Ehrenamt Agentur Essen e. V.

What Ehrenamt Agentur Essen e. V. does

Ehrenamt Agentur Essen e. V. (EAE) is a registered nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 2005 in Essen, Germany, and self-described as one of the largest and most successful volunteer mediation organizations in Germany. Its core function is to match individual citizens willing to donate their time ("Zeitschenker") with charitable and nonprofit organizations in Essen that need volunteer support, operating across social, sports, education, culture, health, environment, and animal welfare sectors. The organization positions itself explicitly as independent of associations, churches, political parties, and the city administration, and is financed through three streams: membership fees from member nonprofits, individual and corporate donations (processed via the Twingle online fundraising platform), and institutional grants from public and private funders including the Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMFSFJ), the NRW Ministry for Culture and Science, and the Brost-Stiftung.

The product portfolio consists of a core matching service delivered through the Engagementfinder online portal, advisory and qualification services, and a set of themed projects and event series. Flagship programs include the annual SauberZauber citizen action (~30,000 participants in 2026, scaling from ~8,000 in 2006), the Impulspatenschaften refugee-mentoring tandems (100+ per year since 2016), the Glückskind mentorship program, the Gießkannenheld:innen urban tree-watering initiative, the Senior:innen im Mittelpunkt pilot for elderly isolation (2025-2027, ~750,000 EUR Brost-Stiftung funding), and the NRW-wide Freiwilligenagenturen:Kultur:Vernetzt cultural engagement project (2024-2026). Recurring events include Ehrenamt-Messen at venues such as Zeche Carl, Philharmonie, and Grugapark; the Essener Engagement Forum; and the Barcamp für Diversität.

The underlying technology stack is conventional and SaaS-based rather than proprietary: a WordPress website, a self-hosted Matomo analytics instance, Mailjet for newsletter distribution, Twingle for online donations, and embedded YouTube and Google Maps integrations. There is no disclosed AI/ML capability; the Engagementfinder functions as a searchable database with filter-based matching. Operationally the organization runs with approximately 5 employees across two Essen locations (Dorotheenstr. 3 headquarters and Viehofer Str. 31 community hub), achieving community reach through high-leverage use of corporate partners, public sponsors, and an extensive volunteer network rather than headcount expansion.

Name

Ehrenamt Agentur Essen e. V.

Legal name

Ehrenamt Agentur Essen e. V.

Website

https://ehrenamtessen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ehrenamt Agentur Essen e. V. is a nonprofit volunteer agency founded in 2005 in Essen, Germany, that mediates between citizens seeking to volunteer and local charitable organizations, financed through membership fees, donations, and public grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Essen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Charitable organizations in Essen pay membership fees to join the Ehrenamt Agentur's volunteer pool and access services including consulting, recruitment support, free event participation, and promotional exposure.
2. Donations and project support: Individual donors, companies, and foundations make monetary donations. The organization runs online donation campaigns (via Twingle/altruja) and receives project-specific support from long-term sponsors.
3. Government and institutional grants: The organization receives funding from public sources including the federal government (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend), the state of NRW (Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft NRW), and the Brost-Stiftung for specific projects such as Impulspatenschaften, Senior:innen im Mittelpunkt, and Freiwilligenagenturen:Kultur:Vernetzt.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ehrenamt Agentur Essen e.V. is a nonprofit volunteer agency that mediates volunteer personnel between interested citizens and charitable organizations in Essen. It provides free consultation, online matching via the Engagementfinder portal, advisory and qualification services for both volunteers and organizations, and organizes recurring in-person events and thematic projects such as SauberZauber, Impulspatenschaften, Gie\u00dfkannenheld:innen, Gl\u00fcckskind, Senior:innen im Mittelpunkt, and Freiwilligenagenturen:Kultur:Vernetzt. The organization also runs corporate engagement services connecting Essen-based businesses with structured volunteer opportunities.

Product overview

Ehrenamt Agentur Essen e.V. is a nonprofit volunteer agency founded in 2005, operating as a single unified charitable organization rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its core offering is the mediation of volunteer resources to nonprofit organizations across Essen, delivered through a combination of digital tools and in-person services. The central digital product is the Engagementfinder, an online search and matching platform through which citizens find suitable volunteer opportunities. Complementing the digital platform, the organization operates physical touchpoints (Treffpunkt City-Nord), manages a portfolio of themed projects (Impulspatenschaften, Gießkannenheld:innen, Senior:innen im Mittelpunkt, Freiwilligenagenturen:Kultur:Vernetzt), and organizes recurring event series (Ehrenamt-Messen, Essener Engagement Forum, Barcamp für Diversität). Financial support is facilitated through online donations (via Twingle) and membership programs. All services are provided free of charge to volunteers and financed through member fees, donations, and public funding grants. The organization is independent of associations, churches, politics, and the city administration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Engagementfinder Online Matching Portal An online self-service search and matching platform enabling citizens to find volunteer opportunities in Essen tailored to their interests, availability, and skills. Users can search, browse, and apply directly to nonprofit organizations through the portal, operating 24/7 and lowering barriers to entry.
• Volunteer Mediation Service for Organizations Core service mediating volunteer personnel to nonprofit organizations in Essen. Includes a pool of volunteer placements, individual consultation to citizens, member organization onboarding, and support for organizations in finding suitable volunteers and managing volunteer programs.
• SauberZauber Citizen Action Essen's flagship two-week annual citizen action for urban cleanliness and environmental awareness. Involves schools, kindergartens, clubs, neighborhoods, and companies in cleaning and environmental activities, with a prize ceremony sponsored by Entsorgungsbetriebe Essen (EBE). Reaches approximately 30,000 Essen residents annually.
• Impulspatenschaften Refugee Mentorship Program Mentorship program pairing volunteer 'Impulspat:innen' with newly arrived residents in Essen to provide personal companionship, orientation, and integration support through shared outings and city exploration. Participants meet ideally three times over twelve months with no long-term commitment required.
• Gie\u00dfkannenheld:innen Urban Tree Watering Initiative Volunteer initiative mobilizing citizens to water urban street trees across all Essen districts. The project provides free 1,000-liter rain barrels with rooftop downspout connections to 'Platzschenker:innen' (space donors) to ensure trees receive adequate water during drought periods.
• Senior:innen im Mittelpunkt \u2013 Beratung zur Teilhabe in Essen Pilot project (2025-2027) conducted jointly with Contigo-Ruhr gGmbH that aims to prevent social isolation of elderly people in Altendorf, Holsterhausen, and Frohnhausen through personal counseling, volunteer companionship, and intergenerational activities. Funded by the Brost Foundation with approximately 750,000 euros.
• Freiwilligenagenturen:Kultur:Vernetzt Network project (September 2024 \u2013 August 2026) led by lagfa NRW and funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia, with DAKU as a partner. Ten local volunteer agencies strengthen cultural engagement across rural NRW through cultural meetups, workshops, and a closing festival.
• Ehrenamt-Messen Volunteer Fairs Regular career-fair-style events held at venues across Essen (Zeche Carl, Philharmonie, Grugapark, TRUDI Kreativ Kathedrale) where nonprofit organizations and initiatives present their volunteer opportunities to the public. Sparkasse Essen provides financial support enabling these events.
• Essener Engagement Forum Annual networking event bringing together approximately 200 decision-makers and change-makers from business, civil society, and administration to exchange ideas, forge new collaborations, and strengthen civic engagement in the city of Essen. Co-organized with Sparkasse Essen and the City of Essen.
• Barcamp f\u00fcr Diversit\u00e4t Annual unconference focused on diversity, social cohesion, and democracy. Participants from civil society, associations, politics, companies, administration, and academia exchange experiences and develop perspectives for respectful and peaceful coexistence in the city. Held at Unperfekthaus in Essen.
• Corporate Engagement Service (Unternehmensengagement) Corporate engagement service connecting Essen-based businesses with volunteer opportunities and supporting companies in organizing team volunteer projects within nonprofit organizations. Includes corporate membership, employee volunteering programs, and event sponsorship arrangements.
• Advisory and Qualification Services Advisory and qualification services for both volunteers and nonprofit organizations, including guidance on topics such as insurance protection, volunteer recruitment and retention, recognition culture, and best practices in volunteer management.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 30,000 Essen residents participate annually in the SauberZauber citizen action (2026), up from 8,000 in 170 actions in 2006.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability1 record

