Caritas Bizkaia

What Caritas Bizkaia does

Cáritas Diocesana de Bilbao (operating as Caritas Bizkaia) is a non-profit charitable organization and the official social organism of the Diocese of Bilbao, canonically erected on November 28, 1956, and serving the Bizkaia province in northern Spain. The organization delivers comprehensive social services through 40 Pastoral Units organized across 7 Vicarias (Margen Izquierda/Minera, Encartaciones, Bilbao-Abando, Durango, Gernika, Uribe, and Bilbao Begoña), addressing poverty, social exclusion, homelessness, migrant regularization, elderly care, youth emancipation, family support, and labor insertion. In 2025 the organization accompanied 11,607 people (54% women) through 248 active social and charitable projects, supported by 1,805 volunteers (77% women) and 336 paid staff under jornada laboral contracts.

The service portfolio is organized around three pillars: social intervention (welcome/acogida, family and childhood services, elderly care, youth emancipation, homelessness programs, housing advocacy, psychological service, legal service), labor insertion and solidarity economy (vocational guidance, pre-employment workshops, accredited employment training, authorized labor intermediation, fair trade, ethical finance), and international cooperation and migration (community sponsorship, Aholku Sarela legal service for immigration, GOIHABE refugee project, Ukraine emergency). Operating technology is modest and operationally oriented: a WordPress and WooCommerce donation platform, a bilingual resource locator map (Spanish and Basque) powered by Google Maps, standard social media integrations, and Complianz for cookie consent under the GDPR. No proprietary platform, AI/ML capability, or differentiated technical architecture is disclosed. Auxiliary digital products include podcasts (Taupadak, Giltzatzara), annual reports, FOESSA sociological analyses, and the Bihotzez, Irekita, and Ikusbideak publications.

In 2025, Caritas Bizkaia received €13,614,084 in total funding, split 64% private (member and donor contributions at 31% of total, social enterprise revenue from KOOPERA second-hand clothing and Lapiko Catering, church collections, inheritances and legacies, and other own income) and 36% public (Diputación Foral de Bizkaia at 23%, Gobierno Vasco, municipal administrations at 7%, and European funds). Go-to-market combines community-led parish network engagement, direct-to-consumer beneficiary service delivery, and sales-led social enterprise operations under wholly-owned subsidiaries (KOOPERA, Lapiko Catering, FIARE Banca Ética, Kidenda). The entity is governed by a Diocesan Council under Bishop Joseba Segura, with the Episcopal Delegate Manu Moreno as Director, accounts audited annually by AUREN, and the REAS Social Audit Seal held for six consecutive years through 2025.

Name

Caritas Bizkaia

Legal name

Cáritas Diocesana de Bilbao

Website

https://caritasbi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Caritas Bizkaia is the official charitable arm of the Diocese of Bilbao, providing social intervention, labor insertion, and migration support services across 40 pastoral units in Bizkaia, Spain, supported by 1,805 volunteers and €13.6 million in 2025 funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services and Charitable Assistance

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee, Migration & Displacement Support (BPAGABAH), Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI), Refugee & Migrant Integration Enterprises (Livelihoods, Services) (BPAGALAN), Immigrant & Refugee Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAG), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE)

Keywords

• Social services
• Charitable assistance
• Community outreach
• Poverty alleviation
• Social intervention

Headquarters

HQ city

Bilbao

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: Regular donations from members and donors, one-time donations, and membership fees form the primary private funding stream (31% of total 2025 revenue). Offered via website, bank transfer, Bizum.
2. Public Funding: Government grants from Basque (Diputación Foral de Bizkaia), regional (Gobierno Vasco), municipal, and European Union sources. Represents 36% of total 2025 revenue (4.7 million euros).
3. Social Enterprise Revenue: Income from Koopera (second-hand clothing), Lapiko Catering, and other social enterprises that provide employment to people in vulnerable situations.
4. Collections and Legacies: Church collections from four annual campaigns, and inheritances/bequests from supporters who include Caritas in their wills.
5. Other Private Income: Includes returns from participant aid reversals, financial returns, and other miscellaneous income (15% of private funding).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Caritas Bizkaia (Cáritas Diocesana de Bilbao) delivers social intervention and charitable services across the province of Bizkaia through a network of 40 Pastoral Units. Core offerings include welcome/acogida and basic-needs support, family and childhood services, elderly care, youth emancipation programs, homelessness services, psychological and legal services, and employment programs (labor orientation, pre-employment workshops, accredited employment training, and authorized labor intermediation). The organization also runs social enterprises (KOOPERA second-hand clothing, Lapiko Catering, FIARE ethical banking, Kidenda), international cooperation and migration/refugee programs, awareness campaigns, and publishes reports, newsletters, and podcasts.

