Evangelische Freiwilligendienste GGmbH

What Evangelische Freiwilligendienste GGmbH does

Evangelische Freiwilligendienste gGmbH is a non-profit coordinating body (gemeinnützige GmbH) registered in Hannover, Germany, that serves as the umbrella organization for an association — the Protestant Trägergruppe — of approximately 60 member organizations drawn from Protestant youth work, Diakonie (social welfare), regional churches, and free churches. It coordinates the delivery of Germany's statutory voluntary service programs: the Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr (FSJ) for volunteers under 27, the Bundesfreiwilligendienst (BFD) for all ages with no upper age limit, and international programs including weltwärts, the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), the Internationaler Jugendfreiwilligendienst (IJFD), Anderer Dienst im Ausland (ADA), and the organization's own Diakonisches Jahr im Ausland (DJiA) sub-brand. The coordinating gGmbH does not place volunteers directly; member Träger each act as licensed sending/placement bodies handling recruitment, contracts, pedagogical accompaniment, and seminars (25 seminar days per 12-month placement for under-27s).

The technology underpinning the network is the ein-jahr-freiwillig.de (einjahrfreiwillig.de) centralized placement portal — a TYPO3-CMS-based web platform aggregating more than 20,000 volunteer positions across Germany and internationally, with a supporting internal password-protected member forum for staff at Träger organizations. The corporate website (ev-freiwilligendienste.de) is bilingual (German/English) and built on a conventional open-source stack (TYPO3, self-hosted Matomo analytics with anonymized IP, Datawrapper-embedded maps/charts, GDPR-grade cookie consent). Headcount at the central gGmbH is approximately five staff under Managing Director Martin Schulze, with a wider Data Protection Officer and small editorial team; the Leitungskonferenz governance body is elected from member Träger.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Funding inflows comprise government co-funding from the Bundesministerium für Bildung, Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMFSFJ — domestic FSJ/BFD), the Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ — international/weltwärts), European Union co-financing via the European Solidarity Corps, recurring contributions from approximately 60 member Träger (subscription-like), and institutional affiliation with Diakonie Deutschland, the Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD), and the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Evangelischen Jugend in Deutschland (aej). No commercial pricing applies: volunteers receive Taschengeld (pocket money) from placement organizations (amount varies by Träger), and the gGmbH charges no agency fees. The organization holds no subsidiaries, has no parent company, and operates no separate mobile applications or public APIs.

Name

Evangelische Freiwilligendienste GGmbH

Legal name

Evangelische Freiwilligendienste gGmbH

Website

https://ev-freiwilligendienste.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Evangelische Freiwilligendienste gGmbH is a non-profit Hannover-based coordinating body for ~60 Protestant member organizations delivering Germany's statutory voluntary services (FSJ and BFD) and international programs (weltwärts, ESC, IJFD, DJiA), supported by BMFSFJ, BMZ, and EU co-funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Voluntary Service Coordination

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Professional Organizations (81392), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Volunteer Program Funding, Scholarships & Fundraising Support (EDAIAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD), Refugee, Migration & Displacement Support (BPAGABAH)

Keywords

• Voluntary service programs
• Volunteer placement services
• Nonprofit welfare coordination
• Youth volunteer placement
• Faith-based social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hannover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Co-Funding (BMFSFJ): Co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) as part of the statutory framework for FSJ and BFD programs.
2. Government Development Cooperation Funding (BMZ): Co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) for international/voluntary service abroad programs.
3. European Union Co-Financing: Co-financed by the European Union (EU) through youth solidarity programs, including the European Solidarity Corps.
4. Membership / Träger Group Contributions: The gGmbH serves as the coordinating entity for an association of approximately 60 Protestant organizations (Jugendarbeit, Diakonie, Landes- und Freikirchen) that contribute to and operate within the network.
5. Church Affiliation Support (Diakonie, EKD, aej): Supported by and affiliated with major Protestant umbrella organizations: the Diakonie Deutschland (German Protestant Welfare Organization), the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), and the Working Group of Protestant Youth in Germany (aej). These affiliations provide institutional and programmatic support.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Evangelische Freiwilligendienste GGmbH coordinates and places individuals into voluntary service programs (FSJ, BFD, IJFD, weltwärts, ESC, Anderer Dienst im Ausland) on behalf of approximately 60 Protestant member organizations operating in social, ecological, diaconal, cultural, sports, and integration settings in Germany and abroad. The company operates as a state-recognized carrier (zugelassener Träger) of statutory and federally funded volunteer programs and manages the donation-financed weltwärts program on behalf of the German federal government. Its central customer-facing channel is the ein-jahr-freiwillig.de portal, which aggregates volunteer placements, program information, and application resources for prospective volunteers.

Product overview

Evangelische Freiwilligendienste GGmbH is a non-profit organization that serves as an umbrella association (Trägergruppe) of approximately 60 Protestant organizations offering voluntary service programs. The organization manages multiple program types including the Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr (FSJ) for youth under 27, the Bundesfreiwilligendienst (BFD) for all ages, and international programs such as the Internationaler Jugendfreiwilligendienst, weltwärts, Europäischer Solidaritätskorps, and Anderer Dienst im Ausland. The core matching platform einjahrfreiwillig.de connects volunteers with over 20,000 placement opportunities across Germany and abroad. The DJiA (Diakonisches Jahr im Ausland) represents the organization's own international program brand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• einjahrfreiwillig.de: A volunteer exchange platform offering more than 20,000 volunteer positions in Germany and abroad where volunteers can search and apply for placements
• DJiA (Diakonisches Jahr im Ausland)

