SOS-Kinderdorf Österreich

What SOS-Kinderdorf Österreich does

SOS-Kinderdorf Österreich is a non-profit charitable organization (Verein) founded in 1949 by Hermann Gmeiner, headquartered in Innsbruck and operating as the Austrian national member of the SOS Children's Villages International network, which spans approximately 138 countries. The organization is described as Austria's largest private child and youth welfare provider, employing 5,001-10,000 staff across approximately ten named operational sites spanning Tyrol, Vienna, Salzburg, Carinthia, Upper Austria, Styria, and Vorarlberg. It serves children who cannot live with their birth families, families in crisis, unaccompanied minor refugees, migrant youth, and children in acute psychological or psychiatric need.

The service portfolio comprises residential care (SOS families and Wohngruppen living groups with around-the-clock pedagogical support), preventive family support (Mobile Familienarbeit, Eltern-Kind-Wohnen, Mutter-Kind-Wohnen in Seekirchen), specialized programs for unaccompanied minor refugees (BIWAK, since 2004), migrant education (Minerva, since 2008, 500+ graduates), child and youth psychiatry ambulatoriums in Vienna, Moosburg, and Villach, a national 24/7 crisis helpline (Rat auf Draht, handling 39,000+ calls annually), and school-based programs (Herzkiste, aula, Beteiligungskalender used by ~2,500 teachers). In 2025, 183 children were supported across Austria in parent-child housing and 78 babies/toddlers with their mothers have been cared for in Seekirchen since 2016.

The revenue model combines private donations (one-time gifts, Patenschaft sponsorships, testamentary gifts, gift donation shop), corporate CSR partnerships, and public grants from the European Social Fund, the Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Research, and regional state governments (Land Salzburg, Land Tirol). Services to beneficiaries are free of charge; the organization holds the Austrian Spendengütesiegel and donations are tax-deductible. The organization has no proprietary technology platform — operations rely on traditional in-person social services, standard organizational websites, an e-commerce donation shop, and a podcast (Dorfrunde). No AI/ML, patents, or proprietary software were disclosed.

Name

SOS-Kinderdorf Österreich

Legal name

SOS-Kinderdorf Österreich

Website

https://sos-kinderdorf.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child and Youth Welfare Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

Keywords

• Child welfare services
• Youth residential care
• Family support services
• Crisis helpline
• Refugee youth care

Headquarters

HQ city

Innsbruck

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Private Donations: SOS-Kinderdorf relies heavily on donations from private individuals, including one-time donations, monthly sponsorships (Patenschaft), testamentary gifts, and volunteer engagement.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Companies can partner with SOS-Kinderdorf through various cooperation models including project donations and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
3. Public Funding: Funded by European Social Fund (ESF), Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Research, and regional state governments (Land Salzburg and others) for specific programs like Minerva education initiative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SOS-Kinderdorf Österreich is a non-profit charitable organization providing residential care for children and youth (Wohngruppen, SOS families), preventive family support (Mobile Familienarbeit, Eltern-Kind-Wohnen), child and adolescent psychiatry ambulatoriums, the Rat auf Draht 24/7 crisis hotline, education programs (Minerva), and care for unaccompanied minor refugees (BIWAK). Services are delivered free of charge across multiple Austrian federal states and are funded primarily through donations, sponsorships, and public grants.

Product overview

SOS-Kinderdorf Österreich operates as a comprehensive child and youth welfare organization offering a multi-faceted portfolio of services. The core offering consists of residential care through Wohngruppen (group homes) and SOS families, complemented by preventive family support services including Mobile Familienarbeit (mobile family support) and Eltern-Kind-Wohnen (parent-child housing). Specialized services include Ambulatorien providing free child and adolescent psychiatry/neurology clinics, Rat auf Draht (24/7 crisis hotline), and BIWAK for unaccompanied refugee youth. Educational initiatives include the Minerva basic education program, Herzkiste and aula school programs, and Beteiligungskalender participation materials. Social innovations include Energiefamilie (energy donation platform) and various fundraising products including the Geschenkspende-Shop. The organization also produces content through the Dorfrunde podcast and SALTO magazine. This integrated approach combines residential care, family preservation, educational support, health services, and digital/social innovations to support children, youth, and families in challenging situations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rat auf Draht: 24/7 emergency hotline for children and youth in crisis situations, offering anonymous and free counseling
• BIWAK
• Energiefamilie
• Minerva
• SOS-Herzkiste
• aula
• Beteiligungskalender
• Rainbows
• SOS-Ballon
• Heimspiel

