Esperança - Feeding the homeless in Barcelona

What Esperança - Feeding the homeless in Barcelona does

Esperança Barcelona is a volunteer-driven charitable association registered in Spain (association registry number 59324, NIF G66881087) that feeds and clothes homeless individuals in Barcelona's Ciutat Vella district. Founded in November 2013 by a group of friends who prepared soup and sandwiches for distribution at Ciutadella Park, the organization now operates two street-walk routes twice weekly (Saturday and Sunday evenings, starting at 19:30 from Volta del Remei 2, Casa 7, Barcelona 08002), serving approximately 150 people per weekend. Walks last 1.5–2 hours each, led by an experienced route leader plus four volunteers, and cover the Gothic/Born/Barceloneta corridor (the Park route) and the Poble Sec/Raval corridor (the Raval route). Food distributed per route per session includes vegetarian soup, tuna and cheese sandwiches, hard-boiled eggs, fruit juices, fresh fruit, and madeleines/cookies; seasonal clothing, footwear, and sleeping bags are also distributed.

The operating model is entirely volunteer-based with no paid staff disclosed. Volunteer coordination is handled through SignUpGenius (scheduling of walkers, hosts, and food providers) with WhatsApp used for real-time walk-day communication. There is no proprietary technology platform; the tech stack is essentially SaaS scheduling plus messaging. Revenue is generated exclusively through charitable giving across multiple channels: Donorbox (credit/debit card), PayPal, Bizum, direct bank transfer (IBAN ES14 2100 0965 5002 0039 2656), and the Benevity workplace giving platform for corporate payroll donations, in addition to in-kind donations of food and clothing.

The go-to-market motion is community-led: the charity recruits volunteers and donors through its trilingual website (English, Spanish, Catalan), a promotional YouTube video, WhatsApp outreach, and a referral network of partner schools (Benjamin Franklin International School, Saint George International School, St Peter's School), corporate supporters (Autodesk, Fundación La Caixa), and local businesses (Backstory Bookshop, McCarthy's Bar). No products or services are sold, and there is no published pricing, financial disclosure, or revenue figure. The organization is not backed by venture capital or private equity and operates as an independent nonprofit under volunteer governance.

Name

Esperança - Feeding the homeless in Barcelona

Legal name

Esperanca Foundation

Website

https://esperancabarcelona.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Esperança Barcelona is a volunteer-driven charity founded in November 2013 that feeds and clothes approximately 150 homeless individuals per weekend across two street-walk routes in Barcelona's Ciutat Vella district, funded entirely through donations and in-kind contributions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Support Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Homeless feeding services
• Charitable food distribution
• Humanitarian aid programs
• Community volunteer outreach
• Clothing donation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Monetary Donations: The charity accepts financial contributions through multiple channels including Donorbox (credit/debit cards), PayPal, Bizum, and direct bank transfer (IBAN: ES14 2100 0965 5002 0039 2656). They are also registered on the Benevity platform for corporate payroll giving programs.
2. In-Kind Donations (Food): Volunteers and supporters contribute food items including sandwiches (tuna and cheese), soup (vegetarian), hard-boiled eggs, fruit juices, fresh fruit, and madeleines/cookies. Food is prepared by volunteers and distributed during weekend walks.
3. In-Kind Donations (Clothing): The organization accepts donations of clothing and footwear in good condition, particularly socks and sleeping bags. They also collect seasonal items such as coats, sweaters, shoes for winter and light jackets, sandals for summer.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Esperança Barcelona is a volunteer-driven charitable organization that provides free food and clothing to homeless individuals in Barcelona's Ciutat Vella district. Every Saturday and Sunday evening, organized groups of volunteers walk two designated routes (Park: Gothic/Born/Barceloneta; Raval: Poble Sec/Raval), distributing homemade sandwiches, vegetarian soup, hard-boiled eggs, fresh fruit, juices, and madeleines, along with seasonal clothing and sleeping bags. The organization also functions as a donation platform, accepting monetary contributions via multiple payment channels and in-kind food/clothing donations from supporters.

