What Unionhilfswerk does

Unionhilfswerk is a Berlin-based charitable non-profit organization founded in 1946/1947 and operating in Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany. It is structured as a foundation-led group (Stiftung Unionhilfswerk Berlin) that oversees eight non-profit operating companies, one state association, and one funding foundation (Förderstiftung, established 2004). The organization delivers a broad portfolio of social services, including elderly care, disability support, child and youth welfare, refugee assistance, education, and homeless outreach, reaching roughly 5,500 service recipients daily across more than 130 locations with approximately 3,000 paid employees and 1,400 volunteers.

Its service delivery model is built around licensed, publicly commissioned social-services programs operated by credentialed care professionals and supported by a large volunteer workforce. Service pathways are typically referral-driven through municipal authorities, social-welfare offices, hospitals, and self-referral, with each program subject to German regulatory frameworks for care quality, child protection, and integration services. The integration of eight specialized non-profit subsidiaries under a single foundation allows the organization to pool back-office, HR, training, and quality-assurance infrastructure while keeping program governance close to local beneficiaries.

The revenue model is dominated by public funding — principally state and municipal contracts from Berlin and Brandenburg, statutory care-insurance reimbursements, and grants — supplemented by donations channeled through the Förderstiftung. The organization has no profit-distribution mandate; surpluses are reinvested into program expansion and facility maintenance. Strategic activity in recent years has emphasized brand-building (e.g., the Ströer media partnership and KiKA Award nomination in 2026) and ecosystem consolidation via the foundation restructuring carried out in 2014.

Name

Unionhilfswerk

Legal name

Stiftung Unionhilfswerk Berlin

Website

https://unionhilfswerk.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Unionhilfswerk is a Berlin-based non-profit foundation group operating 130+ locations in Berlin and Brandenburg, employing ~3,000 staff and ~1,400 volunteers to deliver elderly care, disability services, child and youth welfare, refugee assistance, education, and homeless support to roughly 5,500 people daily.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Welfare and Human Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Temporary Shelters (624221), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Senior Social Clubs & Community-Based Day Programs (Non-Clinical) (HSABANAK), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

Keywords

• Social welfare services
• Elderly care services
• Disability support services
• Childcare services
• Community outreach services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin-friedrichshain

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding & Contracts: Primary revenue from contracts with Berlin state and district government bodies (Senatsverwaltungen and Bezirke) for social services including youth welfare, disability services, elderly care, and homelessness support.
2. Donations & Grants: Donations collected through the Unionhilfswerk-Förderstiftung for palliative geriatric care, mobility support for people with disabilities, and general charitable purposes. Donations are processed via Bank für Sozialwirtschaft and are tax-deductible.
3. Infrastructure Programme Funding: Neighborhood centers receive funding through the Berlin Senate's Infrastrukturförderprogramm Stadtteilzentren (IFP STZ) and GKV-Gemeinschaftsförderung Selbsthilife im Land Berlin.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Unionhilfswerk is a foundation-led non-profit social services organization that delivers a comprehensive portfolio of welfare services across Berlin and Brandenburg, including kindergartens with Montessori and bilingual pedagogy, nursing homes and ambulatory elderly care, supported living and employment programs for people with disabilities, psychiatric accompaniment, homeless assistance, youth and family services, mentoring, self-help centers, and volunteer coordination. Approximately 3,000 employees and 1,400 volunteers serve nearly 5,500 people daily across more than 130 locations under the umbrella of Stiftung Unionhilfswerk Berlin, eight non-profit companies, a state association, and a funding foundation.

Product overview

Unionhilfswerk is a social services organization operating as a foundation with eight charitable companies, offering a comprehensive portfolio of over 130 social services across Berlin and Brandenburg. The portfolio includes daycare centers (Kindertagesstätten), elderly and nursing care (Pflege), support for people with disabilities (Soziale Teilhabe), psychiatric support (Psychiatrische Begleitung), homeless assistance (Wohnungslosenhilfe), youth and family services (Jugend- und Familienhilfe), work and employment programs (Arbeit & Beschäftigung), counseling services (Beratung & Unterstützung), education programs (Bildung), mentoring, volunteer coordination (Freiwilligenagenturen), and neighborhood centers (Stadtteilzentren). Specialized programs include the Theaterensemble PAPILLONS (inclusive theater for people with dementia), the MoArts art group, Berliner Herzenszeilen (letter-writing program for seniors), and the Die GroßstadtGefährten visiting service. The organization serves approximately 5,500 people daily with around 3,000 employees and 1,400 volunteers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Die Freiwilligen: The volunteer organization within Unionhilfswerk, representing the approximately 1,400 volunteers who play a central role in the organization's work.
• Die GroßstadtGefährten
• Theaterensemble PAPILLONS
• Berliner Herzenszeilen
• Stadtteilzentrum F1
• Stadtteilzentrum Rollberge
• Selbsthilfezentrum Reinickendorf
• MoArts
• Ich bin Wegbegleiter

