What SoVD does

Sozialverband Deutschland (SoVD) is Germany's largest social welfare association, founded in 1917 and headquartered in Berlin. Registered as Sozialverband Deutschland e.V. (Charlottenburg, VR 20029B), it is a charity-recognized (gemeinnützig) eingetragener Verein that delivers social counseling, legal representation in social-law matters, and legislative advocacy on behalf of pensioners, people with disabilities, patients, families, and individuals receiving basic security benefits. The organization operates through 16 state-level associations (Landesverbände), a network of district offices, and a federal headquarters that coordinates policy, member services, and operations across Germany.

SoVD's service surface combines in-person counseling at local offices with a digital platform built around four core member tools: the SoVD-Rentenrechner pension calculator, the check.sovd self-test for poverty-in-old-age (developed with CODIAC GmbH), the SoVD-Pflegetagebuch nursing diary, and a Hinweisgebersystem whistleblower compliance portal. Communications are delivered via the SoVD-Zeitung newspaper (print and e-paper), the "Sozial? Geht immer!" podcast, SoVD.TV video channel, and the sovd.de website (accessibility provisioned via Eye-Able, analytics via Matomo). The association runs member engagement programs including SoVD-Superhelden volunteers, SoVD-Jugend, and Frauen im SoVD, and maintains a housing subsidiary (Meravis).

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring membership dues and one-time donations, the latter processed through payments partner Micropayment GmbH. Compliance and case-management tooling is delivered in partnership with otris software AG. As a registered nonprofit, SoVD reinvests operating surplus into member services and policy advocacy rather than distributing profit.

Name

SoVD

Legal name

Sozialverband Deutschland e.V.

Website

https://sovd.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Sozialverband Deutschland (SoVD) is a German social welfare association founded in 1917 that provides social counseling, legal representation, and policy advocacy for millions of members — primarily pensioners, people with disabilities, patients, and families — via 16 state associations and a district-office network across Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: SoVD generates primary revenue through annual membership fees from its members. Members pay dues to receive social counseling, legal representation, advocacy services, and access to member publications and benefits.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations from members and supporters, processed through micropayment GmbH.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Sozialverband Deutschland (SoVD) is a membership-based social welfare association that delivers in-person social counseling and legal representation across pensions, care insurance, disability rights, health insurance, basic security benefits (Bürgergeld), housing allowance, and patient directives. It supplements counseling with model lawsuits (Musterklagen) that set precedent in contested social law cases, member publications including the SoVD-Zeitung newspaper, digital self-service tools (pension calculator, poverty check), and policy advocacy targeting social legislation in Germany.

Product overview

SoVD (Sozialverband Deutschland) is a social welfare organization offering a comprehensive suite of member services centered around social counseling, advocacy, and information provision. The core offerings include personal social counseling available at regional offices covering pensions, care insurance, disability, health, and basic security; the SoVD-Zeitung member newspaper available in print and e-Paper formats; and digital tools like the SoVD-Rentenrechner pension calculator and check.sovd poverty-in-old-age assessment tool. The organization provides practical resources including the annual Pflegetagebuch nursing diary, brochures, and the Hinweisgebersystem whistleblower compliance system. Additional services include the 'Sozial? Geht immer!' podcast, volunteer recognition through SoVD-Superhelden, and the Hitzeschutz heat protection information portal. The portfolio is primarily service-oriented rather than technology product-based, focusing on direct member support and social policy advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SoVD-Zeitung: The organization's member newspaper, published monthly under the title 'Soziales im Blick', also available as an e-Paper.
• SoVD.TV
• Sozial? Geht immer!
• SoVD-Superhelden
• SoVD-Pflegetagebuch
• SoVD-Rentenrechner

