Càritas Barcelona

What Càritas Barcelona does

Càritas Diocesana de Barcelona is the social action organization of the Archdiocese of Barcelona, founded in 1944 and operating as a registered religious entity (No. 153 in the Registro de Entidades Religiosas). It delivers eight core social action programs — reception and accompaniment, legal-social advisory, human mobility, training and labor insertion, basic needs, families and childhood, homelessness and housing, and elderly care — across 32 municipalities through a parish and archpriestly network, with specialized attention points in Barcelona and surrounding cities including Badalona, Mataró, L'Hospitalet, Cornellà, Santa Coloma, and Sant Adrià. In 2023 the organization served 100,848 people (44,526 via diocesan Càritas and 56,322 via parish Càritas) and managed more than 539 social projects, with standout outputs including 8,000+ labor insertions via Feina amb Cor and 4,157 people accompanied through the extraordinary regularization device launched between April and June.

The organization's core technology is non-proprietary: service delivery is human-mediated through attention points, parish centers, day centers, shared housing, and social dining rooms, supported by a public website, blog, and the Actua Càritas digital giving platform. Linked entities — CECAS (solidarity), Fundació Formació i Treball (labor insertion), and Fundación Habitatge Social (housing) — extend operational capacity, while the Observatori de la Realitat Social produces research on poverty and social exclusion. The business model is donation- and grant-funded: recurring member subscriptions (Scios), one-time donations, legacies and inheritances, in-kind clothing and food donations (channeled through Ropa Amiga containers and FiT), and public subsidies. Fiscal deduction benefits (80% on first €250 for individual donors, 40-50% for corporate donors) are a key acquisition lever. There is no disclosed revenue, no commercial pricing for beneficiaries, and no developer-facing API or AI/ML capability.

Name

Càritas Barcelona

Legal name

CÀRITAS DIOCESANA DE BARCELONA

Website

https://caritas.barcelona

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Càritas Barcelona is the Catholic charitable social action arm of the Archdiocese of Barcelona, delivering eight social programs across 32 municipalities to 100,000+ vulnerable people annually through a parish network, specialized training centers, and linked housing and labor-insertion foundations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social welfare services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (624210), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization Housing Programs (FSALAKAO)

Keywords

• Social welfare services
• Poverty alleviation
• Immigration regularization
• Vocational training
• Elderly care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Member subscriptions (Socios): Recurring monthly or periodic donations from members who support the organization financially, receiving tax deduction certificates for their contributions.
2. One-time donations: Individual monetary donations made either punctually or periodically through the organization's donation platform, with associated fiscal benefits.
3. Legacies and inheritances: Solidary testament program where individuals leave bequests to Càritas in their wills.
4. In-kind donations (clothing and food): Collection of clothing, food, and other items through parish centers and Ropa Amiga containers, which are then distributed to people in need or processed through partner organizations like Fundació Formació i Treball.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Càritas Diocesana de Barcelona operates a network of social action programs across 32 municipalities in the Diocese of Barcelona, providing free services including reception and accompaniment, legal-social advice, migration regularization, vocational training and labor insertion through the Feina amb Cor program (8,000+ placements), basic needs assistance (food and clothing), family and childhood support, housing mediation and homelessness services, and elderly care. These services are delivered through 539+ social projects via a parish-based volunteer network, supported by linked entities including Fundació Formació i Treball and Fundació Habitatge Social.

