Diakonisches Werk Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz

What Diakonisches Werk Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz does

Diakonisches Werk Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz (DWBO), legally an eingetragener Verein headquartered at Paulsenstraße 55/56 in Berlin, is the Protestant peak welfare federation (Spitzenverband) for the Berlin, Brandenburg, and Schlesische Oberlausitz regions. Founded by seven church bodies led by the Evangelische Kirche Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz, it represents approximately 380 independent member organizations operating 1,900 social, educational, and health facilities and collectively employing roughly 53,000 staff. While DWBO itself maintains only about 44 direct employees focused on advocacy, coordination, and member services, its network covers child and youth welfare, elderly and hospice care, hospitals (22 evangelical hospitals treating ~110,000 inpatients annually), disability and inclusion services, addiction support, refugee and migration counseling (MBE at 15 locations), crisis hotlines, and international aid partnerships with Brot für die Welt and Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe. It operates the DIAkademie continuing education platform (500+ courses, AZAV-certified as of May 2026), the Freiwilligenagentur Charisma volunteer-matching platform, a job board integrated with kirchen-diakonie-jobs.de, and a 24/7 telephone crisis counseling service staffed by 250+ volunteers.

The federation does not sell commercial products; its revenue mechanics comprise church contributions, public-sector contracts for social services, donations (tax-deductible above EUR 50), and member-funded operations. Go-to-market is twofold: political advocacy and representation of members within the LIGA der Freien Wohlfahrtspflege in Berlin and Brandenburg, and direct engagement with beneficiaries through the member facility network. Technology consists of standard digital infrastructure: SozialBank-powered donation processing, kirchen-diakonie-jobs.de job portal integration, freinet-online.de volunteer management, Zoom/MS Teams-based training delivery, and a pilot deployment of AI-based administrative automation at the Willi-Kupas nursing home. Recent strategic initiatives include the Diakonie³ Rückenwind³ organizational transformation program (September 2023 - August 2026), AZAV certification of the DIAkademie (May 2026), and active policy positioning around the Berlin AGH-Wahl 2026 via the Sozial-O-Mat.

Name

Diakonisches Werk Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz

Legal name

Diakonisches Werk Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz e.V.

Website

https://diakonie-portal.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Diakonisches Werk Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz is a Protestant welfare peak federation representing ~380 member organizations operating 1,900 social, educational, and health facilities across Berlin, Brandenburg, and the Schlesische Oberlausitz with 53,000 staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Welfare Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

Keywords

• Social welfare services
• Elderly care services
• Youth welfare programs
• Continuing professional education
• Volunteer coordination services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Member Organization Representation and Advocacy: The DWBO serves as the umbrella and peak association for approximately 380 independent member organizations. Its role is to represent their interests in politics and the LIGA welfare associations, not to generate revenue from members in a commercial sense.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization raises donations from individuals and congregations for specific projects and general charitable purposes (Spendenzweck). Donations are used to fund the work of member facilities and specific programs.
3. Church and Public Funding: Funding is derived from church contributions and government/public contracts for social services, health care, and welfare programs. The organization's member facilities receive public funding for services such as refugee assistance, elderly care, disability support, and youth welfare.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Diakonisches Werk Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz is the regional umbrella and peak association (Spitzenverband) representing approximately 380 independent Protestant social welfare organizations operating 1,900 social, educational, and healthcare facilities across Berlin, Brandenburg, and the Schlesische Oberlausitz, employing roughly 53,000 staff. Its core offering combines political advocacy and representation of member interests with coordinated service programs spanning migration counseling, volunteer engagement, continuing education, job placement, voluntary service, and 24/7 crisis helplines — all delivered free at point of use and funded through member contributions, public contracts, and donations.