Product overview

Esperança Barcelona is a volunteer-based charity organization that provides humanitarian assistance to homeless individuals in Barcelona. The organization operates a community-focused service comprising food distribution (homemade soups, sandwiches, and meals for approximately 150 people per session), clothing donations, and organized weekend volunteer walks covering two routes through the city. The charity accepts monetary donations through multiple channels including Donorbox, PayPal, Bizum, bank transfer, and the Benevity corporate giving platform. The organization was founded in November 2013 and is registered as association number 59324.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Distribution Service Free weekly food distribution to homeless individuals in Barcelona, providing homemade vegetarian soup, cheese and tuna sandwiches, hard-boiled eggs, fresh fruits, fruit juices, and madeleines/cookies. Each route distributes 6 liters of soup, 50 sandwiches, 40 biscuits, 36 juices, 40 fruits, and 36 eggs per session, serving approximately 150 people across both routes per weekend.
• Clothing Distribution Program Collection and free distribution of clean, good-condition clothing and footwear to homeless individuals. Priority items include socks and sleeping bags. Seasonal offerings include coats, sweaters, and boots for winter, and light jackets and sandals for summer.
• Volunteer Weekend Walk Program Organized Saturday and Sunday evening street walks (starting at 19:30) covering two routes through Barcelona neighborhoods: Park route through Gothic, Born, and Barceloneta; and Raval route through Poble Sec and Raval. Each walk lasts 1.5 to 2 hours, led by an experienced volunteer route leader with a team of 4 additional volunteers, departing from the local at Volta del Remei 2, Casa 7, Barcelona, 08002.
• Monetary Donation Platform Accepts financial contributions to support the charity's mission through multiple payment channels: credit/debit card via Donorbox, PayPal, Bizum mobile payment, and direct bank transfer. Also registered on Benevity for corporate payroll giving programs, enabling employee donations through participating companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Feed approximately 150 homeless individuals per weekend

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• AutodeskminorOthersCorporate partner that supports the charity's mission. Listed as a partner on the Esperança Barcelona website.
• Backstory BookshopminorOthersLocal Barcelona bookshop that supports the charity as a partner.
• BenevityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorkplace giving platform that enables companies to encourage payroll donations to Esperança Barcelona. Available for companies that have Benevity accounts to facilitate employee giving programs.
• Benjamin Franklin International SchoolminorOthersInternational school in Barcelona that participates as a partner, likely providing student volunteers and support.
• Fundación La CaixaminorOthersMajor Spanish banking foundation that supports charitable causes including Esperança Barcelona as a partner organization.
• McCarthy's BarminorOthersBarcelona bar that supports the charity, listed as a partner with Instagram presence.
• Saint George International School BarcelonaminorOthersInternational school in Barcelona that participates as a partner, likely providing student volunteers and support.
• St Peter's School BarcelonaminorOthersSchool in Barcelona that partners with the charity, likely providing student volunteers and support.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Fundació Banc de Recursos: Catalan nonprofit redistributing donated goods including food and clothing to vulnerable populations. Comparable in-kind donation and volunteer-coordination model targeting similar beneficiaries.
• El Rebost Solidari: Barcelona-based volunteer organization distributing surplus food to people in need. Comparable grassroots, volunteer-driven food-distribution model targeting similar low-income populations.

Direct peers

• Arrels Fundació: Major Barcelona-based foundation dedicated to serving homeless individuals, providing meals, accommodation, and outreach. The most directly comparable peer to Esperança given shared mission, geography, and beneficiary population.
• Centre d'Acollida Assís: Barcelona day center offering showers, meals, laundry, and social services to homeless individuals. Directly comparable beneficiary population with overlapping food and basic-need service delivery in the same city.
• Fundació Mambré: Catalan foundation providing shelter, meals, and reintegration support to homeless individuals in Barcelona. Comparable in serving the same population with a focus on housing pathways rather than street-level food distribution.
• Banc dels Aliments de Barcelona: Barcelona food bank that collects and redistributes food to vulnerable populations through a network of partner organizations. Comparable volunteer-driven food-distribution model, though operating at larger scale and as a redistribution intermediary.
• Càritas Barcelona: Local branch of Spain's largest Catholic social services network, providing food assistance, shelter, and social support to vulnerable populations in Barcelona. Directly comparable in beneficiary segment and food-distribution activities.

Broad incumbents

• Fundació RAIS: Spanish foundation working on housing inclusion and homelessness across multiple regions, including Barcelona. Comparable mission but broader geographic footprint and more institutional structure.
• Cruz Roja Barcelona (Red Cross): Spanish Red Cross operates food distribution, emergency relief, and social support programs in Barcelona among a much broader portfolio of humanitarian activities. Significantly larger and more resourced than Esperança.

Regional players

• Fundació Formació i Treball: Catalan social entity providing food assistance and labor-integration programs for vulnerable populations. Comparable food-relief focus with additional employment pathway services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/esperan%C3%A7a

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Esperança - Feeding the homeless in Barcelona