Deutsche Gesellschaft für Demokratiepädagogik

What Deutsche Gesellschaft für Demokratiepädagogik does

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Demokratiepädagogik e.V. (DeGeDe) is a German nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 2005 and headquartered in Berlin, with approximately 300 individual and organizational members and a core staff of about 13 employees. It is the leading specialist organization for democracy pedagogy (Demokratiepädagogik) in Germany, coordinating federal infrastructure for democratic education through the Bundesprogramm 'Demokratie leben!' of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). DeGeDe currently operates the Kooperationsverbund 'Demokratiebildung im Kindesalter' (KV DeKi, 2025-2032) alongside five strategic partner organizations, and coordinates the Bündnis Bildung für eine demokratische Gesellschaft coalition of approximately 100 partners and supporters, supported by 7 regional chapters across Germany.

The organization's product portfolio is content- and program-based rather than technology-based. Core offerings include the Klassenrat (class council) methodology with specialized versions for welcome classes, the Qualitätsrahmen Demokratiepädagogik quality framework, the Toolbox: Diskriminierungskritik und Schule toolkit, the ABC der Demokratiepädagogik reference publication, the Jahrbuch der Demokratiepädagogik yearbook, and a Mediathek digital resource library. Operational programs include the Demokratietage (Democracy Days) regional and national event series, the Preis für demokratische Schulentwicklung / DemokratieErleben award (since 2015), the Berlin-focused Helga-Moericke-Preis, and the Hessen-based 'Zusammenleben neu gestalten' project for community democratic development. Completed programs include the Kompetenznetzwerk Demokratiebildung im Jugendalter (2020-2024), Creative Democracy (2020-2021), OPENION (2017-2019, supporting 200+ school-consortia), and the Erasmus+-funded DIYW project (2021-2023). No AI/ML technology stack, APIs, or digital product engineering capabilities are disclosed.

DeGeDe's business model is grant-and-dues funded with no commercial pricing. Revenue streams comprise (1) federal project funding through BMFSFJ's 'Demokratie leben!' program, (2) project-specific foundation grants (Stiftung Mercator, Deutsche Postcode Lotterie, Schöpflin Stiftung, and others), (3) membership fees from approximately 300 members, and (4) donations. The go-to-market is community-led via coalition partnerships and event-driven via Democracy Days, regional conferences, and award ceremonies, with a multi-channel presence including website, newsletter, podcast, and publications. End beneficiaries are schools, educators, children, and youth across Germany, with municipal and civil society actors as a secondary segment.

Name

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Demokratiepädagogik

Legal name

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Demokratiepädagogik e.V.

Website

https://degede.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Demokratiepädagogik (DeGeDe) is a Berlin-based German nonprofit association that coordinates federal infrastructure for democracy pedagogy, serving schools, educators, children and civil society actors across Germany through coalitions, toolkits, events, and awards programs funded by BMFSFJ and foundations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic and Democracy Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health Promotion, Prevention & Wellness Education (EDALAFAF), Attendance, Engagement & Truancy Intervention Services (EDAJAIAI), Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

Keywords

• Democracy education
• Civic education programs
• School development services
• Teacher training programs
• Participation pedagogy

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The organization is a nonprofit association (e.V.) with approximately 300 members (individuals and organizations) who pay membership dues.
2. Government Project Funding: Major funding from Bundesprogramm 'Demokratie leben!' through the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). Current Kooperationsverbund runs 2025-2032.
3. Foundation Grants: Project-specific funding from foundations including Stiftung Mercator (Creative Democracy project), Deutsche Postcode Lotterie, and other charitable foundations for specific programs.
4. Donations: The organization actively solicits donations through its 'Spenden' (donate) program on its website.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DeGeDe is a nonprofit association that develops and disseminates democratic pedagogy (Demokratiepädagogik) programs, frameworks, and educational materials for schools, educators, children, and civil society actors across Germany. Its core offerings include federally funded coordination programs (Kooperationsverbund Demokratiebildung im Kindesalter), community development projects (Zusammenleben neu gestalten), national school awards (DemokratieErleben, Helga-Moericke-Preis), educational methods (Klassenrat, Diskriminierungskritische Schulentwicklung), publications, conferences (Demokratietage), and an online resource library (Mediathek).

Product overview

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Demokratiepädagogik (DeGeDe) is a non-profit association with approximately 300 members and organizations engaged in democracy education. The organization operates as a program-based platform rather than a single product, offering multiple interconnected initiatives: current programs include the Kooperationsverbund Demokratiebildung im Kindesalter (KV DeKi) building nationwide infrastructure for early childhood democracy education, the Bündnis Bildung für eine demokratische Gesellschaft coalition network, the 'Zusammenleben neu gestalten' project for community development in Hessen, and various awards (DemokratieErleben Preis, Helga-Moericke-Preis). Core educational methods and materials include Der Klassenrat (class council), the Diskriminierungskritische Schulentwicklung program, and the Toolbox: Diskriminierungskritik und Schule toolkit. DeGeDe also produces publications (ABC der Demokratiepädagogik, Jahrbuch der Demokratiepädagogik), runs a podcast, and organizes Democracy Days events. Completed programs include the Kompetenznetzwerk (2020-2024), Creative Democracy (2020-2021), OPENION (2017-2019), and DIYW (2021-2023).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kooperationsverbund Demokratiebildung im Kindesalter (KV DeKi)
• Bündnis Bildung für eine demokratische Gesellschaft
• Zusammenleben neu gestalten
• DemokratieErleben – Der Preis für demokratische Schulentwicklung
• Helga-Moericke-Preis
• Demokratietage (Democracy Days)
• Veranstaltungsreihe 'Demokratie gestalten – Demokratie verteidigen'
• Der Klassenrat (Class Council) methodology program
• Toolbox: Diskriminierungskritik und Schule
• Qualitätsrahmen Demokratiepädagogik
• ABC der Demokratiepädagogik
• Jahrbuch der Demokratiepädagogik
• DeGeDe Podcast

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 project consortia supported through OPENION program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Aktion Courage e.V. / Schule ohne Rassismus – Schule mit CouragecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Kooperationsverbund 'Demokratiebildung im Kindesalter' (KV DeKi) since January 2025. One of 6 partner organizations working to build a nationwide infrastructure for democracy education in early childhood.
• Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk e.V. (DKHW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Kooperationsverbund 'Demokratiebildung im Kindesalter' (KV DeKi) since January 2025. One of 6 partner organizations in the federal program.
• Deutsche Kinder- und Jugendstiftung (DKJS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Kooperationsverbund 'Demokratiebildung im Kindesalter' (KV DeKi) since January 2025. One of 6 partner organizations in the federal program 'Demokratie leben!'.
• Institut Kinderwelten für diskriminierungskritische Bildung e. V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Kooperationsverbund 'Demokratiebildung im Kindesalter' (KV DeKi) since January 2025. Focus on discrimination-critical education approaches.
• Netzwerk für Demokratie und Courage e.V. (NDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Kooperationsverbund 'Demokratiebildung im Kindesalter' (KV DeKi) since January 2025. One of 6 partner organizations.
• Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMFSFJ)coreOthersFederal ministry providing funding for the Bundesprogramm 'Demokratie leben!' which funds the Kooperationsverbund and DeGeDe's core programs from 2025-2032.
• Förderverein Demokratisch Handeln e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term cooperation partner in projects like Creative Democracy and the Preis für demokratische Schulentwicklung. Joint initiatives to support youth participation and democratic school development.
• Friedrich-Ebert-StiftungmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the annual Preis für demokratische Schulentwicklung award ceremonies and co-organizer of the Preisverleihung events.
• Senatsverwaltung für Bildung, Jugend und Familie (Berlin)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for Helga-Moericke-Preis award and Berliner Demokratietage events. Joint initiatives for democratic school development in Berlin.
• Citizens For EuropemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean project partner in the DIYW (Democratic Innovations in Youth Work) project, co-funded by Erasmus+ program.
• Katalanischer Verband der Fachleute für Jugendpolitik (SP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean project partner in DIYW project - Strategic partnership of 4 civil society organizations developing democratic education materials.
• Zentrum für staatsbürgerliche Bildung (PL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean project partner in DIYW project from Poland - part of strategic partnership developing democratic innovation materials for youth work.
• Heinrich-Böll-StiftungmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue host for the first three editions of the DemokratieErleben Preis (2015-2017) and co-organizer of award ceremonies.
• Beratungsnetzwerk HessenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for the 'Zusammenleben neu gestalten' project in Hessen since 2016, supporting municipal and civil society actors in democratic community development.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (BpB): Federal government agency providing political education materials, events, and grants across Germany. A broader incumbent in civic/political education that DeGeDe complements as a specialist provider focused on democratic school development and pedagogy.
• Aktion Mensch: Large German social nonprofit funding inclusion, participation, and civic-engagement projects nationally. Comparable as a much larger incumbent in adjacent civic-education/inclusion funding space, though not a direct competitor for DeGeDe's specialist school-democracy niche.

Direct peers

• Deutsche Kinder- und Jugendstiftung (DKJS): National foundation implementing the OPENION – Bildung für eine starke Demokratie program (2017-2019) and a KV DeKi partner alongside DeGeDe. Closely comparable as a youth-education nonprofit funded under 'Demokratie leben!' with similar school- and coalition-based delivery models.
• Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk (DKHW): National children's rights and participation nonprofit that is a KV DeKi partner of DeGeDe. Comparable as a peer organization delivering participation, civic education, and youth-voice programs in German schools, with similar federal funding structure.
• Aktion Courage e.V. / Schule ohne Rassismus – Schule mit Courage: German nonprofit network operating the largest school-based anti-discrimination program in Germany. Directly comparable as a Kooperationsverbund KV DeKi partner and as a peer civic-education nonprofit targeting schools with participation and democratic culture programs.
• Institut Kinderwelten für diskriminierungskritische Bildung e.V. Specialist institute for discrimination-critical early-childhood education and a KV DeKi partner of DeGeDe. Closely comparable as a peer methodology organization focused on the same niche (discrimination-critical pedagogy) and serving early-childhood education.
• Netzwerk für Demokratie und Courage (NDC): German nonprofit running youth-led democracy and anti-discrimination projects in schools, and a KV DeKi partner of DeGeDe. Direct peer in mission, target audience (youth in schools), and federal-funding model.
• Förderverein Demokratisch Handeln e.V. Long-standing German association running the 'Demokratisch Handeln' competition for schools and youth projects and a co-organizer of the Preis für demokratische Schulentwicklung with DeGeDe. Direct peer in mission, school audience, and award-based civic-education programming.

Emerging players

• Citizens For Europe: European nonprofit developing democratic participation and civic-education methodologies and a DIYW project partner of DeGeDe. Comparable as a peer in mission (democratic innovation in youth work) but with broader EU rather than German focus.

Regional players

• Stiftung Demokratie Saarland: Regional democracy foundation in Saarland — one of DeGeDe's regional network territories — that funds democratic civic education at the state level. Comparable as a regional peer in the same field and same geography as DeGeDe's Saarland chapter.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/61550732735443
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deutsche-gesellschaft-f-r-demokratiep-dagogik

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Deutsche Gesellschaft für Demokratiepädagogik