Die Heilsarmee in Deutschland

What Die Heilsarmee in Deutschland does

Die Heilsarmee in Deutschland is a religious non-profit organization and Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts (public-law corporation), headquartered in Cologne and operating as the German territory of The Salvation Army International. Founded in 1886 and granted KdöR status by North Rhine-Westphalia on 10 October 1967, the organization delivers a broad portfolio of social welfare services through approximately 50+ corps (churches) and dedicated facilities nationwide, addressing homelessness, addiction, refugee integration, human trafficking, prison chaplaincy, family support, and disaster relief. It maintains three wholly-owned subsidiaries — Heilsarmee Sozialwerk Nürnberg Gemeinnützige GmbH, Heilsarmee Sozialwerk GmbH, and Heilsarmee Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH — with the Nürnberg operation alone employing over 90 staff across social work, supervision, trades, nursing, and administration.

The underlying technology footprint is deliberately minimal: a standard web platform (heilsarmee.de) integrating Twingle GmbH for donation forms, Stripe Payments Europe for credit card processing, SozialBank AG for direct debit, Microsoft Bookings for appointment scheduling, and Google Analytics for traffic measurement. Embedded media (YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud) supports content distribution, and a biweekly email newsletter (Heilsarmee Aktuell) has been published continuously since 2019 with over 450 archived editions. No proprietary technology, custom platform, or AI/ML capability is built or operated. Second-hand retail outlets (Kleiderkammern & Secondhandläden) provide a physical distribution layer.

The organization's revenue model is non-commercial and donation-led. Funding streams comprise: charitable donations and recurring monthly gifts from individuals, legacies and inheritances, fees from social welfare facilities operating under public-sector contracts, commercial operations classified as Betriebe gewerblicher Art (principally second-hand retail), and property management/asset administration income. Donor concentration is structurally capped, with no single donor or organization contributing more than 10% of annual revenue. Distribution is direct-to-beneficiary through field facilities and corps, supplemented by the second-hand retail network and an online donation platform. Strategic positioning rests on regulatory privilege (KdöR status, Diakonie membership, Deutscher Spendenrat certification, Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft membership), brand heritage spanning 139 years, and integration into the global Salvation Army governance structure, where the German Territorial Leader is appointed by and reports to the International Leader.

Name

Die Heilsarmee in Deutschland

Legal name

Die Heilsarmee in Deutschland Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts

Website

https://heilsarmee.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1886

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Die Heilsarmee in Deutschland is a Cologne-based religious non-profit and public-law corporation operating 50+ corps and social welfare facilities across Germany, delivering homeless services, addiction counseling, refugee aid, anti-trafficking support, and disaster relief, funded primarily by donations, legacies, and second-hand retail operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Welfare Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Social Assistance (624), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Emergency Shelter, NFIs & Winterization for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAG), Medical Missions & Global Health NGOs (BPAGACAI)

Keywords

• Religious social services
• Homeless assistance programs
• Addiction counseling support
• Disaster relief operations
• Community outreach ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Legacies: The organization relies on charitable donations from individuals and organizations, as well as legacies and inheritances. The website prominently features donation options for various social programs.
2. Social Facilities Revenue: Revenue generated from operating social welfare facilities including homeless shelters, addiction counseling centers, and refugee assistance programs, funded through social welfare contracts and service fees.
3. Commercial Operations: Revenue from Betriebe gewerblicher Art (commercial operations) including second-hand shops (Kleiderkammern & Secondhandläden) and other commercial activities.
4. Property Management: Income from property management and investment returns from asset administration.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Die Heilsarmee in Deutschland delivers faith-based social welfare services, operating homeless shelters, addiction counseling centers, refugee assistance programs, family and youth services, prison chaplaincy, anti-human trafficking support, and international disaster relief through a nationwide network of corps (churches) and social facilities. The organization is funded by donations, legacies, service fees from social welfare facilities, and revenue from commercial operations (second-hand shops), with all services provided free of charge to beneficiaries without preconditions.

Product overview

Die Heilsarmee in Deutschland operates as a religious organization and social welfare provider under the Salvation Army international movement. The organization offers a diverse portfolio of social services rather than a unified technology product. Core offerings include homeless assistance (Obdachlosenhilfe), addiction support (Suchthilfe), family and adult services, refugee aid, disaster relief, and youth programs. The organization operates retail outlets (Secondhandläden), maintains a biweekly newsletter (Heilsarmee Aktuell), and provides online donation capabilities. Additional services include prison chaplaincy, anti-human trafficking support, music and creative arts programs, grief counseling, and international tracing services. The organization is structured as a Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts (public law corporation) headquartered in Köln, with subsidiary companies including Heilsarmee Sozialwerk Nürnberg gGmbH and Heilsarmee Sozialwerk GmbH.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Heilsarmee Aktuell: Newsletter and news portal for members, employees, and friends of the organization
• Heilsarmee Sozialwerk
• Sozial-Center Kassel

