Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke

What Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke does

Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke (MS) is a Danish non-profit peace and development organization founded in 1944, operating as the Danish affiliate of the global ActionAid International federation. The organization employs 51-100 staff from its headquarters at Fælledvej 12 in Copenhagen and operates a physical cafe (Mellemfolk) and community space (Folkehaven), an online webshop (shop.ms.dk built on Shopify), and a Danish-language advocacy and fundraising platform (ms.dk). Its programs span humanitarian emergency response — notably Gaza, where MS partners deliver water/sanitation, shelter, healthcare, and protection to tens of thousands — youth empowerment and leadership training, climate and tax justice advocacy, anti-discrimination campaigns, and support for stateless youth and refugees.

Revenue is generated through five streams: public funds (governmental and institutional grants, 72% of 2021 income), private donations and collections via MobilePay, SMS, and online (14%), revenue-generating activities including the cafe, Global Contact travel program, and courses (9%), webshop merchandise sales of sustainably sourced T-shirts, tote bags, posters, books, and pins (under 5%), and support certificates sold as gifts from 135 DKK. Donations above 290 DKK annually are tax-deductible up to a 20,000 DKK cap. The organization is §8A-approved by the Danish Civil Agency and an ISOBRO member, with administrative costs held to approximately 7% of budget and 73% of spending directed to development work in the global South.

The technical infrastructure is deliberately lightweight and privacy-oriented: Shopify for commerce, Plausible Analytics for traffic measurement, Cookie Information for consent management, and DIBS/MobilePay for payments. Distribution combines digital channels (webshop, email newsletter, petition campaigns, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook) with traditional outreach via telemarketing firms (TMPO for members, All Ears for corporate sponsors), physical events including kayak parades and demonstrations, and partnerships with organizations such as ActionAid International, Violet (Syria), People4Change, and EU Aid Volunteers.

Name

Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke

Legal name

Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke – Action Aid Denmark

Website

https://ms.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke is a Danish non-profit founded in 1944 and affiliated with ActionAid International, employing 51-100 staff to deliver peace, development, climate justice, and youth empowerment programs across 45+ countries while raising funds through public grants, donations, webshop sales, and member contributions in Denmark.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid & International Development

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Global Health Advocacy, Policy & Rights Organizations (HLAJAKAO), Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH), Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid
• International development
• Peace advocacy
• Youth empowerment
• Human rights campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Funds (Offentlige midler): Government and institutional funding. In 2021, public funds constituted 72% of Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke's total revenue.
2. Donations and Collections (Donationer og indsamlinger): Private donations and fundraising campaigns. Includes MobilePay, SMS, and social media fundraising. In 2021, donations and collections constituted 14% of total revenue. Donations are tax-deductible in Denmark. The organization is §8A approved by Danish authorities for fundraising.
3. Membership Fees: Monthly membership subscriptions providing ongoing support. Members receive benefits including discounts at Cinemateket film festivals and in the webshop.
4. Webshop Sales: Sale of merchandise (T-shirts, tote bags, posters, books, stickers, pins) with all proceeds going to Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke's projects. Prices range from 45 DKK (stickers/pins) to 275 DKK (large posters, long-sleeve T-shirts). Free shipping on orders over 450 DKK.
5. Revenue-Generating Activities (Indtægtsdækkende aktiviteter): Revenue from cafe operations, Global Contact (travel program), and course activities. In 2021, this constituted 9% of total revenue.
6. Support Certificates (Støttebeviser): Donation certificates sold as gifts. Minimum 135 DKK donation to receive a certificate, with 45 DKK going to shipping and production of the certificate.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke is a Danish non-profit peace and development organization (founded 1944) that operates as the Danish affiliate of ActionAid International. Its core offering is humanitarian and advocacy programming funded primarily by public grants, supplemented by tax-deductible member donations, a sustainable merchandise webshop, cafe and community space operations (Mellemfolk / Folkehaven), room rentals, and the Global Contact volunteer travel program, all aimed at supporting young people globally and advancing climate, refugee, and human-rights causes.

