What Bagfa E.V. does

Bagfa E.V. (legally Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Freiwilligenagenturen e.V.) is the nationwide umbrella and specialist association for volunteer agencies (Freiwilligenagenturen) in Germany. Founded around 1999 and headquartered in Berlin at Potsdamer Str. 99, the registered nonprofit (eingetragener Verein) operates under the patronage of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and holds tax-exempt charitable status confirmed by the Berlin tax authority. Its primary constituents are the 400+ Freiwilligenagenturen, Freiwilligenzentren, Engagementbörsen, and Ehrenamtsbüros that serve as municipal contact points for civic engagement across all German federal states.

The organization's product portfolio is built around member services and curated knowledge rather than proprietary technology. Core offerings include the bagfa-Qualitätsmanagementsystem (QMS) with a certification seal (Qualitätssiegel), the bagfa-Wissenspool organized into six Themenwelten (Inklusion, Digitalisierung, Unternehmensengagement, Flucht und Migration, Nachhaltigkeit, Schutz und Demokratie), the Fortbildungsreihe training program, the Hospitationsprogramm exchange program, the Agenturatlas digital directory of 420+ agencies, and project-based initiatives such as Schutzraum Freiwilligenagentur, digital durch:starten, and Impulspatenschaften. The Engagement-Plattform is delivered in partnership with Aktion Mensch. The technology stack is composed of third-party SaaS tools (pretix for event registration, rapidmail for newsletter delivery, Zoom, LamaPoll, SurveyMonkey, WordPress), with no proprietary platform.

Bagfa's revenue model combines modest membership subscriptions (€290/year for full organizational members, €250 for members of a Länderarbeitsgemeinschaft, €100 for individual supporters) with the dominant revenue stream of project grants and federal program funding from bodies including the Deutsche Stiftung für Engagement und Ehrenamt (DSEE), the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs (BMFSFJ), and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). Distribution is national in scope and delivered through direct member engagement, events, digital self-service channels (Agenturatlas, Engagement-Plattform, newsletter), and program-specific partnerships. A small core staff of around five employees, led by Managing Director Tobias Kemnitzer and Co-Managing Director Stefanie Fichter, operates the organization.

Name

Bagfa E.V.

Legal name

Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Freiwilligenagenturen e.V.

Website

https://bagfa.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bagfa E.V. is the national umbrella and specialist association for Germany's 400+ volunteer agencies, delivering quality management certification, training, a curated knowledge pool, and federally funded civic engagement projects under the patronage of the Federal President.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Bagfa E.V. generates primary revenue from annual membership fees. Full membership is open to legally recognized nonprofit volunteer agencies; supporting membership (Fördermitgliedschaft) is available to agencies that don't yet meet full membership criteria, as well as individuals and organizations. Membership fees are 290 EUR per year for full members, 250 EUR for members also affiliated with a regional association (Länderarbeitsgemeinschaft), and 100 EUR for individual supporting members.
2. QMS (Quality Management System) fees: Member agencies can access and use the bagfa quality management system (QMS). The QMS is available at member pricing, implying a fee-based component for non-members or additional services related to quality certification and consulting.
3. Professional development and event fees: Bagfa organizes a Fortbildungsreihe (professional development series) with seminars, check-up trainings, and events. Events are offered at discounted rates for members. Revenue is generated through event registration fees.
4. Project funding and grants: Bagfa receives project funding from government bodies and foundations, including the Deutsche Stiftung für Engagement und Ehrenamt (DSEE), the Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Homeland Affairs (BMI), the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs (BMFSFJ), and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). Projects include 'Schutzraum Freiwilligenagentur', 'digital durch:starten', 'Impulspatenschaften', and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bagfa E.V. (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Freiwilligenagenturen e.V.) is the nationwide umbrella and specialist association (Dach- und Fachverband) for volunteer agencies (Freiwilligenagenturen) in Germany. It delivers membership services, a proprietary quality management system with a quality seal, a structured professional development program, knowledge resources, networking events, and federally funded projects supporting over 400 member volunteer agencies across all German states.