Products and services

• Kindertagesstätten (Kitas) Daycare centers for children from infancy through school age, featuring Montessori pedagogy, bilingual education (German/English and German/French), and animal-assisted pedagogy in seven kindergartens across Berlin.
• Pflege (Care) Comprehensive elderly and nursing care services including residential nursing homes (Pflegewohnheime) and ambulatory/outpatient care services for older adults.
• Soziale Teilhabe (Social Participation for People with Disabilities) Support services for adults with intellectual disabilities, helping them develop personal abilities and achieve life goals through supported living, employment, mobility, and inclusive cultural programs.
• Psychiatrische Begleitung (Psychiatric Support) Accompaniment and assisted-living services for people with mental illness or psychological impairments, providing daily structure and crisis intervention.
• Wohnungslosenhilfe (Homeless Assistance) Emergency housing, rent debt counseling, and housing search support for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
• Jugend- und Familienhilfe (Youth and Family Services) Youth welfare services including the 'Startläufer' program that helps adolescents cope with problems and crises, delivered ambulantly or stationarily.
• Arbeit & Beschäftigung (Work and Employment Programs) Employment and work programs for mentally ill, disadvantaged individuals, and people with disabilities, providing stabilization and development opportunities.
• Beratung & Unterstützung (Counseling and Support) Senior centers, self-help coordination, mobility services, bereavement support, and general social counseling.
• Bildung (Education) Continuing-education programs in palliative geriatrics, palliative care, and end-of-life hospice care delivered through the Kompetenzzentrum Palliative Geriatrie.
• Mentoring Mentor programs pairing mentors with children, adolescents, or adults during life transitions.
• Freiwilligenagenturen (Volunteer Agencies) Volunteer coordination promoting civic engagement through integration mentorships and community support roles.
• Selbsthilfezentrum Reinickendorf Contact and counseling center hosting 40+ self-help groups covering health, disability, psychosocial, addiction, and leisure topics, co-funded by GKV-Gemeinschaftsförderung Selbsthilfe and the Berlin Senate.
• Stadtteilzentrum Rollberge Neighborhood center in Waidmannslust strengthening civic and voluntary engagement, promoting citizen participation, and providing independent social counseling.
• Stadtteilzentrum F1 (Mehringplatz) Open neighborhood center at Mehringplatz in Kreuzberg offering encounters, exchanges, and support for residents seeking more connection in daily life.
• Zentrale Anlaufstelle Hospiz (ZAH) Central hospice contact point supporting severely ill and dying people, their relatives, and those grieving.
• Kunstgruppe MoArts Inclusive art group for people with disabilities and mental illness, based in Berlin-Moabit, celebrating 15 years in 2026 and fostering artistic expression and social inclusion.
• Theaterensemble PAPILLONS Inclusive theater ensemble enabling people with and without dementia to engage in artistic performances under professional artistic direction, creating bridges between generations; featured in a ZDF 37Grad documentary and nominated for the KiKA Award 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,500 people accompanied daily by 3,000 employees and 1,400 volunteers across 130+ locations.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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 core and minor.

