Magnus-Hirschfeld-Centrum e.V.

What Magnus-Hirschfeld-Centrum e.V. does

Magnus-Hirschfeld-Centrum e.V. (commonly abbreviated "mhc") is a German non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1983 and headquartered at Borgweg 8 in the Winterhude district of Hamburg. The organization operates as the primary community center serving Hamburg's queer population and allies, delivering professional counseling services (Schwulenberatung, LesBiQueere Beratung, Trans*beratung, Rechtsberatung), youth and parent programming, peer self-help groups, and dedicated support for LGBTQ+ refugees. Its service portfolio is unified under a single physical location that also houses MOTTYS Bar & Bistro as a social venue and provides rentable rooms to community groups.

The underlying operating model is a hybrid of subsidized social services and community-centered programming, not a commercial technology or product business. Core offerings — including counseling — are delivered free of charge, with no published pricing structure. Revenue is generated through four streams: recurring annual membership dues (which carry governance voting rights), voluntary donations directed to community projects, room rental income from community organizations, and hospitality revenue from MOTTYS Bar & Bistro. The organization has no proprietary technology platform, no digital products, and no app; its distribution is exclusively through the single Hamburg physical site, supplemented by a presence on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook for community engagement and event promotion.

Magnus-Hirschfeld-Centrum is institutionally supported through multi-decade funding partnerships with two Hamburg public authorities: the Behörde für Wissenschaft, Forschung, Gleichstellung und den Bezirken funds counseling, youth work, the Soorum school education program, Trans*Beratung, and LGBT*IQ Refugee support, while the Behörde für Schule und Berufsbildung co-funds Soorum. The organization has historically incubated and spun off multiple independent community projects since its founding. With six employees, a single geographic footprint, and no disclosed revenue figures, the entity operates at a stable, small scale consistent with a long-tenured Hamburg community association.

Name

Magnus-Hirschfeld-Centrum e.V.

Legal name

Magnus-Hirschfeld-Centrum e.V.

Website

https://mhc-hamburg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Magnus-Hirschfeld-Centrum e.V. is a Hamburg-based non-profit community center founded in 1983 that provides free counseling, youth programs, and social spaces for the queer community and allies in Hamburg. It is funded by Hamburg government grants, memberships, donations, and an on-site bar.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

Keywords

• Queer community services
• Counseling and support
• Youth support programs
• Community center operations
• LGBTQ+ education

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership dues that provide financial support for the organization and grant voting rights to members for governance participation.
2. Donations: Voluntary contributions from individuals supporting the queer community in Hamburg. Donations flow directly into community projects and services.
3. Room rental: Revenue from renting out spaces within the center to community groups and organizations for events and meetings.
4. Bar & Bistro operations: Revenue from MOTTYS Bar & Bistro, a physical venue serving as a social space and community gathering point.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Magnus-Hirschfeld-Centrum e.V. operates a community center for the queer community in Hamburg, Germany, providing counseling services, youth programs, educational offerings, family support, and community gathering spaces (including the MOTTYS Bar & Bistro). The organization serves LGBTQ+ individuals, youth, and families through in-person services delivered at its physical center.

Product overview

Magnus-Hirschfeld-Centrum (mhc) is a community center providing a comprehensive range of services for the queer community in Hamburg. Founded in 1983, it operates as a unified platform offering counseling services (general counseling, gay counseling, LesBiQueer counseling, and Trans* counseling), youth programs (youth centers, youth and parent work), education (Soorum school education program), community spaces (MOTTYS Bar & Bistro, room rentals), networking initiatives, refugee support, and self-help groups. The center functions as an integrated community hub where these services interconnect under one roof to support queer individuals, their families, and allies across all life situations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Counseling Services Counseling services for LGBTQ+ individuals seeking identity-affirming support, guidance, and personal advice. Provided at the community center in Hamburg by the center's staff.
• Youth Programs Youth programs and peer support services designed for LGBTQ+ young people, providing safe spaces, group activities, and mentorship at the community center.
• Educational Programs and Workshops Educational programs, workshops, and informational events covering LGBTQ+ topics for community members, schools, and the broader public.
• Family Support Services Support services and guidance for parents and families of LGBTQ+ individuals, helping families navigate identity-related questions and challenges.
• Community Gathering Space (MOTTYS Bar & Bistro) On-site bar and bistro (MOTTYS) providing a community gathering space and hospitality services for LGBTQ+ community members and visitors at the center.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Behörde für Wissenschaft, Forschung, Gleichstellung und den Bezirken (Hamburg Authority)coreOthersThe Hamburg Authority for Science, Research, Equal Opportunities and Districts provides governmental support for MHC's core projects including counseling services, youth work, Soorum school education program, Trans*Beratung, and LGBT*IQ Refugee support programs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Mann-O-Meter e.V. Berlin-based gay men's counseling and community center providing psychosocial support, HIV/STI testing referrals, and self-help groups. Comparable to MHC's specialized counseling lines and community-space function.
• KOSI.MA Mannheim: Sexuality and gender competence center in Mannheim offering counseling, education, and community programs for LGBTQ+ people. Comparable regional community-center model with similar service breadth.
• Berliner Aids-Hilfe e.V. Berlin AIDS service organization providing counseling, testing, and community support for gay men and people living with HIV. Shares MHC's focus on community-based health and counseling services for the queer community.
• SUB München e.V. Munich's gay communication and culture center providing counseling, self-help groups, cultural events, and community gathering space. Mirrors MHC's combination of social services with cultural/community venue (MOTTYS) operations.
• Schwulenberatung Berlin gGmbH: Berlin gay counseling and community organization offering psychosocial, migration, and youth services for gay men and the broader queer community. Directly comparable to MHC's specialized gay and refugee counseling lines.
• Lambda e.V. Berlin: Berlin-based LGBTQ+ youth center offering youth meeting spaces, counseling, and parent/family work. Directly comparable to MHC's Jugendtreffs and Jugend- und Elternarbeit programs.
• Rubicon e.V. Cologne-based LGBTQ+ competence center providing counseling, youth programs, anti-violence support, and community services. Closely mirrors MHC's integrated community-center service model in a different city.
• Hein & Fiete e.V. Hamburg-based LGBTQ+ community and counseling center offering psychosocial support, youth work, and community programs for queer individuals. Most direct local peer to MHC, sharing both city and operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Aidshilfe e.V. Germany's national umbrella organization for regional AIDS service organizations, providing counseling, prevention, and community programs. Broader incumbent serving overlapping target populations and overlapping services with MHC.
• LSVD – Lesben- und Schwulenverband in Deutschland: National German LGBTQ+ advocacy and civil rights federation operating across policy, legal aid, and community services. Operates at broader national scale than MHC but overlaps in mission and counseling/referral offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mhc.hamburg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/magnus-hirschfeld-centrum
• Instagraminstagram.com/mhc_hamburg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Magnus-Hirschfeld-Centrum e.V.