What lagfa bayern e.V. does

lagfa bayern e.V. (Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Freiwilligenagenturen/-Zentren und Koordinierungszentren Bürgerschaftlichen Engagements in Bayern) is the registered, state-level umbrella association for civic engagement infrastructure in Bavaria. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Augsburg, the organization serves approximately 120–126 member Freiwilligenagenturen, Freiwilligenzentren, and Koordinierungszentren Bürgerschaftlichen Engagements (FA/FZ/KoBE) across all Bavarian districts, providing coordination, qualification, consulting, legal advisory, and funding distribution services. Its team of 16 staff is structured into co-leadership (Laura Eder, Eva Kurfer), administration, PR, and dedicated project leads across multiple thematic programs.

The organization's portfolio is built around themed statewide project networks rather than a unified technology product: 'Sprache schafft Chancen' (2013) supports volunteer-led German language courses for refugees and migrants; 'Miteinander leben – Ehrenamt verbindet' (2016) promotes inclusive engagement across diverse populations; 'digital verein(t)' (2021) operates 28 regional competence locations delivering digital-skills workshops; 'Inklusion im Engagement' (2021) coordinates 12 centers enabling people with disabilities to volunteer; 'Engagement macht möglich' (2024) targets people in precarious life situations; and 'Erfahrung trifft Zukunft' (January 2026) adds intergenerational project-management training. Supporting infrastructure includes the freil!ch Bavarian engagement platform, subsidised volunteer fairs, local qualification grants (up to EUR 200 per organization), PR funding (up to EUR 500), and professional volunteer-management training delivered with Hochschulkooperation-Ehrenamt.

lagfa bayern operates as a member-based, nonprofit eingetragener Verein with no parent company or external investor. Revenue is generated primarily through government grants from three Bavarian state ministries (Family/Labour/Social Affairs as primary; Interior/Sport/Integration; Digital Affairs), supplemented by membership dues from FA/FZ/KoBE and supporting members, plus third-party pass-through funding (including Zukunftsstiftung Ehrenamt Bayern). Services are delivered free of charge to members and the organization's commercial exposure is effectively zero; strategic and operational positioning is anchored in its mandate as the bridge between civil society, the Free State of Bavaria, and the wider engagement economy.

Name

lagfa bayern e.V.

Legal name

lagfa bayern e.V.

Website

https://lagfa-bayern.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

lagfa bayern e.V. is the registered Bavarian state umbrella association for approximately 126 volunteer agencies and coordination centers, providing statewide coordination, funding distribution, qualification, legal advisory, and themed project networks (language, inclusion, digital skills, intergenerational engagement) to enable civic volunteering across Bavaria.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Civic Engagement Coordination Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Intergovernmental Affairs & Federal Grants Administration (BPAIAAAC)

Keywords

• Volunteer agency network
• Civic engagement support
• Nonprofit umbrella association
• Volunteer management training
• Engagement program funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Augsburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary funding from Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labour and Social Affairs (Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Familie, Arbeit und Soziales). Additional support from Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior, for Sport and Integration, and Bavarian State Ministry for Digital Affairs.
2. Membership Dues: All carriers of volunteer agencies, volunteer centers, and coordination centers for civic engagement can become members of lagfa. Additionally, citizens and organizations can join as supporting members.
3. Third-Party Funding Distribution: lagfa bayern acts as an intermediary, distributing third-party funds (e.g., subsidies from the Free State of Bavaria) to FA/FZ/KoBE to enable them to conduct professional volunteer management activities including volunteer fairs, qualification offerings, public relations, and recognition measures.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

lagfa bayern e.V. is the statewide umbrella association (Dachverband) for approximately 126 volunteer agencies, volunteer centers, and coordination centers for civic engagement (FA/FZ/KoBE) in Bavaria. It provides qualification, consulting, and information services to its member organizations; coordinates statewide thematic project networks (language support, digital skills, inclusion, integration, intergenerational cooperation); distributes Bavarian state subsidies to enable local volunteer management; offers legal advisory services; and operates the freil!ch engagement platform.

Product overview

lagfa bayern e.V. is a nonprofit state association (Dachverband) of approximately 120 volunteer agencies, volunteer centers, and coordination centers for civic engagement in Bavaria. The organization offers a portfolio of programs and services rather than a unified technology product. Core offerings include: the 'Sprache schafft Chancen' language promotion project (since 2013), the 'Miteinander leben – Ehrenamt verbindet' diversity engagement program (since 2016), the 'digital verein(t)' digital competence project (since 2021), the 'Inklusion im Engagement' inclusion program, and 'Engagement macht möglich' for underserved populations. Supporting services include volunteer fairs funding, local qualification subsidies, professional management training, and legal consultation. The 'freil!ch' platform serves as the Bavarian engagement marketplace. These programs are funded through Bavarian state ministries and operate through local member agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• freil!ch – die bayerische Engagementplattform: The Bavarian engagement platform operated by lagfa bayern for volunteer opportunities across Bavaria.

Products and services

• Sprache schafft Chancen Statewide project promoting voluntary German language courses run by volunteer agencies for people with refugee or migration backgrounds. Offers cost subsidies (100-500 EUR), training, networking events, and teaching materials. Targeted at volunteer agencies and volunteer German course leaders across Bavaria.
• Miteinander leben – Ehrenamt verbindet Statewide program promoting diverse and inclusive engagement, building bridges between traditional volunteering, new engagement forms, and underserved populations. Provides expertise on member recruitment, organizational diversity, and diversity-sensitive public relations to local volunteer agencies.
• digital verein(t) Digital competence project providing interactive workshops, events, and online seminars on 13 digital topics (digital communications, online collaboration, online fundraising, data security, AI) for volunteers and associations. Operates 28 regional competence locations across Bavaria.
• Inklusion im Engagement Statewide inclusion program enabling people with disabilities to participate in volunteering. Coordinates 12 participating volunteer centers and agencies for the 2026 project year, focusing on removing barriers and creating inclusive engagement opportunities.
• Engagement macht möglich Project targeting people in precarious life situations to enable access to voluntary engagement, aiming to reduce barriers and promote inclusive integration into volunteering.
• Erfahrung trifft Zukunft Intergenerational project management program connecting demographic change with practical project competence. Provides training to selected volunteer agencies in Bavaria and teaches project management skills to volunteers of all ages.
• freil!ch – bayerische Engagementplattform Bavarian engagement platform enabling people to find and connect with volunteer opportunities across Bavaria, operated by lagfa bayern.
• Freiwilligenmessen Subsidized volunteer fairs (Ehrenamtsbörsen) that bring together interested people and nonprofit projects. Funded by the Bavarian Social Ministry, enabling visibility and networking for civic engagement in Bavarian regions.
• ÖFA-Aktionen Public relations funding program for member organizations. Two-tier funding: Basic funding up to 350 EUR and Plus funding additional 150 EUR (total up to 500 EUR) for PR measures such as print materials, events, and campaigns.
• Lokale Qualifizierung Annual subsidies for qualification and continuing education events organized by local volunteer agencies. Members can receive up to 200 EUR per organization with a minimum 10% own contribution.
• Professionelles Management – Freiwilligenmanager Ausbildung Continuing education program for volunteer managers in cooperation with Hochschulkooperation-Ehrenamt in Nuremberg. Subsidized by the Bavarian Social Ministry for employees of volunteer coordination centers.
• Rechtsberatung für FA/FZ/KoBE Legal consultation service for Bavarian volunteer agencies and coordination centers, including supplementary offerings for local partner organizations such as associations and initiatives.
• Inklusive Freiwilligentage Annual inclusive volunteer days with multiple actions across Bavaria, promoting engagement without barriers. The 2025 edition featured 25 actions at 14 locations over 10 days.
• Fortbildungsprogramm (Veranstaltungen) Training and event program including workshops, conferences, exchange meetings, and continuing education offerings for volunteer agencies and coordinators throughout Bavaria.

Quantifiable outcome

• Support for approximately 126 volunteer agencies and their thousands of volunteers across Bavaria
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

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.

• Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Freiwilligenagenturen (bagfa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe federal association of volunteer agencies, of which lagfa bayern is a member. bagfa's mandate is to represent members' interests, ensure sustainable foundations for volunteer agencies, and advocate for appropriate framework conditions for civic engagement at the political level.
• Landesnetzwerk Bürgerschaftliches Engagement (LBE) BayerncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState network that connects all infrastructure-promoting institutions for civic engagement in Bavaria. Members include lagfa, Landesverband der Mütter- und Familienzentren, Selbsthilfekoordination Bayern, Seniorenbüros, Mehrgenerationenhäuser, AGABY, cultural centers, and Bürgerstiftungen.
• Global Network of Volunteering Leadership (GNVL/IAVE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network that brings together regional and national structures worldwide to strategically further develop volunteering. lagfa bayern has been a member since 2020.
• MENTOR – die Leselernhelfer e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association providing support for reading assistance programs. lagfa bayern cooperates with MENTOR since 2019, enabling member FA/FZ/KoBE to expand or establish reading assistance projects.
• Wertebündnis Bayern (Value Alliance Bavaria)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance that aims to encourage young people to reflect on values, engage in dialogue, and take action. lagfa bayern has been a member since 2020, participating in various projects on fundamental values such as democracy, teamwork, and responsibility.
• Deutschland sicher im Netz e.V. (DsiN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit alliance that supports consumers and small businesses in secure handling of the digital world. Cooperates with lagfa bayern on the 'digital verein(t)' project.
• Bundesnetzwerk Digitale Nachbarschaft (DiNa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative by DsiN that sensitizes associations, initiatives, and voluntary citizens to the opportunities of digitization. Conducted in cooperation with the Bundesnetzwerk Bürgerschaftliches Engagement (BBE) and funded by the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
• Bayerischer TrachtenverbandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBavarian traditional costume association cooperating with 'digital verein(t)' project to provide digital training to members.
• Bayerischer LandesfeuerwehrverbandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBavarian state fire brigade association cooperating with 'digital verein(t)' project to provide digital training to members.
• Bayerischer LandessportverbandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBavarian state sports association cooperating with 'digital verein(t)' project to provide digital training to members.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bundesnetzwerk Bürgerschaftliches Engagement (BBE): Federal cross-sector network for civic engagement in Germany. BBE operates at a broader scale and thematic scope than lagfa but shares the function of convening civil society, government, and business around engagement infrastructure.
• Deutscher Caritasverband: Germany's largest Catholic welfare organization with deep roots in volunteer coordination and social engagement. Operates at national scale across many of the same thematic areas (inclusion, integration, social services) as lagfa's project portfolio.
• Aktion Mensch: Germany's largest social-action funding organization supporting inclusion and civic engagement. It operates at a far larger scale but overlaps substantially with lagfa in mission (inclusion, volunteer engagement) and partly in funder role (e.g., Zukunftsstiftung Ehrenamt Bayern as a sister foundation).
• Diakonie Deutschland: National umbrella of Protestant welfare organizations in Germany. Comparable to lagfa as a coordinating body for member organizations engaged in social and civic work, but with a far broader operational footprint.

Direct peers

• Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Freiwilligenagenturen (bagfa): The federal-level umbrella association of volunteer agencies in Germany, of which lagfa bayern is a member. bagfa is the direct national counterpart performing the same Dachverband role at federal scale that lagfa performs for Bavaria.
• Landesnetzwerk Bürgerschaftliches Engagement (LBE) Bayern: Statewide Bavarian network of infrastructure organizations for civic engagement, alongside lagfa. LBE connects umbrella institutions for civic engagement (mütter-/familienzentren, Selbsthilfe, Seniorenbüros, Mehrgenerationenhäuser, AGABY, Bürgerstiftungen) — a closely comparable coordinating-body role within the same geography.
• lagfa NRW: State-level equivalent of lagfa bayern for North Rhine-Westphalia. It performs the same Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft role for FA/FZ/KoBE in NRW, making it a structurally identical peer in a different German state.
• lagfa Baden-Württemberg: State-level umbrella for volunteer agencies in Baden-Württemberg. Closely comparable to lagfa bayern in mandate and structure, differing only by federal state.

Emerging players

• Betterplace.org: Germany's largest online donation and volunteer-matching platform. It intersects with lagfa's freil!ch platform mission of connecting people with engagement opportunities, but operates as a digital-first commercial nonprofit rather than a state-coordinated intermediary.
• vostel: Berlin-based volunteer-matching platform focused on corporate volunteering and one-off engagements. Comparable to the freil!ch platform in function but serving a different geography and a more corporate-volunteering niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lagfabayern
• Instagraminstagram.com/lagfabayern
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lagfa-bayern

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about lagfa bayern e.V.