• Senatsverwaltung für Arbeit, Soziales, Gleichstellung, Integration, Vielfalt und AntidiskriminierungcoreOthersPrimary public funder for Berlin's neighborhood centers (Infrastrukturförderprogramm Stadtteilzentren, IFP STZ), providing ongoing funding for self-help centers and community facilities operated by Unionhilfswerk.
• Senatsverwaltung für Integration, Arbeit und SozialescoreOthersFunder of Stadtteilzentrum Rollberge project, supporting community development and social infrastructure in the Rollberge settlement and surrounding areas of Berlin.
• GKV-Gemeinschaftsförderung Selbsthilfe im Land BerlincoreOthersStatutory health insurance fund joint-support for self-help contact and counseling centers in Berlin, co-funding the Selbsthilfezentrum Reinickendorf.
• Bank für SozialwirtschaftcoreOthersProvides the online banking platform used for donation processing by Unionhilfswerk-Förderstiftung. Secure donation collection and processing for charitable contributions.
• Ströer SE & Co. KGaAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for the 'Ich bin Wegbegleiter' city advertising campaign. Unionhilfswerk campaign displayed on Ströer's Public-Video-Screens at major Berlin train stations and inner-city areas starting April 13, 2026.
• Kompetenznetz Einsamkeit (KNE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnionhilfswerk participates in Germany's Competence Network on Loneliness, referencing its digital offering map for loneliness support services across Germany. Unionhilfswerk contributes programs aligned with the Federal Government's loneliness strategy.
• Senatsverwaltungen und BezirkecoreOthersContract partners for civil society engagement projects in Berlin. Unionhilfswerk is described as a reliable partner for Senate administrations, districts, and other public clients seeking social service project partners.
• Heinz und Heide Dürr StiftungminorOthersSupported the ZDF 37Grad film 'GEGEN DAS VERGESSEN' about the PAPILLONS theater ensemble, which was featured on the foundation's platform.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO): AWO is one of Germany's largest welfare umbrella organizations, operating nationwide with a comparable federation structure of state associations, regional chapters, and member organizations delivering childcare, elderly care, disability services, and youth welfare under public contracts — directly comparable business model and service portfolio to Unionhilfswerk.
• Deutscher Caritasverband: Caritas is Germany's largest Catholic welfare organization, providing elderly care, disability services, homeless assistance, youth welfare, and counseling across thousands of locations. Its diocesan federation structure and public-contract-funded service delivery make it the most direct parallel to Unionhilfswerk's operating model.
• Diakonie Deutschland: Diakonie is the Protestant welfare federation in Germany, operating hospitals, nursing homes, disability workshops, youth services, and counseling centers under public contracts. Its federation structure with regional member organizations mirrors Unionhilfswerk's verbund of eight nonprofit companies.
• Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK): The German Red Cross operates nationwide welfare services including elderly care, refugee support, family services, and ambulatory care under public contracts. Comparable scale and federation structure with regional associations delivering multi-service portfolios funded by government contracts.
• Malteser Deutschland: Malteser is a Catholic-aid welfare organization providing elderly care, hospice services, disability support, youth programs, and refugee assistance in Germany, structured as a federation of regional member organizations. Comparable service breadth and reliance on public contracts and donations.
• Berliner Stadtmission: Berliner Stadtmission is a Berlin-based Protestant welfare organization providing homeless services, elderly support, addiction counseling, and low-threshold social services under public contracts in the same geography as Unionhilfswerk. Direct regional competitor for Berlin Senate tenders.
• Volkssolidarität Berlin: Volkssolidarität is a major welfare organization in eastern Germany providing senior day programs, social counseling, ambulatory care, and self-help groups — comparable service portfolio with strong overlap in Berlin and Brandenburg, and similar reliance on public contracts.

Others

• Der Paritätische Gesamtverband: Der Paritätische is the umbrella association under which Unionhilfswerk is affiliated. It coordinates 10,000+ member organizations in social welfare, providing political advocacy, quality standards, and infrastructure — comparable as a peer ecosystem participant rather than direct service competitor.

Emerging players

• SOS-Kinderdorf: SOS-Kinderdorf operates residential youth welfare facilities, family support, and educational programs across Germany. While focused on children and families (a subset of Unionhilfswerk's portfolio), its public-contract-funded operating model is closely aligned.
• Lebenshilfe Berlin: Lebenshilfe specializes in disability services including supported living, workshops, early intervention, and inclusive education across Berlin. Direct overlap with Unionhilfswerk's Soziale Teilhabe and Service Inklusiv subsidiaries, competing for Berlin disability service contracts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@unionhilfswerk
• Facebookfacebook.com/UNIONHILFSWERK.WEGBEGLEITER
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/unionhilfswerk
• Instagraminstagram.com/unionhilfswerk
• Xx.com/UNIONHILFSWERK

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Unionhilfswerk