HESTIA - Centrum pro dobrovolnictví, z.ú.

What HESTIA - Centrum pro dobrovolnictví, z.ú. does

HESTIA - Centrum pro dobrovolnictví, z.ú. is a Czech non-profit organization (registered institute, z.ú.) founded in 1993 and headquartered in Prague 5, operating a portfolio of structured volunteer programs and serving as the national coordination center for volunteering in the Czech Republic. Its core programs include Program Pět P (one-on-one mentoring for children aged 6–15 in difficult life situations, operating since 1996 with over 800 child-volunteer pairs matched), Program 3G-tři generace (intergenerational mentoring connecting seniors 50+ with families lacking third-generation contact, since 2011), and Program KOMPAS (group mentoring, currently paused). The organization also delivers corporate volunteering services, hosts the annual Křesadlo volunteer recognition award (since 2001), and operates the national volunteer opportunity portal dobrovolnik.cz.

HESTIA's technology footprint is limited: program delivery relies on manual coordination by trained staff and structured mentoring methodologies, with the dobrovolnik.cz portal serving as the primary digital infrastructure. In 2025, the organization entered a strategic partnership with the Dobrokruh digital platform to launch a joint technology-enabled volunteer space (dobrovolnik.cz/dobrokruh.cz with a mobile app), marking the first material modernization of its technology stack. The organization holds official accreditations from the Ministry of the Interior under the Czech Act on Volunteer Services and authorization from the Prague Municipal Authority for social-legal child protection (OSPOD).

The business model is non-profit and grant-driven. HESTIA is funded through institutional grants from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MPSV), the Ministry of the Interior, the City of Prague, and nine Prague municipal districts, supplemented by foundation support (Nadace Terezy Maxové dětem, Veolia foundation), individual donations via Darujme.cz, and fees from corporate volunteering services. Programs for children and families are provided free of charge. The customer/beneficiary base spans disadvantaged children and families, active seniors, Czech corporations seeking structured CSR programs, and partner non-profits across 10+ Czech regions. With 9 employees, HESTIA is a small, methodologically focused organization that has maintained stable operations and incremental program expansion over three decades.

Name

HESTIA - Centrum pro dobrovolnictví, z.ú.

Legal name

HESTIA - Centrum pro dobrovolnictví, z.ú.

Website

https://hest.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HESTIA - Centrum pro dobrovolnictví is a Czech non-profit founded in 1993 that runs structured volunteer programs — including child mentoring (Pět P), intergenerational mentoring (3G), and corporate volunteering — and operates the national volunteer portal dobrovolnik.cz. It serves disadvantaged children, seniors, families, Czech corporations, and partner non-profits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Volunteer and Mentoring Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Educational Support Services (611710), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Education & Teaching Volunteer Programs (EDAIAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Volunteer Program Funding, Scholarships & Fundraising Support (EDAIAGAO), Civic Engagement, Volunteering & Leadership Education for Seniors (EDAAAMAK)

Keywords

• Volunteer program coordination
• Child mentoring services
• Intergenerational volunteering
• Corporate volunteering services
• Volunteer matching platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Praha 5

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Institutional Grants and Government Funding: HESTIA is primarily funded through institutional grants from government bodies and municipalities. The organization receives financing from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MPSV), the Ministry of the Interior (MVČR), the City of Prague, and multiple Prague municipal districts (MČ Praha 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14). Funding is also received from Nadace Terezy Maxové dětem (Tereza Maxová Foundation for Children).
2. Individual Donations: HESTIA accepts one-time and recurring financial donations from individuals via the Darujme.cz platform and direct bank transfers (account 2700310906/2010). Suggested donation amounts range from 100 Kč to 1,000 Kč.
3. Program Fees for Corporate Volunteering Services: HESTIA charges fees for organizing and coordinating corporate volunteering programs for businesses, including matchmaking between companies and non-profit organizations and program management.
4. Volunteer Portal Sponsorship and Support: Donations specifically targeted at supporting the operation and development of the dobrovolnik.cz portal, which serves as a national database of volunteer opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HESTIA is a non-profit volunteer center that designs, coordinates, and delivers structured volunteer programs in the Czech Republic, including one-on-one child mentoring (Program Pět P), intergenerational mentoring (Program 3G-tři generace), and corporate volunteering services. The organization also operates the national volunteer matching portal Dobrovolnik.cz and runs the annual Křesadlo volunteer recognition award across Prague and 10+ Czech regions.

