Balu und Du e.V.
Balu und Du e.V. is a Cologne-based German nonprofit that runs one-on-one mentoring programs pairing young adult volunteers (Balus, 16–25) with primary-school children (Moglis, 6–10) across 216 active local sites. It is funded primarily by corporate donations and grants, with ROSSMANN as its largest anchor donor.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersKöln (Cologne), Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Balu und Du e.V. does
Balu und Du e.V. is a Cologne-headquartered, Osnabrück-registered German nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein) that operates one-on-one mentoring programs pairing young adult volunteers aged 16–25 (the 'Balus') with primary-school children aged 6–10 (the 'Moglis') for sustained extracurricular engagement. As of 2025 the organization runs 216 active local sites plus 31 paused sites, supports 2,081 active mentoring tandems, and has facilitated more than 20,000 tandems cumulatively since founding, with 5,182 annual meetings recorded in 2025. The core product is a structured, scientifically evaluated pedagogical concept delivered through trained volunteer mentors, with local site operations executed in cooperation with welfare organizations (AWO Forchheim), municipalities (Stadt Mönchengladbach), and universities (HTW saar).
The operating model is donation- and grant-funded rather than revenue-generating. Income is sourced from corporate sponsors (notably ROSSMANN, Deutsche Bahn Stiftung, Aqtivator, DPL, eleven, BMF, MSM) and regional banks (Sparkasse), with reported large gifts including €1.25M from ROSSMANN in November 2024 and €1M from ROSSMANN in October 2025 to fund the 'Klasse 0' early-intervention concept. The organization employs 17 staff and is led by CEO Dr. Dominik Esch. The disclosed technology stack consists of standard SaaS tools (HubSpot, OpenStreetMap, Usercentrics/Cookiebot, an intranet, the 'Dschungelfunk' communication platform, and a 'Tagebuch' diary tool); no proprietary AI/ML systems are indicated. A newly posted 'Manager:in digitale Transformation' role points to early-stage digital modernization of donor management and operations.
Balu und Du e.V. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Balu und Du e.V.
- Legal name
- Balu und Du e.V.
- Website
- https://balu-und-du.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Balu und Du e.V. is a Cologne-based German nonprofit that runs one-on-one mentoring programs pairing young adult volunteers (Balus, 16–25) with primary-school children (Moglis, 6–10) across 216 active local sites. It is funded primarily by corporate donations and grants, with ROSSMANN as its largest anchor donor.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Balu und Du e.V. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Mentoring Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Peer Support, Mentoring & Student Leadership (SEL) (EDAKAMAO)
Keywords
Where Balu und Du e.V. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Köln (Cologne)
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Balu und Du e.V. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Private Contributions: The organization accepts donations from private individuals to fund its mentoring programs. Donations can be made via PayPal or bank transfer. Donors receive donation receipts for tax purposes.
- Foundation and Corporate Grants/Sponsorship: Major funders include Aqtivator, Deutsche Bahn Stiftung, DPL, eleven, Bundesministerium der Finanzen, MSM, and ROSSMANN. These partners provide significant financial support for program operations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Balu und Du e.V. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Balu und Du e.V. runs a one-on-one mentoring program that pairs primary school children (called Moglis) with young adult volunteers (called Balus) for approximately one year. The Balus accompany the children once a week in school and leisure time settings, supporting educational, social, and personal development. The program is delivered through 216 active locations with 2,081 active mentoring tandems and is operated by a lean staff of 17 employees, supported by a network of schools, universities, and welfare NGOs.
Product overview
Balu und Du e.V. operates a single core mentoring program as its primary product/service offering. The organization runs a nationwide network of over 216 active locations where young mentors (Balus) are paired with primary school children (Moglis) for one-year mentoring relationships, meeting once weekly for 1-3 hours. The program focuses on educational equity and personal development. Supporting offerings include the BALU-Magazin publication and digital tools such as the 'Tagebuch' (diary) platform for documenting activities, an intranet for coordinators, and the 'Dschungelfunk' communication service.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Balu und Du One-on-One Mentoring Program A one-on-one mentoring program pairing primary school children (Moglis) with young adult volunteers (Balus) for approximately one year. Balus meet their Mogli weekly in school and leisure settings to support educational, social, and personal development. Delivered across 216 active locations with 2,081 active tandems; beneficiaries are children, families, and young adult volunteers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 20,000 tandems matched since program inception in 2001
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Balu und Du e.V.
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Balu und Du e.V. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Balu und Du e.V. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered program partner and regional partner.
- HTW saarprogram partnerPartner university where AWO and HTW saar jointly run the Balu und Du program. Donated 15,000 EUR in March 2026.
- Caritas (various locations)program partnerCaritas operates local Balu und Du locations in various German regions including Trier, Castrop-Rauxel, Forchheim, and others.
