Deutsch-Türkische Jugendbrücke gGmbH

What Deutsch-Türkische Jugendbrücke gGmbH does

Deutsch-Türkische Jugendbrücke gGmbH is a Düsseldorf-based non-profit limited liability company (gGmbH) founded in January 2012 as an initiative of Stiftung Mercator. It operates as the central expert and funding body (zentrale Fach- und Förderstelle) for school and youth exchange between Germany and Turkey, managing three grant programs — Kleine Projektfinanzierung (Small Project Funding up to €5,000), Große Projektförderung (Large Project Funding up to €20,000, co-financed with Erasmus+), and the newer KJP Matching Fund for youth sport exchanges — and running roughly ten model projects (IMECE, Creative Swap, Gaming und Jugendaustausch, Perspektivwechsel, Umut, Digital Transformer Days, International Youth Leader, MINT learning tools, Vielfalt & Diskriminierung, and youth sport expert meetings) in cooperation with German and Turkish institutional partners including IJAB, JUGEND für Europa, the Turkish National Agency, Goethe-Institut Istanbul, Deutsche Sportjugend, and university Game Labs. Its core customers are German organizations — schools, municipalities, and non-profits (associations, gGmbHs) — that apply jointly with a Turkish partner for project funding, with end beneficiaries being youth aged 13–30 and teachers/youth workers on both sides of the bilateral corridor.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its services are grant administration, advisory/qualification, partner-matching, and publication of educational guides and annual reports, delivered through a bilingual website, newsletter, social channels, conferences, and an advisory board spanning government, civil society, business, and media in both countries. Revenue is entirely grant-funded, with Stiftung Mercator contributing up to €6.7 million from 2012–2022, the German Federal Foreign Office providing over €3 million since founding, the NRW Ministry for Children, Family, Refugees and Integration providing up to €60,000 annually, plus EU/Erasmus+ and Federal Centre for Political Education co-funding of specific projects. In January 2026 ownership transferred to Deutsch-Türkische Jugendbrücke e.V. as sole shareholder, and the organization received the Erasmus+ Quality Label in 2025. A 9–10 person team in Düsseldorf executes program operations subject to German Federal Foreign Office travel and safety guidance for Turkey.

Name

Deutsch-Türkische Jugendbrücke gGmbH

Legal name

Deutsch-Türkische Jugendbrücke gGmbH

Website

https://jugendbruecke.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Deutsch-Türkische Jugendbrücke gGmbH is a Düsseldorf-based non-profit that serves as the central funding and expert body for German-Turkish school and youth exchange, administering grant programs and model projects for schools, municipalities, NGOs, and youth workers in both countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Exchange and Cultural Education Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Educational Support Services (61171), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Youth exchange programs
• School exchange funding
• Bilateral cultural programs
• Non-profit grant making
• Intercultural education

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation and government grants: The organization is financed primarily through public and private grants. Stiftung Mercator (Mercator Foundation) provided up to 6.7 million EUR from January 2012 to December 2022. The German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) has contributed over 3 million EUR for project work since the organization's founding. The State of North Rhine-Westphalia's Ministry for Children, Family, Refugees and Integration (MKFFI) provides up to 60,000 EUR annually. The Federal Centre for Political Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung) co-funds specific projects. No commercial revenue streams are pursued.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Deutsch-Türkische Jugendbrücke gGmbH is a non-profit organization acting as the central expert and funding body for school and youth exchange between Germany and Turkey. It administers grant programs (Small Project Funding up to €5,000, Large Project Funding, and a KJP Matching Fund for youth sports) and runs model projects such as IMECE, Creative Swap, Gaming und Jugendaustausch, Umut – Melodien der Hoffnung, Digital Transformer Days, International Youth Leader, and Perspektivwechsel. It also provides advisory, qualification, and publication services for teachers, youth workers, and partner organizations.

Product overview

Deutsch-Türkische Jugendbrücke gGmbH operates as a unified non-profit platform offering youth exchange services between Germany and Turkey. The core offering consists of funding programs (Kleine Projektfinanzierung, Große Projektförderung, and KJP Matching Fund for youth sports) that support school exchanges, youth exchanges, and expert/teacher exchanges. These are complemented by a portfolio of approximately 10 model projects (Modellprojekte) including Creative Swap (digital exchange), Gaming und Jugendaustausch, IMECE (youth worker networking), Umut (music-based earthquake recovery), Digital Transformer Days (digital topics), International Youth Leader (leadership training), MINT learning tools, Vielfalt & Diskriminierung, Perspektivwechsel (democracy education), and youth sport exchange initiatives. The organization also publishes annual reports and educational guides. All programs are implemented in cooperation with German and Turkish partners including IJAB, Goethe-Institut, and various government agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Deutsch-Türkische Jugendbrücke: German-Turkish Youth Bridge - the main brand name of the organization

