Evangelical Mission in Solidarity

What Evangelical Mission in Solidarity does

Evangelische Mission in Solidarität (EMS) is a German-registered charitable association (e.V.) headquartered in Stuttgart that operates as an international ecumenical community of 25 member churches and 5 missionary societies across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Formally founded in 1972 at Hospitalhof Stuttgart and reorganized under its current name and constitution in 2012, with a further constitutional update approved in November 2024, EMS coordinates cross-continental partnerships, theological exchange, humanitarian aid, education, healthcare, and peace-building programs. Its service portfolio includes the Ecumenical Volunteers Programme (Ökumenisches FreiwilligenProgramm), Youth Network (YOUNET), Women and Gender Programme, Children's Programme YOU + ME, International Study Programmes in Japan, Lebanon, and India, the Ecumenical Co-Workers Programme, the annual EMS Sunday event, and the biannual EMS Einblick magazine. With 40 employees (32.4 FTE) at year-end 2024, EMS reaches 15+ countries through dedicated liaison staff and partner institutions such as Tomisaka Christian Center (Tokyo), Leimena Institute (Jakarta), NCC Study Center (Kyoto), and Theodor-Schneller-Schule (Jordan).

EMS is funded primarily through voluntary donations, member church contributions, and project support, with two German regional Protestant churches — Evangelische Kirche in Hessen und Nassau (EKHN) and Evangelische Landeskirche in Württemberg (ELK-WUE) — each contributing more than 10% of annual revenue in 2024. A permanent financial base is provided by the EMS Foundation and its sub-foundations (Ursula Helene Foundation for girls' education in Africa, and Ernst-August Hesse Foundation for justice, peace, and integrity of creation), which generate annual interest income for projects. Additional revenue derives from an online shop selling publications, calendars, and cards, and from project-specific giving via a Twingle donation platform with tiered allocations such as volunteer language courses (200 EUR), monthly volunteer allowances (100 EUR), and emergency aid packages (50–200 EUR). Governance is dual: a Management Team (Geschäftsleitung) led by General Secretary Dieter Heidtmann and Managing Director Ute Kauffmann, alongside a Presidency chaired by Anne Heitmann, with the Vollversammlung (General Assembly) as the highest decision-making body.

EMS is governed by registered association law in Germany (Vereinsregister VR 2754), operates with no external investors or public shareholders, and is a member of Evangelische Mission Weltweit (EMW). It maintains voluntary transparency certification through Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft. The Deutsche Ostasienmission (DOAM), founded in 1884, is a founding member of EMS that retains a separate organizational identity and a Swiss branch (SOAM); the EMS Foundation, Ursula Helene Foundation, and Ernst-August Hesse Foundation operate as distinct charitable entities under the EMS umbrella. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Evangelical Mission in Solidarity

Legal name

Evangelische Mission in Solidarität – Kirchen und Missionen in internationaler Partnerschaft (EMS) e. V.

Website

https://ems-online.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Evangelische Mission in Solidarität (EMS) is a German-registered ecumenical association of 25 churches and 5 missionary societies coordinating international partnerships, humanitarian aid, education, and peace programs across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Ecumenical Mission and Development Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Disaster Relief & Humanitarian Aid Volunteering (EDAIAGAF)

Keywords

• Ecumenical mission programs
• Humanitarian aid services
• Religious nonprofit organization
• Volunteer exchange programs
• International development partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: EMS generates revenue through donations from individuals, churches, and institutional donors. Major funding sources include Evangelische Kirche in Hessen und Nassau (EKHN) and Evangelische Landeskirche in Württemberg (ELK-WUE), which each provided more than 10% of total annual revenue in 2024.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

EMS is an international ecumenical network of 25 churches and five missionary societies that delivers mission, partnership, and development programs across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Its core offerings include volunteer exchange, youth and children's education programs, gender equality initiatives, theological study programs, annual solidarity events, and humanitarian project funding channeled through the EMS Foundation. The organization coordinates member church partnerships, resource sharing, and joint decision-making, supported by donations from churches, institutional donors, and individuals.

Product overview

The Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) operates as an international network of 25 churches and five missionary societies, offering a portfolio of programmes and services rather than a unified technology product. Core offerings include the Ecumenical Volunteers Programme, Youth Network (YOUNET), Women and Gender Programme, Children's Programme YOU + ME, International Study Programmes, and Ecumenical Co-Workers Programme. The organization also facilitates EMS Sunday, publishes the EMS Einblick magazine, operates an online shop for publications and cards, and maintains a newsletter subscription service. Project support focuses on education, healthcare, peace work, and community development across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EMS Foundation: Charitable foundation providing long-term financial basis for EMS projects and initiatives in education, health, peace work, and environmental protection
• Ursula Helene Foundation
• Ernst-August Hesse Foundation
• Ökumenisches FreiwilligenProgramm (ÖFP)
• YOU+ME: FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD
• EMS Sunday
• EMS Einblick
• DOAM (Deutsche Ostasienmission)