Product overview

Diakonisches Werk Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz is a federation of approximately 380 independent charitable organizations operating 1,900 social, educational, and healthcare facilities with 53,000 employees across Berlin, Brandenburg, and Upper Lusatia. The organization does not offer a unified software product but rather provides a coordinated portfolio of social services organized through five professional associations (Fachverbände: EVAP for elderly care, FEJ for youth welfare, VETK for children's facilities, FfT for inclusion/disability, VEK for hospitals) and two dedicated work areas (Existenzsicherung & Integration for poverty/social inclusion, and Ehrenamt & Engagement for volunteering). Direct service offerings span childcare/youth services, poverty/homelessness support, elderly care, healthcare/hospitals, disability services, migration/integration counseling (MBE at 15 locations), addiction support, and international aid via Brot für die Welt and Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe. The organization also operates the DIAkademie continuing education platform (500+ courses), the Freiwilligenagentur Charisma volunteer management platform, multiple crisis helplines (TelefonSeelsorge, Kinder- und Jugendtelefon, vertraudich.online), and a job board integrated with the national kirchen-diakonie-jobs.de portal. The portfolio includes AI implementation in nursing homes for administrative automation and ongoing digital transformation initiatives like the Diakonie³ Rückenwind³ project.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Migrationsberatung für erwachsene Zugewanderte (MBE) Federally-funded professional counseling service for adult immigrants and their families after arrival or receipt of secure residence permits. Delivered at 15 locations across Berlin and Brandenburg through 8 member organizations, providing orientation, integration support, and family reunification guidance.
• DIAkademie (Diakonische Akademie für Fort- und Weiterbildung) Professional education and continuing training academy offering over 500 courses for health and social sector professionals across Berlin, Brandenburg, and Saxony. Offerings cover leadership, management, IT applications, and social work, with online seminars via Zoom/MS Teams. Holds AZAV certification (May 2026), QESplus (TÜV Thüringen), and DEKRA (since September 2022) quality certifications.
• Jobbörse der Diakonie (Diakonie Job Board) Central job portal integrated with kirchen-diakonie-jobs.de for posting and searching positions in social services across Berlin, Brandenburg, and Upper Lusatia. Job listings from regional member organizations are automatically synced and displayed via interface connection.
• Freiwilligendienste (FSJ & BFD) Voluntary service programs including Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr (FSJ), Bundesfreiwilligendienst (BFD), BFD for refugees, and BFD for persons over 27, supporting approximately 400 volunteers annually in Berlin and Brandenburg social welfare placements.
• Freiwilligenagentur Charisma Volunteer agency connecting volunteers with engagement opportunities in member organizations and providing consulting on volunteer management for non-profit, diaconal, and church organizations. Uses freinet-online.de for publishing and managing volunteer opportunities. Co-led with the DWBO Ehrenamt work area.
• Kirchliche TelefonSeelsorge und Helplines Network of crisis and support helplines including the Kirchliche TelefonSeelsorge Berlin-Brandenburg (24/7 anonymous emotional support via phone, email, and chat), Telefon Doweria (Russian-speaking helpline), Elterntelefon (parent helpline), Kinder- und Jugendtelefon (youth helpline), and vertraudich.online (online youth counseling). Staffed by over 250 qualified volunteer counselors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Manages over 250 volunteer counselors in the Kirchliche TelefonSeelsorge alone
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Evangelische Kirche Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz (EKBO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe founding and primary church partner of the DWBO. The EKBO is one of 7 church bodies that founded the organization and continues as its primary ecclesiastical sponsor, providing theological direction and financial support. The DWBO's Christian identity and mission are rooted in the EKBO tradition.
• Bund Evangelisch-Freikirchlicher Gemeinden (BEFG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the founding church bodies of the DWBO, representing Baptist communities in the region.
• Evangelisch-methodistische KircheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the founding church bodies of the DWBO, representing Methodist communities.
• Evangelische Brüdergemeine HerrnhutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the founding church bodies of the DWBO, representing the Moravian church community in Herrnhut.
• Heilsarmee (Salvation Army)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the founding church bodies of the DWBO.
• Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (SELK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the founding church bodies of the DWBO.
