Deutsche José Carreras Leukämie-Stiftung e.V.

What Deutsche José Carreras Leukämie-Stiftung e.V. does

Deutsche José Carreras Leukämie-Stiftung e.V. (DJCLS) is a German charitable foundation (eingetragener Verein) established in 1995 in Munich by Spanish opera tenor José Carreras following his personal recovery from acute leukemia in 1987. The foundation, headquartered at Elisabethstraße 23, Munich, operates with approximately 5 employees and holds continuous tax-exempt charitable status under German law. Its mission is to make leukemia curable for every patient by funding medical research, supporting treatment infrastructure, and providing psychosocial care for blood cancer patients and their families.

DJCLS's activities are organized around three core pillars: (1) Forschungsprojekte — research project grants for the investigation of causes and treatments of leukemia and related malignant blood and bone marrow diseases; (2) Infrastrukturprojekte — construction and equipping of research and treatment facilities; and (3) Soziale Angebote — psychosocial support including self-help groups, children's camps, and parent accommodations near clinics. The foundation also runs a Promotionsstipendien doctoral scholarship program (€12,400 per scholar at universities in Frankfurt, Köln, München, and Tübingen), a Clinician Scientist track, and a Wissenschaftlicher Beirat (Scientific Advisory Board) of hematology-oncology experts that evaluates grant applications. To date the foundation claims to have funded nearly 1,500 projects across these areas.

The foundation is financed entirely through charitable contributions and runs an event-driven go-to-market model. Revenue streams include individual and corporate donations, the annual televised José Carreras Gala, recurring Fördermitgliedschaft memberships, and supporter-organized fundraising events (marathons, virtual runs, benefit concerts, sailing events). Online donations are processed via FundraisingBox and accepted from €1 via credit card, PayPal, or direct debit. Awareness is driven by the annual Gala broadcast, a multi-platform podcast ("Unermüdlich gegen Leukämie"), social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter), the foundation magazine "UNSER ZIEL," newsletters, and a celebrity ambassador network drawn from music, sport, and television. DJCLS has held the DZI Spenden-Siegel (German Central Institute for Social Affairs donation seal) continuously since 2009, certifying transparent handling of donated funds. The foundation operates exclusively in Germany and is registered with Amtsgericht München under VR 15271.

Name

Deutsche José Carreras Leukämie-Stiftung e.V.

Legal name

Deutsche José Carreras Leukämie-Stiftung e.V.

Website

https://carreras-stiftung.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Deutsche José Carreras Leukämie-Stiftung e.V. is a Munich-based German charitable foundation (founded 1995) that funds leukemia research, treatment infrastructure, and psychosocial support for blood cancer patients, financed by donations, the annual José Carreras Gala, memberships, and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Leukemia Research Charitable Foundation

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

Keywords

• Leukemia research funding
• Charitable foundation services
• Patient support programs
• Medical research grants
• Blood cancer awareness

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The foundation generates revenue primarily through charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and events. Donations can be made online, via bank transfer, or through organized fundraising activities.
2. José Carreras Gala: Annual television charity gala featuring celebrity performances and fundraising calls, generating significant donations from viewers.
3. Membership Programs: Fördermitgliedschaft (supporting membership) programs where members contribute regular membership fees to support the foundation's work.
4. Event-Based Fundraising: Various fundraising events including marathons, concerts, aerobic marathons, and virtual runs organized by supporters and the foundation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Deutsche José Carreras Leukämie-Stiftung e.V. is a German charitable foundation that funds medical research projects on leukemia and related blood diseases, finances the construction and equipping of research and treatment facilities, and delivers psychosocial support programs (self-help groups, children's camps, parent housing). It also awards doctoral scholarships to young medical researchers and runs the annual televised José Carreras Gala as its flagship fundraising event.