Product overview

Bagfa E.V. (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Freiwilligenagenturen) is a non-profit umbrella and specialist association for volunteer agencies in Germany, operating a portfolio of services rather than a traditional product. The core offerings include the bagfa-Wissenspool (a digital knowledge resource with thematic areas), the Agenturatlas (a directory of 400+ volunteer agencies), the bagfa-Fortbildungsreihe (a structured training program), and the Qualitätsmanagementsystem (a quality management and certification system). Additional offerings include thematic worlds on topics like sustainability, migration, and democratic protection, project initiatives like Schutzraum Freiwilligenagentur, an innovation award, a hospitation/exchange program, and the digital durch:starten initiative. The organization also facilitates access to external platforms like the Aktion Mensch Engagement-Plattform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• bagfa-Qualitätsmanagementsystem (QMS) A proprietary quality management system designed specifically for volunteer agencies in Germany, including a certification process, Qualitätssiegel (quality seal), handbook, and FAQs. Available to member agencies at member pricing.
• bagfa-Fortbildungsreihe (Professional Development Program) A structured training program offering digital onboarding, check-up sessions, and in-person seminars covering organization management, project development, financing, and networking for volunteer agency staff.
• bagfa-Agenturatlas (Digital Atlas) A curated digital directory listing over 420 volunteer agencies across Germany, enabling users to search for local agencies by location.
• Hospitationsprogramm (Exchange Program) A peer exchange program allowing volunteer agency staff to conduct internships at partner agencies to share knowledge and best practices across the network.
• digital durch:starten Initiative A programmatic initiative supporting volunteer agencies in digital transformation and adoption of digital tools and processes in their daily operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 420 volunteer agencies listed in the Agenturatlas
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Deutsche Stiftung für Engagement und Ehrenamt (DSEE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Bagfa is a partner in the DSEE's pilot project 'Schutz- und Präventionsnetzwerk für das Ehrenamt (SPE)' (Protection and Prevention Network for Volunteering), funded by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Homeland Affairs (BMI). Bagfa contributed the 'Schutzraum Freiwilligenagentur – geschütztes Engagement?' project to this initiative, focused on protecting civic engagement and strengthening volunteer agencies in their commitment to democracy and diversity.
• Freiwilligen-Agentur Halle-Saalekreis e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in the 'Schutzraum Freiwilligenagentur' project. The Halle agency contributed local insights on protection needs, experience with regional networks, and participated in developing protection and prevention concepts for volunteer agencies.
• Centrum für bürgerschaftliches Engagement Mülheim a.d. Ruhr (CBE e.V.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in the 'Schutzraum Freiwilligenagentur' project. CBE Mülheim contributed its experience with local networks, particularly through its 'Partnerschaft für Demokratie' and the Hallianz für Vielfalt network, to the protection and prevention work.
• LAGFA Brandenburg (Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Freiwilligenagenturen Brandenburg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in the 'Schutzraum Freiwilligenagentur' project. As the state-level association of volunteer agencies in Brandenburg, LAGFA Brandenburg represented the regional perspective and coordinated input from multiple Brandenburg-based agencies.
• Aktion MenschminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBagfa links to and promotes the Aktion Mensch Engagement-Plattform on its website. Aktion Mensch provides the digital platform through which citizens can find volunteer opportunities, and bagfa directs its audience to this platform as a consumer-facing discovery channel.
• Heldenrat GmbHminorOthersSvenja Quitsch from Heldenrat GmbH authored and compiled the texts and materials for the Themenwelt Nachhaltigkeit (Sustainability themed world) in 2024.
• UPJ e.V.minorOthersSimon Probst from UPJ e.V. updated and expanded the Themenwelt Nachhaltigkeit. UPJ is also referenced for materials on corporate-civil society cooperation for climate action.
• Gabi Klein, Kölner Freiwilligen Agentur e.V.minorOthersGabi Klein from Kölner Freiwilligen Agentur e.V. took on the update and expansion of the texts for the Themenwelt Flucht und Migration.
