Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe is the humanitarian aid arm of the Protestant churches in Germany, founded in 1954 and headquartered in Berlin. It delivers emergency relief, reconstruction, and disaster prevention across 42 countries, funded primarily through donations, church community fundraising, and German government grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1954
- HeadquartersBerlin, Berlin, Germany
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe does
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe is the humanitarian aid organization of the Protestant churches in Germany, founded in 1954 and headquartered in Berlin. It delivers emergency relief, reconstruction support, and disaster preparedness programs to populations affected by natural disasters, armed conflict, and displacement, operating across 42 countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe through approximately 75 to 120 active projects per year with a 2025 spending footprint of roughly €65 million. The organization is structurally embedded in the Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung e.V. (EWDE), the umbrella entity that also encompasses Brot für die Welt and Diakonie Deutschland, and is a member of the global ACT Alliance church humanitarian network.
Its core programmatic products comprise humanitarian emergency aid (Soforthilfe), post-crisis reconstruction (Wiederaufbau), disaster prevention (Katastrophenvorsorge), cash transfers (Geldtransfer), WASH programs (Wasser und Hygiene), and themed interventions covering earthquake, flood, drought, famine, conflict, and displacement scenarios. Supporting infrastructure includes an online donation platform (one-time and recurring), a sponsorship membership program, an e-commerce shop selling books and branded merchandise, and integration with payment processors (BS PAYONE, PayPal), newsletter services (Optimizely), and logistics partners (reha GmbH, DHL).
The revenue model is a non-profit donation-and-grant model. Funding streams include private individual donations (one-time, recurring, commemorative, and memorial), church and community fundraising through Kirchengemeinden and youth/school networks, corporate giving, foundation grants including legacy gifts, and institutional government funding primarily from BMZ and EKD. Go-to-market relies on the Protestant church network for community-based fundraising, supplemented by direct digital marketing through the organization website, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Bluesky), email newsletters, direct mail, annual reports, and petition-driven advocacy campaigns. The DZI-Spendensiegel held continuously since 1993 functions as a key trust and credibility asset in donor acquisition.
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe
- Legal name
- Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung e.V.
- Website
- https://diakonie-katastrophenhilfe.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1954
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe is the humanitarian aid arm of the Protestant churches in Germany, founded in 1954 and headquartered in Berlin. It delivers emergency relief, reconstruction, and disaster prevention across 42 countries, funded primarily through donations, church community fundraising, and German government grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Humanitarian Aid Services
- NAICS
- Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Humanitarian Logistics, Supply Chain & Air/Sea/Land Relief Transport (BPAGAAAI), Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC), Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH)
Keywords
Where Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin, Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Private Donations: Individual donors contribute through online donations, regular giving programs, one-time gifts, commemorative donations, and sponsorship memberships.
- Church and Community Fundraising: Funding from church communities, Kirchengemeinden, youth groups, schools, associations, and organizations.
- Corporate Partnerships: Support from businesses through corporate giving programs.
- Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations, including legacy/inheritance donations.
- Government Funding: Funding from government sources, primarily Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) and Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard e-commerce pricing for merchandise and publications |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe provides humanitarian emergency aid, reconstruction support, and disaster prevention services for populations affected by natural disasters, armed conflict, and displacement. It accepts donations online (one-time and recurring) and operates a small e-commerce shop selling books and merchandise. Aid is delivered worldwide through ~120 projects annually across roughly 42 countries, in coordination with the ACT Alliance network and local partner organizations.
Product overview
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe operates as the humanitarian aid arm of Protestant churches in Germany, offering a unified portfolio of humanitarian assistance services rather than a modular software platform. The core offering comprises emergency aid (Soforthilfe), reconstruction support (Wiederaufbau), and disaster prevention (Katastrophenvorsorge) programs, supplemented by donation collection services including online donations, sponsorship memberships, and an e-commerce shop. Aid delivery mechanisms include direct assistance through money transfers, water/sanitation programs, food distribution, and temporary shelter provision. The organization manages approximately 75-120 humanitarian projects annually across Africa, Americas, Asia, and Europe, addressing crisis types from natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, droughts) to conflict and displacement situations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Humanitäre Soforthilfe (Humanitarian Emergency Aid) Emergency humanitarian assistance delivered rapidly in acute crises such as natural disasters, armed conflicts, and displacement; covers immediate relief needs such as food, shelter, medical care, and essential supplies for affected populations.
- Wiederaufbau (Reconstruction) Post-crisis recovery support helping disaster-affected communities rebuild infrastructure and restore livelihoods, including housing, community facilities, and economic recovery.
- Katastrophenvorsorge (Disaster Prevention) Proactive preparedness and risk reduction programs that strengthen community resilience before disasters occur, including early warning systems, training, and capacity building.
- Online-Spenden (Online Donations) Online donation platform enabling one-time and recurring financial contributions to specific disaster relief efforts or general humanitarian aid worldwide.
- Fördermitgliedschaft (Sponsorship Membership) Recurring donation program providing regular financial support; members receive project updates and reports on the organization's humanitarian work.
- Online-Shop (Merchandise Store) E-commerce platform selling books, publications, and branded merchandise; offers standard and express shipping within Germany and EU destinations via DHL.
- Projekte Weltweit (Worldwide Projects) Portfolio of humanitarian aid projects across multiple continents, addressing various disaster types and crisis situations, with approximately 75–120 projects promoted each year.
- Themenbezogene Hilfe (Thematic Aid Programs) Specialized aid programs tailored to specific crisis types such as cholera, drought, Ebola, earthquakes, displacement, hunger, cold, war/conflict, storms, tsunamis, floods, and volcanic eruptions.
- Geldtransfer (Cash Transfer Programs) Cash transfer programs enabling direct financial assistance to affected populations, allowing beneficiaries to purchase essential goods and services according to their specific needs.
- Wasser und Hygiene (WASH Programs) Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs providing clean water access, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education to disaster-affected communities.
Quantifiable outcome
- In 2025: ~65 million euros spent, 75 projects, 42 countries served
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Martin Keßler (Director of Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe)minorMartin Keßler, Leiter (Director) of Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe since May 2019, was re-elected to the newly elected Administrative Council of ACT Alliance on December 3, 2021.
- ACT AlliancecoreACT Alliance (Action by Churches Together) is one of the largest alliances for humanitarian work and development aid worldwide, with 137 members, over 20,000 employees, and annual financing volume of around 10 million euros. Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe is a member of this international church network. The alliance coordinates worldwide church work and improves aid effectiveness through common quality standards.
- Brot für die WeltcoreBrot für die Welt is the sister organization of Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, both belonging to the Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung e.V. While Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe provides emergency humanitarian aid in acute crises, Brot für die Welt supports long-term development projects. Brot für die Welt has been active for over 60 years in more than 90 countries.
- Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung e.V. (EWDE)coreThe umbrella organization that encompasses Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, Brot für die Welt, and Diakonie Deutschland. Founded in 2012 to bring together international humanitarian and development work with national diaconal work. EWDE is governed by a management board.
- Diakonie DeutschlandcorePart of the Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung e.V. alongside Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe and Brot für die Welt. Diakonie Deutschland focuses on national diaconal work.
- Evangelische Zentralstelle für Entwicklungshilfe e.V., Berlinminor100% owned subsidiary of the Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung for development cooperation activities.
- Dienste in Übersee gemeinnützige GmbH, Berlinminor100% owned subsidiary of the Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung.
- Ökumenisches Studienwerk e.V., Bochumminor100% owned subsidiary organization of the Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung.
- GEPA Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Partnerschaft mit der Dritten Welt mbH, Wuppertalminor49.6% owned subsidiary - fair trade company promoting partnerships with developing countries.
- Klima-Kollekte – Kirchlicher Kompensationsfonds gGmbH, Berlinminor22% owned subsidiary - church climate compensation fund.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Mercy Corps: Large international humanitarian organization with emergency response and long-term development programs across 40+ countries. Comparable in geographic scope, crisis types addressed, and operational model, though with broader funding base.
- International Rescue Committee (IRC): Major US-headquartered humanitarian organization responding to the world's worst humanitarian crises. Comparable in conflict-zone focus, refugee/displacement work, and emergency aid delivery, but with a much larger global footprint and budget.
Direct peers
- Deutsche Welthungerhilfe: Major German humanitarian and development NGO focused on fighting hunger through emergency aid and long-term projects. Comparable in donor base, project portfolio, and approximate scale, with similar DZI certification.
- Malteser International: Faith-based (Catholic Order of Malta) German humanitarian organization providing emergency medical aid, reconstruction, and disaster risk reduction globally. Comparable in faith affiliation, service mix, and operational footprint.
- Oxfam Deutschland: German affiliate of Oxfam confederation, focusing on humanitarian aid and development. Comparable in advocacy, donor base, and broad humanitarian mission spanning emergency relief and structural poverty reduction.
- Save the Children Deutschland: German branch of an international humanitarian organization focused on children's welfare in emergencies and conflicts. Comparable in donor acquisition model, recurring giving programs, and emergency response portfolio.
- Caritas international: Catholic counterpart humanitarian aid organization in Germany, providing emergency relief and reconstruction worldwide. Closely comparable in mission, donor model, and operational scale, with similar DZI-certified overhead discipline.
- Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) Deutschland: German humanitarian aid organization with international disaster relief programs, particularly known for SAR and emergency shelter. Comparable in operating scale, German non-profit funding model, and field of operations.
- Brot für die Welt: Sister organization within the Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung, focused on long-term development cooperation in 90+ countries. Comparable in funding model, donor base, governance structure, and German Protestant church affiliation.
- Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe / Johanniter International Assistance: German Protestant/Protestant-adjacent humanitarian organization with international assistance programs in emergency relief and reconstruction. Comparable in faith-based identity, German donor base, and operational model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe social profiles
Digital presenceDiakonie Katastrophenhilfe compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe
What does Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe do?
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe provides humanitarian emergency aid, reconstruction support, and disaster prevention services for populations affected by natural disasters, armed conflict, and displacement. It accepts donations online (one-time and recurring) and operates a small e-commerce shop selling books and merchandise. Aid is delivered worldwide through ~120 projects annually across roughly 42 countries, in coordination with the ACT Alliance network and local partner organizations.
Is Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe a public or private company?
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe founded?
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe was founded in 1954. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe based?
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe is headquartered in Berlin, Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Private Donations are the primary driver. The others are church and Community Fundraising, corporate Partnerships, foundation Grants and government Funding.
Who are Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Mercy Corps and International Rescue Committee (IRC). Direct peers are Deutsche Welthungerhilfe, Malteser International, Oxfam Deutschland, Save the Children Deutschland, Caritas international, Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) Deutschland, Brot für die Welt and Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe / Johanniter International Assistance.
Does Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe have an API?
No public API is recorded for Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe.
What industry is Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe in?
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe's product category is Humanitarian Aid Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAJAF, Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries, with a secondary code of BPAGAAAI, Humanitarian Logistics, Supply Chain & Air/Sea/Land Relief Transport. Its NAICS code is 624230 and its SIC code is 8300.