisch' (Round Table) moderated participatory methodology, micro-grant programs, and direct project coordination. It funds and operates initiatives addressing children's welfare, refugee integration, palliative care, dementia support, food rescue, and neighborhood development. The foundation administers trust foundations (Treuhandstiftungen) under its umbrella and recognizes civic engagement through the annual Stuttgarter Bürgerpreis civic award.

Product overview

Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart is a charitable foundation operating as a portfolio of social programs and civic engagement initiatives rather than a traditional product company. The foundation centers on its 'Runde Tische' (Round Tables) methodology—a participatory discussion format that generates concrete projects which then receive financial and operational support. The main program areas include: the Stuttgarter Kinderstiftung (children's foundation providing financial support for successful children's projects), Schnelle Hilfe (quick emergency funding up to 1,000 euros for volunteer projects), Palliativ-Netz Stuttgart (palliative care network), and various neighborhood and community programs including Stadtteilvernetzer, Little Pots, MuKiZ (mother-child center for Rom:nja families), Supp_optimal (food rescue), Plaudertelefon (telephone befriending), and Projekt Unvergessen (dementia support with VfB). Additional initiatives include Treuhandstiftungen (trust foundation services), the annual Stuttgarter Bürgerpreis civic award, Zuflucht Stuttgart (Ukrainian refugee support), Rankhilfe (community garden funding), and the Förderinitiative Mittendrin (inclusion). The foundation also runs the Beteiligungslabor moderator training program. Since 2001, the foundation has distributed 14.2 million euros in project funding with 2.6 million euros in project volume in 2024 alone.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stuttgarter Kinderstiftung: Children's foundation focused on supporting children in Stuttgart with breakfast programs, cultural activities, educational support
• Palliativ-Netz Stuttgart
• Supp_optimal
• Little Pots
• Schnelle Hilfe
• Stuttgarter Bürgerpreis