Product overview

Deutsche José Carreras Leukämie-Stiftung e.V. (DJCLS) is a charitable foundation established in 1995 by opera singer José Carreras following his personal recovery from leukemia in 1987. The organization operates as a non-profit entity focused on making leukemia curable for everyone, always. Its core offerings consist of three interconnected service pillars: (1) Forschungsprojekte (Research Projects) funding medical research into causes and treatments; (2) Infrastrukturprojekte (Infrastructure Projects) supporting construction of research and treatment facilities; and (3) Soziale Angebote (Social Services) providing psychosocial support through self-help groups, children's camps, and family housing. The foundation's primary fundraising vehicle is the annual José Carreras Gala, complemented by an online donation platform, scholarship programs for doctoral researchers, and educational content through its podcast 'Unermüdlich gegen Leukämie' and magazine 'UNSER ZIEL'. The foundation also runs a Mutmacher:innen program sharing patient stories to inspire those affected.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Project Funding (Forschungsprojekte)

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 1,500 projects funded in research, infrastructure, and social support areas
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Münchner Yacht-Club e.V.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018The Munich Yacht Club has supported the foundation since 2018. In 2025, they organized 'Optimisten gegen Leukämie' (Optimist sailors against leukemia), raising 7,300 euros through sailing rounds for the cause.
• Münster Marathon e.V.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing charity partner for the Volksbank Münster Marathon. The foundation has participated as charity partner in 2008-2010, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Prominent supporters and ambassadors participate in the marathon as part of the 'Carreras-Team', raising awareness and funds.
• ZF Friedrichshafen AGcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner where employee Benjamin Krug underwent leukemia treatment. The company and its relief fund ZF Hilft e.V. have supported fundraising efforts, including a 5,000 euro donation and employee engagement activities.
• Emscher-PerlenfischerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal music ensemble from Mengede that organized a benefit concert 'Schlager der 20er und 30er Jahre', donating over 1,200 euros to the foundation.
• Volksbank Münster MarathoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor annual charity partnership. The marathon, with approximately 12,000 participants in 2025, includes a 'Charity Lauf' and corporate fundraising activities benefiting the foundation.
• TSG Wittenberg e.V. and FC Viktoria WittenbergminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganizers of the annual 'Wittenberg Lauf für Leukämie-Kranke' (Wittenberg Run for Leukemia Patients), which has been running for 19 years with over 600 participants in 2025.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cancer Research UK: World's largest cancer-research charity by spend. Comparable as a major cancer-focused nonprofit that funds research infrastructure and awareness campaigns, but operates across all cancer types at far larger scale.

Others

• European Hematology Association (EHA): European professional hematology society that funds research and education. Related as a stakeholder in the leukemia-research ecosystem in which DJCLS operates, but not a fundraising peer.
• Deutsche José Carreras Leukämie-Stiftung e.V. (parent vs. Barcelona sister foundation context — entry already shown above; no further peer): Placeholder removed; not used as duplicate.
• Helmholtz Zentrum München: German research center conducting leukemia and hematology research, and a likely grantee of DJCLS funding. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a fundraising peer.

Direct peers

• Deutsche Krebshilfe: Germany's largest cancer-focused nonprofit, funding research, infrastructure, and patient support across all cancer types. Directly comparable as a German nonprofit operating in the same disease-research-funding model with similar beneficiary profile.
• Deutsche Kinderkrebsstiftung: German nonprofit focused on childhood cancer research and family support. Directly comparable as a German disease-focused nonprofit funding pediatric oncology research and offering psychosocial/family-support services.
• Blood Cancer UK: UK-based charity funding research and providing support for leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood cancers. Directly comparable as a national blood-cancer-focused nonprofit with similar research-grant and patient-support model.
• Fundación Internacional José Carreras contra la Leucemia: The original Spanish sister foundation of DJCLS, also founded by José Carreras in Barcelona in 1988 to fight leukemia. Directly comparable as a peer leukemia-focused nonprofit sharing the founder, mission, and operating model in a different geography.
• DKMS Stiftung Leben Spenden: German-based nonprofit operating the world's largest bone marrow donor registry. Highly comparable as a German blood-cancer-adjacent nonprofit using celebrity ambassadors and mass-participation events for fundraising and awareness.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Largest US-based nonprofit dedicated to blood cancer research and patient support. Comparable as a blood-cancer-focused fundraising and research-grant-making nonprofit, though at significantly larger scale and with broader scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0vC6N-49ucdPTbRwMSDrHw
• Facebookfacebook.com/josecarrerasleukaemiestiftung
• Instagraminstagram.com/josecarrerasleukaemiestiftung/?hl=de
• Xx.com/jclstiftung
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deutsche-jos%C3%A9-carreras-leuk%C3%A4mie-stiftung-e.v.

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Deutsche José Carreras Leukämie-Stiftung e.V.