Sappho Frauenwohnstiftung

The Sappho Frauenwohnstiftung (stylised SAPPhO) is a non-profit foundation under German civil law, recognised in August 1997 by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as the first charitable foundation by and for lesbians in Europe. It is named after the ancient Greek poet Sappho, who for the foundation stands for what women can be for one another when they are there for each other. The foundation's purpose is to create the conditions for lesbians to develop new forms of living and housing in old age, to provide affordable housing, to support the founding of self-help housing and house communities, and to establish meeting places for old and young lesbians that build and maintain social and cultural lesbian networks. Its guiding motto is 'Erbfolge weiblich' (female inheritance): the assets of lesbians should remain in lesbian hands and benefit lesbians. The foundation was prepared over four years, from 1993 to 1997, by a group of six women. Some came from the association Safia – Lesben gestalten ihr Alter, which contributed the lesbian housing project 'Hofgut Wüstenbirkach' in Lower Franconia. After the foundation was established, two apartments from the SAFIA retirement shared flat 'Villa Charlotta' were added. Over the years numerous additional endowments (Zustiftungen) have steadily increased the foundation's assets. Today it owns several properties in Hannover, Lüneburg, Schriesheim and Charlottenberg (Rhineland-Palatinate), including a multi-storey townhouse and a seminar and conference house. Since 2020 the foundation has been based in Hannover. The foundation is governed by a board of seven women who lead it jointly and democratically. Board members usually commit to at least six years of voluntary work and meet at least four times a year among themselves and with the managing director. They are supported by volunteer specialist advisers, including psychologists and physicians. The first generation of co-founders decides, as long as they live, who may use the foundation's properties; only after their death does the foundation decide. The foundation also runs the Lesbenwohnbörse, a housing exchange for lesbians seeking shared living projects, and publishes an annual report on its activities and networking. In 2009 it was a founding member of the supra-regional umbrella association 'Lesben & Alter' based in Hamburg. In 2014, 400 m² were inaugurated for the burial of lesbian women at the Berlin cemetery I of the Georgen-Parochialgemeinde, a project initiated by co-founders of the association Safia and newly laid out for €15,000. The Barbara Gissrau Fund, named after the psychoanalyst Barbara Gissrau (born 1943) who died in 2008 and bequeathed the foundation not only properties but also securities and capital, supports older lesbians with little money with up to €500 per year. The foundation has been recognised as an impressive example of how women with only smaller fortunes can make founding a foundation worthwhile by joining together, and it is counted among the autonomous women's housing projects in Germany. On its 10th anniversary in 2007, the then Minister for Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Family and Women of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer, praised the founders for 'their persistence and their foresight'. The foundation continues to operate its housing and community work, and its website is currently being revised and updated.

The Sappho Frauenwohnstiftung was prepared over four years, from 1993 to 1997, by a group of six women. Some of them came from the association Safia – Lesben gestalten ihr Alter, which contributed the lesbian housing project 'Hofgut Wüstenbirkach' in Lower Franconia. In August 1997 the foundation was recognised by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as a non-profit foundation under German civil law, making it the first charitable foundation by and for lesbians in Europe. It was named after the ancient Greek poet Sappho. After the founding, two apartments from the SAFIA retirement shared flat 'Villa Charlotta' were added. Over the years numerous additional endowments (Zustiftungen) steadily increased the foundation's assets, and today it owns several properties in Hannover, Lüneburg, Schriesheim and Charlottenberg (Rhineland-Palatinate), including a multi-storey townhouse and a seminar and conference house. In 2009 the foundation was among the founding members of the supra-regional umbrella association 'Lesben & Alter' based in Hamburg. In 2014, 400 m² were inaugurated for the burial of lesbian women at Berlin cemetery I of the Georgen-Parochialgemeinde; the project was initiated by co-founders of the association Safia and newly laid out for €15,000. The psychoanalyst Barbara Gissrau (born 1943), who died in 2008, bequeathed the foundation not only properties but also securities and capital, which led to the creation of the Barbara Gissrau Fund; financed by donations, it supports older lesbians with little money with up to €500 per year. Since 2020 the foundation has been based in Hannover. On its 10th anniversary in 2007, the then Minister for Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Family and Women of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer, praised the founders for 'their persistence and their foresight'. The foundation continues to operate its housing and community work, and its website is currently being revised and updated.

• 2025

  Annual report 2025 published.

• 2020

  Foundation headquarters moves to Hannover.

• 2014

  400 m² inaugurated for the burial of lesbian women at Berlin cemetery I of the Georgen-Parochialgemeinde, laid out for €15,000.

• 2009

  Founding member of the supra-regional umbrella association 'Lesben & Alter' based in Hamburg.

• 2008

  Psychoanalyst Barbara Gissrau dies, bequeathing properties, securities and capital; Barbara Gissrau Fund established.

• 2007

  10th anniversary; praised by Minister Malu Dreyer for 'persistence and foresight'.

• 1997

  Foundation recognised by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as a non-profit foundation under German civil law; first charitable foundation by and for lesbians in Europe.

• 1993

  A group of six women begins preparing the foundation.

Non-profit foundation creating affordable, self-determined housing and community for lesbians, especially in old age; assets remain in lesbian hands.

• Lesbenwohnräume (lesbian living spaces)

  Affordable housing and places where lesbians can live, work and celebrate self-determinedly into old age.

• Lesbenwohnbörse (lesbian housing exchange)

  A platform for lesbians seeking others for shared housing projects, and for projects with vacancies.

• Barbara Gissrau Fonds

  A donation-financed fund supporting older lesbians with little money with up to €500 per year.

• Seminar and conference house

  A seminar and conference house among the foundation's properties.

• Lesbian burial area

  400 m² burial area for lesbian women at Berlin cemetery I of the Georgen-Parochialgemeinde.

1. 1SAPPhO official websitesappho-stiftung.de
2. 2Aufbau / Organisation – SAPPhOsappho-stiftung.de
3. 3Sappho Frauenwohnstiftung – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
4. 4Sappho Frauenwohnstiftung – Wikidatawikidata.org