Products and services

• Runde Tische (Round Tables) Core participatory methodology where the foundation moderates round-table discussions bringing together citizens, experts, and stakeholders to collaboratively develop solutions to urban challenges in Stuttgart. The foundation provides financial support and coordination for resulting projects.
• Stuttgarter Bürgerpreis Annual civic award recognizing exemplary citizen engagement in Stuttgart. Since 2003, honorary work that makes life in the city more livable receives attention and appreciation alongside monetary prizes (6x €5,000 awards).
• Stuttgarter Kinderstiftung Children's foundation established jointly with Förderverein Kinderfreundliches Stuttgart e.V. to strengthen children in Stuttgart, ensuring they can grow up safely, learn well, and be included in society regardless of background. Operates school breakfast programs, cultural activities, and the 24-Tage-Lauf charity run.
• Schnelle Hilfe Quick and unbureaucratic micro-grant program providing up to €1,000 per project to volunteer groups facing emergency financing gaps. Prevents good projects from failing due to small funding shortfalls. Targets non-profit organizations with Stuttgart relevance.
• Palliativ-Netz Stuttgart Network of all institutions and people in Stuttgart working in palliative medicine. Works in three directions: citizen information, creating occasions for discussion of death and grief, and networking all palliative care organizations to enable dignified end-of-life experiences.
• Treuhandstiftungen (Trust Foundations) Trust foundation service allowing individuals and families to establish their own purpose-specific foundation with personalized purpose under the Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart umbrella. Provides professional and individual guidance for establishment and ongoing administration with annual fee.
• Beteiligungslabor Training program for moderators to enable effective citizen participation. Process facilitators activate participants, direct discussions, and lead to results. Participants are accompanied by an experienced team throughout training until spring 2027.
• MuKiZ – Mutter-Kind-Zentrum Mother-Child Center in Stuttgart Bad Cannstatt serving families from the Rom:nja minority from EU countries. Offers open consultation hours, mother-child meetings, learning workshops, and textile workshops. Supported by DiaRom/Diakonie Württemberg social-pedagogical counseling.
• Stadtteilvernetzer Stuttgart Forum for engaged citizens building neighborhood networks, district initiatives, and quarter networks across Stuttgart. Three main components: meetings and exchange in districts, toolkit (Werkzeugkoffer) for network initiatives, and biennial Netzwerkstatt conference. Co-founded in 2013 with support from Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart.
• Little Pots – Nachbarschaft fördern Micro-grant funding instrument providing €500 for project implementation plus two professionally moderated workshops for idea development. Supports neighborhood initiatives in Stuttgart. Funded by FLÜWO Stiftung as part of its 'Vernetzung im Quartier' program.
• Supp_optimal – Essen für alle Food rescue initiative providing warm meals in jars from rescued food. Operates seven meal distribution locations across Stuttgart with its own gastronomic director. Started during the Corona pandemic as decentralized food distribution.
• Plaudertelefon Phone-based social contact service matching conversation partners for weekly phone calls. Provides low-threshold encounters particularly for isolated older people who cannot easily leave their homes. Operated in partnership with Evangelische TelefonSeelsorge Stuttgart, Evangelische Gesellschaft Stuttgart, and Treffpunkt 50+.
• Projekt Unvergessen Cooperation project with VfBfairplay (VfB Stuttgart 1893 AG) for people with dementia. Includes VfB memory afternoons and dementia-friendly arena tours enabling people with dementia, their caregivers, and family members to experience the stadium with all senses.
• Rankhilfe New funding instrument for community gardens, urban gardening initiatives, and neighborhood garden projects in Stuttgart. Non-profit organizations can apply annually for up to €1,000 for hands-on actions, training, equipment, and construction measures.
• Gute(r)Dinge Nothilfefonds Emergency aid fund established during the Corona crisis to support people and initiatives addressing social challenges of the pandemic. Provided rapid and direct financial support for new or adapted offers for affected target groups.
• Zuflucht Stuttgart Assistance fund supporting Ukrainian refugees in Stuttgart with focus on youth aged 14-27. Programs help refugees participate, strengthen competencies in democracy and volunteering, access psychosocial services, and network with the community. Channels funds via the 'Gemeinsam! Gute Orte stärken' program (up to €2,000 per project).
• Förderinitiative Mittendrin Funding initiative promoting inclusion and participation of people with disabilities in Stuttgart. Includes a Kinder- & Jugendfonds and supports projects that strengthen social participation and integration of people with disabilities.
• 24-Tage-Lauf für Kinderrechte Annual charity run for children's rights organized with Sportkreis Stuttgart and Stuttgarter Kinderstiftung. Participants collect kilometers through running, with sponsors converting distance into donations for children's projects. The 2026 edition achieved record participation with over 10,000 students and 265,331 kilometers total.
• Charity Golf-Cup Annual charity golf tournament held at the exclusive facility of Stuttgarter Golfclub Solitude. Teams compete in Texas Scramble format, with proceeds supporting projects of Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart and Stuttgarter Kinderstiftung. Includes Herbst-Turnier (autumn) and other editions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over €14.2 million in project volume channeled to Stuttgart projects since 2001; 265,331 km collectively run by 10,000+ participants in the 2026 children's rights charity run; 80+ Gute-Orte projects supporting Ukrainian refugee integration.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Stuttgarter KinderstiftungcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024A foundation co-founded by Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart and Förderverein Kinderfreundliches Stuttgart e.V., focused on supporting children who lack basic resources. Operates the 24-Tage-Lauf for children's rights, sponsors the Charity Golf-Cup, and funds numerous children's projects. The Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart serves as its administrative host.
• Stadtteilvernetzer Stuttgart e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024A cooperative partnership for the 'Little Pots' program. The association serves as the first point of contact for inquiries and supports initiative coordination. The Bürgerstiftung co-founded and has supported this civic network since its establishment in 2013.
• NeuBeteiligt GbRminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Professional moderation partner for the 'Little Pots' neighborhood initiative program, providing expertise in participatory processes.
