BBSB e. V.

What BBSB e. V. does

BBSB e. V. (Bayerischer Blinden- und Sehbehindertenbund e.V.) is a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) headquartered at Arnulfstraße 22, Munich, that functions as the statewide Selbsthilfe- und Interessenvertretung (self-help and advocacy body) for blind, visually impaired, hearing-visually impaired, and deaf-blind people in Bavaria, Germany. It delivers counseling on aids and assistive devices, rehabilitation training in Lebenspraktische Fähigkeiten (LPF) and Orientation & Mobility (O&M), and support across everyday life, school, and employment through a Landesgeschäftsstelle and 14 regional Beratungsstellen covering all Bavarian Regierungsbezirke, staffed by approximately 120 full-time employees and 240 volunteers serving an addressable population of roughly 100,000 affected individuals. The organization complements in-person services with a multi-channel digital ecosystem — the BBSB-Inform daily newsletter and eight specialized mailing lists, a podcast series, WhatsApp for Business, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook pages — and maintains corresponding-membership relationships with adjacent institutions including audio libraries, sheltered workshops, foundations, hotels, and pastoral-care providers. Its underlying technology stack is conventional (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, self-hosted Matomo analytics, GDPR-compliant document processing under a named Datenschutzbeauftragter), and it holds tax-exempt Gemeinnützigkeitsstatus under §5 Abs. 1 Nr. 9 KStG and a transparency commitment under the Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: annual membership dues (€96/year for both regular members and supporting members, with corresponding memberships issued free of charge), voluntary donations processed via PayPal, Klarna, Mastercard, and Visa, and court-ordered Geldauflagen (alternative-sentencing monetary penalties) routed by Bavarian prosecutors and criminal courts, with separate dedicated banking (SozialBank for donations, Postbank München for Geldauflagen). The organization also produces a future rehabilitation-specialist workforce by sponsoring candidates through the 12-month Deutsche Blindenstudienanstalt (blista) certification program in Marburg at ~€25,000 per trainee. Day-to-day operations are led by Managing Directors Steffen Erzgraber (Verbands- und Sozialpolitik) and Christian Scherm under the chairmanship of Landesvorsitzende Judith Faltl; no external investors, parent company, or stock-listing is associated with the entity.

Name

BBSB e. V.

Legal name

Bayerischer Blinden- und Sehbehindertenbund e.V.

Website

https://bbsb.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BBSB e. V. is the Bavarian self-help and advocacy association for blind and visually impaired people, delivering counseling, rehabilitation training (LPF and O&M), and statewide support through 14 regional consulting offices in Munich, Nuremberg, Augsburg, Würzburg, and across Bavaria.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Rehabilitation Social Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGACAL

Public Health & Health Equity Organizations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

Keywords

• Visual impairment services
• Disability rehabilitation counseling
• Blindness advocacy support
• Nonprofit social services
• Accessibility community support

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: Annual membership fees from regular members (blind and visually impaired people in Bavaria) and supporting members (natural and legal persons)
2. Donations and fundraising: Voluntary monetary contributions from supporters and donors to secure offerings for blind and visually impaired people in Bavaria
3. Geldauflagen (court-ordered fines): Court-ordered monetary penalties (Geldauflagen) and fines assigned to BBSB by public prosecutors and criminal courts as part of alternative sentencing; managed transparently with separate accounting
4. Education and training programs: Training and education programs including rehabilitation specialist training conducted in partnership with Deutsche Blindenstudienanstalt (blista) in Marburg

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BBSB e.V. is a registered non-profit self-help and advocacy organization (eingetragener Verein) for blind and visually impaired people in Bavaria, Germany. It provides counseling on assistive aids, rehabilitation training (life skills and orientation & mobility), support in everyday life, school and employment, community events, and political advocacy for accessibility and participation. Services are delivered through a statewide network of regional consulting offices and complemented by information newsletters, mailing lists, and an online donation platform.

Product overview

BBSB e.V. is a self-help and advocacy organization for blind and visually impaired people in Bavaria, offering information services, counseling, and rehabilitation support rather than a traditional technology product. The organization provides a portfolio of newsletter and mailing list information services (BBSB-Inform, E-Sehhilfen, Eltern-Info, FArBe, Frauenreferat, Dog-Report, BBSB-Jugend, Sport), an online donation system, ambulatory social rehabilitation services, and regional counseling centers (Blickpunkt Auge) across Bavarian districts. These services are social support offerings, not commercial software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ordentliche Mitgliedschaft (Regular Membership) Regular membership program for blind, visually impaired, hearing-visually impaired, or deaf-blind individuals, or those with conditions that may lead to blindness or visual impairment, with permanent residence in Bavaria; priced at €96 per year and provides access to counseling, advocacy, and community services.
• Fördernde Mitgliedschaft (Supporting Membership) Supporting membership for natural and legal persons who ideologically or materially back BBSB; priced at €96 per year; entitles participation in district group assemblies and contribution to association tasks.
• Blickpunkt Auge Beratungsstellen (Regional Counseling Centers) Regional counseling centers providing advice and support services for blind and visually impaired people across all Bavarian government districts (Mittelfranken, Niederbayern, Oberbayern-Rosenheim, Oberpfalz, Oberfranken, Unterfranken, Schwaben, and others); staffed by volunteers and supported by rehabilitation professionals.
• Ambulanter Sozialer Rehabilitationsdienst (Outpatient Social Rehabilitation Service) Ambulatory social rehabilitation service providing counseling, rehabilitation training in life skills (Lebenspraktische Fähigkeiten/LPF), communication techniques, low-vision training, and aids-related services for visually impaired and blind individuals across Bavarian districts including Mainfranken-Würzburg.
• Rehabilitation Specialist Training Program 12-month full-time training program to qualify as a state-certified rehabilitation specialist for blind and visually impaired people; conducted in partnership with Deutsche Blindenstudienanstalt (blista) in Marburg, Hesse; estimated costs approximately €25,000 plus €150 examination fee; BBSB supports suitable candidates for the program.
• BBSB-Inform Newsletter Daily weekday newsletter providing important topics, helpful tips, and current developments around blindness and visual impairment from the perspective of those affected; subscription via [email protected].
• Online-Spendenformular (Online Donation System) Online donation system allowing supporters to make monetary contributions via PayPal, Klarna, Mastercard, and VISA to support BBSB programs for blind and visually impaired people in Bavaria.
• Podcast "Aus dem Landesvorstand" Podcast series from the state board (Landesvorstand) providing updates, discussions, and information to members and supporters.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 100,000 blind and visually impaired people in Bavaria represented
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AURA-HOTEL Saulgrub gGmbHminorOthersCorresponding member organization of BBSB; a hotel facility that may provide services or accommodation for blind and visually impaired individuals
• Bayerische Hörbücherei für Blinde, Seh- und Lesebeeinträchtigte e. V. (BBH)minorOthersCorresponding member organization; Bavarian audio library for blind, visually impaired, and reading-impaired individuals providing accessible audio content
• bbs nürnberg Bildungszentrum für Blinde und SehbehinderteminorOthersCorresponding member; Educational center in Nuremberg for blind and visually impaired people
• Blindeninstitutsstiftung SdöRminorOthersCorresponding member; Foundation operating institutions for blind people
• Dr. Gabriele Lederle-StiftungminorOthersCorresponding member; Private foundation supporting blind and visually impaired people
• Evangelische Blinden- und SehbehindertenseelsorgeminorOthersCorresponding member; Protestant blind and visually impaired pastoral care service
• Katholisches Blinden- und Sehbehindertenwerk Bayern e. V. (KBSW)minorOthersCorresponding member; Catholic blind and visually impaired service organization in Bavaria
• Nürnberger Wohn- und Werkstätten für Blinde und Sehbehinderte gGmbH (NWW)minorOthersCorresponding member; Residential and workshop facilities in Nuremberg for blind and visually impaired people
• Sehbehindert – aber Richtig e. V.minorOthersCorresponding member; Self-help organization for visually impaired people
• Südbayerische Wohn- und Werkstätten für Blinde und Sehbehinderte gGmbH (SWW)minorOthersCorresponding member; Southern Bavarian residential and workshop facilities for blind and visually impaired people
• Verband für Blinden- und Sehbehindertenpädagogik e. V. (VBS) Landesverband BayernminorOthersCorresponding member; Association for blind and visually impaired education, Bavarian state association
• Deutsche Blindenstudienanstalt e. V. (blista), MarburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner for rehabilitation specialist training; BBSB supports suitable candidates for the 12-month full-time training program to become state-certified rehabilitation specialists for blind and visually impaired people; training takes place at blista in Marburg, Hesse; estimated costs approximately €25,000 plus €150 examination fee
• SozialBankminorOthersBanking partner for donations and financial transactions; IBAN: DE98 3702 0500 0007 8317 00, BIC: BFSWDE33XXX
• Postbank MünchenminorOthersBanking partner for Geldauflagen (court-ordered fines); IBAN: DE50 7001 0080 0006 5108 05, BIC: PBNKDEFF
• Facebook Ireland Ltd.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFacebook fan page operator; joint responsibility under GDPR Art. 26; insights (user statistics) provided in anonymized form
• WhatsApp Ireland LimitedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWhatsApp for Business channel for direct communication; end-to-end encrypted messaging; standard contractual clauses for data transfer to USA
• PayPal (Europe) S.à.r.l. et Cie S.C.A.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPayment service provider for online donations; Luxembourg-based; EU standard contractual clauses for data transfers
• Klarna ABminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPayment option provider for checkout; Sweden-based; various payment options offered
• Mastercard Europe S.A.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCredit card payment provider; Belgium-based; binding corporate rules for US data transfers
• Visa Europe Services Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCredit card payment provider; UK-based; EU standard contractual clauses for US data transfers

