Kirche in Not

What Kirche in Not does

Kirche in Not/Ostpriesterhilfe Deutschland e. V. is a registered German charitable association (eingetragener Verein) and the German national section of the Vatican-recognized canonical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). Founded in Germany in 1956 as a section of the international organization (founded 1947), the entity is based in Munich at Lorenzonistraße 62 and operates as part of the global ACN structure with international headquarters in Königstein im Taunus. The organization is entirely donation-financed, receiving no church tax or state subsidies.

The organization supports over 5,000 church aid projects annually across more than 130-140 countries, addressing the pastoral and material needs of persecuted and suffering Christians worldwide. Project categories include priest and religious formation, existential support for religious sisters, lay faith formation, church construction and reconstruction, pastoral transportation, emergency humanitarian relief, and Bible/religious media distribution. Every project requires approval from the responsible local bishop or religious superior, with cooperation extending to selected Orthodox churches in addition to Catholic entities.

Revenue derives from individual donations across multiple modalities: one-time gifts, recurring subscriptions (monthly/quarterly/semi-annual/annual), large donations, occasion-based giving (anniversaries, funerals), legacy bequests, and Mass stipends supporting priests worldwide. The entity also operates a German-only online faith shop (Glaubens-Shop) selling Catholic writings and Bibles. Donor acquisition is executed through a multi-channel stack including the website portal, direct mail, telephone fundraising, email newsletters, and active social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube). Governance is provided by a board chaired by Alexander Mettenheimer with Philipp Ozores as deputy, Florian Ripka as Managing Director, Michael König as Deputy Managing Director, and board members Adelheid Freifrau von Gemmingen-Hornberg, Regina Lynch, and Ferdinand Habsburg. Compliance is maintained through DZI-Spendensiegel certification, Deutscher Spendenrat membership, and Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft commitment.

Name

Kirche in Not

Legal name

Kirche in Not/Ostpriesterhilfe Deutschland e. V.

Website

https://kirche-in-not.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kirche in Not is the German national section of the Vatican-recognized Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, funding over 5,000 pastoral and humanitarian projects annually across 130+ countries through individual donations and bequests.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Humanitarian Charity Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Community Food Services (624210), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations (BPAGAJAK)

Keywords

• Catholic charity services
• Humanitarian pastoral aid
• Religious donation programs
• Emergency relief projects
• Faith-based fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

München

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. One-time Donations: Individual donors make single, one-time donations to support specific aid projects or general operations.
2. Regular Recurring Donations: Donors can set up recurring donations on monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual schedules to provide sustained support.
3. Large Donations: Major gifts from high-net-worth individuals or institutions seeking significant impact.
4. Occasion-based Donations: Donations made to commemorate special occasions such as anniversaries or in memory of deceased loved ones (funeral donations).
5. Legacy Bequests: Planned giving through wills and inheritances, allowing donors to leave lasting legacy support.
6. Mass Stipends: Voluntary offerings for the celebration of Mass intentions, often connected with specific prayer intentions, supporting priests worldwide.
7. Online Shop Sales: Sale of religious articles including Catholic writings for adults and children, children's Bibles, and related materials.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kirche in Not (Aid to the Church in Need / Ostpriesterhilfe Deutschland e.V.) is a Vatican-recognized papal Catholic charity that funds and coordinates pastoral and humanitarian aid projects for persecuted and suffering Christians worldwide. It raises donations from individuals, channels funds to its international headquarters, and supports more than 5,000 church aid projects per year in over 140 countries, including priest training, religious sister support, church construction and reconstruction, emergency relief, and Bible/media distribution. Additional offerings include a faith-based online shop, mass stipend services, a virtual chapel, and supporter communications.