- Malteser Hilfsdienstprogram partnerOperates Balu und Du program locations, including Hamburg (Malteser Campus) and other regions.
- AWO (Arbeiterwohlfahrt)program partnerAWO Forchheim opened first Oberfranken location in May 2025; AWO and HTW saar partnership for program delivery.
- Kinderschutzbund Delmenhorstregional partnerLocal partner organization implementing Balu und Du program.
- HAWK Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunstprogram partnerLong-standing university partner since 2017. Students serve as Balus for local primary school children. Received multiple awards including Gesundheitspreis 2024 and Niedersächsischer Integrationspreis Sonderpreis 2024.
- Universität Osnabrückprogram partnerService-learning partner where the program is integrated as an academic course. Long-standing partnership since founding.
- Deutsche Sporthochschule Kölnprogram partnerDSHS Köln runs Balu und Du program for sports students mentoring primary school children.
- Universität Vechtaprogram partnerLong-standing partnership where the program is delivered as a project course.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Balu und Du e.V. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SOS Kinderdorf: Major German child welfare organization providing residential and community-based support for vulnerable children and youth. Operates at a much larger scale across Germany with overlapping beneficiary populations.
- Aktion Mensch: Germany's largest social lottery and grantmaking organization, financing hundreds of inclusion and youth projects. Comparable funding ecosystem and target beneficiary populations, though Aktion Mensch primarily acts as a funder rather than a direct program operator.
- Caritas Deutschland: Germany's largest Catholic welfare organization, already a Balu und Du program partner in multiple cities. Provides broader social services but operates adjacent youth mentoring and family support programs nationally.
- AWO Bundesverband: Large German welfare organization that delivers youth and family support programs, including local mentoring. Already operates Balu und Du locations (e.g., AWO Forchheim) but also runs competing/adjacent youth services at much greater scale.
Direct peers
- KinderHelden: KinderHelden runs one-to-one mentoring between young adult volunteers and children from challenging backgrounds in Germany. Highly comparable mission, mentee/mentor model, and nonprofit funding structure.
- Chance - Bildungspatenschaften: Baden-Württemberg-based educational sponsorship initiative matching children and youth with adult mentors. Comparable mentee/mentor concept, school-based delivery, and nonprofit funding model.
- Mentor - Die Leselernhelfer: A federal association of volunteer-based 1:1 reading mentoring programs for children in Germany. Comparable volunteer-driven, school-partnered mentoring delivery model focused on primary-school-age children.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters Deutschland: German chapter of the global Big Brothers Big Sisters 1:1 youth mentoring network. Comparable one-to-one mentoring model serving at-risk children through volunteer mentors and partner schools.
Emerging players
- startsocial: National initiative supporting social-impact projects in Germany through coaching and capacity building. Comparable civic-engagement positioning and funder backing (including Aqtivator/Rossenmann-adjacent ecosystem), though focused on capacity building rather than direct mentoring.
Regional players
- Lesepaten NRW: NRW-focused reading/literacy mentoring program pairing volunteers with primary school children. Operates in the same geographic market (NRW) as Balu und Du's strongest region, with an overlapping mentee demographic.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Balu und Du e.V. social profiles
Digital presenceBalu und Du e.V. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Balu und Du e.V. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Balu und Du e.V. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Balu und Du e.V. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Balu und Du e.V. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Balu und Du e.V.
What does Balu und Du e.V. do?
Balu und Du e.V. runs a one-on-one mentoring program that pairs primary school children (called Moglis) with young adult volunteers (called Balus) for approximately one year. The Balus accompany the children once a week in school and leisure time settings, supporting educational, social, and personal development. The program is delivered through 216 active locations with 2,081 active mentoring tandems and is operated by a lean staff of 17 employees, supported by a network of schools, universities, and welfare NGOs.
Is Balu und Du e.V. a public or private company?
Balu und Du e.V. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Balu und Du e.V. founded?
Balu und Du e.V. was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Balu und Du e.V. based?
Balu und Du e.V. is headquartered in Köln (Cologne), Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Balu und Du e.V. make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Private Contributions are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Corporate Grants/Sponsorship.
Who are Balu und Du e.V.'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SOS Kinderdorf, Aktion Mensch, Caritas Deutschland and AWO Bundesverband. Direct peers are KinderHelden, Chance - Bildungspatenschaften, Mentor - Die Leselernhelfer and Big Brothers Big Sisters Deutschland. startsocial is listed as an emerging player. Lesepaten NRW is listed as a regional player.
Does Balu und Du e.V. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Balu und Du e.V..
What industry is Balu und Du e.V. in?
Balu und Du e.V.'s product category is Youth Mentoring Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJALAL, Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs, with a secondary code of BPAGADAD, Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.