Products and services

• Obdachlosenhilfe (Homeless Assistance) Comprehensive support services for homeless individuals including cold weather emergency assistance (Kältehilfe), daily drop-in centers (Tagestreffs), mobile response vehicles (Einsatzwagen), and Christmas celebrations for those in need.
• Suchthilfe (Addiction Support) Addiction counseling and therapeutic services for individuals struggling with substance abuse, provided through community centers and facilities including the Park In facility in Hamburg.
• Hilfe für Geflüchtete (Refugee Aid) Support and assistance programs for refugees and displaced persons, including emergency accommodation, language support, cultural integration, and psychological support.
• Gegen Menschenhandel (Anti-Human Trafficking) Support services for victims of human trafficking, including protected emergency housing (Hildegard-Bleick-Haus in Wiesbaden), separate emergency shelters, and an annual worldwide prayer day.
• Erwachsenen & Familienarbeit (Adult & Family Services) Support services for adults and families including community programs, counseling, and family assistance initiatives.
• Kinder & Jugend (Children & Youth Services) Youth programs including the HalloWas?! medieval festival, winter playgrounds, and other recreational and educational activities for children and teenagers.
• Katastrophenhilfe (Disaster Relief) International disaster relief operations responding to natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide, including annual earthquake relief operations in Venezuela, Indonesia, and Philippines.
• Gefängnisseelsorge (Prison Chaplaincy) Spiritual care and support services for inmates in correctional facilities.
• Internationaler Suchdienst (International Tracing Service) International tracing and search services to help reconnect families separated by war, migration, or other circumstances.
• Rotlichtarbeit (Red Light Area Outreach) Support services for people in prostitution.
• Sozialwerk (Social Welfare Services) Social welfare facilities operated by the Heilsarmee Sozialwerk Nürnberg gGmbH and Heilsarmee Sozialwerk GmbH (over 90 employees at Nürnberg), providing housing assistance, addiction support, and social reintegration programs.
• Secondhandläden & Kleiderkammern (Thrift Stores & Clothing Banks) Secondhand shops and clothing donation centers where donated clothes and furniture can be given for charity or purchased at low prices, with proceeds supporting social programs.
• Online Donation System Secure online donation platform enabling one-time and monthly donations. Processes payments via credit card, direct debit, PayPal, and other methods. Donors can designate donations to specific projects, corps/congregations, or facilities.
• Heilsarmee Aktuell Newsletter A biweekly email newsletter providing the latest reports and news from the German Salvation Army, covering community updates, events, and organizational announcements.
• Gemeindearbeit (Congregational Work) Local church and community ministry activities including worship services, community gatherings, and spiritual development programs operating through approximately 50+ corps (churches) nationwide.
• Musik & Kreatives (Music & Creative Arts) Music programs and creative arts activities, including brass bands, summer music schools, and concert events.
• Urnenfriedhöfe & Trauerbegleitung (Columbaria & Grief Counseling) Cremation urn cemeteries and bereavement support services.
• Offiziersausbildung (Officer Training) Training programs for future officers of the Salvation Army, preparing them for ministry and social work leadership roles.
• Freiwilligendienste: FSJ & BFD Voluntary social year (Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr) and Federal Voluntary Service (Bundesfreiwilligendienst) programs offering opportunities for civic engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual earthquake relief operations in Venezuela, Indonesia, and Philippines
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Diakonisches Werk der Evangelischen Kirche in DeutschlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDie Heilsarmee is a member of the Diakonie (Diaconal Service) of the Protestant Church in Germany. This membership connects them to the broader Protestant welfare network and provides structural support and recognition within Germany's social service ecosystem.
• CURACON GmbH WirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaftminorOthersIndependent auditing firm that annually verifies Die Heilsarmee's compliance with the German Donor Council's self-commitment declaration, including accuracy of multi-divisional accounting.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (German Red Cross): Germany's national Red Cross society operating shelters, refugee assistance, disaster relief, and social services nationwide. Comparable in scale, service breadth, and faith-rooted humanitarian founding mission.
• Diakonie Deutschland: The welfare umbrella of the Protestant Church in Germany, of which Die Heilsarmee is itself a member. Operates a near-identical portfolio of homeless, refugee, addiction, and family services; the most direct peer along both mission and operational lines.
• Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe: Protestant-affiliated welfare organization operating humanitarian aid, refugee programs, and social services across Germany. Comparable faith-based operating model and overlap in disaster relief and refugee assistance.
• Malteser Hilfsdienst: Catholic-affiliated humanitarian organization providing disaster relief, refugee aid, and social services in Germany. Comparable faith-based welfare delivery model and overlapping service portfolio.
• Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO): Major German welfare association providing social services including housing assistance, refugee programs, family support, and addiction services. Comparable target populations and service delivery model, though with a more secular/social-democratic heritage.
• Deutscher Caritasverband: The largest Catholic welfare association in Germany, operating shelters, addiction services, refugee aid, and family programs under a faith-based model. Directly comparable to Die Heilsarmee in mission, service mix, and target beneficiaries.
• IN VIA Katholische Sozialarbeit für Europa: Catholic welfare organization focused on migration, refugee integration, and youth services in Germany. Comparable faith-based social service model with overlapping refugee and reintegration programs.

Broad incumbents

• Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband: Umbrella organization for non-confessional welfare providers in Germany. Operates in overlapping service areas (housing, refugee aid, social services) and competes for the same municipal contracts and donor dollars.
• The Salvation Army International: The global parent organization of Die Heilsarmee in Deutschland. Operates the same mission, programs, and brand worldwide at vastly larger scale, providing a direct benchmark for the German territory's operational template.

Regional players

• Zentralwohlfahrtsstelle der Juden in Deutschland: Umbrella organization coordinating Jewish welfare associations in Germany. Smaller scale but structurally analogous as a religious welfare body providing social services, migration support, and community care.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/DieHeilsarmee
• Facebookfacebook.com/DieHeilsarmee
• Instagraminstagram.com/dieheilsarmee
• Pinterestpinterest.com/dieheilsarmee
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/die-heilsarmee-in-deutschland

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Die Heilsarmee in Deutschland