EFS – en missionsrörelse i Svenska kyrkan

What EFS – en missionsrörelse i Svenska kyrkan does

EFS (Evangeliska Fosterlandsstiftelsen), founded in 1856, is a Swedish non-profit mission movement operating within the Church of Sweden (Svenska kyrkan), headquartered in Uppsala with 48 employees. The organization operates a decentralized network of more than 100 local missionsföreningar (mission associations), samarbetskyrkor (cooperating churches), and seven regional districts covering Norrbotten, Västerbotten, Mittnorrland, Mittsverige, Västsverige, Sydöstsverige, and Sydsverige. Its portfolio spans religious education (Alpha courses, Al Massira, Vänner emellan), youth and children's ministry through its Salt subsidiary (including the BIAL child sponsorship program), theological education via Johannelunds teologiska högskola, retreat facilities (EFS-gårdar), folk high schools, and international mission work across 8 countries (Armenia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, Malawi, Tanzania, Somaliland).

EFS's core digital assets include EFS Play (a streaming platform for worship services, Bible studies, and conferences), Budbäraren (a theology and mission magazine), and a structured clergy ordination pipeline. The go-to-market motion is community-led, event-driven (Årsmöteskonferens, Samverkanskonferens with Svenska kyrkan, regional Mission i Sverige events, Salt camps), and supplemented by direct engagement through regional missionsledare and the national kansli. Distribution combines physical channels (local congregations, retreat centers, folk high schools) with digital channels (EFS Play, website, email newsletters, Facebook, Instagram).

Revenue is generated through donations (Bankgiro 900-9903, Swish, recurring monthly gifts, testamentary gifts, Humanfonden, stock gifts), membership fees from missionsföreningar and individuals, course fees (e.g., Vänner emellan at 300 SEK), Saltfonden grants backed by government subsidies for youth activities, music licensing compliance services via STIM and CCLI, merchandise sales (Cantio/EFS clothing line via spreadsshop), and folk high school tuition. Alpha courses are promoted as free evangelism tools. The organization has no parent company, no subsidiaries beyond Salt and Johannelunds teologiska högskola, no funding rounds, and operates independently under its own statutes with a board elected at its annual meeting.

Name

EFS – en missionsrörelse i Svenska kyrkan

Legal name

EFS

Website

https://efs.nu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1856

Operating status

Operating

Short description

EFS is a 170-year-old Swedish non-profit mission movement within the Church of Sweden, headquartered in Uppsala, operating 100+ local associations, youth ministry (Salt), theological education, and international missions across 8 countries, funded primarily through donations, member fees, grants, and course revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Mission and Faith-Based Community Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI), Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI), Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides) (MPAJAHAC)

Keywords

• Religious mission services
• Christian education programs
• Youth ministry services
• Theological education
• Faith-based community programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Uppsala

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and gifts: EFS receives donations from individuals, churches, and organizations. Multiple donation channels exist including Bankgiro (900-9903), Swish, and online donation portals for various purposes (mission, Sweden operations, international mission, diaconal work, Salt youth program, BIAL).
2. Member fees: Missionsföreningar and individuals can become members of EFS through membership, contributing financially to the organization.
3. Saltfonden grants: Salt administers grant programs (Saltfonden Mikro up to 4000 kr for local projects, Saltfonden Läger for camp subsidies) funded by government subsidies and distributed to local Salt associations.
4. Course fees: Vänner emellan online course is priced at 300 kr including course book. Alpha and other educational programs may have associated costs.
5. Merchandise sales: EFS sells branded merchandise including clothing with EFS vision and Cantio logotypes through spreadsshop.
6. Music licensing: EFS manages music licensing through agreements with STIM and CCLI for copyright compliance in worship services and events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

EFS operates a mission movement within the Church of Sweden (Svenska kyrkan), providing Christian worship, faith education, youth and children's ministry through its Salt subsidiary, theological training via Johannelunds teologiska högskola, international mission work in eight countries, and media content via EFS Play and Budbäraren magazine. Core offerings include Alpha and Al Massira faith-discovery courses, Projekt Injil outreach to Muslims, BIAL child sponsorship, and a network of local missionsföreningar and samarbetskyrkor across Sweden.

Product overview

EFS (En Missionsrörelse i Svenska Kyrkan) is a Swedish mission organization operating within the Church of Sweden. The organization offers a portfolio of religious education, youth/children's ministry, international mission, and media products. Core offerings include: EFS Play (streaming media platform), Budbäraren (magazine/publication), Salt (youth and children's ministry with BIAL child sponsorship), Alpha courses (Christian faith exploration), Projekt Injil (outreach to people of Muslim background), Johannelunds teologiska högskola (theological college), EFS Folkhögskolor (folk high schools), EFS-gårdar (retreat facilities), and various music resources including Cantio merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EFS Play Online streaming platform providing worship services, Bible studies, conference broadcasts, and Christian educational content from EFS and Salt.
• Budbäraren EFS membership magazine covering theology, portraits, global mission news, and Salt youth content, distributed to members and supporters.
• Salt (Barn och unga) Children's and youth ministry program within EFS helping young people know, believe in, and follow Jesus Christ through camps, clubs, and discipleship activities.
• BIAL (Barn i alla länder) Child sponsorship program where sponsors support children in various countries through Salt's international outreach arm.
• Alpha A 10-week discovery course in the Christian faith combining teaching and small-group discussion, aimed primarily at non-churchgoers and seekers.
• Projekt Injil Outreach program equipping EFS to share the Christian gospel among people with Muslim backgrounds through courses, networking, and relationship building.
• Vänner emellan Interactive 5-session course helping Christians build friendships with Muslims and learn to share the Christian faith respectfully; available online or as locally led group sessions.
• Al Massira 12-session discovery course in the Christian faith for people with Muslim background, combining films, discussion, and biblical exploration.
• Johannelunds teologiska högskola Theological college offering an integrated priest program and theological education for future church leadership in EFS and the Church of Sweden.
• EFS Folkhögskolor Folk high schools within the EFS network offering adult education and personal development courses.
• EFS-gårdar Retreat properties and conference facilities operated by EFS for camps, meetings, and spiritual retreats (e.g., Storstrand, Lillstrand, Sundet).
• EFS Musik Music program with choirs, brass bands, orchestras, and worship groups, including guidance on STIM and CCLI copyright licensing for worship services.
• Cantio merchandise and EFS clothing line

Quantifiable outcome

• EFS has been operating for 170 years since 1856
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Svenska kyrkan (Swedish Church)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1856EFS is a mission movement within the Swedish Church, with deep historical and organizational ties. Priests ordained in EFS serve within the Swedish Church system. The Samverkanskonferensen is an annual joint conference. Cooperation agreements exist with local congregations.
• STIM (Swedish performing rights association)supportingOthersSTIM represents composers and songwriters whose music EFS uses. EFS congregations need STIM licenses for concerts and music services beyond regular worship.
• CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International)supportingOthersCCLI provides licenses for projecting/displaying song lyrics and streaming worship services. EFS recommends CCLI licenses to member congregations for copyright compliance.
• Alphasverige (Alpha Sweden)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEFS supports and promotes Alpha courses as a tool for evangelism and faith exploration. EFS organizes Alpha courses and inspiration days for member congregations.
• Johannelunds teologiska högskolacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheological college providing integrated priest program for EFS candidates. Located in Uppsala, trains future priests for EFS and Swedish Church service.
• BiblefactorysupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBibelbox (100 New Testaments in 10 languages) is ordered through Biblefactory for congregations to distribute to multi-lingual visitors.
• 30 dagar i bön (30 Days of Prayer)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcumenical prayer movement during Ramadan. EFS participates as one of many organizations supporting prayer for Muslims worldwide.
• Saltfonden networkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaltfonden provides grants to local Saltföreningar (youth associations) for youth activities. Funded partly by government subsidies and distributed through Salt national office.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Svenska Missionsförbundet / Equmeniakyrkan: Swedish free-church mission organization formed from merger of Svenska Missionsförbundet, Baptistsamfundet and Metodistkyrkan. Directly comparable as a Swedish Protestant mission movement with similar youth work, theological education, and international mission.
• Pingst – Fria Församlingar i Samarbete: Swedish Pentecostal movement and member of the global Pentecostal fellowship. Directly comparable as a domestic Swedish faith-based movement with local congregations, youth programs, and mission activities.
• Frälsningsarmén Sverige (Salvation Army Sweden): Swedish arm of the Salvation Army operating worship, social/diaconal work, and community programs. Comparable as a Swedish faith-based organization combining evangelism with social services and youth programs.
• Evangeliska Frikyrkan: Network of free churches in Sweden. Comparable as a domestic faith-based movement sharing similar mission, youth, and theological education functions with EFS.

Broad incumbents

• Svenska kyrkan (Church of Sweden): National Lutheran church of Sweden, within which EFS operates as the official mission movement. Comparable as the broader institutional umbrella with overlapping programs in worship, theological education, and diaconal work.
• Diakonia (Sweden): Swedish faith-based international development organization. Comparable as a Swedish Christian NGO with international programs, donor-funded model, and partnership-based project delivery.
• Lausanne Movement: Global evangelical mission movement convening worldwide mission networks. Comparable as a higher-level organizing entity for evangelical mission work that EFS participates in.

Emerging players

• Alfasverige (Alpha Sweden): Swedish branch of Alpha, the introductory Christianity course EFS actively promotes and uses. Comparable as a partner/overlapping provider of evangelism courses and seeker-oriented programs in Sweden.
• Johannelunds teologiska högskola peers – Ersta Sköndal Bräcke högskola: Swedish theological university college within the Church of Sweden context offering similar priest and theological training. Comparable as a peer to EFS's Johannelund subsidiary in training future clergy.

Others

• Svenska Bibelsällskapet (Swedish Bible Society): Swedish Bible distribution and translation organization. Comparable as a faith-based publishing/distribution organization in Sweden with overlapping constituency and theological educational role.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/efsnu
• Facebookfacebook.com/efs.nu
• Instagraminstagram.com/efsnu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about EFS – en missionsrörelse i Svenska kyrkan