IL MELOGRANO COOPERATIVA SOCIALE - ONLUS

What IL MELOGRANO COOPERATIVA SOCIALE - ONLUS does

Il Melograno Cooperativa Sociale - ONLUS is an Italian non-profit social cooperative (ONLUS) founded in 2004 and headquartered at Via Bozzano 12, Genoa, in the repurposed Monastero dei Ss. Giacomo e Filippo, operating with nine employees across the Centro Storico, Ponente, and Levante districts of the Genoa metropolitan area. Its mission is the delivery of socio-educational and welfare services to vulnerable populations through a multi-service portfolio organized across named sub-programs: La Staffetta (after-school children's center serving approximately 30 children), Il Basilico (15-bed convalescent care for homeless, operational for over a decade), Casa Alloggio HTH (residential care for AIDS patients), Casa di Carmen (Housing First pilot for women), mother-and-child communities (Il Cedro, Il Mirto), protected housing (Alloggi Protetti, Amankay, Il Ciliegio), SAI refugee reception, the Patto di Sussidiarietà program in the historic center, community initiatives (Merendiamo al Monastero, Liberi Tutti Insieme, #connettimi digital inclusion), and an annual theatrical workshop co-run with Teatro dell'Ortica and the Università di Genova. The cooperative does not operate a technology platform; its delivery model is human-staffed, facility-based case management supported by a WordPress website and Facebook page, with brand-level sub-services functioning as operational units rather than product lines.

The business model is grant-funded rather than commercial. Primary revenue comes from public administration contracts and grants administered through the Comune di Genova, Prefettura di Genova, Regione Liguria, and EU/co-funded national programs (SAI, Patto Senza Dimora, C.A.S., ASD, emergency response). Disclosed public administration receipts totaled approximately €1,563,562 in 2023, approximately €822,970 in 2022, approximately €639,550 in 2021, and approximately €775,000 in 2019, with the 2023 figure inflated by emergency-response contracts. Secondary revenue consists of private charitable donations channeled through Fondazione Auxilium (umbrella foundation), 5x1000 tax allocations, and EU pass-through funds. Pricing is not publicly disclosed because services are tendered and grant-funded, and beneficiaries are referred through the Fondazione Auxilium network, Caritas Genova, Emmaus Genova, and municipal social services rather than acquired through commercial sales channels.

The cooperative is structurally embedded in the Liguria Catholic social-services ecosystem. Fondazione Auxilium serves as the umbrella organization providing institutional support, funding coordination, and physical facilities; Caritas Genova and Emmaus Genova are core co-delivery partners, particularly for the Hub di Quartiere at Casa della Giovane and Casa di Carmen. Governance is led by President Francesca Ricci, who has signed the Bilancio Sociale (social reports) from 2021 through 2025. The organization publishes annual social reports as its primary transparency and accountability mechanism, and is currently mid-restructuring (2025) with an explicit internal reorganization of roles plus new activity extensions into CIF vocational training and second-registry HTH accreditation, framed as a renewal phase after its 20th anniversary in 2024.

Name

IL MELOGRANO COOPERATIVA SOCIALE - ONLUS

Legal name

Il Melograno

Website

https://ilmelogranogenova.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Il Melograno Cooperativa Sociale ONLUS is a Genoa-based non-profit social cooperative delivering socio-educational and welfare services to vulnerable groups — children, families, refugees, homeless individuals, and AIDS patients — across the Genoa metropolitan area via Fondazione Auxilium, Caritas Genova, and public administration contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI), Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

Keywords

• Social cooperative services
• Refugee reception services
• Homeless services
• Child and family services
• Social housing programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Genova