Products and services

• Sozialberatung (Social Counseling) Personal social counseling delivered at local and regional offices covering pension, care insurance, disability, health, basic security (Bürgergeld), housing allowance, and patient directives/power of attorney. Available to SoVD members across Germany through the state and district association network.
• Musterklagen (Model Lawsuits) SoVD conducts numerous model lawsuits (Musterklagen) on contested social law issues to establish legal precedent that benefits members and broader populations in similar circumstances.
• SoVD-Rentenrechner (Pension Calculator) A gross-net pension calculator that helps users estimate net pension after social security contributions and taxes, considering up to 200 individual data points. Available free of charge to members and the public.
• check.sovd (Poverty in Old Age Check) Online self-test tool developed in cooperation with CODIAC GmbH providing users with an orientation on their risk of poverty in old age (Altersarmut).
• SoVD-Pflegetagebuch (Nursing Diary) Diary tool supporting care recipients and their families in assessing care levels (Pflegegrade). Updated annually and distributed as a free PDF download.
• SoVD-Zeitung (Member Newspaper) Monthly member newspaper 'Soziales im Blick' available both in print and as an e-Paper digital edition, covering social policy topics, news, and organizational updates.
• Hinweisgebersystem (Whistleblower System) Compliance whistleblower system enabling anonymous reporting of violations against applicable laws and internal policies, with a 7-day acknowledgment and 3-month resolution timeline. Provided through external partner otrs software AG.
• Broschüren und Sozial-Infos (Brochures and Social Information Materials) Educational brochures and social information materials covering various social policy topics including patient rights, care, and welfare benefits, available for download.

Named customers1 record

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered subsidiary and minor.

• MeravissubsidiaryOthersMeravis is a subsidiary company of SoVD providing housing and living spaces. The organization describes Meravis as offering 'Räume zum Leben, Erleben und Aufleben' (spaces for living, experiencing, and revitalizing).
• Micropayment GmbHminorOthersPayment service provider processing donations to SoVD. Located at Scharnweberstrasse 69, D-12587 Berlin.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Deutscher Caritasverband: Caritas is Germany's largest welfare confederation, providing social counseling, care, and advocacy through a nationwide network. It overlaps with SoVD on social law counseling and disability services but is rooted in Catholic welfare operations.
• Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK): DRK is Germany's national Red Cross society, providing social services, care, and family support. It overlaps with SoVD on care-related counseling and family assistance but operates a broader humanitarian and emergency portfolio.
• Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO): AWO is a major German welfare association providing social counseling, care services, and family support across a much broader portfolio. It overlaps with SoVD on social counseling and advocacy but operates a wider range of welfare, childcare, and care services.
• Diakonie Deutschland: Diakonie is a major Protestant welfare association offering social counseling, disability support, and care services nationwide. Like Caritas, it is a broader welfare incumbent with significant overlap with SoVD's service portfolio.

Direct peers

• Sozialverband VdK Deutschland: VdK is Germany's other major social welfare association, with very similar member services (pension, care, disability, health counseling) and a comparable nationwide association structure. It is SoVD's closest direct competitor for the same membership segments.
• Sozialverband Reichsbund: Reichsbund is a smaller German social welfare association providing pension, care, and disability counseling to members. It competes directly with SoVD for the same target segments, though at smaller scale.

Regional players

• Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband: The Federation of German Consumer Centers provides counseling and advocacy on consumer and social issues including insurance and benefits. It overlaps with SoVD on insurance counseling and member-facing advocacy but is more focused on consumer protection generally.

Others

• Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Seniorenorganisationen (BAGSO): BAGSO is the German federal association of senior citizens' organizations, advocating for older adults on social policy issues. It is comparable to SoVD in representing senior interests but functions as an umbrella advocacy body rather than a direct service provider.
• ver.di (Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft): ver.di is Germany's largest service sector trade union. It is comparable to SoVD as a major membership-based organization with advocacy and legal support functions, though its mission is labor representation rather than social welfare advocacy.
• Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB): DGB is the umbrella confederation of German trade unions. Like SoVD, it is a large German membership organization engaging in political advocacy and member services, but its focus is labor rights rather than social welfare specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SoVDTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/SoVD-Sozialverband-Deutschland-eV-135984139804495
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sozialverband
• Instagraminstagram.com/sovd_bund

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SoVD