• Aktion Zivilcourage e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAktion Zivilcourage is a key partner in the civic protection ecosystem. Dr. Cathleen Bochmann from Aktion Zivilcourage developed municipal protection concepts for civil society actors, working with ten municipalities. Bagfa collaborated with her in its '55 Minuten mit...' format and referenced her expertise on protection and democracy.
• Dachverband der Migrant*innenorganisationen in Ostdeutschland e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five umbrella associations (Dachverbände) from various areas of engagement promotion and volunteering that collaborated with DSEE in the SPE project alongside bagfa.
• Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund e.V. (DOSB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five umbrella associations from various areas of engagement promotion and volunteering that collaborated with DSEE in the SPE project.
• Landesfeuerwehrverband Rheinland-Pfalz e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five umbrella associations from various areas of engagement promotion and volunteering that collaborated with DSEE in the SPE project.
• Queere Bildung e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five umbrella associations from various areas of engagement promotion and volunteering that collaborated with DSEE in the SPE project.
• LAGFA Bayern e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAGFA Bayern e.V. is referenced as a collaboration partner, particularly for its Praxishandbuch 'Vielfalt fördern. Teilhabe durch bürgerschaftliches Engagement' (Practice Handbook 'Promoting Diversity. Participation through Civic Engagement').
• Stiftung 'Leben in der Hohen Börde'minorOthersThe foundation 'Leben in der Hohen Börde' employs the coordinator of the 'aktive hohe börde' volunteer office (a member agency), providing organizational and financial support. The foundation was established in 2014 with 78 co-founders from business and civil society.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bundesnetzwerk Bürgerschaftliches Engagement (BBE): Germany's national cross-sector network for civic engagement, comprising ~280 members from civil society, government and business. BBE is the closest structural peer to bagfa — both serve as convening bodies for civic engagement infrastructure and translate sector needs into federal policy engagement.
• Points of Light Foundation: International nonprofit focused on volunteering and civic engagement, operating convening, recognition (Daily Point of Light Award) and knowledge programs. Comparable as a national-level umbrella that curates best practice, runs awards, and advocates for the volunteer sector.
• VolunteerMatch: U.S.-based nonprofit operating the largest online volunteer engagement network. Comparable as a coordinating infrastructure player that connects volunteers with nonprofit opportunities via a curated national directory — analogous to bagfa's Agenturatlas in function, though delivered through a proprietary platform.
• European Volunteer Centre (CEV): Brussels-based European umbrella for volunteer organizations, performing a similar coordinating, advocacy and knowledge-sharing role at EU level that bagfa plays at German national level. Directly comparable mission and membership-association model.

Broad incumbents

• Aktion Mensch: Large German social lottery operator that funds inclusion projects and runs the Engagement-Plattform used by bagfa for volunteer matching. Overlaps with bagfa in the volunteer-discovery and infrastructure space but operates at much larger scale and with a different funding model.
• Deutsche Stiftung für Engagement und Ehrenamt (DSEE): Federal government-funded foundation supporting volunteering and civic engagement across Germany. DSEE funds bagfa projects (e.g., SPE) and operates complementary programs; broader mandate and federal purse give it incumbency, while bagfa operates as the specialist volunteer-agency body.

Emerging players

• PHINEO gAG: German nonprofit analysis and consulting organization that helps philanthropic donors and engages civil society. Comparable as a German civic-sector infrastructure provider, though PHINEO focuses on nonprofit impact analysis rather than volunteer-agency coordination.
• Stiftung Bürgermut: German civic foundation supporting citizen-led projects with matchmaking, training and seed funding. Overlaps with bagfa on civic-engagement infrastructure and capacity-building for grassroots initiatives, though focused on project funding rather than volunteer-agency coordination.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bagfaeV
• Instagraminstagram.com/bagfa_ev
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bagfa-e.v.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bagfa E.V.