Internationale Jugendgemeinschaftsdienste (ijgd) Bundesverein e.V.

What Internationale Jugendgemeinschaftsdienste (ijgd) Bundesverein e.V. does

Internationale Jugendgemeinschaftsdienste (ijgd) Bundesverein e.V. is a German charitable nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1949 in Hanover that coordinates voluntary service programs for young people aged 16-26 and, through its BFD über 27 program, adults aged 27-99. The organization operates a federated structure comprising a Federal Association (Bundesverein) and 14 Regional Associations, supported by approximately 250 paid employees across 6 main offices and 12 regional offices, plus around 500 voluntary workers and over 300 association members. Approximately 4,000 young people are placed annually.

The core product portfolio consists of government-accredited volunteer service programs: domestic offerings include the Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr (FSJ), Bundesfreiwilligendienst (BFD), Freiwilliges Ökologisches Jahr / Ökologischer Bundesfreiwilligendienst (FÖJ/ÖBFD), FSJ Denkmal (monument preservation via Jugendbauhütten), FSJ Politik (democracy), and the FJN (science, technology and sustainability). International programs span the Internationaler Jugendfreiwilligendienst (IJFD), weltwärts, the European Solidarity Corps (ESK), Medium-term Volunteering (MTV), and 2-4 week Workcamps across 50+ countries, complemented by mandatory 25-day educational seminars. Technology infrastructure is entirely commodity (TYPO3 CMS, IONOS hosting, Mailchimp, CiviCRM, Fathom Analytics, Zoom); the product is fundamentally human-coordination-intensive, not technology-mediated.

Revenue is generated almost exclusively through grants from German federal ministries (BMFSFJ, BMZ), the Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Affairs (BAFzA), the EU, and charitable foundations (Aktion Mensch, Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz). Participants receive pocket money (Taschengeld) rather than wages, and there is no commercial pricing model. Distribution is direct through regional offices and an international partner network, with marketing executed via website program-finder tools, digital info sessions (FreiwilligenDienstag), school and career fair outreach, social media, and PR.

Name

Internationale Jugendgemeinschaftsdienste (ijgd) Bundesverein e.V.

Legal name

Internationale Jugendgemeinschaftsdienste (ijgd) Bundesverein e.V.

Website

https://ijgd.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ijgd is a German charitable nonprofit founded in 1949 that coordinates accredited voluntary service programs (FSJ, BFD, FÖJ, weltwärts, ESK, Workcamps) for approximately 4,000 young people annually across 14 German federal states and 50+ countries, funded primarily by federal ministries and the EU.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hannover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Subsidies: ijgd receives grants from federal and state ministries (BMFSFJ, BMZ) as well as from the EU. These public funds support the organization's voluntary service programs, seminar operations, and international exchanges.
2. Participant Contributions: While voluntary service itself is not a paid employment relationship, participants receive a monthly pocket money (Taschengeld) and the organization coordinates with deployment sites for meal allowances and occasionally accommodation subsidies.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ijgd is a registered nonprofit association (e.V.) that organizes and coordinates volunteer service programs in Germany and internationally. It recruits and places around 4,000 young people annually into domestic programs (FSJ, BFD, FÖJ, FSJ Denkmal, FSJ Politik, FJN) and international programs (IJFD, weltwärts, ESK, MTV, Workcamps), pairing them with deployment sites in social work, ecology, monument preservation, politics, and science/technology. Programs are supplemented by mandatory educational seminars and are delivered through a federal network of 14 regional associations, 6 main offices, and 12 regional offices.

Product overview

ijgd operates a comprehensive portfolio of volunteer service programs for young people and adults. The organization offers domestic volunteer programs including the Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr (FSJ), Bundesfreiwilligendienst (BFD), Freiwilliges Ökologisches Jahr (FÖJ/ÖBFD), FSJ Denkmalpflege, FSJ Politik, and FJN. International programs include the IJFD, weltwärts, European Solidarity Corps (ESK), and Medium-term Volunteering (MTV). Short-term options include Workcamps (2-4 weeks), Youth Exchanges, and Teenage-Workcamps available in Germany and over 50 countries worldwide. The programs are supported by mandatory educational seminars (Bildungsseminare) that provide civic education and personal development. The organization was founded in 1949 and is structured as a federal association with 14 regional associations, operating 6 main offices and 12 regional offices across Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr (FSJ) A one-year voluntary social service program for young people aged 15-26, offering placements in social care, childcare, elderly care, and other social institutions across Germany.
• Bundesfreiwilligendienst (BFD) Federal volunteer service available for people aged 27 and older (BFD über 27), offering placements in various social and community areas in Germany.
• Freiwilliges Ökologisches Jahr / Ökologischer Bundesfreiwilligendienst (FÖJ/ÖBFD) Ecological year programs focused on environmental and sustainability projects, available for young people under 27 and adults over 27.
• FSJ Denkmalpflege (Jugendbauhütten) Voluntary service in monument preservation and heritage conservation, with dedicated Youth Workshop locations (Jugendbauhütten) across multiple German states, in partnership with the Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz.
• FSJ Politik / Demokratie Voluntary social year focused on political engagement and democratic participation, offered in multiple federal states including Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Hessen, NRW, and Sachsen-Anhalt.
• Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr in Wissenschaft, Technik und Nachhaltigkeit (FJN) Year of voluntary service in science, technology, and sustainability fields, available across most German states.
• Internationaler Jugendfreiwilligendienst (IJFD) Long-term international youth volunteer service, placing volunteers in over 50 countries worldwide for approximately one year.
• weltwärts North-South international volunteer program funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, for participants up to age 28, focusing on intercultural exchange and mutual learning.
• Europäisches Solidaritätskorps (ESK) European Solidarity Corps program supporting volunteers for one year in social, cultural, or ecological projects in European countries, for participants up to age 30.
• Mittelfristiger Freiwilligendienst (MTV) Medium-term international volunteer service lasting up to 6 months, available in multiple countries including Argentina, Ecuador, Estonia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, South Korea, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, and USA.
• Workcamps Short-term international volunteer camps lasting 2-4 weeks where young people from around the world live and work together on community-oriented projects. Available in Germany and worldwide.
• Jugendbegegnungen (Youth Exchanges) International youth exchange programs bringing together young people from different countries for cultural learning and mutual understanding.
• Teenage-Workcamps Workcamp programs specifically designed for teenagers, providing international volunteer experiences for younger participants.

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) at UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerijgd is an active member of CCIVS, a global coordination body for international voluntary service organizations affiliated with UNESCO. This partnership positions ijgd within the worldwide voluntary service movement and facilitates international program coordination.
• Alliance of European Voluntary Service OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member of the Alliance network, a European umbrella organization for voluntary service organizations, enabling cross-border program cooperation and best practice exchange.
• Network of European Voluntary Service Organisations (NEVSO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of NEVSO, contributing to European voluntary service policy development and program coordination across the continent.
• Der Paritätische Gesamtverband (German Parity Welfare Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnerijgd is part of the German Parity Welfare Association, one of the largest welfare organizations in Germany, which provides institutional support and represents ijgd's interests in social policy.
• Bundesamt für Familie und zivilgesellschaftliche Aufgaben (BAFzA)coreOthersFederal Office for Family and Civil Society Affairs provides government funding for federal voluntary service (BFD) programs administered through ijgd.
• Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)coreOthersFederal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development funds the weltwärts program through which ijgd sends volunteers to developing countries.
• Bundesministerium für Bildung, Familien, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMFSFJ)coreOthersFederal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Women and Youth provides key funding for youth voluntary service programs including FSJ and related initiatives.
• Deutsch-Französisches Jugendwerk (DFJW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench-German Youth Office supports cross-border youth exchanges and voluntary service between Germany and France.
• Deutsch-Polnisches Jugendwerk (DPJW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman-Polish Youth Office facilitates bilateral youth exchange and voluntary service programs between Germany and Poland.
• Aktion MenschmoderateOthersMajor German social lottery and charitable foundation that funds social projects including youth welfare and inclusion programs operated by ijgd.
• Deutsche Stiftung DenkmalschutzmoderateOthersGerman Monument Protection Foundation co-supports the FSJ Denkmal program and Jugendbauhütten for heritage preservation volunteering.
• European Solidarity Corps (ESK)coreOthersijgd is an accredited sending and hosting organization for the European Solidarity Corps, enabling young Europeans to volunteer abroad for up to one year in social, cultural, or ecological projects.
• Jugendbauhütten (Youth Heritage Huts) NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerijgd operates multiple Jugendbauhütten (Youth Heritage Huts) in partnership with the Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz, providing volunteer placements in monument preservation across multiple federal states.
• Jugend für EuropamoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman National Agency for the EU Youth Programme supports ijgd's European exchange and solidarity corps programs.
• Fachstelle für Internationale Jugendarbeit (IJAB)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerIJAB is Germany's specialist agency for international youth work, providing coordination and support for ijgd's international programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO) Bundesverband: Major German welfare association running FSJ and BFD programs with focus on social work, childcare, and elderly care placements. Comparable volunteer-service operating model and federal-ministry funding structure.
• Volkssolidarität Bundesverband: German welfare association running its own FSJ and BFD programs focused on elderly care and social engagement. Comparable BFD über 27 focus and deployment-site profile to ijgd's programs.
• Diakonie Deutschland: Protestant welfare association running FSJ, BFD and Diakonisches Jahr programs across social, healthcare and educational placements. Closely comparable mission, program structure, and government-funding model.
• Caritas Deutschland: Germany's largest Catholic welfare organization, operates its own FSJ and BFD programs with extensive social-sector placement network. Directly comparable to ijgd as a major FSJ/BFD provider competing for the same volunteer pool and deployment sites.
• Experiment e.V. German nonprofit specializing in international youth exchanges, workcamps, and voluntary services with worldwide program offerings. Comparable international volunteer exchange and workcamp focus to ijgd's weltweit portfolio.
• Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK): German Red Cross operates large-scale FSJ and BFD programs with placements in elderly care, hospitals, and disaster response. Directly comparable as one of the largest FSJ/BFD sending organizations.
• AFS Interkulturelle Begegnungen e.V. German arm of AFS Intercultural Programs running international student exchanges and intercultural learning programs. Comparable international youth exchange and civic education portfolio.
• Youth For Understanding (YFU) Deutschland: German branch of YFU running high-school exchange and international youth programs. Comparable cross-border youth exchange mission and government-ministry funding model.
• Service Civil International (SCI): International voluntary service organization operating short- and long-term workcamps across 90+ countries, including Germany. Closely comparable international voluntary service and workcamp model to ijgd's weltwärts/Workcamps portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• CCIVS (Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service): UNESCO-affiliated global umbrella organization for international voluntary service, of which ijgd is a member. Functions as a coordinating body rather than a direct placement provider, but defines the standards and partnerships ijgd operates within.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/ijgd
• Facebookfacebook.com/ijgd
• Instagraminstagram.com/ijgd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ijgd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Internationale Jugendgemeinschaftsdienste (ijgd) Bundesverein e.V.