Norsk Fosterhjemsforening

What Norsk Fosterhjemsforening does

Norsk Fosterhjemsforening is a Norwegian non-profit membership organization founded in 1981 and headquartered in Tollbugata 8, Oslo. It serves as the principal user and interest organization for foster families, respite homes (besøkshjem), and emergency homes (beredskapshjem) in Norway, representing more than 3,000 member families across 16 county associations. The organization's stated purpose is to advocate for the rights, economic conditions, and legal protections of foster parents and youth in foster care, particularly those aging out of the system (18-25 years). It operates on a recurring membership fee model supplemented by magazine subscriptions (Fosterhjemskontakt at 656 NOK/year), annual conference fees (1,500-5,100 NOK depending on format and group size), donations, and returns from the Kajafondet endowment (10M NOK, established 2021).

The organization delivers member services through a portfolio of products including peer support (Likepersonarbeid with 11 trained volunteers), a national counseling telephone (Rådgivningstelefon, Mondays 15:00-21:00), professional guidance via Diakonhjemmet Omsorg Steg Norge, a cooperating lawyer network (Samarbeidsadvokater) offering 20% member discounts, and a Q&A knowledge base. Its research product, the annual Fosterhjemsundersøkelsen, draws 1,400+ responses and is positioned as the unique systematic user-knowledge dataset on Norwegian foster care, produced in collaboration with Menon Economics. The annual Fosterhjemskonferansen, held at Nationaltheatret Konferansesenter in Oslo with both physical and digital attendance, is the largest industry gathering.

The go-to-market is community-led: members are acquired through advocacy, political influence, and visible benefits, then engaged through county-level chapters, the annual conference, the quarterly magazine, and digital touchpoints including an online course platform (fosterhjem.pedit.no). Distribution is exclusively within Norway through 16 county associations. The organization's central technology stack consists of a WordPress-based website, standard email newsletter infrastructure, and off-the-shelf video conferencing for member services — there is no proprietary technology platform or AI capability. Strategic partnerships include NOFCA (Nordic Foster Care Association), KS (Kommunesektorens organisasjon), Stiftelsen Dam (funder of professional guidance), and Vertu kapitalforvaltning (manager of Kajafondet).

Name

Norsk Fosterhjemsforening

Legal name

Norsk Fosterhjemsforening

Website

https://fosterhjemsforening.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Norsk Fosterhjemsforening is a Norwegian non-profit membership organization serving over 3,000 foster, respite, and emergency home families across 16 county associations with advocacy, peer support, counseling, legal referrals, and policy research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foster Care Advocacy and Member Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Foster care advocacy
• Membership support services
• Peer counseling programs
• Child welfare policy
• Nonprofit family services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership fees from foster families, respite homes, and emergency homes. Members receive access to counseling, peer support, professional guidance, networking, and social events.
2. Magazine subscriptions: Subscriptions to the Fosterhjemskontakt magazine, published 4 times per year at 656 kr annually. Revenue from non-member subscribers.
3. Donations and support: Financial support from donors and supporters. The Kajafondet fund accepts donations to support activities and equipment for children and youth in foster care.
4. Conference revenue: Registration fees from the annual Fosterhjemskonferansen conference, with pricing ranging from 1,500-5,100 kr depending on attendance format and group size.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Norsk Fosterhjemsforening is a private non-profit membership organization that supports foster families, respite homes, and emergency homes in Norway through advocacy, peer support, professional counseling, legal assistance, a quarterly magazine, an annual conference, and grant funding via the Kajafondet. With over 3,000 member families across 16 county associations, the organization represents its members in political and policy debates and conducts the annual Fosterhjemsundersøkelsen to generate systematic user knowledge about Norwegian foster care.