Product overview

Caritas Bizkaia is a charitable organization of the Church of Bizkaia providing social services through a network of 40 pastoral units managing approximately 240-248 projects. The organization operates social enterprises including KOOPERA (second-hand clothing), Lapiko Catering, FIARE Banca Ética, and Kidenda. Core services include social intervention programs (acogida, family support, elderly care, youth emancipation, homelessness), employment and solidarity economy services (vocational training, labor intermediation, fair trade), international cooperation and migration support (refugee programs, community sponsorship), and community awareness campaigns. Additional services include a psychological service, legal service, donation processing via WooCommerce, and a resource locator tool. Publications include annual reports, Bihotzez newsletter, Irekita, FOESSA reports, and podcast series Taupadak and Giltzatzara.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KOOPERA: Second-hand clothing stores and environmental initiatives promoting social and solidarity economy.
• Lapiko Catering
• FIARE

Products and services

• KOOPERA Social enterprise for second-hand clothing and textile reuse, generating employment opportunities for people in vulnerable situations while promoting circular economy and environmental sustainability.
• Lapiko Catering Catering service operated as a social enterprise, providing job training and employment for people at risk of social exclusion.
• FIARE Banca Ética Ethical banking initiative promoting fair finance and solidarity-based economic models aligned with social justice principles.
• Kidenda Social economy enterprise project under the solidarity economy umbrella.
• Resource Locator (Localizador de recursos) Interactive map tool allowing users to find nearby Cáritas attention points, second-hand clothing containers, Koopera stores, and other social resources across Bizkaia.
• Acogida y Atención a Necesidades Básicas (Welcome and Basic Needs Service) Welcome and accompaniment service providing basic-needs support, transforming assistance into processes oriented toward promotion, autonomy, and participation for people in situations of vulnerability and social exclusion.
• Personas Sin Hogar (Homeless Service) Dedicated service for people experiencing homelessness, providing resources to dignify lives and address causes of homelessness in Bizkaia.
• Relaciones Familiares e Infancia (Family and Childhood Service) Family and childhood support service promoting social inclusion of children, adolescents, and families through personal and family skill development.
• Mayores y Envejecimiento (Elderly Care Service) Elderly care service improving quality of life and conditions for older people, especially the most vulnerable, promoting autonomy and allowing them to remain in their familiar environment.
• Juventud y Emancipación (Youth Emancipation Service) Youth emancipation service accompanying young people at risk or in exclusion through innovative responses and community participation spaces, including housing, education, and employment pathways.
• Vivienda (Housing Service) Housing service advocating for housing as a human right, providing intervention guidelines, awareness, and advocacy for people in vulnerable housing situations.
• Servicio Psicológico (Psychological Service) Psychological service providing clinical psychotherapy or psychosocial care to people and families referred from Cáritas Bizkaia for improvement of social inclusion processes.
• Servicio Jurídico (Legal Service) Legal service providing preventive legal-administrative advice focused on improving people's situations through proper information about their rights and obligations.
• Orientación Laboral (Labor Guidance) Labor guidance service analyzing each person's career trajectory, motivation, and expectations to determine their position in the socio-labor integration itinerary.
• Talleres Prelaborales (Pre-employment Workshops) Pre-employment workshops where participants acquire and recover socio-labor habits and competencies through productive activity development.
• Formación para el Empleo (Employment Training) Employment training service qualifying people for different occupations with officially accredited certification.
• Intermediación Laboral (Labor Intermediation) Labor intermediation as authorized placement agency (No. 1600000066) collaborating with Lanbide - Basque Employment Service to connect companies with job seekers in vulnerable situations.
• Comercio Justo (Fair Trade) Fair trade service promoting a new model of fair commercial relationships based on human dignity, prioritizing people's rights and planetary care over economic benefit.
• Finanzas Éticas (Ethical Finance) Ethical finance service advocating for an ethical financial system based on solidarity economy principles, ensuring savings are invested in human development activities.
• GOIHABE Social intervention project with refugees under the international cooperation and migrations area of Caritas Bizkaia.
• Patrocinio Comunitario (Community Sponsorship) Community sponsorship program for refugees coordinated with Caritas International network.
• Aholku Sarea Basque Legal Service on Immigration (Servicio Jurídico Vasco en Materia de Extranjería) providing legal support for immigration matters.
• Empresas Sociales y Solidarias (Social and Solidarity Enterprises) Support for social insertion companies, cooperatives, and other social economy entities developing products and services following solidarity economy principles.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11,607 people accompanied in 2025 through comprehensive social programs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Lanbide - Servicio Vasco de EmpleocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Employment Agency (Agencia de Colocación No. 1600000066) collaborating with Lanbide for labor intermediation, connecting job-seeking vulnerable populations with employment opportunities.
• Cáritas InternationaliscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of Caritas organizations worldwide, enabling coordination on international emergencies, migration responses, and shared advocacy on social justice issues.
• Cáritas Confederal (Confederación de Cáritas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish confederation providing coordination, resources, and shared frameworks for all diocesan Cáritas organizations including training, advocacy, and emergency response.
• FOESSA FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation providing sociological research and the FOESSA reports on social exclusion and development, used by Caritas for evidence-based analysis and advocacy.
• FIARE Banca ÉticasecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerEthical banking partner providing ethical finance services and serving as a donation recipient channel for supporters of Caritas.
• KooperacoreOthersSocial enterprise focused on second-hand clothing collection and sale, providing environmental benefits and employment for people in vulnerable situations. Part of Caritas social economy ecosystem.
• Lapiko CateringsecondaryOthersSocial catering enterprise providing employment and training for people in vulnerable situations while delivering catering services.
• KidendasecondaryOthersSocial enterprise project within the Caritas economy solidarity ecosystem.
• Proyecto HombresecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized program addressing drug addiction issues in Bizkaia. Director of Caritas Bizkaia serves as president of Proyecto Hombre Bizkaia.
• Diótesis de Bilbao (Diocese of Bilbao)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent ecclesiastical institution. Caritas Bizkaia is the official charitable organism of the Church of Bizkaia, acting under mandate of the Bishop of Bilbao.
• AURENminorOthersIndependent auditing firm conducting annual audit of Caritas Bilbao accounts.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• REAS (Red de Economía Alternativa y Solidaria): Network of solidarity economy organizations that issues the Social Audit Seal that Caritas Bizkaia has held for 6 consecutive years. Comparable as a peer/ecosystem participant in social enterprise validation and ethical finance advocacy.

