diakonia

What diakonia does

diakonia is a Munich-based charitable social enterprise (gemeinnützige GmbH) founded in 1996 and jointly sponsored by Diakonie München und Oberbayern and the Evangelisch-Lutherischer Dekanatsbezirk München. It is Bavaria's largest inclusive employer, with approximately 280 regular employees of whom roughly 170 have disabilities, and operates the largest Zuverdienst program in the state at 81 places. Its mission is to integrate people facing significant labor-market barriers — long-term unemployed recipients of Bürgergeld, people with physical, sensory, psychological, or cognitive disabilities, individuals with reduced work capacity, and women with minimal professional qualifications — through vocational qualification, supported employment, retraining, apprenticeship, and placement pathways.

The organization's core products span three categories. (1) Secondhand retail: eight stores in Munich and Ebersberg (Kaufhaus, Voila, WertStoff#4, M7, lebhaft, stoffwechsel, kleidsam, kleidsam im Gartenhaus) plus eBay and Vinted channels selling donated clothing, furniture, electronics, books, and household items at fair prices; (2) commercial services: a master-craftsman painting business (Malerfachbetrieb), furniture logistics and apartment-clearance services, TipTopBox toner-and-ink-cartridge recycling, diacraft furniture upcycling, inhouse catering and housekeeping for day-care facilities, and the PICCO Kochbox meal-management system for Kitas and schools; (3) counseling and qualification: IBZ Beruf, MALZ, KASA, Karla Start, Regiestelle Hauswirtschaft, and AGH/Zuverdienst supported-employment programs. Technology infrastructure is non-proprietary and limited to standard SaaS tools.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining market-based commercial revenue, public-sector funding, and donations. Approximately 50% of personnel costs are covered by market operations, with the remainder subsidized by Bezirk Oberbayern (for Zuverdienst), the Münchner Beschäftigungs- und Qualifizierungsprogramm (MBQ), Jobcenter München, the Sozialreferat der Landeshauptstadt München, the Referat für Arbeit und Wirtschaft, ESF Bayern, and individual and corporate donations channelled through the Bank für Sozialwirtschaft. The Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Bavaria matches individual donations euro-for-euro via the '1+1 – mit Arbeitslosen teilen' campaign. Customers include Bürgergeld recipients referred through Jobcenter case workers, businesses procuring commercial services, Kit operators purchasing PICCO cooking boxes, and welfare recipients accessing mobile clothing distribution in partnership with Münchner Tafel and church communities. The company holds DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 AZAV certification, is a FairWertung member, and operates under the Grüner Gockel church environmental management standard.

Name

diakonia

Legal name

diakonia Dienstleistungsbetriebe GmbH; gemeinnützige Gesellschaft zur Förderung beruflicher Integration der Diakonie München und Oberbayern und des Evangelisch-Lutherischen Dekanats München

Website

https://diakonia.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

diakonia is a Munich-based charitable social enterprise and Bavaria's largest inclusive employer, operating secondhand retail stores, commercial services (painting, logistics, catering, recycling), and vocational qualification programs to integrate long-term unemployed individuals, people with disabilities, and welfare recipients into the labor market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

Keywords

• Social employment services
• Vocational rehabilitation programs
• Secondhand retail stores
• Inclusive employment services
• Social enterprise operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Secondhand retail sales: diakonia operates 7 secondhand stores in Munich and 1 in Ebersberg, selling donated clothing, furniture, electronics, books, and household items. Revenue is generated through direct retail sales at fair prices. Proceeds fund wages, social support, and employment programs.
2. E-commerce resale: Online sales through eBay shops (diakonia kaufhaus, Ebersberg location, clothing/textiles) and Vinted, as well as book marketplaces ZVAB, booklooker, and Buchfreund.
3. Catering and meal delivery (PICCO): diakonia PICCO delivers fresh, regional, and bio-certified cooking boxes to Kitas and schools in Oberbayern. This is a service revenue stream.
4. Commercial services (painting, logistics, toner recycling): diakonia operates commercial businesses including a painting company (Malerfachbetrieb), logistics and furniture removal service, toner/ink cartridge recycling (TipTopBox), and inhouse housekeeping and catering services. These generate market revenue.
5. Government funding and grants: diakonia receives structural funding from Bezirk Oberbayern (for Zuverdienst), MBQ (Münchner Beschäftigungs- und Qualifizierungsprogramm), jobcenter München, Sozialreferat der Landeshauptstadt München, and government programs such as ESF Bayern. In total, about 50% of personnel costs are covered by market revenue.
6. Donations: Individual and corporate monetary donations. The '1+1 – mit Arbeitslosen teilen' campaign with Evangelisch-Lutherische Landeskirche in Bayern matches donations euro-for-euro. Donations via Bank für Sozialwirtschaft.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

diakonia is a non-profit social employment and inclusion enterprise that operates eight secondhand retail stores, several market-oriented commercial businesses (painting, logistics, toner/ink recycling, furniture upcycling, catering/meal delivery), and a portfolio of vocational training, qualification, and social counseling programs. Approximately 280 employees (of whom around 170 have disabilities) are supported through supported employment (AGH), Zuverdienst, retraining, apprenticeship, and integration pathways, with revenue from market operations cross-subsidizing the social mission.