Product overview

Norsk Fosterhjemsforening is a membership and advocacy organization for foster homes, visiting homes, and emergency homes in Norway. The organization operates as a non-profit membership body with services organized around member support, advocacy, and research. Core products and services include: the quarterly magazine Fosterhjemskontakt (subscription); Kajafondet grant program for children's activities; peer support through Likepersonarbeid; professional counseling via Rådgivningstelefon and Faglig veiledning; legal support through Samarbeidsadvokater; annual Fosterhjemskonferansen conference; annual Fosterhjemsundersøkelsen survey research; and practical tools including the Sjekkliste fosterhjemsavtale, complaint templates, and Q&A knowledge base. The organization does not offer a technology platform or SaaS product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fosterhjemskontakt Quarterly printed magazine published four times a year for foster families, available by subscription at 656 kr per year (also issued to members as part of their membership benefits).
• Kajafondet Grant program providing financial support ranging from 2,000 to 20,000 kr for activities and equipment that enhance life skills for children and youth in foster care or aftercare. The endowment was established with a 10 million kr donation and is managed by Vertu kapitalforvaltning.
• Likepersonarbeid (Peer Support) National peer support service provided by 11 trained volunteers (likepersoner) who offer confidential, experience-based guidance and emotional support to foster parents by phone across Norway.
• Rådgivningstelefon (Counseling Phone) National advisory telephone service available to members on Mondays from 15:00 to 21:00, providing guidance on complex foster care questions and legal matters.
• Faglig veiledning (Professional Guidance) Professional guidance service delivered in collaboration with Diakonhjemmet Omsorg Steg Norge, offering consultations by phone or Teams twice weekly for member support, funded by Stiftelsen Dam.
• Samarbeidsadvokater (Collaborating Lawyers) Network of cooperating lawyers offering a 20% discount on legal services to members, specializing in child welfare law, family law, and social rights.
• Fosterhjemskonferansen (Foster Care Conference) Annual two-day national professional conference held in September at Nationaltheatret Konferansesenter in Oslo, covering foster care policy, rights, and practices, with in-person and digital attendance options (1,500-5,100 kr per attendee).
• Fosterhjemsundersøkelsen (Foster Care Survey) Annual systematic user survey of Norwegian foster homes with more than 1,400 foster parents and youth respondents, providing fact-based research used by policymakers and presented at public launches each year.
• Sjekkliste fosterhjemsavtale (Foster Care Agreement Checklist) Checklist and template for foster parents when entering or modifying foster care agreements with child welfare services, covering economic principles, relief arrangements, and rights.
• Nettkurs (Online Courses) Online courses for foster parents accessible through a dedicated learning platform at fosterhjem.pedit.no/web/.
• Spørsmål og svar (Q&A Database) Comprehensive Q&A knowledge base covering foster care basics, agreements, economics, supervision, visitation, rights, and aftercare, aligned with updated Norwegian child welfare law.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 kr invested in foster care yields 11 kr return to society (Menon Economics)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Vertu kapitalforvaltningminorOthers · 1 January 2021Vertu kapitalforvaltning manages the Kajafondet fund, a 10 million krone endowment established in 2021 by Arne D. Thorvaldsen to support activities and equipment for children and youth in foster care.
• NOFCA (Nordic Foster Care Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorsk Fosterhjemsforening is a member of NOFCA, the Nordic Foster Care Association. This international membership connects the organization with foster care associations across Nordic countries for knowledge sharing and collaboration on shared challenges in the Nordic region.
• Menon EconomicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMenon Economics collaborates with Norsk Fosterhjemsforening on socio-economic research including the annual Fosterhjemsundersøkelsen (Foster Home Survey) and reports on the socio-economic value of foster care and aftercare services in Norway.
• Diakonhjemmet Omsorg Steg NorgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Diakonhjemmet Omsorg Steg Norge provides professional guidance services to members. The organization delivers professional guidance via telephone or Teams twice weekly, funded by Stiftelsen Dam.
• Stiftelsen DamcoreOthersStiftelsen Dam provides funding for professional guidance services delivered in collaboration with Diakonhjemmet Omsorg Steg Norge.
• KS (Kommunesektorens organisasjon)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKS (Municipal Sector Organization) collaborated with Norsk Fosterhjemsforening as co-initiators of the socio-economic analysis on aftercare services conducted by Menon Economics, presented during Arendalsuka 2024.
• Stiftelsen FyrlyktaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStiftelsen Fyrlykta contributes to the annual Fosterhjemskonferansen conference with speakers on cultural bridging and support for multicultural foster families.
• Samarbeidsadvokater (Collaborating lawyers)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPre-negotiated discount agreements with recognized lawyers with expertise in child welfare law. Members receive 20% discount on hourly rates from collaborating lawyers including Astrid Vigdis Haram, Gro Sandvold, Ingunn Alvik, and others.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Others

• Kirkens Bymisjon: Large Norwegian faith-based social services nonprofit that runs family support, shelter, and reintegration programs. Comparable as a similarly structured Norwegian nonprofit delivering member-adjacent social services to vulnerable populations.
• Barneombudet (Norwegian Ombudsman for Children): Norway's independent children's ombudsman, frequently cited alongside NFF in policy discussions on foster care. Operates in an adjacent role rather than competing directly for foster family members.

Direct peers

• Stiftelsen Crux: Norwegian foundation that recruits, trains, and supports foster families across Norway and advertises directly on NFF's website. Directly comparable as a peer organization operating in the Norwegian foster care recruitment and support space.
• Stendi Fosterhjem: One of Norway's largest private providers of foster care services, actively recruiting foster families. Competes with NFF for the same Norwegian foster parent pool and overlaps on training and member services.

Broad incumbents

• Redd Barna (Save the Children Norway): Large Norwegian child rights advocacy and humanitarian organization. Comparable as a much larger nonprofit that conducts child welfare advocacy, member engagement, and policy work touching foster families.
• SOS-Barnebyer Norge: Norwegian arm of SOS Children's Villages, providing alternative care for children including family-based care. Comparable as a larger, established child welfare nonprofit with overlapping service categories.

Emerging players

• Stiftelsen Fyrlykta: Norwegian foundation recruiting multicultural and minority foster families. Partners with NFF on the annual conference and addresses a specialized subset of the same target population.
• Stine Sofies Stiftelse: Norwegian foundation focused on children's rights and welfare, with a dedicated resource center for foster families (Stine Sofie-senteret). Comparable as a child-welfare-focused nonprofit addressing overlapping foster family audiences in Norway.
• Brusetkollen: Norwegian operator of reinforced foster homes (forsterket fosterhjem) and care bases. Targets a specialized subset of Norwegian foster families and is a recent entrant in the recruitment market.

Regional players

• NOFCA (Nordic Foster Care Association): Mumbrella organization for foster care associations across the Nordics; NFF is a member. Comparable at the ecosystem level — sibling organizations in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark pursue similar foster family advocacy missions in their respective national contexts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/norsk-fosterhjemsforening

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Norsk Fosterhjemsforening