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Administration Contracts and Grants: The cooperative operates primarily through contracts and grants from public administration bodies, including the Comune di Genova, Prefettura di Genova, Regione Liguria, and various EU/co-funded programs. Major funding sources include SAI (refugee reception), Patto Senza Dimora (homeless services), emergency housing, community services, and educational programs. Funding totals vary annually: approximately €1,563,562 in 2023 (from PA sources), approximately €822,970 in 2022, approximately €639,550 in 2021, and approximately €775,000 in 2019. The cooperative also receives occasional five-per-mille tax allocations and EU fund disbursements through consortium partners.
2. Private Donations: The cooperative receives charitable donations from private individuals and organizations, often channeled through Fondazione Auxilium. These include project-specific donations such as the 'Liberi tutti insieme' campaign and the '#connettimi' digital inclusion initiative targeting children in the historic center. Fundraising campaigns support activities like summer programs for approximately 30 children at La Staffetta.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Il Melograno Cooperativa Sociale ONLUS is a private social cooperative based in Genoa, Italy, delivering socio-educational services to vulnerable populations including children, families, refugees, homeless individuals, and people with AIDS. Its service portfolio spans refugee reception (SAI), homeless shelter and convalescence care (Il Basilico, Casa di Carmen), children's after-school support (La Staffetta), protected housing for families, mother-child communities (Il Cedro, Il Mirto), and assisted living for people with AIDS (Casa Alloggio HTH). Services are delivered free at the point of use, funded primarily through public administration contracts and grants (Comune di Genova, Prefettura di Genova, Regione Liguria) and private donations channeled through the Fondazione Auxilium network.

Product overview

IL MELOGRANO COOPERATIVA SOCIALE - ONLUS is a social cooperative in Genoa, Italy, providing a comprehensive portfolio of socio-educational services for vulnerable populations. The cooperative operates through multiple interconnected services including: La Staffetta (after-school center), Il Basilico (homeless convalescence), Casa di Carmen (Housing First pilot), communities for mothers and children (Il Cedro, Il Mirto), protected housing (Alloggi Protetti, Amankay, Il Ciliegio), refugee services (SAI), AIDS care (Casa Alloggio HTH), and community initiatives (Merendiamo, Liberi Tutti Insieme). These services are delivered in partnership with Fondazione Auxilium, Caritas Genova, and the University of Genoa, operating primarily in the Centro Storico, Ponente, and Levante districts of Genoa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• La Staffetta: Children's aggregation center in the historic center of Genoa, providing after-school activities, homework support, and educational programs for approximately 30 children.
• Il Basilico
• Casa di Carmen
• Hub di Quartiere