Product overview

Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke operates primarily as a charitable peace and development organization rather than a technology company. Its main offering is a merchandise webshop selling solidarity-themed products including T-shirts, tote bags, posters, books, pins, stickers, and caps—all produced sustainably with organic or recycled materials. The organization also offers support certificates (støttebeviser) and a knitting pattern for fundraising. All proceeds from the webshop support the organization's global peace, climate, and human rights work. The organization is part of the ActionAid international network and focuses on youth empowerment, refugee rights, and advocacy campaigns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Webshop (Sustainable Merchandise Store)

Quantifiable outcome

• Water/sanitation provided to 63,000 people; shelter to 11,000; healthcare to 70,000; protection to 8,500; education activities for 5,500 children in Gaza
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ActionAid InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMellemfolkeligt Samvirke is the Danish branch of the international ActionAid federation, which works with 25 million people in over 45 countries for a world free from poverty and injustice. The organization operates under the ActionAid umbrella, shares international standards, and can draw on ActionAid's global network and resources. Cases particularly complex or sensitive may involve ActionAid International for support.
• Violet (Syria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization started by young Syrians in northwest Syria. With over 1,000 engaged volunteers, Violet works with both emergency aid and long-term initiatives for youth. Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke supports Violet's youth house in Idleb and long-term programming in Damascus.
• Local Partners in GazacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMellemfolkeligt Samvirke works with local partners inside Gaza to deliver emergency aid including water, sanitation, shelter, healthcare, and protection services.
• People4ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational deployment program sending professional advisors and volunteer Inspirators abroad to support local partners and youth activist groups. Advisors deployed for approximately 2 years; Inspirators typically deployed for 1 year. Integrated with ActionAid's international network.
• EU Aid VolunteersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean volunteering program deploying volunteers to Kenya, Uganda, Colombia, and Palestine to support local partners, ActionAid national offices, and Global Platforms. Focuses on youth agency in humanitarian action and transition from humanitarian response to sustainable development.
• Alliance Against Ethnic DiscriminationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Mino Danmark, Afro Danish Collective, Sabaah, Ilisimasavut, and LGBT Asylum to formulate concrete recommendations for the Danish government's action plan against racism.
• TMPO (Telemarketing)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTelemarketing firm used to contact existing and potential members by phone. Calls from numbers: 32 22 29 75, 32 22 46 96, 32 22 51 88, 45 42 90 54, 52 51 60 13, 54 40 41 78, 54 40 48 97, 56 39 41 84, 82 13 24 97, 82 13 44 29, 82 13 87 68, 86 95 61 28, 93 70 05 73.
• All Ears (Telemarketing)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTelemarketing firm used to contact existing and potential corporate sponsors by phone.
• Global Contact (Travel Program)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMellemfolkeligt Samvirke's own travel program enabling volunteers to work abroad. Travelers' health information may be shared with partner organizations at travel destinations with explicit consent.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Dansk Flygtningehjælp (Danish Refugee Council): Largest Danish humanitarian NGO, comparable as a Denmark-based nonprofit delivering humanitarian aid, refugee support, and development programming with similar institutional funding mix and member/donor base.
• ActionAid International: Parent federation of Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke; operates across 45+ countries with shared programmatic approach and brand, providing direct comparability on mission, methodology, and global footprint.
• Røde Kors Danmark (Danish Red Cross): Denmark's largest humanitarian organization; broader remit but directly comparable on emergency relief, refugee support, and public/government funding mix.

Direct peers

• CARE Danmark: Danish branch of CARE International delivering humanitarian and development programs; directly comparable in size, Danish fundraising model, and partnership-led global programming.
• Save the Children Denmark: Danish affiliate of a major international NGO focused on children's rights, humanitarian aid, and youth programming; comparable audience and donor base with overlapping climate/emergency work.
• Amnesty International Denmark: Danish human-rights advocacy organization heavily reliant on membership fees and donations; comparable member-driven funding model and Danish advocacy footprint.
• Oxfam IBIS: Danish development NGO focused on education, gender justice, and inequality; competes in the same Danish NGO space for public funds, members, and policy influence.
• Folkekirkens Nødhjælp (DanChurchAid): Danish faith-linked humanitarian and development NGO focused on emergency relief, climate, and inequality; competes directly for Danish public funds, members, and household donations.

Emerging players

• Greenpeace Norden: Nordic climate-justice advocacy organization with similar activist-driven, donation-funded model and overlapping climate campaigns; competes for the same Danish activist donor base.

Others

• Global Focus: Danish umbrella/coordination NGO for civil-society actors in development; comparable ecosystem role though not a direct fundraiser or program deliverer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mellemfolkeligtsamvirkedk
• Facebookfacebook.com/msactionaid
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/actionaid-denmark
• Instagraminstagram.com/mellemfolkeligtsamvirke
• Xx.com/actionaiddk

Compliance13 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke