What Bistum Augsburg does

The Diocese of Augsburg (Bistum Augsburg) is a Roman Catholic diocese headquartered at Fronhof 4 in Augsburg, Bavaria, founded in 838 AD and organized as a Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts (public-law corporation) under German law. It serves approximately 1,101,128 registered Catholic members across Bavaria, led by Bishop Dr. Bertram Meier, with operational subsidiaries including the Akademisches Forum (adult education), Kita-Zentrum St. Simpert (kindergarten operations), Schulwerk (school foundation), Sankt Ulrich Verlag (publishing house), AV-Medienzentrale (audiovisual media center), and Diözesanmuseum St. Afra (museum). Service delivery runs through a tiered network of 300+ parishes grouped into deaneries, with affiliated charitable programs delivered via the Diözesancaritasverband and Sozialdienst Katholischer Frauen (SkF).

Revenue is overwhelmingly derived from church tax (Kirchensteuer), collected as a percentage of income tax from registered members and administered through the German state tax apparatus. In 2025 this stream totaled EUR 379.1 million, representing 83.8% of all diocesan income, against a budgeted EUR 384.9 million. Total operating income is approximately EUR 452 million; total budget volume for the dual 2025/2026 fiscal plan is EUR 455.2 million (2025) and EUR 450.5 million (2026). The diocese allocates subsidies of EUR 179.3 million (2025) to parish foundations, Caritas, Kita-Zentrum St. Simpert (~EUR 18.7M), and SkF, carries EUR 196.5 million in personnel costs (the largest single expense), and reported a net loss of EUR 1.96 million in 2025 — improved from EUR 11.4 million in 2024 — against a balance sheet totaling EUR 838.1 million.

The diocese markets and engages its membership through a multi-channel mix: website and RSS feed, social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Mastodon), newsletter, print media (Amtsblatt, Sankt Ulrich Verlag publications), and high-touch in-person events (Ulrichswoche pilgrimage, Bergexerzitien, Pontifical anniversary Masses, Akademisches Forum lectures). With over 50,000 children and youth attending Catholic kindergartens and schools daily, the institution functions simultaneously as a religious authority, an educational operator, and a social-services provider, all under the spiritual oversight of the German Bishops' Conference and canonical authority of the Vatican while maintaining autonomous governance through the Bischöfliche Finanzkammer.

Name

Bistum Augsburg

Legal name

Diözese Augsburg

Website

https://bistum-augsburg.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Diocese of Augsburg is a Roman Catholic public-law corporation in Bavaria serving 1,101,128 registered members through 300+ parishes, schools, kindergartens, Caritas social services, and cultural institutions, funded primarily (83.8%) by state-collected church tax.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diocesan Pastoral Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Catholic diocese services
• Pastoral care services
• Religious education programs
• Social welfare services
• Church administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Augsburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Kirchensteuer (Church Tax): The primary revenue source is the church tax (Kirchensteuer), collected as a percentage of income tax from registered Catholic members. In 2025, this amounted to EUR 379.1 million, representing approximately 83.8% of all diocesan income. The number of registered Catholics declined from 1,126,453 in 2024 to 1,101,128 in 2025.
2. Diocesan Subsidies to Church Foundations and Institutions: The diocese distributes subsidies (Zuschüsse) to local church foundations (Kirchenstiftungen), Caritas, and other ecclesiastical institutions. In 2025, EUR 179.3 million was distributed for pastoral care, social-charitable work, educational programs, and building maintenance.
3. Diocesan Contributions to National Bodies: The diocese makes annual contributions to over-diocesan bodies: EUR 6.7 million to the Überdiözesaner Fonds Bayern (ÜDF) for national Catholic institutions; EUR 6.6 million to the Verband der Diözesen Deutschlands (VDD) for the German Bishops' Conference; and EUR 1.8 million as a structural contribution to support the Church in East Germany.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Diocese of Augsburg delivers pastoral care, sacraments, and religious education to 1,101,128 registered Catholic faithful across Bavaria through approximately 300+ parishes, deaneries, and pastoral centers. It operates Catholic kindergartens and schools serving over 50,000 children daily, provides social welfare services through Caritas and SkF affiliates, runs adult and academic education programs through the Akademisches Forum and KEB, and preserves religious heritage via the Diözesanmuseum St. Afra, Sankt Ulrich Verlag publishing house, and AV-Medienzentrale. Funding comes primarily from the Kirchensteuer (church tax) collected through the German state tax system.

Product overview

Bistum Augsburg is a Catholic diocese that operates various interconnected pastoral, educational, and social service products. Its main service offerings include the Akademisches Forum (adult education/academic forum), Katholische Erwachsenenbildung (Catholic adult education), and Fortbildung (continuing education) programs. Educational services include the Kita-Zentrum St. Simpert (kindergarten center), Schulwerk (school foundation), and the AV-Medienzentrale (media center). Cultural heritage is preserved through the Diözesanmuseum St. Afra. Social services are delivered through Caritas and SkF counseling centers. Publishing is handled by Sankt Ulrich Verlag. The diocese also maintains digital platforms including a video archive, podcast distribution, and an event registration portal for staff training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Akademisches Forum der Diözese Augsburg An academic forum providing lectures, study days, philosophical seminars, and academic conferences on theology, culture, history, science, and ethics for scholars, faithful, and the general public at Haus Sankt Ulrich in Augsburg.
• Katholische Erwachsenenbildung (KEB) im Bistum Augsburg Catholic adult education program offering structured continuing education courses and events for adult faithful across the diocese.
• Kita-Zentrum St. Simpert (Catholic Kindergarten Center) Central coordination body for Catholic kindergartens (Kindertageseinrichtungen) operated under the diocese, providing early childhood education and care for children of Catholic families across Bavaria.
• Schulwerk der Diözese Augsburg (Catholic School Foundation) Foundation supporting and funding Catholic schools in the diocese, providing primary and secondary education under Catholic sponsorship.
• Diözesanmuseum St. Afra Diocesan museum featuring art exhibitions including the 'Farbe bekennen' color exhibition series, preserving religious and cultural heritage for visitors and the general public.
• Sankt Ulrich Verlag Diocesan publishing house producing religious books, educational materials, and church-related publications for the Catholic faithful and the broader public.
• AV-Medienzentrale Audiovisual media center producing and distributing educational and religious video and audio content for parishes, schools, and the Catholic faithful.
• Caritasverband für die Diözese Augsburg Diocesan Caritas social services organization providing charitable support, counseling, and community assistance programs for the sick, elderly, refugees, homeless, and families across the diocese.
• Beratungsstellen für Schwangerschaft und junge Familien (SkF) Pregnancy and family counseling services operated by the Catholic Social Service for Women (Sozialdienst Katholischer Frauen, SkF), providing support to families, expectant mothers, and those in crisis.
• Fortbildung - Bistum Augsburg (Continuing Education) Professional development and training services for diocese employees, including seminars, spiritual offerings, and leadership training managed via the Fortbildungsportal.
• Ulrichswoche Pilgrimage Annual week-long pilgrimage and cultural festival in honor of St. Ulrich, featuring the ceremonial elevation of the Reliquienschrein, Pontifical Masses, liturgical celebrations, the Schulwerksgottesdienst, and pastoral events in Augsburg.
• Bergexerzitien and Mountain Retreats Seasonal spiritual mountain retreats, Bergexerzitien (mountain spiritual exercises), and pilgrimage hikes offered by the diocesan pilgrim office for the faithful seeking contemplative experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• EUR 179.3 million in subsidies distributed to church foundations and institutions in 2025, enabling pastoral, educational, and charitable activities.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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 and minor.