Product overview

HESTIA is a nonprofit volunteer center offering multiple interconnected volunteer programs and services. The core portfolio includes three mentoring programs: Program Pět P for one-on-one child mentoring (6-15 years), Program 3G-tři generace connecting seniors 50+ with families lacking third-generation contacts, and Program KOMPAS for group mentoring of children (currently paused). These are complemented by corporate volunteering services, the annual Cena Křesadlo volunteer award, the national Dobrovolnik.cz portal, and a new digital platform partnership with dobrokruh launched in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Program Pět P (Five P's Mentoring Program) One-on-one mentoring program that matches children aged 6-15 in difficult life situations with adult volunteer mentors who meet weekly for at least one year, providing friendship, support, and positive role modeling. Free of charge for children and families, operated in Prague since 1996 with more than 800 child-volunteer pairs matched.
• Program 3G-tři generace (Three Generations) Intergenerational mentoring program connecting volunteers aged 50+ with families and children who lack contact with grandparents or older relatives. Volunteers and families meet 1-2 afternoons weekly for at least 6 months. Founded in Prague in 2011, accredited by the Ministry of the Interior under the Act on Volunteer Services.
• Program KOMPAS (Group Mentoring) Group mentoring program for children aged 6-15 providing a safe space for social interaction with peers and 3-4 trained adult volunteers, meeting weekly for 2 hours. Currently paused/inactive. Operated under license based on the Canadian P.E.A.K. methodology.
• Firemní dobrovolnictví (Corporate Volunteering) Fee-based corporate volunteering service that helps Czech companies design and manage structured employee volunteer activities, matching corporate volunteers with non-profit organization needs. Provided on a custom contract basis.
• Dobrovolnik.cz (National Volunteer Portal) National volunteer matching portal operating a database of volunteer opportunities across the Czech Republic, where non-profit organizations post opportunities and individuals search for suitable roles.
• Cena Křesadlo (Křesadlo Volunteer Award) Annual volunteer recognition award held under the patronage of the Mayor of Prague, honoring 10 extraordinary volunteers each year. Coordinated across Prague and 10+ Czech regions through partner organizations.
• Dobrokruh Digital Volunteer Platform Digital volunteer platform launched in 2025 in partnership with Dobrokruh, combining HESTIA's methodology expertise with Dobrokruh's modern technology platform and mobile application to connect volunteers with organizations and companies across the Czech Republic.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 800 child-volunteer pairs matched since 1996 in the Pět P program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DobrokruhcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 March 2025HESTIA and Dobrokruh formed a strategic partnership in 2025 to jointly strengthen volunteering in the Czech Republic. The partnership combines HESTIA's 30+ years of methodology and expertise with Dobrokruh's modern technology platform. A new joint digital space for volunteering was launched at dobrovolnik.cz and dobrokruh.cz (with mobile app).
• Partner organizations in Czech regions (Křesadlo award)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHESTIA coordinates the Křesadlo award in Prague and works with partner organizations in Czech regions: DC Kladno (Středočeský), Křebul (Jihočeský), KSK Liberec, Maltezská pomoc Brno, Maltezská pomoc Olomouc, FOKUS Vysočina, DC Ústí nad Labem, DORA Plzeň, Adorea Zlín, ALhelp Hradec Králové, and INSTAND Karlovy Vary.
• Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic (MVČR)coreOthersHESTIA's programs Pět P and 3G are accredited under the Act on Volunteer Services by the Ministry of the Interior. The Ministry is also a key institutional funder.
• Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic (MPSV)coreOthersMPSV provides funding for HESTIA's programs, particularly the Pět P program which is financed from the MPSV Family grant program.
• Prague Metropolitan Municipality (Hlavní město Praha)coreOthersThe City of Prague provides institutional funding and the Mayor serves as patron for the annual Křesadlo award ceremony. Prague's municipal government provides both financial support and the official venue for the award ceremony.
• Prague Municipal Districts (MČ Praha 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14)coreOthersMultiple Prague city districts provide financial support for HESTIA's programs, particularly the Pět P program which operates in their respective territories.
• Nadace Terezy Maxové dětem (Tereza Maxová Foundation for Children)coreOthersFoundation providing financial support for HESTIA's programs serving children in difficult situations.
• VolonteuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHESTIA is a member of Volonteurope, an international network of volunteering organizations, providing connections to European volunteering best practices and international project opportunities.
• Pražské vodovody a kanalizace (PVK)minorOthersPVK is listed as a supporting partner of HESTIA, particularly in the context of the Křesadlo award.
• Veolia (Nadační fond Veolia)minorOthersVeolia's foundation supports HESTIA's programs, particularly the 3G Three Generations program.
• Dobrovolnické centrum, o.s. Ústí nad Labem (originator of KOMPAS program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe KOMPAS program is the intellectual property of Dobrovolnické centrum, o.s. in Ústí nad Labem. HESTIA runs the program under license, based on the Canadian P.E.A.K. program methodology.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nadace VIA: Czech foundation supporting community philanthropy and volunteering development through grantmaking and program support. Comparable to HESTIA in the funding, training, and ecosystem-coordination functions targeting Czech NGOs.
• Volonteurope: European network of volunteering organizations of which HESTIA is a member. Coordinates across-border volunteering initiatives, training, and policy advocacy, sitting at the same layer of the European volunteer ecosystem as HESTIA.
• Dobrovolnické centrum, o.s. Ústí nad Labem: Czech volunteer center that originated the KOMPAS methodology which HESTIA licensed. Operates similar volunteer matching and training services, making it a direct functional peer in a different region.
• ADRA Česká republika: Czech branch of a large international volunteer and humanitarian network, running volunteer matching programs across the Czech Republic. Closely comparable to HESTIA in mission, geography, and the volunteer-coordination operating model.
• Dobrokruh, z.s. Czech modern volunteer platform that in 2025 entered a strategic partnership with HESTIA to launch a joint digital volunteer space. Direct peer on national volunteer matching though differentiated on technology-led delivery.