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sozialverband VdK Bayern: Large Bavarian branch of Germany's major social welfare association, representing disabled, elderly, and chronically ill members. Comparable broad nonprofit advocacy and counseling model for disability populations in Bavaria with substantially larger scale.
• Aktion Mensch: Large German social nonprofit funding inclusion, disability, and accessibility projects nationwide. Comparable nonprofit model with fundraising (lottery) and grantmaking streams serving disability populations, though at much larger scale and broader scope than BBSB.

Direct peers

• Verband für Blinden- und Sehbehindertenpädagogik e.V. (VBS): German professional association for educators of blind and visually impaired people. Comparable advocacy and professional-development mission across the same disability segment, with a Bavarian state association as a corresponding member of BBSB.
• Deutscher Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverband (DBSV): The federal-level umbrella self-help and advocacy organization for blind and visually impaired people in Germany. Directly comparable mission (counseling, accessibility advocacy, rehabilitation) at a national level, with state associations including BBSB as members.
• Katholisches Blinden- und Sehbehindertenwerk Bayern e.V. (KBSW): Catholic blind and visually impaired service organization operating in Bavaria. Comparable regional faith-affiliated nonprofit serving the same target population, with a corresponding-member relationship to BBSB and overlapping counseling/advocacy activities.
• Deutsche Blindenstudienanstalt (blista): National institute in Marburg providing rehabilitation training, education, and assistive services for blind and visually impaired people. Directly comparable mission, and an actual training partner of BBSB for rehabilitation specialist certification.
• Pro Retina Deutschland e.V. National German self-help organization focused on people with retinal diseases, providing counseling, research funding, and member services. Comparable membership-based nonprofit model serving a visually impaired sub-population, with overlapping advocacy and rehabilitation objectives.

Regional players

• AURA-HOTEL Saulgrub gGmbH: Bavarian non-profit hotel facility providing accommodation and programs for blind and visually impaired guests. Comparable regional mission-driven nonprofit in the Bavarian blind/visually impaired ecosystem with corresponding-membership relationship to BBSB.
• bbs nürnberg Bildungszentrum für Blinde und Sehbehinderte: Educational center in Nuremberg for blind and visually impaired people offering vocational and life-skills training. Comparable Bavarian service provider in the same blind/visually impaired ecosystem with corresponding-membership relationship.
• Bayerische Hörbücherei für Blinde, Seh- und Lesebeeinträchtigte (BBH): Bavarian audio library providing accessible audio content to blind, visually impaired, and reading-impaired individuals. Comparable regional focus on blind/visually impaired populations in Bavaria with corresponding-membership relationship to BBSB.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61554555788637
• Instagraminstagram.com/bbsb_ev
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxq8eGhOypDxO5GhjlWPw9w
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bbsb-e-v-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 BBSB e. V.