What Gruppo Abele does

Gruppo Abele, legally Fondazione Gruppo Abele Onlus (tax code 80089730016), is an Italian non-profit social foundation headquartered in Turin, founded in 1965 by don Luigi Ciotti. It operates across eight intervention verticals: addiction treatment, poverty and marginalization, immigration and trafficking, crime/violence/discrimination, children and families, youth and peripheral neighborhoods, international cooperation in Côte d'Ivoire, and culture/education. Service delivery spans residential communities, low-threshold drop-in centers (Casa di prima accoglienza, Drop House), SAI migrant reception facilities in Andezeno and San Mauro Torinese, mother-child shelters (comunità mamma-bimbo), dedicated projects (Le Querce for addiction-affected families, Genitori&Figli running 20+ years, Barriera Unite 2024-2027 urban regeneration, Ecologie di Cura for youth mental health launching 2025), and education/training programs including the Servizio Civile cycle and the Premio Roberto Morrione investigative-journalism award in collaboration with Rai. Eleven wholly-owned subsidiary entities (Binaria, Certosa 1515, Oasi di Cavoretto, Casa Comune, Università della Strada, Edizioni Gruppo Abele, Animazione Sociale, La Via Libera, Consorzio Abele Lavoro, Aliseo Onlus, Il Filo d'Erba) provide a vertically integrated ecosystem spanning culture, education, publishing, work integration, and heritage venue operations.

The organization runs no proprietary technology platform; its digital footprint is a standard non-profit website, newsletter, and social media presence. Its operating base in Turin comprises the Fabbrica delle 'e' headquarters (a converted Fiat supplier industrial site at Corso Trapani 95), Binaria Centro Commensale (community restaurant and family center at Via Sestriere 34), Certosa 1515 (a 16th-century charterhouse in Avigliana), Oasi di Cavoretto (an 18th-century hillside estate), and multiple neighborhood facilities in Barriera di Milano. All social services to beneficiaries are provided free of charge.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across individual donations (including bequests, in-memory gifts, and 5x1000 tax designation), corporate in-kind contributions (€235,767 in 2022 from LIDL, COOP/NOVACOOP, Lavazza, IKEA, Banco Alimentare, Banco Farmaceutico, Abit-Trevalli, PAM, Mercatò, and others), public grants and tenders under the Terzo Settore / Servizio Civile / SAI frameworks including EU FSE ImpatTo/Metro Plus funding and Città di Torino co-financing, philanthropic foundation support (Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, Fondazione CRT, Ufficio Pio), venue rental income (event-space operations at Fabbrica delle 'e', Certosa 1515, Oasi di Cavoretto), and social-enterprise revenue from Binaria (community restaurant), Edizioni Gruppo Abele (publishing), and Bottega di Binaria (solidarity shop). The organization is led by founder don Luigi Ciotti (also co-founder of the anti-mafia organization Libera), with vice president Lucia Bianco and honorary president Leopoldo Grosso serving on the leadership team. Headcount is reported at 51-100 employees.

Name

Gruppo Abele

Legal name

Fondazione Gruppo Abele Onlus

Website

https://gruppoabele.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Gruppo Abele is a Turin-based Italian non-profit foundation founded in 1965 by don Luigi Ciotti, operating eight social-service verticals (addiction, poverty, migration, gender-based violence, families, youth, international cooperation, culture) across multiple facilities for free, sustained by donations, public grants, and social-enterprise revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Food Services (62421), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

Keywords

• Social services
• Addiction recovery
• Migrant reception
• Youth education
• Nonprofit foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Torino