Products and services

• La Staffetta After-school center for children in the historic center of Genoa, offering homework support, recreational activities, and educational programming for approximately 30 children regularly.
• Il Basilico Protected convalescence service for homeless people with 15 beds, realized jointly with Fondazione Auxilium and Regione Liguria, providing recuperative care for individuals transitioning out of street homelessness.
• Casa di Carmen Pilot Housing First project providing autonomous apartment-based housing for three women in difficulty, operated as a partnership with Caritas Genova and Fondazione Auxilium.
• SAI - Servizio Accoglienza Immigrati Reception and integration service for refugees and asylum seekers, part of the national SAI (Sistema di Accoglienza e Integrazione) system, providing accommodation, integration support, and pathway to independence.
• Casa Alloggio HTH Residential assisted-living facility (Casa Alloggio) for people suffering from AIDS, providing medical and social support, registered under the HTH (Housing Temporaneo Housing) project with expansion to the second registry noted in 2025.
• Comunità Bambino-Genitore Mother-child residential community providing supported accommodation and socio-educational services for families in difficulty.
• Alloggi Protetti (Protected Housing) Consolidated protected housing services including Amankay and Il Ciliegio, providing supported accommodation for vulnerable families and individuals across Genoa.
• Il Cedro Community service providing residential support for mothers and children experiencing difficulty.
• Il Mirto Service specifically tailored for working mothers with children, providing support and childcare assistance to enable labor market participation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving approximately 30 children regularly at La Staffetta center, with summer activities serving over 50 families and 40 youth through the Hub di Quartiere project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fondazione AuxiliumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe primary strategic partner and umbrella organization. Il Melograno operates within the Fondazione Auxilium network, delivering services including community children-parent programs, refugee reception (SAI), homeless services, and AIDS patient care. The foundation provides institutional support, funding coordination, and physical facilities including the Monastero dei Ss. Giacomo e Filippo. The relationship is deeply integrated and foundational to the cooperative's operations.
• Caritas GenovacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing network partner for Catholic social services in the Genoa diocese. Collaborates on initiatives including the Hub di Quartiere at Casa della Giovane and the Housing First project Casa di Carmen. Both organizations work within the same social ecosystem targeting vulnerable populations in the historic center of Genoa.
• Emmaus Genova (Cooperativa Sociale Emmaus)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial cooperative partner operating within the Fondazione Auxilium network. Collaborates on community events such as the 'Merendiamo al Monastero' initiative, providing catering services for community gatherings at the Monastero dei Ss. Giacomo e Filippo.
• Teatro dell'OrticaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater company that collaborates with Il Melograno and Fondazione Auxilium on annual theatrical workshops held at Casa della Giovane. The laboratory, now in its third edition, involves service beneficiaries, educators, and university students in theatrical expression and personal development activities.
• Università di Genova (University of Genoa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner through a formal agreement with Fondazione Auxilium and Il Melograno. University students participate in the annual theatrical workshop alongside service beneficiaries and educators. The collaboration supports educational and experiential learning within social service contexts.
• Municipio Bassa Val BisagnominorOthersLocal municipal authority that provides funding and patronage for community initiatives including 'Merendiamo al Monastero' and other neighborhood projects. Co-finances activities that promote social inclusion in the Bassa Val Bisagno district.
• Associazione La StaffettaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner association that co-manages the Hub di Quartiere at Casa della Giovane with Fondazione Auxilium and Il Melograno. Focuses on educational and social activities for children and families in the Centro Storico.
• Volontari per l'Auxilium ODVminorOthersVolunteer organization affiliated with Fondazione Auxilium that provides supplementary support across multiple services including the Monastero, community events, and outreach. Volunteers contribute to daily operations and special initiatives.
• Comune di GenovacoreOthersPrimary public funding source. The Comune di Genova funds numerous cooperative programs including SAI (through capofila organizations), Patto Senza Dimora, ASD, SEA educational services, family services, and emergency housing programs. Total funding from the municipality varies by year, with approximately €1,075,000 in 2023.
• Prefettura di GenovacoreOthersPrefectural authority providing significant funding for refugee reception through C.A.S. (Centro di Accoglienza Straordinaria) programs. Funding included approximately €179,025 for Ukraine emergency response in 2023 and approximately €823,000 in 2019 for C.A.S. operations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Caritas Italiana: National Catholic social-services body that funds and coordinates the diocesan Caritas Genova (Il Melograno's direct partner). Operates the same service categories — refugee reception, homelessness, family support, AIDS — across Italy at much larger scale.
• Croce Rossa Italiana (Italian Red Cross): Major national humanitarian organization that, alongside Caritas, is one of the principal recipients of Italian public contracts for refugee reception (CAS/SAI), emergency shelter, and health-related social assistance — overlapping materially with Il Melograno's service lines.
• ARCI: Large Italian social/promotional association running community, educational, and inclusion programs through local chapters. Comparable in mission (community-based social inclusion, education-linked support) and overlap in funding sources (public grants, EU programs).

Direct peers

• Caritas Genova (Diocesi di Genova): Core network partner operating in the same historic-center ecosystem on initiatives including the Hub di Quartiere at Casa della Giovane and the Casa di Carmen Housing First project. Delivers overlapping social services to vulnerable populations in Genoa.
• Cooperativa Sociale Emmaus Genova: Italian 'cooperativa sociale' within the Fondazione Auxilium network delivering social services in Genoa, including catering for community events at Monastero dei Ss. Giacomo e Filippo. Same legal form, same geographic footprint, similar target beneficiaries.
• Fondazione Auxilium: Foundational strategic partner and umbrella organization of Il Melograno, providing institutional support, facilities (Monastero dei Ss. Giacomo e Filippo), and funding coordination across SAI, homeless, family, and AIDS services in Genoa. Operates the same services in the same geography.

Others

• Consorzio CGM: National network of Italian social cooperatives. Il Melograno, as a 'cooperativa sociale ONLUS', sits within the broader Italian social-cooperative ecosystem that CGM aggregates, representing an institutional peer and potential consortium partner for larger public tenders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ilMelogranoGenova
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/il-melograno-cooperativa-sociale---onlus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 IL MELOGRANO COOPERATIVA SOCIALE - ONLUS