Product overview

KIRCHE IN NOT (Aid to the Church in Need) is a Catholic charitable organization that operates as a papal aid work for the world church. The organization's primary offerings are charitable donation and sponsorship services rather than a unified technology product. Key offerings include an e-commerce faith shop selling religious articles, mass stipend services for supporting priests, over 5,000 annual aid projects in 140+ countries (covering priest training, religious sister support, lay formation, construction, emergency aid, and media distribution), online donation processing, a virtual chapel, and newsletter communications. The organization does not operate a traditional software platform but provides pastoral and charitable services funded entirely by donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Glaubens-Shop (Faith Shop) Online shop selling religious articles including Catholic writings for adults and children, children's Bibles, and other faith-related materials, with physical delivery within Germany.
• Mess-Stipendium (Mass Stipend) Voluntary donation for the celebration of a Mass, often connected with a specific prayer intention, supporting priests worldwide through the contributions received.
• Hilfsprojekte (Aid Projects) Funding and coordination of more than 5,000 church aid projects per year in over 140 countries, covering priest and religious training, religious sister support, lay faith formation, church construction and reconstruction, pastoral transportation, emergency relief, and distribution of Bibles and religious media.
• Online-Spenden (Online Donations) Donation processing service via the website offering one-time donations, regular recurring donations (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually), major gifts, occasion-based donations (anniversary, memorial), and legacy/estate donations through multiple payment methods.
• Virtuelle Kapelle (Virtual Chapel) Online virtual chapel accessible through the website offering prayer and spiritual reflection resources for supporters.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 5000 church aid projects supported annually in over 140 countries

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aid to the Church in Need (International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIRCHE IN NOT/Ostpriesterhilfe Deutschland e.V. is the German section of the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need. The German section represents the legal interests of the canonical foundation 'Aid to the Church in Need' in Germany and forwards donations to the international headquarters in Königstein im Taunus for distribution to projects worldwide.
• Orthodox ChurchesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIRCHE IN NOT supports projects not limited to the Catholic Church, maintaining close cooperation with some Orthodox churches. Church soup kitchens, schools, hospitals, etc., are open to all people regardless of religion.
• Local Dioceses, Religious Orders, and ParishescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIRCHE IN NOT collaborates with local dioceses, religious orders, parish communities, and other church initiatives worldwide. Every project application requires approval from the responsible bishop or religious superior, ensuring local validation and partnership.
• LIGA Bank eGminorOthersBanking partner for the organization's donation accounts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS): International Catholic organization serving refugees and forcibly displaced people through pastoral and humanitarian programs. Overlaps with KIRCHE IN NOT's refugee/displaced persons and emergency aid segments.

Broad incumbents

• World Vision Germany: Large German branch of an international Christian humanitarian organization focused on child welfare and emergency relief. Comparable German donor pool, recurring sponsorship model, and faith-based positioning but broader humanitarian scope.
• ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency): Global faith-based humanitarian organization operating in over 130 countries with similar emergency relief and community development focus. Comparable global footprint and project scale but distinct denominational affiliation.

Direct peers

• Caritas International: International confederation of Catholic charitable organizations providing humanitarian aid worldwide. Highly comparable to KIRCHE IN NOT in mission, donor base, and global project footprint, though Caritas spans a broader social services portfolio.
• Misereor: German Catholic aid organization funding development and pastoral projects in the Global South. Comparable donation-driven funding model, German donor base, and project support categories overlapping with KIRCHE IN NOT.
• Open Doors: International Christian organization supporting persecuted believers worldwide. Most directly comparable peer given KIRCHE IN NOT's central mission focus on persecuted Christians and religious freedom advocacy.
• Catholic Relief Services (CRS): US-based official overseas aid agency of the Catholic Church, funding similar pastoral, emergency relief, and capacity-building projects globally. Direct peer in funding model, faith-based positioning, and project categories supported.
• Missio: German Catholic missionary aid organization supporting pastoral and evangelization work in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Strong overlap with KIRCHE IN NOT's priest formation, religious sister support, and faith formation aid projects.
• Renovabis: German Catholic solidarity action for Eastern Europe supporting pastoral and social projects. Comparable German-donor base, Catholic identity, and project support model focused on church aid and capacity building.

Regional players

• CAFOD: Catholic aid agency for England and Wales funding long-term development and emergency relief. Comparable faith-based funding model and project portfolio, but serves a UK donor base rather than competing directly in Germany.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/KIRCHEINNOTDeutschlandACN
• Facebookfacebook.com/KircheInNot.de
• Instagraminstagram.com/kircheinnotdeutschland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kirche-in-not

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Kirche in Not