• VfBfairplay (VfB Stuttgart 1893 AG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021VfBfairplay and the Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart jointly coordinate the 'Unvergessen' project for people with dementia. The project includes VfB memory afternoons (stadium visits for people with dementia and their families) and dementia-friendly arena tours, leveraging the emotional connection between Stuttgart citizens and the VfB club.
• Caritas Stuttgart — Netzwerk 'Gemeinsam für ein demenzfreundliches Bad Cannstatt'coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011The Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart co-initiated the 'Gemeinsam für ein demenzfreundliches Bad Cannstatt' network in 2011. The network includes VfBfairplay, care facilities, and other stakeholders. The foundation moderates the network's round table and coordinates the 'Unvergessen' project.
• Förderverein Kinderfreundliches Stuttgart e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Together with this association, the Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart founded the Stuttgarter Kinderstiftung to ensure long-term, reliable support for children in Stuttgart and to secure successful children's projects financially.
• Evangelische TelefonSeelsorge StuttgartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for the Plaudertelefon (Chat Phone) project — a low-threshold phone-based social connection service for isolated older people in Stuttgart, matching volunteers with seniors for weekly conversations.
• Evangelische Gesellschaft StuttgartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for the Plaudertelefon (Chat Phone) project, alongside Evangelische TelefonSeelsorge and Treffpunkt 50+.
• Treffpunkt 50+minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for the Plaudertelefon (Chat Phone) project, providing volunteer callers from the 50+ demographic.
• Freiwilligenzentrum CaleidoskopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint operator of the 'Experimentierraum' (Experiment Space) in Katharinenstraße 21D — a physical space for civic engagement development, networking, and events, jointly run with the Freiwilligenagentur Stuttgart and Caleidoskop.
• Freiwilligenagentur der Landeshauptstadt StuttgartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer of the 'Experimentierraum' (Experiment Space) in Katharinenstraße 21D, a physical venue for civic engagement development. The space serves as a service point, meeting place, and event venue for Stuttgart's volunteer ecosystem.
• Forum der Kulturen Stuttgart e.V. — House of ResourcesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart serves as a jury member of the 'House of Resources' — a funding program for migrant associations in Stuttgart coordinated by the Forum der Kulturen. The foundation participates in evaluating and allocating funds to migrant organizations.
• Mercedes-Benz Mobility AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate volunteers from Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG painted walls, refinished the counter, and decorated windows of the MuKiZ (Mutter-Kind-Zentrum) Rom:nja center in Bad Cannstatt during a multi-day volunteer action.
• DiaRom (Diakonie Württemberg)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiaRom is a project consortium (including Diakonie Württemberg and partners) that supports the MuKiZ Rom:nja center with social-pedagogical counseling every Monday. Funded through the EhAP+ program by the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the ESF Plus.
• Stuttgarter Golfclub SolitudeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Charity Golf-Cup is held annually at the exclusive facilities of the Stuttgarter Golfclub Solitude. Proceeds benefit projects of the Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart and the Stuttgarter Kinderstiftung.
• Jazz Open StuttgartmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJazz Open Stuttgart dedicated a special concert ('Lee Ritenour & The Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra play Bowie') to the Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart's 25th anniversary in July 2026. The foundation received an exclusive ticket allocation and donation opportunity as part of the event.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Körber-Stiftung: Broad incumbent — Hamburg-based German foundation with thematic overlap in civic participation, democracy, and education. Comparable operating-foundation model, but significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Robert Bosch Stiftung: Broad incumbent — large German foundation actively funding Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart's 'Im Dialog für meine Stadt' program. Comparable as a major civic-engagement funder with overlapping themes (democracy, education, social cohesion), but operates nationally and internationally.
• Fritz Thyssen Stiftung: Broad incumbent — major German grantmaking foundation based in Cologne. Comparable as a long-established German grantmaking foundation, but with academic/research orientation and a larger endowment.
• Stadler Stiftung (Wangen im Allgäu): Broad incumbent — German regional foundation comparable in being a regionally focused grantmaker supporting civic and social projects. Smaller scope than national foundations but larger than typical Bürgerstiftungen.
• Bertelsmann Stiftung: Broad incumbent — major German operating foundation based in Gütersloh. Comparable in being a German grantmaking/civic institution, but vastly larger scale, national/international scope, and a broader thematic portfolio (education, democracy, healthcare, economy).

Direct peers

• Bürgerstiftung Hamburg: Direct peer — civic foundation operating in Hamburg with the same Bürgerstiftung model (community-led, moderated round tables, micro-grants, trust foundations). Comparable in mission, governance, and program portfolio; differs only in geography.
• Berliner Bürgerstiftung: Direct peer — Berlin civic foundation operating community programs, civic engagement, and grantmaking under the same Bürgerstiftung concept. Closely comparable mission and program mix (children, civic participation, neighborhood initiatives).
• Bürgerstiftung München: Direct peer — Munich-based civic foundation following the same Gütesiegel-certified model. Comparable scope and method; useful for benchmarking program scale and donation volume across major German cities.

Others

• Bündnis der Bürgerstiftungen Deutschlands: Adjacent — umbrella association of German Bürgerstiftungen and the issuer of the Gütesiegel certification. Not a peer organization in the operating sense, but a key ecosystem counterpart that sets quality standards and coordinates the network.
• Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft: Adjacent — membership organization for German foundations, operating the Gütesiegel certification that Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart holds. Comparable ecosystem position; not a direct competitor but a key industry body for benchmarking and standards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.de/buergerstiftung.stuttgart
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/buergerstiftung-stuttgart

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart