Die Brucke

What Die Brucke does

Die Brücke e.V. Aschaffenburg is a registered nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein) founded on 30 May 1983 that delivers a portfolio of publicly funded social integration programs to disadvantaged populations in the Aschaffenburg region of Bavaria. Its target beneficiaries include long-term unemployed individuals, court-ordered juveniles and adults performing community service, young adults aged 18–25 at risk of homelessness, male and female ex-prisoners without probation supervision, and youth exhibiting at-risk or violent behavior. Core programs encompass seven operating departments: Holzbrücke (an AZAV-accredited vocational integration center with workshops across carpentry, moving services, gardening, animal care, logistics and similar trades), the Vermittlungsstelle für gemeinnützige Arbeit (court-intermediated community service placement), Gewaltprävention (violence prevention and de-escalation training), Junges Wohnen (supported housing for at-risk young adults), Brückehof (event venue and therapeutic farm featuring animal care and gardening for participants with complex needs), the Zentrale Beratungsstelle für Haftentlassene (counseling for ex-prisoners, operated jointly with Grenzenlos e.V.), and Meine Chance (joint youth program with Diakonie Aschaffenburg). The Gebrauchtmöbelladen, a 400 sqm second-hand furniture and household goods store with ~1,000 sqm of storage, doubles as an upcycling-driven retail channel and a participant-training environment, generating roughly 10,000 working hours of supervised employment annually.

Revenue mechanics are multi-stream and almost entirely institutional. Government and public-sector funding flows from Jobcenter Stadt und Landkreis Aschaffenburg, the Agentur für Arbeit (via AZAV-certified qualification measures since 2012, certification number 506120), local courts (Amtsgerichte), the Jugendamt, and the municipality. Supplementary income comes from project-based grants (Deutsche Fernsehlotterie, Glücksspirale, Aktion Mensch), corporate and private social sponsorship (advertised on vehicles, in local press such as Main-Echo and Bayerischer Rundfunk), donations (recognized for tax purposes via bank statements up to €200 and formal receipts above), and retail transactions from the Gebrauchtmöbelladen. Services to beneficiaries are delivered free of charge; the store operates affordable unit pricing with additional discounts for Berechtigungsschein holders. The go-to-market motion is referral-led: courts, prosecutors, jobcenters, youth welfare offices, and social service agencies channel participants into the appropriate program, with the Brückehof also sold commercially to private-sector clients for events and team-building. Technology is not a meaningful element of the operating model — no proprietary platform, AI/ML capabilities, or API surface exists; participant management, reporting, and program administration rely on conventional nonprofit tooling. The organization's principal economic moats are its AZAV accreditation (a regulated precondition for federal employment-program funding), its 42-year institutional incumbency in the local social welfare and justice ecosystems, and a physical footprint (workshops, retail, residential, event, and counseling facilities across multiple Aschaffenburg locations) that is difficult for a new entrant to assemble.

Name

Die Brucke

Legal name

Sozialverein Die Brücke e.V. Aschaffenburg

Website

https://bruecke-ev.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Die Brücke e.V. Aschaffenburg is a registered nonprofit founded in 1983 that delivers AZAV-accredited employment integration, court-ordered community service placement, violence prevention, youth housing, and prisoner reintegration programs in the Aschaffenburg region, supplemented by a 400 sqm second-hand furniture store and an event venue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services and Vocational Rehabilitation

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Social reintegration services
• Vocational rehabilitation programs
• Employment integration workshops
• Community service placement
• Secondhand furniture store

Headquarters

HQ city

Lüchow

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government & Public Sector Funding: Core funding comes from close collaboration with public social administration (Sozialverwaltung) and the justice system (Justiz), including AZAV-certified employment integration programs funded through jobcenters and employment agencies.
2. Social Services & Charitable Grants: The organization receives project-based grants from institutional donors and charitable foundations (e.g., Fernsehlotterie/Glücksspirale for 'Junges Wohnen', Aktion Mensch) and social sponsorship from corporate and private sponsors.
3. Retail Sales (Gebrauchtmöbelladen): Revenue generated from the sale of refurbished donated furniture, household goods, and white goods (washing machines, dishwashers, etc.) in the 400 sqm secondhand furniture store. Sales are open to the general public, with discounted access for Berechtigungsschein holders, students, and pensioners.
4. Social Sponsorship: Corporate and private sponsors cover fixed expenses (insurance, rent, operational costs) or specific project measures. In return, sponsors receive visibility through outdoor advertising on vehicles and connections to local press (Main-Echo, Bayerischer Rundfunk, TV-Touring).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Die Brücke e.V. is a registered nonprofit social association that delivers vocational rehabilitation, employment integration, supported housing, court-ordered community service placement, violence prevention training, and reintegration counseling for ex-prisoners. Its commercial arm operates a 400 sqm secondhand furniture store (Gebrauchtmöbelladen), a carpentry workshop (Schreinerei), and an event venue (Brückehof), with services funded by German public social administration, the justice system, charitable foundations, and retail sales.

Product overview

Die Brücke e.V. is a multi-service social integration organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs addressing employment reintegration, housing, youth support, violence prevention, and offender rehabilitation. The core offerings include Holzbrücke (vocational training and employment center with carpentry, Gebrauchtmöbelladen (second-hand furniture store), Vermittlungsstelle für gemeinnützige Arbeit (community service placement), Gewaltprävention (violence prevention), Junges Wohnen (youth housing), Brückehof (event facility and therapeutic farm), Schreinerei (carpentry workshop), Meine Chance (youth support under 25), and the Frechdachs project for young offenders. Sub-products include Projekt Hydra (intensive care at Brückehof) and the Kreativwerkstatt (creative workshop). These services operate across multiple locations in Aschaffenburg and work in close coordination with public social services, courts, and job centers to provide holistic support from prevention through integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Holzbrücke: Work center providing employment and training opportunities for people without professional perspectives, integrating them into the labor market.
• Meine Chance
• Brückehof
• Gewaltprävention

Products and services

• Holzbrücke – Zentrum für Arbeit Vocational integration center providing paid work experience and coaching across carpentry, kitchen fitting, driving, electrical work, sales, moving services, gardening, animal care, cleaning, warehousing and logistics for long-term unemployed individuals with complex barriers to employment.
• Gebrauchtmöbelladen 400 sqm secondhand furniture and household goods store that accepts donated furniture and appliances, refurbishes them, and sells them at affordable prices to the general public, with discounted access for Berechtigungsschein (welfare certificate) holders, students and pensioners.
• Vermittlungsstelle für gemeinnützige Arbeit Mediation service that places juveniles and adults ordered by courts to perform unpaid community service ('Schwitzen statt Sitzen') at suitable public or charitable placement organizations, including municipal facilities, hospitals, kindergartens, churches and sports clubs.
• Gewaltprävention Violence prevention programs offering targeted training, pedagogical offerings and anti-violence programs for at-risk youth as well as team building, conflict management and de-escalation training for institutions and companies.
• Junges Wohnen Supported housing for young adults aged 18–25 in Aschaffenburg threatened by or affected by homelessness, offering a safe living environment with personal guidance, daily support, and individual development programs to build residential and employment readiness.
• Brückehof Event and activity location near Schönbusch park available to social institutions and private businesses for team building, company events, school excursions, conflict management and de-escalation programs, featuring meeting rooms, sports facilities, animal enclosures and greenhouse.
• Zentrale Beratungsstelle für Haftentlassene Central counseling service for male ex-prisoners without probation officer or parole supervision, providing individualized support, networking of services, and assistance for successful reintegration into society.
• Schreinerei Carpentry workshop offering custom furniture manufacturing and renovation services including doors, floors, kitchens, bathroom and bedroom furniture, built-in cabinetry, and kitchen cabinet door replacement, with consultation, planning, production and installation.
• Meine Chance Holistic counseling and accompaniment program for young people under 25 between school and work who have no plan or have fallen out of social welfare systems, providing help with social benefits, housing, education, training, and referrals to specialized services (debt, mental health, addiction).
• Frechdachs Special project for very young offenders aged 14–16 who complete community service sentences at the Brückehof by building greenhouses, growing vegetables, and caring for chickens, with socio-pedagogical support.
• Projekt Hydra Intensive care program at Brückehof for unemployed people with complex support needs, including behavioral deficits, mental and physical health issues, and labor market alienation, with responsible tasks in animal care and gardening within a natural environment.
• Kreativwerkstatt Creative workshop at Holzbrücke producing wood products, decorative candles and upcycled fire barrels, creating additional employment positions for participants to discover and develop their talents as part of the sustainability and circular economy mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~10,000 working hours contributed annually to operational support of measures in the Gebrauchtmöbelladen
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles9 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Diakonie Aschaffenburg/UntermaincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Joint project partner for 'Meine Chance' — a counseling and accompaniment program for young people under 25. Die Brücke and Diakonie collaborate as equal partners, with additional cooperation from Jobcenter Aschaffenburg, Arbeitsagentur Aschaffenburg, and Landkreis Aschaffenburg.
• Jobcenter AschaffenburgcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Official referral and funding partner for employment integration programs and 'Meine Chance' youth support program. Jobcenter Aschaffenburg directs beneficiaries into Die Brücke's programs and provides funding through AZAV-certified measures.
• Arbeitsagentur Aschaffenburg (Federal Employment Agency)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Cooperation partner for 'Meine Chance' program and AZAV-certified qualification programs. Provides institutional funding and referral of job seekers into Holzbrücke employment integration measures.
• Landkreis AschaffenburgcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Cooperation partner for 'Meine Chance' program. County government supports the youth support initiative alongside Jobcenter and employment agency.
• Stadt Aschaffenburg (Municipality of Aschaffenburg)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Long-standing municipal partnership. The city of Aschaffenburg collaborates with Die Brücke e.V. through public social administration channels, provides facilities, and awarded the organization the Agenda-Preis (2003). The relationship is foundational to the organization's regional mandate.
• Grenzenlos e.V. (Aschaffenburg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDie Brücke e.V. operates its 'Zentrale Beratungsstelle für Haftentlassene' (counseling center for male released prisoners) within the premises of Grenzenlos e.V. The partnership enables shared infrastructure and coordinated reintegration support.
• Sozialdienst Katholischer Frauen (SkF) AschaffenburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe SkF operates the counseling center for female released prisoners at Erbsengasse 9. Die Brücke references this partner organization as part of the broader released prisoner support network in Aschaffenburg.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AWO Bundesverband: National workers' welfare federation with regional chapters providing employment integration, youth services, and social-work programs similar to Die Brücke's Holzbrücke, Meine Chance, and Junges Wohnen offerings. Operates at materially larger scale with dedicated policy and funding-development resources.
• Diakonie Deutschland: National federation of Protestant welfare organisations and Die Brücke's parent faith-based umbrella. Operates nationwide across all of Die Brücke's service lines (vocational integration, youth housing, prison reintegration) but at much larger scale and with shared digital infrastructure, funding-development teams, and political advocacy capacity.
• Deutscher Caritasverband: Germany's largest Catholic welfare federation. Operates across social-work services, vocational rehabilitation, youth housing and offender reintegration through regional Caritasverbände. National brand, larger fundraising capacity, and incumbent position in the same AZAV and lottery funding pools as Die Brücke.
• Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband Bayern: Bavarian state-level umbrella for independent social-services organisations including Die Brücke itself. Aggregates smaller Träger for collective bargaining with SGB III funders, provides shared back-office and training, and channels lottery and foundation grants to members — comparable in mission to Die Brücke but at much larger aggregation scale.

