CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission in Deutschland

What CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission in Deutschland does

CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission in Deutschland is a German charitable non-profit organization (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1908 by Ernst Jakob Christoffel and headquartered in Bensheim, Germany. It supports people with disabilities in the poorest regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, with a particular focus on avoidable blindness, visual impairment, hearing loss, and physical disabilities. In 2025, CBM operated 385 projects across 35 countries, reaching 69.8 million beneficiaries, including 8.7 million people receiving eye medical care and 59 million receiving medication for neglected tropical diseases. The organization employs 644 people worldwide, of which 281 are in Germany, and uses a Community-Based Inclusive Development (CBID) approach spanning 25 countries.

CBM's core offerings are themed donation projects rather than technology products: cataract surgeries, eye doctor training (€50,000 per four-year specialist), disaster relief, child sponsorship, inclusive education support, wheelchair provision, ear surgery, and self-employment seed funding. Distribution occurs through a network of vetted local partner organizations in 35 countries, with German donor acquisition driven by online donations, TV campaigns, email newsletters, social media, and church/community outreach. The organization holds official WHO relations since 1989 and UN ECOSOC consultative status since 2002.

CBM is funded entirely through donations from private individuals, corporations, foundations, and church communities in Germany, with no commercial revenue. Pricing across the donation portfolio is unit-based (e.g., €25 for a school kit, €205 for a wheelchair, €300 for ear surgery) combined with monthly subscriptions (child sponsorship, doctor training). The organization reports a 11.3% administrative and advertising cost ratio certified by the DZI seal (held annually since 1993), and serves over 200 co-funding foundations through CBM Stiftung (established 2019) and dedicated major donor services. The German member association merged with CBM International in 2020 to consolidate global program effectiveness.

Name

CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission in Deutschland

Legal name

CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission Christian Blind Mission e.V.

Website

https://cbm.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission is a German non-profit founded in 1908 that supports people with disabilities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America through ophthalmologic care, rehabilitation, inclusive education, and disaster relief, funded by donations from German individuals, corporations, foundations, and church communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International development and humanitarian aid

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG), Emergency Shelter, Camp Coordination & Camp Management (CCCM) (BPADADAB)

Keywords

• Disability development programs
• Community-based inclusive development
• Preventable blindness treatment
• Humanitarian disaster relief
• Charitable donation management

Headquarters

HQ city

Bensheim, Hessen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and charitable contributions: CBM generates revenue entirely through donations from private individuals, corporations, foundations, and church communities. Revenue is used to fund programs for people with disabilities in developing countries. The organization is recognized as charitable and non-profit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CBM is a charitable non-profit organization that funds and delivers development programs for people with disabilities in the poorest regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Its core activities comprise medical eye care (cataract surgeries, trachom and river blindness elimination), community-based inclusive development, inclusive education, rehabilitation services, disaster relief, and disability rights advocacy. Programs are financed by donations from German private individuals, corporations, foundations, and church communities, and delivered through vetted local partner organizations.

Product overview

CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission in Deutschland operates as a charitable donation and project management organization rather than a technology product company. The organization offers a portfolio of themed donation projects including cataract surgery, doctor training programs, emergency disaster relief, child sponsorship, and self-help assistance. Core programs include Community-Based Inclusive Development (CBID) across 25 countries and neglected tropical disease treatment. The product offering consists of targeted donation products (Schulbesuch, Schul-Kit, Rollstuhl, Ohren-OP, Existenzgründung), foundation services, donor services, and a Braille translator tool. The CBM Stiftung sub-brand provides structured endowment services. These products are not modular/architecture-based but rather individual charitable giving options organized by intervention type and beneficiary need.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cataract Surgery Donation (Graue-Star-OP) Themed charitable giving program that funds cataract surgeries to restore vision for blind children and adults in developing countries. The donation funds surgery, postoperative care, and follow-up through vetted local partner hospitals.
• AugenlichtRetter – Long-term Blindness Prevention Program Long-term eye disease prevention initiative targeting elimination of trachom and other avoidable blindness causes by 2030. Funded through ongoing donations and TV campaign appeals featuring beneficiaries such as Kokobe.
• Doctor Training Mentoring Program (Ausbildung von Ärzten fördern) Sponsorship program funding the four-year specialist training of African ophthalmologists at a cost of approximately €50,000 per trainee. Monthly donations starting at €50 support the training program.
• Disaster Relief Program (Nothelfer – Katastrophenhilfe) Emergency humanitarian disaster relief for people with disabilities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Includes emergency supply packages (€60 one-time / €5 monthly), mobility aids such as crutches (€140 one-time / €12 monthly), and emergency tents (€500 one-time / €41 monthly). CBM is a member of the German Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft disaster response coalition.
• Child Sponsorship (Kinderpate – Kinderpatenschaft) Long-term child sponsorship program providing children with disabilities ongoing support for education, healthcare, and personal development through monthly donor contributions.
• Self-Help Assistance Program (Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe) Programs enabling people with disabilities to live self-determined lives through community-based inclusive development. Includes livelihood support such as the €100 business startup donation and the €25 political advocacy donation.
• Community-Based Inclusive Development (CBID) Programs CBM's overarching program methodology delivered across 25 countries, covering inclusive disaster preparedness, hearing support, inclusive education, livelihood security, and physical disability rehabilitation. Ensures people with disabilities are respected and live as equal members of their communities.
• Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Programme Treatment and prevention programs for neglected tropical diseases including trachom and river blindness (onchocerciasis), providing medication through partnerships such as MSD (since 2012). In 2025, more than 59 million people received NTD medication through CBM projects.
• CBM Stiftung Foundation Services Comprehensive philanthropy services from foundation establishment through asset management to purpose realization across more than 300 development cooperation projects worldwide. Enables donors to set up endowed funds, foundation funds, or full trust foundations using CBM's operational infrastructure.
• Projektservice für Förderstiftungen (Project Service for Foundations) Dedicated project identification, implementation oversight, continuous monitoring, and individualized reporting services for grant-making foundations and corporate donors co-funding CBM projects. Over 200 foundations are served.
• Spenderservice (Donor Service) Personal donor support service available Monday to Friday 8-18h via phone, WhatsApp, and email. Handles donation management, address changes, and general inquiries for German-speaking donors.
• Braille Translator Tool (Blindenschrift-Übersetzer) Digital tool that allows conversion of plain text into Braille script, supporting blind users and accessibility advocates.

Quantifiable outcome

• 69.8 million people received aid in CBM-funded projects in 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered notable and core.

• MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012MSD has partnered with CBM since 2012 for the elimination of river blindness (onchocerciasis), providing medications through CBM's distribution network in endemic countries.
• United Nations (UN) / ECOSOCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002CBM holds Roster Status with the UN Economic and Social Council since 2002, enabling participation in UN policy processes. CBM contributed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development negotiations, helping ensure disability inclusion in development goals.
• VISION 2020 — The Right to SightcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999VISION 2020 was initiated by CBM and WHO in 1999 as a global campaign to eliminate avoidable blindness. The action community consisted of NGOs and national committees working to ensure no one need go blind from preventable causes. CBM co-led this initiative for over two decades.
• German Church School (German Lutheran Church), Addis AbebanotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 1990The German Church School in Ethiopia's capital has been partnered with CBM since 1990 when blind and visually impaired children were first included in regular classes. The school serves as a model for inclusive education in Ethiopia.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989CBM maintains official relations with WHO as a Non-State Actor in Official Relations since 1989. It is invited to WHO working meetings, consulted on eye health policies and disability guidelines, and participates in the World Health Assembly. CBM contributed to WHO publications on inclusive vaccination centers and WHO World Reports on Disability, Vision, and Hearing.
• Bündnis Entwicklung HilftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBM is a member of the Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft (Development Aid Alliance), a coalition of ten German development organizations that coordinate disaster response and advocacy efforts.
• ProFiliis FoundationnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBM partners with the ProFiliis Foundation (founded 2008 by Thomas and Cornelia Schieferstein), which has co-funded 18 projects with CBM as of 2024, including inclusive schools in Zimbabwe, AIC-Cure hospital in Kenya, and school reconstruction projects in Tanzania and the Philippines.
• CBM International and affiliated national CBM organizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBM is linked to CBM-USA, Christoffel-Blindenmission Österreich, and other national CBM associations through CBM International. In 2020, the German CBM member association merged with CBM International to strengthen global program effectiveness.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights12 records

Emerging players

• SOS Kinderdorf (SOS Children's Villages International): SOS Children's Villages operates long-term child-welfare and education programs in developing countries, with comparable child-sponsorship donor model and international NGO footprint to parts of CBM's work.

Broad incumbents

• Welthungerhilfe: Welthungerhilfe is one of Germany's largest private development NGOs with comparable German-donor funding model, broader scope on hunger and rural development, and similar DZI-certified transparency posture.
• BRAC: BRAC is one of the world's largest development NGOs operating across health, education, and livelihoods in low-income countries, comparable in scale and multi-country program delivery to CBM.
• Caritas Germany: Caritas Germany is a large German faith-based humanitarian and social-services organization with comparable donor base in churches and individuals, but a much broader domestic and international portfolio than CBM.

Direct peers

• Orbis International: Orbis International runs a global eye-care NGO with a focus on training ophthalmologists and treating avoidable blindness in low- and middle-income countries, directly comparable to CBM's eye-health mission.
• Light for the World: Light for the World is an Austria-based disability-inclusive development and eye-health NGO with strong DACH-region donor base, directly comparable to CBM on mission, geography, and funding model.
• Sightsavers: Sightsavers is a UK-headquartered international NGO focused on preventing avoidable blindness and supporting people with disabilities in low-income countries, directly comparable to CBM's eye-care and disability inclusion mandate.
• Helen Keller International: Helen Keller International works on avoidable blindness, neglected tropical diseases, and nutrition in developing countries, overlapping directly with CBM's cataract and NTD programs.
• Humanity & Inclusion (formerly Handicap International): Humanity & Inclusion is a large international disability and humanitarian NGO that, like CBM, combines rehabilitation, inclusive education, and emergency response for people with disabilities in low-income settings.

Others

• MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières): MSF is a large international medical-humanitarian organization; while its mission (emergency medical care) differs from CBM's disability focus, both share donor-driven funding, multi-country program delivery, and DACH/European donor audiences.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cbmDeutschland
• Facebookfacebook.com/cbmDeutschland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cbmdeutschland
• Instagraminstagram.com/cbmdeutschland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 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 CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission in Deutschland