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual donations and legacies: Private individuals make monetary donations, including in-memory donations, bequests (lasciti testamentari), and 5x1000 tax designation (tax code: 80089730016). Donations can be made via bank transfer (Banca Popolare Etica IBAN), postal bulletin, Satispay, and in-kind.
2. Corporate donations and in-kind contributions: Companies donate goods (food, hygiene products, pharmaceuticals, school materials) and services. Major donors include LIDL, COOP/NOVACOOP, Lavazza, IKEA, and others. In 2022, total in-kind donations totaled €235,767.
3. Public funding and grants: Gruppo Abele receives government funding through the Terzo Settore (Third Sector) framework, Servizio Civile programs, and public tenders for social services. It collaborates with the Città di Torino, EU FSE funds (ImpatTo/Metro Plus program), and other public bodies.
4. Venue rental and events: The organization rents out its facilities — the Fabbrica delle 'e', Certosa 1515, and Oasi di Cavoretto — for events, conferences, and private functions, generating rental income.
5. Social enterprise revenue: Gruppo Abele runs social enterprises including Binaria Centro Commensale (community restaurant), Edizioni Gruppo Abele (publishing house), and the Bottega di Binaria (solidarity gifting shop), which generate operational revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Gruppo Abele is a nonprofit foundation that delivers direct social services to vulnerable individuals and families across eight thematic areas: addiction treatment and recovery, poverty and homelessness, anti-trafficking and migrant reception, anti-violence and anti-discrimination, child and family welfare, youth and peripheral-neighborhood programs, international cooperation, and culture/education. It also operates a network of physical venues (Fabbrica delle "e" events hub, Binaria community center, Certosa 1515 retreat, Oasi di Cavoretto park) that are rented out to external organizations to generate restricted revenue, alongside a publishing house (Edizioni Gruppo Abele) and a journalism award (Premio Roberto Morrione).

Product overview

Gruppo Abele is a non-profit social organization founded in 1965 offering a comprehensive portfolio of social services and projects across multiple areas: addiction treatment, poverty support, immigration assistance, anti-violence services, child and family support, youth programs, international cooperation, and cultural/educational activities. The organization operates various specialized projects (Le Querce, Genitori&Figli, Barriera Unite, ComunitAttiva 2.0, Ecologie di Cura) and manages multiple physical spaces including event venues (Fabbrica delle "e", Binaria, Certosa 1515, Oasi di Cavoretto), reception facilities (SAI, Comunità Mamma-Bimbo), and cultural spaces. Its offerings also include publishing (Edizioni Gruppo Abele), training programs (Social Camp InOnda), and advocacy events (Premio Roberto Morrione). The organization primarily operates in the Turin area with national and international reach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fabbrica delle 'e': Headquarters and event venue - former industrial warehouse converted for social use, houses conference rooms and offices
• Binaria
• Le Querce
• Genitori&Figli
• Drop house
• ComunitAttiva 2.0
• Barriera Unite

Products and services

• Addiction treatment and recovery services Person-centered services for people struggling with substance-use and gambling addictions, including residential communities (e.g., ComunitAttiva 2.0 and similar programs), day-center services (Drop House), harm-reduction street outreach (Unità di Strada), and dedicated programs for underage users. Operated in partnership with public Addiction Services (Ser.T.) in Piedmont.
• Poverty, housing, and homelessness services Programs for people in poverty and homelessness, including emergency-housing responses, day-centre access (Drop House), harm-reduction street work, and integration support targeted at those without stable housing.
• Migrant reception and anti-trafficking services Reception, integration, and protection services for migrants, asylum seekers, and trafficking victims, delivered through the government-funded SAI reception and integration program and dedicated anti-trafficking projects (including Terra Mia and similar programs).
• Anti-violence and anti-discrimination programs Programs supporting victims of gender-based violence, discrimination, and hate, with training and dissemination targeting public awareness and bystander intervention.
• Minors and family support services Family-empowerment and child-welfare services, including mother-and-child residential shelters (Comunità Mamma-Bimbo), family-empowerment projects (Le Querce), and accompanying/educational programs for minors at risk in Turin.
• Youth and neighborhood regeneration programs Programs serving young people in peripheral urban neighborhoods, including the Barriera Unite neighborhood regeneration initiative and related community-based youth activities in Turin.
• International cooperation projects Cross-border development and capacity-building projects supporting vulnerable communities in countries in Africa and Latin America.
• Fabbrica delle "e" event space Large event and conference venue operated by Gruppo Abele, used to host cultural events, awareness campaigns, and external rentals as a restricted revenue stream supporting the foundation's social mission.
• Binaria - Centro Commensale del Gruppo Abele Community center run by Gruppo Abele, combining a public-facing food and cultural space, community programming, and an institutional point of presence in central Turin; also used as an event space.
• Certosa 1515 retreat and event venue Convento riqualificato — a restored historic complex on the shore of Lago Grande in Avigliana — hosting retreats, training, and event rentals; revenues cross-subsidize the foundation's social programs.
• Oasi di Cavoretto park and event venue Parco e spazio eventi — a green area in Cavoretto (Turin) administered by the foundation and used for community programming and event rentals.
• Edizioni Gruppo Abele publishing house In-house publishing house (with the Astrolabio imprint) producing books focused on social issues, addiction, justice, and nonprofit themes.
• Premio Roberto Morrione journalism prize An investigative-journalism prize organized by Gruppo Abele to promote independent reporting on issues including organized crime, trafficking, and social-justice themes.