Direct peers

• AWO Kreisverband Aschaffenburg: Local chapter of the Arbeiterwohlfahrt welfare federation, operating in Aschaffenburg with a comparable portfolio of employment integration, youth services, and family support. Competes for the same Jobcenter referrals and lottery grants at regional level.
• Sozialdienst katholischer Frauen (SkF) Aschaffenburg: Operates the parallel female-ex-prisoner counselling center in Aschaffenburg at Erbsengasse 9. SkF is the natural gender-segmented counterpart to Die Brücke's male Haftentlassene counseling and competes/cooperates on the same local justice-system referral relationships.
• Caritasverband für die Regionen Aschaffenburg und Miltenberg: Regional Catholic welfare provider operating in the same Aschaffenburg catchment. Caritas runs comparable services — vocational integration, youth housing, family counselling, ex-prisoner reintegration — and competes with Die Brücke for the same AZAV, Aktion Mensch, and municipal funding pools.
• Grenzenlos e.V. Aschaffenburg: Hosts Die Brücke's male released-prisoner counseling center (Zentrale Beratungsstelle für Haftentlassene) at its premises and delivers adjacent reintegration services. Direct peer offering the same post-release support to ex-prisoners in the same geography, often in coordination rather than in competition.
• Diakonie Aschaffenburg/Untermain: Direct operating peer in the Aschaffenburg/Untermain region. Diakonie Aschaffenburg is the joint project partner for Die Brücke's 'Meine Chance' programme and delivers an overlapping portfolio of social-work services — employment integration, youth support, debt counselling, and social welfare casework — funded through the same Jobcenter and Landkreis channels.

Emerging players

• SOS-Kinderdorf Deutschland: National youth-housing and family-support nonprofit operating Wohngruppen, Mutter-Vater-Kind-Einrichtungen, and youth-employment programmes. Direct conceptual peer for Die Brücke's Junges Wohnen and Meine Chance lines, though at much larger national scale and with a stronger brand in the children's-services segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/bruecke.ev.aschaffenburg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Die Brucke