Regional players

• Volunteer Canada / Bénévoles Canada: National volunteer center in Canada, the country whose P.E.A.K. methodology underpins HESTIA's KOMPAS program. Functions as a comparable national volunteer-coordination body serving a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• HandsOn Network / Points of Light: Large U.S.-based volunteer mobilization network running structured mentoring (Mentor Place) and corporate volunteering programs. Functionally analogous to HESTIA's Pět P mentoring and corporate volunteering offerings in a much larger market.
• Charita Česká republika: Largest Czech charitable network, operating volunteer programs alongside a broader portfolio of social, health, and humanitarian services. Comparable to HESTIA where both deliver volunteer-supported child and senior services, though Charita's scope is wider and decentralized.
• Český červený kříž: Czech Red Cross, a major national humanitarian and volunteer organization with broad service lines including intergenerational and community programs. Overlaps with HESTIA on volunteer coordination and senior support but operates at materially larger scale.

Others

• Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (volunteer programs): Large humanitarian organization running extensive volunteer recruitment, training, and deployment infrastructure. Tangentially comparable to HESTIA in volunteer management methodology and individual-donation fundraising mechanics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/194166743976931
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hestia---national-volunteer-centre-czech-republic

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about HESTIA - Centrum pro dobrovolnictví, z.ú.