Direct peers

• Cáritas Gipuzkoa: Sibling diocesan Cáritas serving neighboring Gipuzkoa province with the same operating model, parish network, social enterprises, and beneficiary segments. Most direct peer in terms of structure, scale, and territorial mission.
• CEAR (Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado): Specialized NGO focused on refugee and asylum-seeker support in Spain. Directly comparable on migration/refugee services (GOIHABE, Patrocinio Comunitario) where Caritas Bizkaia actively operates, though CEAR is more single-purpose.
• Proyecto Hombre: Spanish NGO addressing drug addiction and social exclusion, with a Bizkaia chapter where the Caritas Bizkaia Director serves as president. Directly comparable in vulnerable population services with a more specialized addiction focus.
• ACCEM: Spanish NGO providing refugee assistance, social inclusion, and labor integration — operating multiple programs in Bizkaia and overlapping with Caritas Bizkaia's migration, employment insertion, and vulnerable population segments.
• Hogar Sí: Spanish NGO focused specifically on homelessness and housing exclusion — directly comparable to Caritas Bizkaia's 'Personas Sin Hogar' program, housing service, and community-based accompaniment for homeless populations.
• Cáritas Española (Confederación Cáritas): National confederation of all diocesan Cáritas organizations including Bizkaia. Directly comparable: shared brand, governance frameworks, advocacy platforms, and confederated funding; Caritas Bizkaia is a member entity operating under this umbrella.

Broad incumbents

• Cruz Roja Española: Spain's largest humanitarian organization operating across social intervention, emergencies, migration, and health — overlapping heavily with Caritas Bizkaia but at national scale and with broader program breadth including emergency response and blood donation.
• Cáritas Internationalis: Global confederation of 162 Cáritas member organizations coordinating international humanitarian response, including Caritas Bizkaia's participation in Venezuela earthquake and Lebanon/Ukraine emergency campaigns.

Emerging players

• Save the Children España: International NGO active in Spain focused on children and family support — overlapping with Caritas Bizkaia's family/childhood services (Relaciones Familiares e Infancia) and youth emancipation programs, though with a narrower beneficiary focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/caritas_bizkaia
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CaritasBizkaia
• Facebookfacebook.com/caritas.bizkaia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caritas-bizkaia

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Caritas Bizkaia