Products and services

• Ecumenical Volunteers Programme (Ökumenisches FreiwilligenProgramm, ÖFP) International volunteer programme enabling young adults to gain cross-cultural experience through placements with EMS member churches.
• Youth Network (Jugendnetzwerk / YOUNET) Global network connecting young people from EMS member churches across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East for exchange and collaboration.
• Women and Gender Programme (Frauen und Gender) Programme promoting women's empowerment and gender equality within the EMS community and member churches.
• Children's Programme YOU + ME: FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD International children's programme with educational materials and resources exploring themes like creation care, peace, and diversity through global perspectives.
• International Study Programmes Study abroad programmes in Japan, Lebanon, and India enabling theological and intercultural learning for participants.
• Ecumenical Co-Workers Programme (Ökumenische Mitarbeitende) Programme for church workers to serve in international contexts within EMS member churches.
• EMS Sunday (EMS-Sonntag) Annual ecumenical Sunday celebration bringing together EMS member churches worldwide around a shared theme of hope and solidarity.
• EMS Einblick Magazine Biannual free magazine reporting on themes from the EMS community, member churches, and international projects.
• EMS Online Shop Online shop offering EMS publications, magazines, Christmas cards, calendars, and educational materials.
• EMS Newsletter Email newsletter providing updates on developments, projects, events, and news from EMS mission and theology work.
• EMS Foundation (EMS-Stiftung) Long-term giving foundation supporting education, healthcare, peace work, church planting, and environmental protection through global partnerships.

Quantifiable outcome

• Emergency aid provided after 2018 India floods, 2020 Beirut explosion, 2021 Sulawesi earthquake, 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Tomisaka Christian Center (TCC) TokyominorOthers · 1 January 1975Independent ecumenical organization founded on DOAM initiative, working on social ethics questions and pastor training in Japan
• 25 Member Churches (Africa, Asia, Middle East, Europe)coreOthers · 16 September 197225 churches and 5 missionary societies form the core network of EMS, sharing resources, making decisions together, and implementing joint programs for justice, peace, and development
• Deutsche Ostasienmission (DOAM)coreOthersDOAM is a founding member of EMS, representing churches and mission work in East Asia (Japan, China, Korea). DOAM promotes theological exchange and solidarity with benachteiligten groups in East Asia.
• Basler Mission - Deutscher Zweig (BMDZ)minorOthersBMS member organization operating in Africa, Asia, and South America with missionary and social projects
• Evangelische Mission Weltweit (EMW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMS is a member of Evangelische Mission Weltweit, a community of evangelical churches, organizations and associations in mission and ecumenism
• Theodor-Schneller-Schule (Jordan)minorOthersEducational institution in Amman, Jordan supported by EMS through projects and fundraising
• Leimena Institute JakartaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndonesian institute working at the interface of religion, politics and society for 20 years; partners with GTM on civic education project
• NCC Study Center KyotominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Christian Council Center for Study of Japanese Religions, offering interreligious studies program and hosting international students
• Buraku Liberation Center OsakaminorOthersUCCJ center fighting Buraku discrimination; collaborates with Dalit self-help organizations in India and Sinti/Roma associations in Germany

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Church World Service (CWS): US-based ecumenical humanitarian agency of mainline Protestant and Orthodox denominations, operating in refugee assistance, disaster relief, and development globally. Comparable as a larger ecumenical faith-based humanitarian organization with broader geographic scope and denominational breadth.
• Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung (EWDE): Umbrella organization of German Protestant Diakonie welfare and development work including Bread for the World and Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe. Comparable as a broader German Protestant social and humanitarian umbrella organization sharing the same institutional donor constituency.

Direct peers

• Arbeitsgemeinschaft Evangelischer Missionen (AEM): German association of evangelical mission agencies providing umbrella coordination, advocacy, and networking. Direct peer as a coordinating body for German Protestant international mission activity.
• Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe: Germany-based humanitarian aid organization of the Protestant Diakonie welfare network, focused on emergency relief, reconstruction, and disaster response globally. Comparable as a German Protestant humanitarian organization with similar donor base and emergency aid program focus.
• Mission EineWelt: Bavarian Lutheran mission center coordinating international partnerships, volunteer programs, and theological education across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific. Comparable in scope, program mix, and German Lutheran institutional anchor.
• Vereinte Evangelische Mission (UEM): German-based ecumenical fellowship of Protestant churches and mission societies in Africa, Asia, and Europe operating under a nearly identical membership-based solidarity model. Direct functional peer given shared history, member-church governance, and German Protestant funding base.
• Evangelische Mission Weltweit (EMW): German community of evangelical churches, organizations, and associations in mission and ecumenism of which EMS is a member. Direct peer as an umbrella platform for German Protestant international mission coordination.
• Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World): Development and relief service of the German Protestant churches, funding partner-church projects in over 90 countries. Closely comparable as a German Protestant aid and humanitarian organization with a similar donor constituency (German Protestant churches and individuals).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/missioninsolidarity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Evangelical Mission in Solidarity