Product overview

diakonia is a social employment and inclusion company operating a portfolio of 8 secondhand retail locations (Kaufhaus, Voila, WertStoff#4, M7, lebhaft, stoffwechsel, kleidsam, Gartenhaus), specialty businesses (diacraft furniture upcycling, TipTopBox toner recycling, Logistik, Malerfachbetrieb painting, inhouse catering/housekeeping, PICCO Kita meal service), qualification programs (Regiestelle Hauswirtschaft, IBZ Beruf, MALZ, Karla Start, KASA), and mobile clothing distribution. The company functions as an umbrella organization providing vocational training, employment opportunities, and social integration services for people with disabilities or those distant from the labor market. The 81 subsidized Zuverdienst positions make it Bavaria's largest provider in this category, while its approximately 280 employees (including 170 with disabilities) make it Bavaria's largest inclusive employer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• diakonia Kaufhaus: A two-floor, 1,200 square meter second-hand department store offering textiles, electronics, books, household goods, and furniture.
• diakonia Voila
• diakonia WertStoff#4
• diakonia M7
• diakonia lebhaft
• diakonia stoffwechsel
• diakonia kleidsam
• diakonia kleidsam im Gartenhaus
• PICCO Mahlzeit
• diakonia inhouse
• diakonia diacraft
• diakonia TipTopBOX
• diakonia Logistik
• diakonia Malerfachbetrieb
• KASA
• MALZ (Münchner Arbeitslosenzentrum)
• IBZ (IntegrationsBeratungsZentrum Beruf)
• Karla Start
• Regiestelle Hauswirtschaft

Products and services

• diakonia Secondhand Retail Network of eight secondhand retail locations (seven in Munich including Kaufhaus, Voila, WertStoff#4, stoffwechsel, kleidsam, kleidsam im Gartenhaus, lebhaft, and one in Ebersberg (M7)) selling quality-checked donated clothing, furniture, electronics, books, and household items at affordable prices to consumers.
• PICCO Mahlzeit Meal Delivery Fresh cooking box delivery service for kindergartens and schools in Upper Bavaria, providing weekly menus with regional and bio-certified ingredients in precisely measured quantities, accompanied by training and educational materials. Winner of the Goldener Brokkoli 2025 award.
• diakonia inhouse Catering and Housekeeping
• diakonia Malerfachbetrieb Painting Services Master craftsman painting and decorating services for commercial and residential clients, combining professional craftsmanship with social responsibility.
• diakonia Logistik Furniture disposal, donation pickup, and apartment clearance logistics services for households and businesses, creating supported employment positions.
• diakonia TipTopBox Toner Recycling Toner and ink cartridge recycling service that collects empty cartridges from businesses through collection boxes for environmentally responsible recycling.
• diakonia diacraft Furniture Upcycling Furniture upcycling workshop restoring and refinishing old or slightly damaged furniture, creating employment for people with barriers to the labor market.
• Regiestelle Hauswirtschaft Qualification Program Low-threshold and language-supported qualification courses for household management in kindergartens, community facilities, and gastronomy, recognized in the UNESCO BNE (Education for Sustainable Development) register in 2024.
• IBZ Beruf Integration Counseling Integration counseling center for long-term unemployed people providing resources, employment guidance, and perspective under the motto 'Ressourcen – Arbeit – Perspektive'.
• MALZ Münchner Arbeitslosenzentrum Independent counseling center for unemployed people providing information on labor and social law and support regarding unemployment benefits.
• KASA Social Counseling Social counseling center for people in difficult life situations providing assistance with housing, work, education, health, family matters, and orientation in city society.
• Karla Start Qualification Program Four-month qualification program for women receiving citizen's income with little or no professional knowledge, covering basic computer skills, key competencies, and application training.
• Arbeitsgelegenheiten (AGH) Work opportunities for long-term unemployed citizens' income recipients designed to gradually return them to a work rhythm and labor market participation.
• Zuverdienst Supported Employment Subsidized part-time employment (max 14.99 hours/week) for people with full work disability, providing daily structure, self-efficacy, social contacts, and community belonging. diakonia provides 81 Zuverdienst places, making it Bavaria's largest provider.
• Mobile Kleiderkammern (Clothing Distribution)

Quantifiable outcome

• 81 Zuverdienst places provided — largest provider in Bavaria
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Münchner Beschäftigungs- und Qualifizierungsprogramm (MBQ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026diakonia has been a partner of MBQ for 15 years, contributing to the city's central labor market program. MBQ provides funding and referral of long-term unemployed individuals, while diakonia provides employment, qualification, and social support. Together they enable sustainable integration into the labor market.
• Good Crop / Haus der KostminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGood Crop operates the Haus der Kost (Freddie-Mercury-Str. 5, Munich), a training center for sustainable cooking. They co-host PICCO cooking events to demonstrate sustainable community catering.
• Münchner TafelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerdiakonia operates mobile clothing distribution at multiple Münchner Tafel locations (Sendling, Pasing, Neuperlach), providing free clothing to Tafel clients with valid proof of need.
• Various church communities (Kirchengemeinden) in MunichminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMultiple church communities across Munich host mobile clothing distribution points, clothing collection containers, and the open lunch program (e.g., Magdalenenkirche Moosach). They provide venue access and community reach.
• Jobcenter MünchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJobcenter München is the primary referral partner for Bürgergeld recipients into diakonia's employment and qualification programs. Close ongoing cooperation includes joint events, house fairs, and regular coordination between integration specialists and diakonia staff.
• Hohenfried e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPICCO ingredients are prepared in Hohenfried e.V.'s bio-certified kitchen — an inclusive food production facility — as part of the PICCO supply chain.
• Edina Pop (Singer, Dschingis Khan)minorOthersEdina Pop donated iconic stage costumes to diakonia for a special fashion show and charity auction at diakonia stoffwechsel, raising awareness and funds for the social mission.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Diakonie Düsseldorf gGmbH: Sister Diakonie social services operation in North Rhine-Westphalia, running vocational and inclusion programs of comparable type. Explicitly referenced in source material (ISO 50001 certification) as a parallel Diakonie social-enterprise structure.
• Hohenfried e.V. Inclusive Bavarian social enterprise in the same Diakonie ecosystem, operating bio-certified food production (kitchen) that supplies diakonia's PICCO Kochbox. Directly comparable as a regional, faith-rooted, market-facing social employer.
• Bodelschwinghsche Stiftungen Bethel: Large Diakonie-affiliated social enterprise operator running sheltered workshops, vocational training, and inclusion employment across multiple German cities. Closest large-scale German analog for diakonia's model of markets + mission under Diakonie governance.

Broad incumbents

• Aktion Mensch e.V. Germany's largest private social-inclusion funder, financing hundreds of inclusion and employment projects annually. Comparable as a national-scale backbone of German inclusion employment, though operating as a funder rather than direct employer.
• Lebenshilfe Bayern e.V. Regional Bavarian disability advocacy and service organization that runs Werkstätten, housing and supported-employment programs. Directly comparable in its focus on disability employment/inclusion in the same geography.
• Caritas München und Oberbayern e.V. Parallel Catholic welfare/employment provider operating in the same Munich/Oberbayern region; overlapping mission (employment integration, social services) but broader mandate including elder care and youth welfare.

Others

• Evangelisch-Lutherische Landeskirche in Bayern: Co-funder and Diakonie parent context; runs the euro-for-euro matching donation campaign ('1+1 – mit Arbeitslosen teilen') and provides faith-rooted institutional support. Comparable as a key funder/partner institution rather than direct competitor.
• Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Integrationsfirmen e.V. (bag-if): Federal industry association for German Inklusionsbetriebe (inclusive companies) of which diakonia is one. Useful benchmark for peer performance and sector-level policy but does not itself operate programs.
• Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Werkstätten für behinderte Menschen e.V. (BAG WfbM): Industry association for sheltered workshops for people with disabilities in Germany. Comparable as the sectoral umbrella for inclusion employment alongside diakonia's Zuverdienst model, though workshops operate as a distinct service type.

Emerging players

• Münchner Tafel e.V. Munich food/clothing-distribution non-profit explicitly partnered with diakonia on Kleiderkammern distribution. Comparable in mission and beneficiary base (financial-hardship clients), but operates at smaller scale and lacks diakonia's B2B service arm.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/diakonia.muenchen
• Instagraminstagram.com/diakonia_muenchen

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries14 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 diakonia