Products and services

• Kleine Projektfinanzierung (Small Project Funding) Grant program providing funding of up to €5,000 for small-scale school and youth exchange projects between Germany and Turkey, intended for schools, municipalities, and non-profit organizations running bilateral exchange activities.
• Große Projektfinanzierung (Large Project Funding) Grant program providing funding for larger bilateral school and youth exchange projects between Germany and Turkey, awarded to schools, municipalities, and non-profit organizations.
• KJP Matching Fund Co-financing (matching) fund supporting German-Turkish youth sports exchange projects, helping participating organizations secure additional resources for sports-related cooperation.
• IMECE Model project in DTJB's portfolio of German-Turkish youth exchange programs, replicating best-practice formats for partner organizations.
• Creative Swap Digital-format model project enabling creative collaboration between German and Turkish youth participants as part of DTJB's exchange portfolio.
• Gaming und Jugendaustausch Model project combining gaming with German-Turkish youth exchange activities, designed for young participants and partner organizations.
• Umut – Melodien der Hoffnung (Umut – Melodies of Hope) Music-based model project in DTJB's German-Turkish youth exchange portfolio, using artistic collaboration between young participants from both countries.
• Digital Transformer Days Digital-format model project in DTJB's German-Turkish youth exchange portfolio, engaging young participants through structured online activities.
• International Youth Leader Model project developing international youth leadership skills within DTJB's German-Turkish youth exchange portfolio.
• Perspektivwechsel (Perspective Change) Model project within DTJB's German-Turkish youth exchange portfolio, structured around perspective-shaping and bilateral exchange experiences.
• Neue Wege für deutsch-türkische Begegnungen im Jugendsport (New Paths for German-Turkish Encounters in Youth Sports) Model project in DTJB's German-Turkish youth exchange portfolio, focused on building new channels for youth sports encounters between Germany and Turkey.
• Vielfalt & Diskriminierung (Diversity & Discrimination) Model project in DTJB's German-Turkish youth exchange portfolio, addressing themes of diversity and discrimination in bilateral exchange contexts.
• Entwicklung eines Lernträgers im MINT-Bereich (Development of a Learning Resource in STEM) Model project in DTJB's German-Turkish youth exchange portfolio, developing a STEM (MINT) learning resource for use in bilateral exchange contexts.
• Publikationen (Publications) Publications portfolio by DTJB covering German-Turkish youth exchange topics, providing informational and qualification materials for teachers, youth workers, and partner organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 2015, five IMECE events have been held in Berlin, Istanbul, Antalya, Bonn, and online, engaging youth workers from both countries.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Deutsche Sportjugend im DOSB (dsj)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024German Sports Youth (dsj) was a cooperation partner in the Youth and Sports Expert Meeting in Istanbul (December 2024), part of the 'New Pathways for German-Turkish Youth Exchange' series, focusing on youth sport exchanges.
• İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi Spor Kulübü (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club was a cooperation partner in the Youth and Sports Expert Meeting in Istanbul (December 2024), co-organized by the organization and dsj.
• Friendzone.Studio (Berlin)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Friendzone.Studio (Berlin) designed and organized the Creative Swap digital exchange program. The agency provided photography expertise and workshop facilitation, guiding youth participants in social media skills and photographic self-expression during the pandemic when physical exchange was not possible.
• TOG – Türkiye Gençlik Örgütleri (Turkish Youth Organizations Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021TOG Foundation co-implemented the 'Gaming und Jugendaustausch' (Gaming and Youth Exchange) model project alongside the organization, collaborating with Game Labs at Bahçeşehir University Istanbul and Humboldt University Berlin.
• IJAB – Fachstelle für Internationale Jugendarbeit der Bundesrepublik DeutschlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015IJAB is a key co-organizer of the IMECE model project series, which has held five events since 2015 in Berlin, Istanbul, Antalya, Bonn, and online. IJAB is the German Federal Agency for International Youth Work.
• JUGEND für Europa – Nationale Agentur Erasmus+ Jugend und Europäisches SolidaritätskorpscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015JUGEND für Europa co-organizes the IMECE model project series alongside IJAB, the Turkish National Agency, and the organization. It is the German National Agency for Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps.
• Türkiye Ulusal Ajansı (Turkish National Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015The Turkish National Agency co-organizes the IMECE model project series alongside IJAB, JUGEND für Europa, and the organization. It serves as the Turkish counterpart to the European Erasmus+ National Agencies.
• Goethe-Institut IstanbulcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Goethe-Institut Istanbul is a key strategic partner, co-implementing the Creative Swap digital exchange program with the organization. The Creative Swap program aligns with the KMK 'Education in the Digital World' strategy. The Goethe-Institut provides institutional support and co-branding for this model project.
• Arbeitskreis Deutscher Bildungsstätten (AdB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdB co-organized the Method Lab 'Navigating Democratic Challenges: Civic Education in German-Turkish Youth Exchange' with the organization and Toy Gençlik Derneği in April 2025 in Blossin near Berlin.
• Toy Gençlik Derneği (Toy Youth Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerToy Youth Association co-organized the Method Lab on civic education in Turkish-German youth exchange alongside AdB and the organization.
• BoMoVu and Dinx InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIstanbul-based BoMoVu and Bochum-based Dinx Institute jointly organized the 'Racism in Education' conference, hosted by the organization, bringing together over 60 teachers and educators from Turkey and Germany.
• Petri & Eichen Diakonische Kinder- und Jugendhilfe Bremen gGmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPetri & Eichen Bremen was a project partner in the 'Ne var ne yok? – Was geht?' digital exchange project with Diyarbakır Cinema Association, focusing on inclusive digital youth exchange.
• Diyarbakır Sinema Derneği (Diyarbakır Cinema Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiyarbakır Cinema Association was a project partner in the 'Ne var ne yok? – Was geht?' digital exchange project with Petri & Eichen Bremen, focused on inclusive cross-border youth exchange.
• Deutsch-Türkische Jugendbrücke e.V.coreOthersDeutsch-Türkische Jugendbrücke e.V. (the association) became the sole shareholder (Alleingesellschafter) of the gGmbH in January 2026, replacing previous shareholders. This represents a governance change strengthening the organization's non-profit identity and binational character.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IJAB – Fachstelle für Internationale Jugendarbeit der Bundesrepublik Deutschland: Germany's federal agency for international youth work, a close operational partner of DTJB (co-organizer of IMECE and several model projects). Directly comparable in its mandate to support and coordinate international youth exchange, though IJAB operates across all country pairs rather than a single bilateral corridor.
• Experiment e.V. German non-profit specializing in international youth exchange, school partnerships, and volunteer programs with a strong emphasis on cross-border encounters and intercultural learning. Directly comparable mission and target audience to DTJB, though operating across many country pairs.
• JUGEND für Europa – Nationale Agentur Erasmus+ Jugend: German National Agency for Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps, DTJB's partner in the IMECE series and a co-financier of Large Project Funding. Functions as a public-sector intermediary channeling EU funding into youth exchange, complementing DTJB's independent grantmaking role.
• MitOst e.V. Germany-based nonprofit supporting cultural exchange and civic engagement across Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Turkey. Comparable as a non-state grantmaking and programmatic intermediary in cross-border youth and civil society exchange, though with a broader geographic focus.
• ConAct – Coordination for German-Israeli Youth Exchange: German coordination office for bilateral youth exchange with Israel, providing funding, advisory, and qualification services through a similar model to DTJB. Same target audience (German schools, municipalities, NGOs), same funding-mechanism distribution approach, same cross-border exchange focus.