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Entsorgungsbetriebe Essen (EBE)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 April 2026EBE is the main sponsor of the SauberZauber citizen action and hosted the prize ceremony for the 21st edition (2026) on its premises at Pferdebahnstraße. EBE offers participants behind-the-scenes tours of its facilities. SauberZauber is organized jointly by the city of Essen, Ehrenamt Agentur Essen e.V., EBE, and Jugendberufshilfe Essen.
• AllbauminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 April 2026Allbau sponsored the 21st SauberZauber (2026) by providing three hardware store vouchers worth 250 EUR each for the prize lottery.
• BONALINminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 April 2026BONALIN sponsored the 21st SauberZauber (2026) by donating two annual flat-rate cleaning product packages worth 100 EUR each for the prize lottery.
• Geno Bank EssenminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 April 2026Geno Bank Essen sponsored the 21st SauberZauber (2026) by contributing four sports shop vouchers worth a total of 500 EUR for the prize lottery.
• Lichtburg (Essen)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 April 2026The Lichtburg cinema in Essen provided a comprehensive cinema package for the 21st SauberZauber prize lottery, including class trip tickets, family vouchers for four persons, and monthly passes.
• RuhrverbandminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 April 2026The Ruhrverband donated two canoe tour vouchers worth 500 EUR each for the 21st SauberZauber prize lottery.
• Seaside Beach BaldeneyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 April 2026Seaside Beach Baldeney sponsored the 21st SauberZauber (2026) with guest list spots for concerts, Adventure Golf group outings, annual passes, and a group BBQ area with drinks worth 200 EUR.
• Stauder PrivatbrauereiminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 April 2026Stauder Privatbrauerei provided five brewery tours with tastings for two persons each as prizes in the 21st SauberZauber lottery.
• Contigo-Ruhr gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-implementer of the 'Senior:innen im Mittelpunkt' project alongside the Ehrenamt Agentur, bringing expertise in participation consulting for elderly residents in Altendorf, Holsterhausen, and Frohnhausen.
• Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Freiwilligenagenturen NRW e.V. (lagfa NRW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024lagfa NRW is the project lead for the 'Freiwilligenagenturen:Kultur:Vernetzt' initiative, funded by the NRW Ministry for Culture and Science. Ten local volunteer agencies across NRW participate. The Ehrenamt Agentur Essen is one of the implementing agencies.
• Dachverband der Kulturfördervereine (DAKU)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024DAKU accompanies the Freiwilligenagenturen:Kultur:Vernetzt project by building a statewide network of cultural supporters and bringing cultural sector expertise to the initiative.
• Gemeinsam für StadtwandelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2021Gemeinsam für Stadtwandel is a core initiator and partner of the Gießkannenheld:innen urban tree watering initiative. The collaboration also involves the Runder UmweltTisch. Together with the Ehrenamt Agentur, they build an engagement structure to ensure professional organization and equipment of volunteers watering city trees across all Essen neighborhoods.
• Runder UmweltTischcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2021Co-initiator of the Gießkannenheld:innen urban tree watering project alongside Gemeinsam für Stadtwandel and the Ehrenamt Agentur. Contributes environmental expertise and network mobilization to protect Essen's urban tree stock.
• Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Freiwilligenagenturen (bagfa) e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2016bagfa e.V. initiated the Impulspatenschaften project nationwide and the Ehrenamt Agentur is a local implementing partner. bagfa also issued a membership badge (Signet) for the organization. The Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend funds the Impulspatenschaften through bagfa under the 'Menschen stärken Menschen' program.
• dm-drogerie markt (Essen, Steele and Rüttenscheid branches)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 January 2016dm-drogerie markt ran an annual engagement program in which Essen-based apprentices ('Lernlinge') volunteered across multiple charitable organizations throughout the year. The Ehrenamt Agentur coordinated contacts between dm apprentices and nonprofits, and organized activities including animal care at Gruga-Park, gardening at Fürstin-Franziska-Christine-Stiftung, outings with disabled youth at Franz Sales Haus, and nature conservation with NAJU. dm stores also hosted Waffeln backen fundraising events for the organization.
• digi3 (Essen)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 January 2016The Essen-based design and communications agency digi3 has been a long-term supporter of the Ehrenamt Agentur. It donated 4,000 EUR to the 'Glückskind' mentorship project and participated in a climbing hall excursion with the volunteer-child pairs. Previously, digi3 helped implement the 'Laufend helfen!' campaign for the Essener Firmenlauf (corporate run) and created a Christmas greeting card that generated donations for Glückskind.