• Diakonie DeutschlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe national umbrella organization of the Diakonie in Germany. The DWBO is a member state association of Diakonie Deutschland, which coordinates national policy positions, provides resources, and represents the Diakonie at the federal level and in EU bodies.
• LIGA BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DWBO is a member of the LIGA der Spitzenverbände der Freien Wohlfahrtspflege in Berlin, working together with other welfare associations (AWO, Caritas, DRK, Der Paritätische, Jüdische Gemeinde) on social policy matters in the Berlin state.
• LIGA BrandenburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DWBO is a member of the LIGA Brandenburg, the joint body of free welfare associations in Brandenburg state, working on regional social policy alongside other welfare organizations.
• Brot für die WeltminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DWBO participates in the global diaconal work of Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World), Germany's largest Protestant development service, which supports development and humanitarian projects in over 80 countries. The DWBO coordinates and promotes Brot für die Welt campaigns in its region.
• Diakonie KatastrophenhilfeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DWBO participates in the disaster relief work of Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, which provides emergency humanitarian assistance globally. The DWBO coordinates and supports disaster relief campaigns in its region.
• Freiwilligenagentur CharismaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe volunteer agency of the DWBO, operating under the name 'Charisma'. It connects volunteers with engagement opportunities in member organizations and provides consulting on volunteer management for non-profit, diaconal, and church organizations.
• Diakonische Akademie für Fort- und Weiterbildung (DIAkademie)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA joint academy for continuing education serving member organizations of the Diakonische Werke Sachsen and Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz. Offers over 500 courses and numerous new programs for professionals in health and social services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Caritas Berlin: Regional Catholic welfare federation operating across Berlin and Brandenburg as part of LIGA der Freien Wohlfahrtspflege. Directly comparable to DWBO as a co-equal Spitzenverband offering overlapping social, health, and family services to the same populations under a different (Catholic) church umbrella.
• AWO Berlin-Brandenburg: Workers' welfare federation (Arbeiterwohlfahrt) regional association for Berlin-Brandenburg. A LIGA co-member that delivers elderly care, youth welfare, and family services through a comparable member-organization federated structure, competing for the same public contracts and donor base.
• Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK) Berlin-Brandenburg: German Red Cross regional association for Berlin and Brandenburg. Operates nursing, ambulatory care, refugee support, and youth services through member structures and shares LIGA Spitzenverband status with DWBO in both states.
• Der Paritätische Berlin-Brandenburg: Parity welfare association covering Berlin and Brandenburg. LIGA co-member serving as umbrella for numerous independent non-profits in social welfare, directly comparable to DWBO's federation-of-federations role.
• Diakonisches Werk Sachsen: Sibling regional Diakonie federation covering Saxony, including parts of the joint DIAkademie academy. Closely comparable federated welfare structure, overlapping service portfolio, and co-governance of joint training infrastructure.
• Zentralwohlfahrtsstelle der Juden in Deutschland: National welfare federation of Jewish organizations in Germany; LIGA Spitzenverband member in Berlin. Comparable peak-association role for religious-affiliated social welfare organizations.

Broad incumbents

• Diakonie Deutschland: National umbrella organization of which DWBO is a regional member association. Operates broader federal-level advocacy, EU representation, and large-scale programs (Brot für die Welt, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe) that envelop DWBO's regional activities.
• Caritas international: International humanitarian aid arm of German Caritas, analogous to DWBO's Brot für die Welt / Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe engagement. Comparable scope of disaster relief and development programming though at larger scale.

Emerging players

• Brot für die Welt: Germany's largest Protestant development and relief service, co-governed by Diakonie Deutschland and other church bodies. Comparable in mission and donor base to DWBO's international aid work area (Diakonie weltweit), though at national/global scale.
• Kirchliche TelefonSeelsorge (national): National umbrella for Germany's church-based crisis helplines, of which DWBO's TelefonSeelsorge Berlin-Brandenburg is a regional affiliate. Operates the shared 0800-1110111 number and shares volunteer training standards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/dwbo.freiwilligendienste

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Diakonisches Werk Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz