Kolpinghaus

Social and Community Serviceskolping.de

Kolping Deutschland is a 175-year-old non-profit Catholic social association serving ~200,000 members through ~2,100 local Kolpingsfamilien in Germany, operating 130+ accommodation facilities, 20 educational companies, hotels, recycling, youth housing, and refugee/climate programs under a community-led membership model.

Company typePrivate
Founded1850
HeadquartersKöln, Germany
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What Kolpinghaus does

Kolping Deutschland (legally Kolping Deutschland e.V., Cologne) is a private, non-profit Catholic social association founded in 1850 by Adolph Kolping and renamed from Kolpingwerk Deutschland in November 2025. It serves approximately 200,000 members across roughly 2,100 local Kolpingsfamilien organized under 27 diocesan associations, employing around 10,000 staff across its facilities and companies in Germany, with global coordination via KOLPING INTERNATIONAL (over 9,000 Kolpingsfamilien worldwide).

Its core products span accommodation (130+ Kolpinghäuser, Kolping Hotels & Resorts, Kolping-Familienferienstätten, Kolping-Jugendwohnen for apprentices), education (20 Kolping-Bildungsunternehmen and Kolping Hochschule with four health/social degree programs), youth and refugee services (Kolping Jugendgemeinschaftsdienste workcamps, KOLPING-Netzwerk für Geflüchtete, Mitmach-Mobil, Klimamobil), commercial operations (Kolping Recycling GmbH textile recycling, KOLPING Sonne Wind Wald renewable energy project development), and engagement products (Kolpingmagazin magazine, Kolping-Shop merchandise, KOLPING-Wald forest conservation, ZukunftsFEST donation campaign). The supporting technology layer consists of eVEWA membership management software used across all chapters and the Kolpingwerkstatt digital content platform for engaged members.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid of recurring membership fees, donations and fundraising, transaction-based accommodation and educational services, and commercial income from recycling and merchandise; pricing is local for membership tiers (individual and household), unit-priced for merchandise (e.g., €9.95 cosmetic bag), training modules (€90 per "Fit für Kolping" session) and forest-protection donations (€4.60-€207 per m² block). The go-to-market is community-led, reaching members and beneficiaries through grassroots parish-based groups, supplemented by a multi-channel marketing mix of print (Kolpingmagazin), digital (website, newsletter, podcast "Gesellig"), social media, and on-site events. The organization is governed by a Bundesversammlung (Federal Assembly) and Bundesvorstand (Federal Board) under elected chair and chaplain leadership.

Kolpinghaus firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Kolpinghaus
Legal name: Kolping Deutschland
Website: https://kolping.de
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1850
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: Kolping Deutschland is a 175-year-old non-profit Catholic social association serving ~200,000 members through ~2,100 local Kolpingsfamilien in Germany, operating 130+ accommodation facilities, 20 educational companies, hotels, recycling, youth housing, and refugee/climate programs under a community-led membership model.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Kolpinghaus industry classification

Industry

Product category: Social and Community Services
NAICS: Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)
SIC: Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
akta.pro primary industry: Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

Keywords

Catholic social association
Membership community services
Vocational education training
Youth housing accommodation
Nonprofit social services

Where Kolpinghaus is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Köln
HQ country: Germany
HQ region: Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

Kolpinghaus business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from approximately 200,000 members in Kolpingsfamilien across Germany
Donations and Fundraising: Donations collected through various campaigns including ZukunftsFEST (youth support), KOLPING-Wald (forest protection), and general foundation donations. Online donation systems and dedicated fundraising campaigns.
Kolping Shop Sales: Sale of Kolping-branded merchandise including travel accessories, promotional items through the online Kolping Shop (kolping-shop.eu)
Accommodation Services: Revenue from Kolping Hotels, Kolpinghäuser (130+ facilities), and youth housing facilities offering overnight accommodations and event venues
Education and Training Services: Revenue from 20 regional Kolping-Bildungsunternehmen (educational companies) offering vocational training and professional education programs
Recycling Services: Revenue from Kolping Recycling GmbH collecting used clothing, shoes, and printer cartridges from charitable, municipal, and commercial sectors

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Subscription	Annual	Individual membership with full benefits including Kolpingmagazin, accident insurance, and discounts
Subscription	Annual	Household/family membership covering multiple family members
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	Kolping cosmetic bag - merchandise item
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	Fit für Kolping training module - Module 5
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	KOLPING-Wald forest protection donations

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Kolpinghaus product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Kolpinghaus (Kolping Deutschland) is a non-profit Catholic social association and federation of approximately 2,100 local Kolpingsfamilien serving around 200,000 members across Germany. It delivers a portfolio of social, educational, and hospitality services through a network of 130+ Kolpinghäuser (accommodation facilities), youth housing, hotels and resorts, family vacation centers, 20 regional educational companies, and subsidiaries covering textile recycling and renewable energy projects. Membership provides access to the Kolpingmagazin, accident insurance, training programs, and a national grassroots community network.

Product overview

Kolping is a non-profit Catholic social association organized as a federation of approximately 2,100 local Kolping families with around 200,000 members. Its product portfolio spans housing and hospitality (over 130 Kolping-Häuser, youth housing, KOLPING Hotels & Resorts, and family vacation facilities), education and training (20 regional Kolping-Bildungsunternehmen, Kolping Hochschule with four health/social degree programs), youth services (Kolping Jugendgemeinschaftsdienste for international volunteer work), and environmental initiatives (KOLPING-Wald forest conservation, Das Klimamobil mobile climate exhibition, KOLPING Sonne Wind Wald for renewable energy). Operational support is provided through the Kolpingwerk Dienstleistungs gGmbH (IT/HR/finance services) and Kolping Recycling GmbH (textile recycling). Member-facing services include the Kolpingmagazin (membership magazine), the Kolping-Shop (branded merchandise), and eVEWA (member management software). Engagement programs include the annual ZukunftsFEST donation campaign against youth poverty and the KOLPING-Netzwerk für Geflüchtete refugee integration network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

Kolpingjugend: Youth organization of Kolping Germany for children, teenagers and young adults
Kolpingwerkstatt
Kolping-Shop
Kolpingmagazin
Kolping-Podcast (Gesellig)

Products and services

Kolping-Häuser (Association of Kolping Houses)
Kolping Jugendwohnen
KOLPING Hotels & Resorts
Kolping-Familienferienstätten

Quantifiable outcome

Kolping Germany ranked among 'Deutschlands beste Arbeitgeber' (Germany's best employers) in 2026, improving by one place from previous year
+3 more outcomes

Companies that use Kolpinghaus

Customer profile

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Kolpinghaus technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Kolpinghaus partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

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

Deutscher Kinderschutzbund Dortmund e.V. (German Child Protection Agency Dortmund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for prevention and protection against sexual abuse. The organization provides trusted contact persons and professional support for victims and concerned parties. The German Child Protection Agency provides experienced teams in child protection work and advises institutions on child welfare issues. Available Monday to Thursday 9am-3pm via hotline and WhatsApp.
Verband der Kolpinghäuser (VKH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of Kolping Houses supporting the refugee network project as a network partner, contributing accommodation facilities and resources for integration activities.
Verband der Kolping-Bildungsunternehmen (KBU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of Kolping Educational Companies supporting the refugee network as a network partner, contributing educational and vocational training resources for integration programs.
KOLPING INTERNATIONALcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal umbrella organization connecting Kolping Germany with Kolping organizations in Europe, Africa, Asia, and America. Over 9,000 Kolpingsfamilien worldwide form a vibrant international community committed to mutual solidarity. KOLPING INTERNATIONAL coordinates international projects, youth exchanges, and development cooperation.
Arbeitsgemeinschaft christlicher Arbeitnehmerorganisationen (ACA)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcumenical alliance of Christian worker organizations including Kolping Germany, Catholic Workers' Movement (KAB), and Federal Association of Protestant Workers (BVEA). Cooperates on social security representation at health insurance funds, pension insurance, and accident insurance organizations.
Deutsche TelekomminorOthersProvides free SIM cards for refugees from Ukraine. One card per refugee family with unlimited calls and data usage to help with integration and communication.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Kolpinghaus competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe: Protestant-affiliated humanitarian organization with national youth, volunteer, social, and refugee programs. Operates a comparable federation-of-chapters model targeting similar members and donors.
Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK): Germany's Red Cross society and one of the top welfare associations. Comparable federation scale, youth programs, refugee integration work, and a national network of regional chapters with parallel service offerings.
Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO): One of Germany's six recognized welfare associations, with a comparable federation model (national, state, local chapters), member base, and service portfolio spanning youth, family, education, and senior care.
Malteser Deutschland: Catholic aid service rooted in the Order of Malta, running parallel youth, refugee, and social programs with regional chapter structures. Competes for Catholic volunteers, members, and donor funding.
Caritas Deutschland: The German Catholic welfare confederation and Kolping's closest conceptual counterpart. Operates a parallel national network of diocesan Caritas associations, social services, hospitals, and educational facilities, competing for the same Catholic-affiliated donor and volunteer base.
IN VIA Katholische Mädchensozialarbeit: Catholic social organization focused on youth mobility, vocational training, and support for young women — directly comparable to Kolping's Bildungsunternehmen and Jugendwohnen portfolios.
Diakonie Deutschland: The Protestant Church's social welfare federation. Mirrors Kolping's structure with member associations, regional chapters, education, refugee programs, and youth services — the principal faith-based peer serving the same vulnerable populations in Germany.

Others

Zentralkomitee der deutschen Katholiken (ZdK): The coordinating committee of Catholic laity in Germany. Not a direct service provider but the institutional body representing Catholic associations including Kolping in political and ecclesiastical advocacy — adjacent enabling/complementary peer.

Emerging players

Bund der Deutschen Katholischen Jugend (BDKJ): The umbrella federation of Catholic youth organizations in Germany. Comparable youth-led community structure, paralleling Kolpingjugend and competing for the same young Catholic demographic.

Broad incumbents

KOLPING INTERNATIONAL: The global Kolping umbrella and parent entity. Provides the international structure within which Kolping Deutschland operates, and coordinates cross-border programs, development cooperation, and youth exchanges among 9,000+ Kolpingsfamilien worldwide.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Kolpinghaus compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance1 record

Kolpinghaus financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Kolpinghaus leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Kolpinghaus subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries10 records

Kolpinghaus funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Kolpinghaus M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kolpinghaus

What does Kolpinghaus do?

Is Kolpinghaus a public or private company?

Kolpinghaus is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was Kolpinghaus founded?

Kolpinghaus was founded in 1850. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is Kolpinghaus based?

Kolpinghaus is headquartered in Köln, Germany, in the Europe region.

How does Kolpinghaus make money?

Six revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising, kolping Shop Sales, accommodation Services, education and Training Services and recycling Services.

Who are Kolpinghaus's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK), Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO), Malteser Deutschland, Caritas Deutschland, IN VIA Katholische Mädchensozialarbeit and Diakonie Deutschland. Zentralkomitee der deutschen Katholiken (ZdK) is listed as an others. Bund der Deutschen Katholischen Jugend (BDKJ) is listed as an emerging player. KOLPING INTERNATIONAL is listed as a broad incumbent.

Does Kolpinghaus have an API?

No public API is recorded for Kolpinghaus.

What industry is Kolpinghaus in?

Kolpinghaus's product category is Social and Community Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAL, Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 8600.