• GALERIA Kaufhof (Kettwiger Straße, Essen)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 November 2015GALERIA Kaufhof at Kettwiger Straße conducted a month-long in-store customer donation campaign (October-November 2015) and hosted an information booth to support the 'Zusammen wachsen' refugee integration project. The campaign raised 3,406.97 EUR (906.97 EUR from customers, topped up by the store). GALERIA also organized a carnival event for refugee children and their families. The campaign was part of GALERIA's nationwide 'Gemeinsam helfen' initiative supporting local refugee projects.
• Nelson Müller (TV star, Michelin-starred chef)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 October 2015Celebrity chef Nelson Müller, who also serves as patron (Schirmherr) of the Essener Freiwilligenagentur, donated his author fee from his participation in the 40th anniversary edition of the GRÄFE UND UNZER cookbook series to the Ehrenamt Agentur. The donation of 15,000 EUR was made jointly with the GRÄFE UND UNZER publishing house.
• GRÄFE UND UNZER publishing houseminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 October 2015The GRÄFE UND UNZER publishing house (GuU) contributed to the 15,000 EUR donation to the Ehrenamt Agentur by donating Nelson Müller's author fee from the 40th anniversary cookbook project.
• Sparkasse EssencoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2005Sparkasse Essen is described as a long-term supporter of the Ehrenamt Agentur. It financially supports the annual Ehrenamt-Messe events and the Essener Engagement Forum. Its Vorstand (Bernd Jung, Oliver Bohnenkamp, Timo Kluge) is quoted supporting the organization's work. The Sparkasse also sponsors the SauberZauber prize ceremony.
• Stiftung Kunst, Kultur und Soziales der Sparda-Bank WestminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2005The foundation of Sparda-Bank West has been a long-term financial supporter of the Ehrenamt Agentur, contributing to the organization's sustainability as an independent nonprofit.
• RST-Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbHminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2005The tax consulting firm RST is cited as a long-term supporter of the Ehrenamt Agentur. Its Managing Director Axel Witte is quoted praising the organization's societal contribution.
• Gesellschaft für Organisationsberatung und Softwareentwicklung mbHminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2005Listed as a long-term supporter of the Ehrenamt Agentur alongside RST-Steuerberatungsgesellschaft and Sparda-Bank West.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Freiwilligenmesse München / Münchner Freiwilligen-Agentur: Munich's volunteer agency running engagement fairs, matchmaking, and corporate volunteering programs for Bavarian citizens and nonprofits. Same operational model, different regional market.
• lagfa NRW (Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Freiwilligenagenturen NRW e.V.): Regional umbrella for NRW volunteer agencies; project lead of 'Freiwilligenagenturen:Kultur:Vernetzt' in which the Ehrenamt Agentur Essen participates. Operates the same volunteer-mediated civic engagement model across 10 NRW cities.
• Freiwilligenserver Köln / Köln-Agentur: Volunteer agency serving the Cologne/Rheinland region in NRW, running the same Freiwilligenagentur mediation model with engagement finders, fairs, and corporate volunteering programs. Comparable mission, business model, and delivery mechanism in a neighbouring NRW geography.
• Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Freiwilligenagenturen (bagfa) e.V. Germany's national umbrella association for volunteer agencies (Freiwilligenagenturen). bagfa initiated and channels federal BMFSFJ funding for nationwide programs like Impulspatenschaften and has issued the Signet membership badge to the EAE, making it a direct peer and federation lead.
• Ehrenamtsagentur Berlin (Stiftung Ehrenamtliche Tätigkeit): Berlin's volunteer agency providing consultation, matching, training, and qualification for volunteers and nonprofits under an analogous model. Direct service-delivery peer in a different metropolitan geography.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsches Rotes Kreuz e.V. (DRK): Germany-wide humanitarian organization heavily reliant on volunteer engagement for its social, refugee-support, and senior-support programs. Overlapping beneficiary populations and volunteer-management expertise, though operating as a much larger umbrella federation.
• Aktion Mensch e.V. Large German social lottery and grantmaking organization funding civic engagement, inclusion, and youth participation projects across Germany. Overlapping mission (promoting volunteerism and social participation) at much larger scale.

Emerging players

• betterplace.org: Germany's largest online donation and volunteer platform, providing self-serve matching and project funding that competes with the EAE's Engagementfinder portal, particularly for routine nonprofit-volunteer placements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ehrenamtessen
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheEhrenamt
• Facebookfacebook.com/ehrenamtessen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ehrenamt-agentur-essen
• Instagraminstagram.com/ehrenamtessen

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 Ehrenamt Agentur Essen e. V.