Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’
Kindermissionswerk 'Die Sternsinger' is a Catholic children's nonprofit (founded 1846, Aachen) running the Aktion Dreikönigssingen, the world's largest children's solidarity action, funding 778 projects in 79 countries through donations gathered annually by ~300,000 child participants across 27 German dioceses in partnership with BDKJ.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1846
- HeadquartersAachen, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ does
Kindermissionswerk 'Die Sternsinger' is a Catholic children's aid nonprofit (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1846 in Aachen, Germany, and today employing approximately 52 staff at its Stephanstraße headquarters. Its core operation is the Aktion Dreikönigssingen—the world's largest children's solidarity action—in which around 300,000 children and youth across 27 German dioceses visit households from December 27 through the third Friday of January as the Three Kings, blessing homes with chalked C+M+B inscriptions and collecting donations. The organization is co-run with the Bund der Deutschen Katholischen Jugend (BDKJ) since 1961. In 2025 the campaign collected EUR 48.06 million, and in 2024 EUR 35.94 million was available for project support, funding 778 projects in 79 countries spanning Africa, Latin America, Asia, Oceania, and Eastern Europe.
The revenue model is donation-driven and comprises four streams: (i) Aktion Dreikönigssingen gross collections (the primary stream, with all parish-collected donations transferred to Kindermissionswerk per Episcopalian Order), (ii) general and corporate donations plus monthly patron programs (Pate werden), (iii) foundation and legacy giving through the Sternsinger-Stiftung and testamentary donations, and (iv) merchandise sales through shop.sternsinger.de. Free cashless collection infrastructure is supplied via SumUp card readers at EUR 46.41 per device. Educational and engagement products include classroom materials for grades 1-13, the Sternsinger-Magazin, the 'Willi in Bangladesch' film, the 'Sternsingen: so geht's!' video series, the Sternsinger-Podcast, and the Actionbound gamified learning game, plus the Sternsingermobil touring exhibition.
The technology stack is intentionally lean and outsourced: Typo3 CMS website, twingle GmbH for online donation processing (Germany-hosted), SumUp for card payments, AWS for hosting the Logo-Generator and Digitaler Sternsingerbesuch video service (via Idiomoo), Sendinblue/Brevo for email, Google Analytics/Microsoft Clarity/Omniconvert for analytics, and Wigwam GmbH for web development. Data is processed under the Kirchliche Datenschutzgesetz (KDG) and GDPR, with external DPO oversight by UIMC and banking via Pax-Bank. The organization holds the DZI Spendensiegel, is signatory to Transparency International's Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft, and is recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage (Immaterielles Kulturerbe).
Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’
- Legal name
- Kindermissionswerk 'Die Sternsinger' e.V.
- Website
- https://sternsinger.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1846
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Kindermissionswerk 'Die Sternsinger' is a Catholic children's nonprofit (founded 1846, Aachen) running the Aktion Dreikönigssingen, the world's largest children's solidarity action, funding 778 projects in 79 countries through donations gathered annually by ~300,000 child participants across 27 German dioceses in partnership with BDKJ.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Children's Charity and International Development Aid
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Religious Organizations (8131), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Education in Emergencies (EiE) & Safe Schools (BPADAKAJ), Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services (FSAAANAI)
Keywords
Where Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aachen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations from Aktion Dreikönigssingen: Primary revenue stream. Children collect donations door-to-door as Sternsinger. In 2025, 48,060,189.51 EUR was collected. All donations from parishes must be transferred to the Kindermissionswerk per the Episcopalian Order.
- General Donations and Sponsorship: Individual donations, corporate donations (Unternehmensspenden), memorial donations (Anlassspenden), and interest contributions (Zinsen den Kindern). Monthly giving/patron programs (Pate werden).
- Foundation and Legacy Giving: Sternsinger-Stiftung (endowment), testamentary donations (Testamentspende), and legacy giving programs.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of Sternsinger materials including crowns, chalk, collection boxes, bags, books, and magazines through the online shop (shop.sternsinger.de).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | SumUp Solo Card Reader for Sternsinger groups |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kindermissionswerk 'Die Sternsinger' is a Catholic children's charity registered as an eingetragener Verein (e.V.) that organizes and coordinates the Aktion Dreikönigssingen, an annual door-to-door campaign in which children dress as the Three Kings to collect donations for international children's aid projects. The organization funds educational, health, and development projects for children in countries of the Global South and produces accompanying school and parish educational materials.
Product overview
Kindermissionswerk 'Die Sternsinger' operates the Aktion Dreikönigssingen as its core product—a charitable campaign where children dressed as the Three Kings collect donations for children in need worldwide. The organization offers an integrated portfolio of educational products including classroom materials ( Unterrichtsmaterial ) for schools on topics like child labor and climate change, children's magazines ( Sternsinger-Magazine ), educational videos including the 'Willi in Bangladesch' film and the 'Sternsingen: so geht's!' video series, the Sternsinger-Podcast, interactive Actionbound educational games, and the mobile Sternsingermobil exhibition. Physical products include the Sternsinger-Entdeckerkiste (discovery box) and campaign accessories. Digital services comprise online donation processing, the Logo-Generator tool, and Digitaler Sternsingerbesuch video service. All offerings support the annual campaign's educational mission of teaching children about global solidarity and children's rights.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Aktion Dreikönigssingen (Three Kings Campaign)
- International Children's Aid Project Funding
- School and Parish Educational Materials
Quantifiable outcome
- 48,060,189.51 EUR raised in 2025 campaign, supporting 778 projects in 79 countries
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Feature4 records
Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Bund der Deutschen Katholischen Jugend (BDKJ)coreCo-organizer of Aktion Dreikönigssingen since 1961. BDKJ is the umbrella organization of 17 Catholic youth associations with 660,000 nationwide members. Provides organizational infrastructure and youth participation. Current Bundesvorstand includes Lena Bloemacher, Daniela Hottenbacher, Gregor Podschun, and Stefan Ottersbach (Bundespräses).