Regional players

• TOG – Türkiye Gençlik Örgütleri (Community Volunteers Foundation): Turkey-based foundation supporting youth-led social projects and a partner of DTJB on the Gaming und Jugendaustausch model project. Comparable as a Turkish-side youth development foundation operating in the same bilateral corridor.
• Goethe-Institut: Germany's worldwide cultural and language institute, a strategic partner of DTJB on the Creative Swap program and a member of its advisory board. Comparable in its binational Germany-Turkey focus (via Goethe-Institut Istanbul) and in co-delivering youth exchange and education programs.

Others

• Stiftung Mercator: Founding donor of DTJB and a major philanthropic funder in European education, climate, and integration policy. Relevant as the originating institutional backer and as a peer funder in the German education/philanthropy ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• AFS Intercultural Programs Germany: Large international volunteer-driven exchange organization operating school and youth exchange programs in Germany and globally. Comparable as a funding-channeling and program-operating intermediary in international youth exchange, though with a much broader geographic scope and a volunteer-host model.
• Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ / DFJW): Intergovernmental bilateral youth exchange office between France and Germany, structurally the closest analogue to DTJB as a government-backed bilateral youth exchange intermediary. DTJB operates a similar model for Germany-Turkey but at a smaller scale and with a foundation-led (not state-led) governance structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/jugendbruecke
• Facebookfacebook.com/jugendbruecke
• Instagraminstagram.com/creative_swap
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deutsch-t%C3%BCrkische-jugendbr%C3%BCcke

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Deutsch-Türkische Jugendbrücke gGmbH