Quantifiable outcome

• +38% increase in family addiction crisis cases handled in one year (2025–2026)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• LIDLmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Corporate donor of food and miscellaneous goods. In 2022, LIDL was the largest in-kind donor at €106,119 in food products to Gruppo Abele's facilities.
• COOP / NOVACOOPmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Corporate donor of food and miscellaneous goods. Second largest in-kind donor in 2022 at €76,151, supporting food distribution in Gruppo Abele's communities.
• Banco AlimentareminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Food bank providing fresh produce (fruit and vegetables) to Gruppo Abele facilities, valued at €3,828 in 2022.
• Banco FarmaceuticominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Pharmaceutical bank providing medical supplies valued at €7,570 in 2022.
• IKEAminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Corporate donor providing household items and furnishings valued at €1,726 in 2022, supporting Gruppo Abele's housing facilities for vulnerable families.
• CONBIPELminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Corporate donor of clothing items valued at €2,000 in 2022.
• Abit-Trevalli CooperlatcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Since 2018, the Abbraccia una mamma project distributes thousands of packages of fresh dairy and food products annually to Gruppo Abele's reception communities, supporting 100 women with children in economic hardship.
• LavazzacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerA long-standing partnership where Lavazza donates coffee consumed in Gruppo Abele's communities and services. Lavazza also provides financial contributions supporting projects for disadvantaged populations in Turin's peripheral neighborhoods, focusing on poverty and addiction prevention.
• StarbridgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA sports agency that collaborates with Gruppo Abele to organize summer camps in peripheral neighborhoods, promoting sport as a vehicle for social inclusion and relationship-building rather than competition.
• CNCA - Coordinamento Nazionale Comunità AccoglienticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGruppo Abele's service civil projects are part of the CNCA network, which collectively offers 297 positions across 14 projects in various Italian regions plus 32 positions abroad. CNCA is a national coordination of welcoming communities in Italy.
• AcmoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-promoter of the Barriera Unite urban regeneration project (2024–2027), implementing social activities at Giardini Saragat in Turin's Barriera di Milano neighborhood alongside Gruppo Abele.
• Cooperativa Sociale NanàcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-promoter of the Barriera Unite project at Giardini Saragat, providing social and educational activities in the Barriera di Milano neighborhood.
• Polisportiva GandhicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-promoter of Barriera Unite, offering sports activities (basketball/athletics) for youth in peripheral neighborhoods as part of the urban regeneration project.
• AMECEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-promoter of Barriera Unite, contributing to youth programming in the Barriera di Milano neighborhood.
• InvərsocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-promoter of Barriera Unite, contributing cultural and social activities at Giardini Saragat.
• KaninchenHaus / Coniglio ViolacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-promoter of Barriera Unite, participating in neighborhood cultural and social programming.
• Associazione TamracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-promoter of Barriera Unite, contributing to social and cultural activities in Barriera di Milano.
• LiberacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by don Luigi Ciotti alongside Gruppo Abele, Libera is Italy's leading anti-mafia organization. The two organizations frequently collaborate on campaigns, advocacy (e.g., healthcare reform initiative, Referendum on Justice), events, and social education programs. They co-promote initiatives such as Comunità che educa comunità.
• Arci Torino APSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-implementer of the Ecologie di Cura project, working with youth aged 12–35 in Barriera di Milano on issues of addiction, social withdrawal, and mental health.
• Aliseo ETSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-implementer of the Ecologie di Cura project, contributing to youth support services in Barriera di Milano.
• Rete Ong ETSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Ecologie di Cura project for youth support in Barrera di Milano.
• Abd (Spain)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish partner in the Erasmus+ Mednet 4 Youth addictions project, collaborating with Gruppo Abele and Odyssea (Greece) to develop and disseminate best practices for youth addiction treatment across the Euro-Mediterranean region.
• Odyssea (Greece)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreek partner in the Erasmus+ Mednet 4 Youth addictions project, working with Gruppo Abele and Abd (Spain) to share good practices for youth addiction and social reintegration across the Euro-Mediterranean area.
• Città di TorinomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipal partner providing co-financing for the La Cultura Dietro l'Angolo project and the ImpatTo/Metro Plus Barriera Unite urban regeneration initiative (co-funded by the City of Turin and EU FSE).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights9 records