- twingle GmbHcoreTechnology partner providing the online donation form platform. Hosted on servers in Germany. Contract for order processing (AVV) ensures GDPR compliance. Data processed includes name, address, bank details for donation processing.
- SumUpcoreProvides cashless payment solutions for Sternsinger groups. Offers discounted 'Solo' card readers (46.41 EUR for Sternsinger groups vs 94 EUR regular). Enables tap-to-pay functionality via smartphone. Transaction fee of 1% when used with Kindermissionswerk account.
- Sendinblue GmbH (Brevo)coreExternal service provider for newsletter distribution. Processes newsletter subscriptions and sends information about products, services, events, and organizational news on behalf of Kindermissionswerk.
- UIMC Dr. Voßbein GmbH & Co KGcoreExternal data protection officer (Datenschutzbeauftragter) service. Contact: Dr. Jörn Voßbein, Otto-Hausmann-Ring 113, 42115 Wuppertal. Provides expert compliance with GDPR and KDG requirements.
- 27 German DiocesescoreEach of the 27 German dioceses (Erz-/Bistümer) organizes Sternsinger activities within their territory. Diocesan coordinators help parishes participate and provide local support.
- Wigwam GmbHminorDigital agency responsible for website development, design, programming, and support. Located at Prinzenallee 74, 13357 Berlin. Slogan: 'Wigwam macht Webentwicklung. Aber nur für das Gute.'
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bund der Deutschen Katholischen Jugend (BDKJ): BDKJ is the direct co-organizer of the Aktion Dreikönigssingen alongside Kindermissionswerk since 1961. Both organizations are Catholic youth-focused umbrella bodies that mobilize Germany's 660,000 Catholic youth association members — direct operational peers in the Catholic youth/charity space.
- World Vision Deutschland: World Vision Germany is a national chapter of a global child sponsorship organization. Comparable in mission (children's welfare, education, development), sponsorship/patron program model, and international project funding — though World Vision's global brand and scale is substantially larger.
- Welthungerhilfe: Welthungerhilfe is one of Germany's largest private aid organizations, funding international development projects. Direct comparable in mission (development aid), funding model (donations), and operational scale (€300M+ annual revenue) — though not religiously affiliated.
- Misereor: Misereor is the German Catholic bishops' development charity and a direct peer — both are Catholic Church-affiliated fundraising organizations funding international development projects, with German donor bases and episcopal endorsement. Direct overlap in fundraising channels, project portfolio, and donor demographics.
- Plan International Deutschland: Plan International Germany is a national chapter of a global children's rights and girls' equality organization. Directly comparable in funding model (sponsor/patron programs), mission (children's rights, education, protection), and German donor-base dynamics.
- Brot für die Welt: Brot für die Welt is the German Protestant development and relief service, structurally a near-twin of Kindermissionswerk on the Protestant side. Both are Christian-affiliated, German-rooted, internationally active development charities with similar fundraising structures (annual campaigns, parish networks).
- SOS-Kinderdörfer (SOS Children's Villages): SOS-Kinderdörfer is a German-based international children's charity supporting vulnerable children and families worldwide. Comparable in mission (children's aid), donor model (sponsorship programs), and project funding structure across multiple countries.
- Save the Children Deutschland: Save the Children Germany is the German national chapter of the global children's charity — direct comparable in mission (children's aid, education, rights), donor acquisition model, and project funding focus. Both mobilize German donors for international children's projects.
Broad incumbents
- Caritas Deutschland: Caritas is the largest German Catholic welfare organization with a much broader service portfolio (elder care, family services, social welfare) — a broader incumbent operating in the same Catholic umbrella, with significant overlap in donor base and parish network even though scale and scope differ.
- UNICEF Germany: UNICEF Germany is a major national committee of a global children's rights organization. Direct comparable in mission (children's welfare, education, health, rights) and donor base (German households), though it operates at significantly larger scale and as part of a UN agency.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ social profiles
Digital presenceKindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’
What does Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ do?
Kindermissionswerk 'Die Sternsinger' is a Catholic children's charity registered as an eingetragener Verein (e.V.) that organizes and coordinates the Aktion Dreikönigssingen, an annual door-to-door campaign in which children dress as the Three Kings to collect donations for international children's aid projects. The organization funds educational, health, and development projects for children in countries of the Global South and produces accompanying school and parish educational materials.
Is Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ a public or private company?
Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ founded?
Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ was founded in 1846. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ based?
Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ is headquartered in Aachen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations from Aktion Dreikönigssingen is the primary driver. The others are general Donations and Sponsorship, foundation and Legacy Giving and merchandise Sales.
Who are Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bund der Deutschen Katholischen Jugend (BDKJ), World Vision Deutschland, Welthungerhilfe, Misereor, Plan International Deutschland, Brot für die Welt, SOS-Kinderdörfer (SOS Children's Villages) and Save the Children Deutschland. Broad incumbents are Caritas Deutschland and UNICEF Germany.
Does Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’.
What industry is Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’ in?
Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’'s product category is Children's Charity and International Development Aid. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAG, Child Protection & Child Rights, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAN, Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.