Products and services

• Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr (FSJ) - Voluntary Social Year A one-year voluntary service program for young people aged 16–26, placed at member organizations in social, ecological, diaconal, cultural, sports, or integration settings in Germany. Includes statutory pedagogical accompaniment (seminars) and may yield a certificate of professional suitability (Eignung) for social/educational professions.
• Bundesfreiwilligendienst (BFD) - Federal Voluntary Service A federal voluntary service program open to all age groups (including adults 27+ via the BFD 27plus track), offering placements in social, ecological, and other publicly beneficial settings in Germany under statutory pedagogical accompaniment.
• Internationaler Jugendfreiwilligendienst (IJFD) - International Youth Voluntary Service A statutory international voluntary service program for young people aged 16–26, with placements abroad coordinated in partnership with Catholic and AWO federal-level carriers and the BMFSFJ.
• weltwärts - Civil Peace Service (Development Volunteer Service) A donation-financed international development volunteer service (typically one year) for young people aged 16–26, managed by the organization on behalf of the German federal government (BMZ).
• European Solidarity Corps (ESC) - Europäisches Solidaritätskorps A European Union-funded voluntary service program for placements in Germany and across EU member states, offered as part of the European Solidarity Corps framework.
• Anderer Dienst im Ausland (ADiA) - Other Service Abroad A statutory alternative service abroad program for young people aged 16–26, recognized as fulfilling the equivalent of civilian/military service obligations abroad.
• ein-jahr-freiwillig.de online placement portal A central online portal (ein-jahr-freiwillig.de) that aggregates volunteer placement opportunities from approximately 60 Protestant member organizations, providing program information and application listings for prospective volunteers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20,000 volunteer positions available through the einjahrfreiwillig.de portal
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Diakonie Deutschland (Diakonie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiakonie Deutschland, the German Protestant Welfare Organization, is a founding member and key institutional partner. Diakonie's network of social welfare organizations constitutes the largest share of member Träger within the Evangelische Freiwilligendienste network. The partnership provides the organizational backbone for FSJ, BFD, and international placements in social services.
• Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Evangelischen Jugend in Deutschland (aej)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Working Group of Protestant Youth in Germany (aej) is an affiliated partner providing institutional support and youth work expertise to the voluntary services network. Aej representatives (including Dr. Annika Schreiter, Generalsekretärin) participate in governance bodies such as the Leitungskonferenz.
• Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) is an affiliated institutional partner providing church-based legitimacy and support to the network. EKD-affiliated organizations participate as member Träger across regional and free churches.
• ICJA Freiwilligenaustausch weltweit e.V.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICJA (International Christian Youth Exchange) is listed as a nationwide Träger for voluntary service abroad, offering international placements and serving as a member organization within the network.
• netzwerk-m e.V.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a nationwide Träger for voluntary services with its own portal (deinjahr.org). A member of the Leitungskonferenz leadership body.
• Brot für die Welt / Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung e.V.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrot für die Welt is a member organization offering international voluntary service placements, particularly in Africa and South America, with outbound program contacts listed on the network's regional pages.
• CVJM Deutschland (YMCA Germany)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCVJM (Christlicher Vereinsjunger Mann / YMCA Germany) is listed as a nationwide Träger offering voluntary services domestically and internationally through its youth work network.
• CJD Deutschland (Christliches Jugenddorfwerk)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCJD is listed as a nationwide Träger with its Arnold-Dannenmann-Akademie offering FSJ placements, representing one of the larger nationwide youth welfare organizations in the network.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IJAB – Fachstelle für Internationale Jugendarbeit: Germany's central specialist agency for international youth work, supporting international youth exchange and voluntary services with public funding. Comparable as a publicly funded coordinator/funder in the same international voluntary services space.
• Diakonie Deutschland: German Protestant Welfare Organization; founding member and umbrella body whose local Diakonie offices constitute the largest share of Träger in the Evangelische Freiwilligendienste network. Comparable as the broader institutional sponsor and the parent welfare ecosystem.
• Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Evangelischen Jugend in Deutschland (aej): Working Group of Protestant Youth in Germany; affiliated partner that provides institutional youth-work expertise and participates in the Leitungskonferenz. Comparable as a Protestant youth umbrella body with overlapping program scope.

Direct peers

• CVJM Deutschland (YMCA Germany): Christian youth welfare organization and nationwide Träger within the Evangelische Freiwilligendienste network offering FSJ and international placements. Directly comparable as a member-based Träger.
• Brot für die Welt: Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung, member of the Evangelische Freiwilligendienste network, offering international placements especially in Africa and South America. Directly comparable international voluntary services focus.
• ICJA Freiwilligenaustausch weltweit e.V. International Christian Youth Exchange offering voluntary services abroad; member of the Evangelische Freiwilligendienste network. Comparable as a nationwide Träger focused on international placements.
• Caritas Freiwilligendienste: Catholic counterpart organization that similarly coordinates a national network of Träger offering FSJ, BFD, and international voluntary services in Germany. Directly comparable in scale, statutory framework usage, and member-network model.
• netzwerk-m e.V. Germany-wide association coordinating secular and denominational Träger for FSJ and BFD; operates its own matching portal (deinjahr.org) and is listed within the Evangelische Freiwilligendienste leadership body. Directly comparable member-network model.
• CJD Deutschland: Christliches Jugenddorfwerk, one of the larger nationwide youth welfare organizations and member Träger within the network, operating its Arnold-Dannenmann-Akademie for FSJ placements. Directly comparable as a nationwide Träger.

Others

• QUIFD – Qualitätsverbund aus- und inländischer Freiwilligendienste: Quality assurance network whose QUIFD seal is awarded to member organizations within the Evangelische Freiwilligendienste network. Comparable as the quality certification body adjacent to the voluntary services ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/bundesfreiwilligenkonferenz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/evangelische-freiwilligendienste-ggmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Evangelische Freiwilligendienste GGmbH