• Bavarian 'Dialogforum Religion und Integration'coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Diocese of Augsburg, represented by Bishop Dr. Bertram Meier, participates in the Bavarian 'Dialogforum Religion und Integration' alongside Bayern's Interior and Integration Minister Joachim Herrmann and representatives of various religious communities. The forum develops joint declarations on religious integration and coexistence in Bavaria.
• Seven Bavarian (Arch)Dioceses (Überdiözesaner Fonds Bayern / ÜDF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe seven Bavarian (arch)dioceses are联合 through the Überdiözesaner Fonds Bayern (ÜDF), to which the Diocese of Augsburg contributes EUR 6.7 million annually. The fund supports Catholic institutions operating beyond single-diocese scope, including the Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, the Catholic Academy in Bavaria, and Catholic educational institutions for social professions in Bavaria.
• Verband der Diözesen Deutschlands (VDD) / German Bishops' ConferencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Diocese of Augsburg contributes EUR 6.6 million annually to the Verband der Diözesen Deutschlands (VDD), which funds the activities of the Deutsche Bischofskonferenz (German Bishops' Conference). Bishop Dr. Bertram Meier serves as Chairman of the World Church Commission of the German Bishops' Conference.
• Ecumenical and Interreligious Partners in BavariaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe diocese maintains ongoing ecumenical dialogue and interreligious exchange through its designated department (Ökumene und interreligiöser Dialog). Annual 'Begegnung der Religionen' events bring together representatives of various faiths to discuss shared responsibility for creation and societal cohesion.
• Kirche in Ostdeutschland (Church in East Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Diocese of Augsburg contributes EUR 1.8 million annually as a structural subsidy to support the Church in East Germany, where Catholic membership and financial resources are more limited than in West Germany.
• auxlitera.de and Katholische Akademie in BayernminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Akademisches Forum cooperates with auxlitera.de and the Katholische Akademie in Bayern for joint events, such as the 'Ein europäisches Wunder?' evening in October 2025.
• Caritas Association for the Diocese of Augsburg (Diözesancaritasverband)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe diocese provides EUR 10 million annually in personnel and operating subsidies to the Diözesancaritasverband, which delivers social-charitable services including care for the sick, elderly, refugees, homeless, and families. This is a central implementation partnership for the diocese's social mission.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bistum Mainz: Catholic diocese with the same public-law corporation status, church-tax revenue model, parish and school network, and Caritas partnership structure, serving a comparable faith-based community in Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse.
• Bistum Köln: One of Germany's largest Catholic dioceses, operating an identical ecclesiastical governance, church-tax, education, and Caritas model across the Rhineland. Closest functional analogue by service portfolio and organizational architecture.
• Bistum Münster: Large North Rhine-Westphalian Catholic diocese running the same combined pastoral, educational, social-services, and cultural-heritage model. Comparable in scale and operational breadth.
• Bistum Rottenburg-Stuttgart: Baden-Württemberg Catholic diocese with parallel governance, Kirchensteuer collection, diocesan Caritas, schools, and media operations. Structurally identical to Bistum Augsburg and a strong regional analogue in southern Germany.
• Erzbistum München und Freising: The neighbouring Bavarian Catholic archdiocese, structurally identical as a Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts with Kirchensteuer revenue, parishes, schools, and Caritas operations. Most directly comparable diocese by region, scale, and operating model.
• Bistum Limburg: Catholic diocese operating the same church-tax-funded ecclesiastical governance, parish network, school sponsorship, and Caritas social-service structure in Hesse. Directly comparable mission and revenue mix.

Broad incumbents

• Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD): The umbrella organization of Germany's Protestant (Evangelical) churches. Operates the equivalent of a nationwide Kirchensteuer-funded religious governance, education, and Diakonie social-services network, making it the closest structural and competitive analogue across confessions.
• Diakonie Deutschland: The Protestant counterpart to Caritas—delivering social, healthcare, and education services across Germany under a faith-based umbrella. Directly comparable social-services delivery arm and a relevant benchmark for Caritas' operational scale.

Others

• Caritas Deutschland: National umbrella of the German Catholic welfare association. Receives subsidies from individual dioceses (including Bistum Augsburg's EUR 10M annual contribution), operates the social-services facilities network that parallels the diocese's pastoral mission, and is the most directly comparable downstream social-services operator.

Regional players

• Erzdiözese Wien: Austrian Catholic archdiocese operating a near-identical church-tax (Kirchenbeitrag), parish, school, and social-services model. Functionally a peer but in a different national jurisdiction with its own state-church-tax arrangements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BistumAugsburg
• Facebookfacebook.com/bistumaugsburg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bistum-augsburg
• Instagraminstagram.com/bistumaugsburg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries8 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 Bistum Augsburg