Direct peers

• Comunità di Sant'Egidio: Italian Catholic lay community providing direct social services to the poor, elderly, migrants, and people in hardship, with a strong presence in Rome and internationally. It is directly comparable to Gruppo Abele in mission (social welfare, marginalized populations), values (faith-rooted, volunteer-driven), and breadth of programs (hospitality, peace-building, humanitarian corridors).
• Libera. Associazioni, nomi e numeri contro le mafie: Italy's leading anti-mafia association, co-founded in 1995 by Gruppo Abele's founder, don Luigi Ciotti. It is the most directly comparable organization: it shares origin, leadership, mission orientation (social justice and anti-mafia advocacy), and frequently co-promotes campaigns, events, and policy initiatives (Referendum on Justice) with Gruppo Abele.
• CEIS A.M.I.G.O. (Centro italiano di solidarietà): Italian non-profit active in addiction treatment, social reintegration, migrant reception, and youth education, headquartered in Turin. Directly comparable to Gruppo Abele on therapeutic communities, addiction services, and migration programs in the same geographic market.
• Fondazione La Casa Onlus: Italian non-profit providing housing and social reintegration services for vulnerable groups including migrants, ex-prisoners, and people experiencing poverty. Comparable to Gruppo Abele's SAI and Comunità mamma-bimbo on housing-first and social reintegration models.
• Fondazione San Marcellino: Italian non-profit (Genoa) providing services for homeless persons, migrants, and people in poverty through shelters and drop-in centers. Comparable to Gruppo Abele's Casa di prima accoglienza, Drop House, and SAI facilities on core service lines (shelter, food, social reintegration).

Broad incumbents

• Save the Children Italia: Italian branch of an international NGO focused on children's rights and family welfare, with active programs on educational poverty and youth inclusion in peripheral neighborhoods (similar to Barriera Unite and ComunitAttiva 2.0). Comparable as a broader incumbent with overlapping youth/family programming and similar corporate/foundation fundraising model.
• Caritas Italiana: National coordinating body of the Italian Catholic Caritas network, operating nationwide charitable assistance (food, housing, poverty relief) and emergency response. It is a broad incumbent in the same social-assistance space as Gruppo Abele: same faith inspiration, similar service portfolio (poverty, migration, disaster relief), and similar funding model (8xmille, donations). Significantly larger in scale and geographic reach.
• Associazione ACLI (Associazioni Cristiane Lavoratori Italiani): Italian Catholic association providing social services, worker advocacy, immigration assistance (PATRONATO), and adult education nationwide. Broad incumbent comparator: similar inspiration and migration/work-inclusion service mix as Gruppo Abele's SAI programs and Consorzio Abele Lavoro.
• Croce Rossa Italiana: Italian Red Cross, the largest humanitarian organization in Italy, providing emergency relief, health, and social assistance including migration reception and homelessness support. Comparable as a broader incumbent offering many of the same direct-service lines as Gruppo Abele (emergency aid, migration, community welfare) on a much larger scale.

Regional players

• Arci Nazionale: Italian social/promotional association running cultural centers, youth programs, and migration projects, including Arci Torino, a direct partner of Gruppo Abele in the Ecologie di Cura project. Comparable as a partner-organization peer with overlapping cultural, youth, and migration programming in the same Turin ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GruppoAbele
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxXu0lCasdfWsJDKjbnI4bw
• Facebookfacebook.com/GruppoAbele
• Instagraminstagram.com/gruppoabele
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gruppo-abele

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries11 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 Gruppo Abele