Product overview

Càritas Diocesana de Barcelona operates as a comprehensive social action organization offering multiple interconnected service programs rather than a unified technology product. The portfolio includes core reception and accompaniment services (Acollida i acompanyament), legal advisory (Assessoria jurídica social), human mobility support (Mobilitat humana), and housing programs (Sense llar i habitatge). Employment-focused initiatives encompass the Feina amb Cor labor insertion service exceeding 8,000 placements, vocational training modules through Escola Oberta and Migrastudium, and specialized training spaces like Austràlia and Sant Miquel. Basic needs are addressed through food distribution and the solidarity card system. Supporting infrastructure includes the Observatori de la Realitat Social for research, the Escola de formació del voluntariat for volunteer training, and the Actua Càritas digital donation platform. During 2023, Càritas Diocesana attended to 20,379 households (44,526 persons) while parish Càritas reached 23,378 households (56,322 persons), managing over 539 projects across the territory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Acollida i acompanyament (Reception and Accompaniment) Reception and accompaniment program that welcomes, listens, orients, and provides ongoing support to individuals and families seeking assistance through Càritas points of attention across 32 municipalities. The program emphasizes promotion of the person through active participation and recognition of their resources and potential.
• Assessoria jurídica social (Legal-Social Advice) Legal and social advisory service providing guidance on administrative regularization, residency permits, and documentation for vulnerable populations facing legal-administrative barriers.
• Mobilitat humana (Human Mobility) Human mobility program accompanying migrants and refugees, including extraordinary regularization processes, with nine advisory points across six cities in the diocese. Focused on administrative regularization, documentation from countries of origin, labor integration, and cultural adaptation.
• Formació i inserció sociolaboral (Training and Labor Insertion) Training and labor insertion program offering language courses, basic trades training (electricity, plumbing, cooking, refrigeration), vocational modules in elderly care, and employment support including the Feina amb Cor service. Operates through multiple specialized training spaces (Espai formatiu Austràlia, Sant Miquel, Escola Oberta) and partnered programs (Formació Migrastudium).
• Necessitats bàsiques (Basic Needs Assistance) Basic needs assistance program providing food, clothing, and essential goods through parish distribution centers, the solidarity card (Tarjeta solidària) for dignified food access in commercial establishments, and the Ropa Amiga clothing collection network in coordination with Fundació Formació i Treball.
• Famílies i infància (Families and Childhood) Families and childhood program offering open centers, youth hangouts, and support services for vulnerable families with children, including single-parent families and those facing economic hardship, child development support, and educational access.
• Sense llar i habitatge (Homelessness and Housing) Homelessness and housing program providing day centers, shared flats for single-parent families (e.g., Pis compartit Santa Coloma), housing mediation (Mediació en habitatge), and social dining services across locations including Comedor social Sant Cebrià, Canpedró, and Emmaús.
• Persones grans (Elderly Persons Program) Elderly persons program offering memory workshops, day centers, residential visits, and shared living units for older adults experiencing loneliness, dependency, or economic precariousness.
• Escola de formació del voluntariat (Volunteer Training School) Volunteer training school providing a formative itinerary for volunteers including basic social volunteering courses (14 hours) and specialized training sessions to support the organization's volunteer-driven service delivery model.
• Observatori de la Realitat Social (Social Reality Observatory) Social Reality Observatory producing analyses on poverty and social exclusion based on professional experience and indicators from INE (Spanish National Institute of Statistics), Eurostat, and the FOESSA Foundation. Provides research publications supporting advocacy, public communication, and evidence-based program design.
• Feina amb Cor (Employment Service) Occupational center and employment service that has facilitated over 8,000 labor insertions for people in vulnerable situations. Feina amb Cor is a flagship labor market integration program operating within Càritas Barcelona's broader Formació i inserció sociolaboral portfolio.
• Mediació en habitatge (Housing Mediation) Housing mediation project preventing residential exclusion through advice and negotiation between owners, tenants, and financial institutions. Operates as a specialized component of the broader Homeless and Housing program.
• Dispositiu extraordinari de regularització (Extraordinary Regularization Device) Extraordinary regularization device operated by Càritas Barcelona accompanying 4,157 people in irregular administrative situations through nine legal advisory points across six cities. Results included 122 provisional approvals and 20 definitive approvals obtained, with 40% of cases presenting special legal complexity or extreme vulnerability.
• Tarjeta solidària (Solidarity Card) Solidarity debit card allowing beneficiaries to purchase food independently in commercial establishments, dignifying food access rights as part of the Basic Needs Assistance program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,379 households (44,526 people) served by diocesan Cáritas; 23,378 households (56,322 people) by parish Cáritas in 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Càritas CatalunyacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional confederation of Cáritas organizations in Catalonia. Càritas Barcelona is part of this network and collaborates on initiatives at the Catalan level.
• Confederación Cáritas EspañolacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational confederation of Cáritas in Spain. Càritas Barcelona operates within this national structure and collaborates on state-wide campaigns and initiatives.
• Cáritas InternacionalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Cáritas network operating globally. Càritas Barcelona participates in international solidarity actions, including recent mobilization of €300,000 for earthquake victims in Venezuela.
• Fundació Formació i Treball (FiT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation promoted by Cáritas that favors labor insertion of people at risk of social exclusion. Handles clothing collected from Ropa Amiga containers and manages furniture donation services. Contact: [email protected], Tel: 93 303 41 00.
• Fundación Habitatge SocialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinked foundation working on social housing. Provides housing solutions for vulnerable populations served by Cáritas programs.
• CECAS - Centre Català de SolidaritatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatalan Center for Solidarity, a linked entity of Cáritas Diocesana de Barcelona working on solidarity and social action.
• Arquebisbat de BarcelonacoreOthersArchdiocese of Barcelona is the ecclesiastical authority under which Càritas Diocesana operates. Provides institutional support and connection to parish network.
• Fundación MigrastudiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Cáritas to organize vocational training courses in electricity and plumbing for immigrants in vulnerable situations. Courses offered in morning and afternoon schedules, 54 hours total (9 hours weekly over 2 days).
• IQS - Universidad Ramón LlullminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIQS-URL hosts the 4th International Congress on Aporophobia, co-organized with Cáritas Diocesana de Barcelona and other organizations. Venue partner for this event on discrimination against poor people.
• Ropa AmigaminorOthersOrange container network for clothing collection. All clothing collected goes directly to social entities promoting labor insertion, such as Fundació Formació i Treball.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fundació Habitatge Social: Barcelona-linked foundation providing housing solutions for vulnerable populations served by Cáritas programs. Direct overlap in social housing mediation and supporting Cáritas's housing pathway.
• Fundació Arrels: Barcelona-based non-profit focused on homelessness, housing, and dignified support for people living on the streets. Direct overlap with Cáritas's 'Sense llar i habitatge' program and shared Barcelona beneficiary base.
• Cáritas Diocesana de Madrid: Diocesan Cáritas operating in Madrid with the same parish-based social action model, eight program areas, and confederation structure. Highly comparable in service portfolio, beneficiary segmentation, and donor-funding mechanisms.
• Fundació Formació i Treball: Foundation promoted by Cáritas for labor insertion of people at risk of social exclusion. Direct operational partner and equivalent in the labor insertion space, sharing beneficiaries and the Ropa Amiga cloth collection network.
• Càritas Catalunya: Regional confederation of Cáritas organizations in Catalonia, of which Cáritas Barcelona is a member. Operates the same social service model across the broader Catalan region, providing direct structural and programmatic alignment.
• Centre d'Acollida Assís: Barcelona-based faith-inspired non-profit serving homeless and vulnerable populations with direct overlap on accommodation, food, and accompaniment services—direct local peer and competitor for beneficiary and donor share.
• Fundació Migra Studium: Migrant-support foundation in Barcelona running vocational training and legal advice. Direct peer in the human mobility and labor insertion space, with whom Cáritas co-delivers the Migrastudium training program.

Broad incumbents

• Mans Unides: Spanish Catholic NGO focused on international development and social action with local presence. Comparable in faith-based fundraising model, donor subscription structure, and social action program portfolio.
• Cruz Roja Barcelona: Major humanitarian organization operating in Barcelona across social services, emergency response, health, and inclusion programs. Competes for donor share and government contracts in overlapping social assistance areas.
• Cáritas Española (Confederación): National confederation providing overarching structure, advocacy, and campaigns. Operates the same model at scale across Spain, with broader fundraising, observatories, and emergency response capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/caritasbcn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/caritasbcn
• Facebookfacebook.com/caritasbarcelona
• Instagraminstagram.com/caritasbcn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/c%C3%A0ritas-barcelona

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Càritas Barcelona