Products and services

• Wohngruppen & Familien (Residential Groups and SOS Families) Around-the-clock residential care for children and adolescents who cannot live with their birth families, provided in supervised group homes (Wohngruppen) and SOS families with 24/7 pedagogical support.
• Mobile Familienarbeit (Mobile Family Support)

Quantifiable outcome

• 183 children supported with families in Eltern-Kind-Wohnen Austria-wide in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Land TirolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021Land Tirol partnered with SOS-Kinderdorf to convert BIWAK into an official children and youth welfare facility, ensuring equal quality care for all young people regardless of origin. This partnership achieved formal recognition and equal standards.
• Land SalzburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Land Salzburg is the commissioning authority for the Mutter-Kind-Wohnen (parent-child housing) project in Seekirchen. The regional government funds and collaborates with SOS-Kinderdorf on child welfare services, including regular development discussions with the children and youth welfare department.
• Gemeinde SeekirchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipality of Seekirchen has a long-standing partnership with SOS-Kinderdorf, supporting the Mutter-Kind-Wohnen project and recognizing the organization as a reliable partner serving the community.
• World Central KitchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for food distribution in Gaza humanitarian relief efforts. World Central Kitchen supports SOS-Kinderdorf's emergency aid operations.
• UNICEFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF supplies fuel to SOS-Kinderdorf operations in Gaza and provides wooden mobile homes for children and caregivers displaced by conflict.
• Level Up - ErwachsenenbildungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinerva is accredited through Level Up - Adult Education network, providing quality assurance for the education program.
• Institut für JugendkulturforschungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted representative survey of 400 students aged 11-18 in Austria on children's participation in schools, commissioned by SOS-Kinderdorf.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hilfswerk Österreich: Austrian social services nonprofit providing family support, childcare, mobile care services, and assistance for elderly and families in need. Comparable operational model of mobile in-home family services.
• Caritas Österreich: Austria's largest charitable organization providing family, youth, and social welfare services across all federal states. Operates similar residential and ambulatory care for vulnerable populations with comparable funding mix of donations and public contracts.
• Volkshilfe Österreich: Austrian nonprofit providing social services including family support, child welfare, and assistance for vulnerable populations. Operates across Austria with similar mix of donations, public grants, and corporate partnerships.
• SOS-Kinderdorf Deutschland: Sister national organization operating in Germany under the same SOS Children's Villages network. Same service portfolio (residential care, family support, ambulatoriums, education) and shared international governance structure.
• SOS Children's Villages International: Global parent federation of 138 national SOS-Kinderdorf organizations. Directly comparable operating model (residential villages, family strengthening, youth care) and shared brand identity with SOS-Kinderdorf Österreich.
• Diakonie Österreich: Protestant social services organization in Austria delivering child and youth welfare, family support, refugee care, and crisis intervention. Operates residential facilities, mobile family support, and migrant integration programs comparable to SOS-Kinderdorf.

Emerging players

• Rainbows Österreich: Austrian nonprofit providing bereavement support for children and youth after separation, divorce, or loss. Operates as a sub-brand within SOS-Kinderdorf but functions as an independent organization in many Austrian states.
• Save the Children Austria: Austrian affiliate of international child rights organization focused on refugee children, education access, and child protection advocacy. Comparable focus on migrant youth integration and child welfare.
• Plan International Austria: Austrian affiliate of international child-centered humanitarian organization focused on girls' rights, education, and child protection. Comparable donation-funded model and child welfare mission.
• UNICEF Austria: Austrian national committee of UNICEF focused on children's rights advocacy and emergency response. Already a direct operational partner (fuel, mobile homes in Gaza). Comparable advocacy and international child welfare mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/live/vrwiZ5RGZLo
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.sos-kinderdorf.at
• Xx.com/soskinderdorfat

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SOS-Kinderdorf Österreich