VinziWerke Austria

What VinziWerke Austria does

VinziWerke Austria (Vinzenzgemeinschaft VinziWerke Österreich) is an Austrian non-profit charitable association headquartered in Graz, Styria, founded in 1990 by Pfarrer Wolfgang Pucher. The organization operates approximately 40 facilities across Graz, Vienna, Salzburg, and the Bruck-Kapfenberg region, providing daily emergency shelter for up to 450 people, meals and food supplies for 1,700 people, and long-term housing support through Housing First programs. Its service portfolio spans emergency shelters (VinziNest, VinziSchutz, VinziTel, VinziBett Wien, VinziPort Wien, VinziRast), long-term residential facilities (VinziDorf, VinziLife), women-focused services (VinziHelp, Haus Rosalie, VinziLife), mobile meal distribution (VinziBus), social supermarkets and clothing shops (VinziMarkt, VinziShop), Housing First programs (Solido, VinziDach, Housing First in der Steiermark), and the VinziHerz project serving Ukrainian displaced persons. The organization is supported by approximately 800 volunteers contributing 100,000 hours annually, with only 9 paid employees managing operations.

The business model is donation- and grant-funded, not revenue-generating from service recipients. Services are provided free of charge to qualifying beneficiaries. Funding is diversified across four streams: individual and corporate monetary donations (tax-deductible under §4a Abs. 8 Z 1 EStG 1988), in-kind donations of goods processed through VinziShops and VinziMarkt, public subsidies from Land Steiermark, Stadt Graz, Fonds Soziales Wien, and the Diözese Graz-Seckau, and minor social-enterprise revenue from VinziMarkt (capped at 30% of retail prices) and VinziShop sales. The organization is part of the international Society of Saint Vincent de Paul network, which has 50,000 Vinzenzgemeinschaften in 148 countries, with 146 groups active in Austria. There is no proprietary technology platform; the digital infrastructure is limited to a WordPress-based website (vinzi.at) and the VinziStore online donation platform.

Recent strategic developments include a €1.9 million major renovation of VinziNest (2024-2026), a February 2025 name change from Vinzenzgemeinschaft Eggenberg to VinziWerke Österreich following the founder's death in July 2023, geographic expansion into the Bruck-Kapfenberg region via Solido Regional (October 2025), and the formalization of the VinziHerz Ukraine response program. Key corporate and public partners include Holding Graz, SPAR, Zotter Schokolade, Anton Paar, Caritas Steiermark, Deloitte, and wolke blau agency. The organization is governed by Obmann Kurt Großauer, with Nicola Baloch and Amrita Böker serving as co-Geschäftsführerinnen and Pater Bernhard Pesendorfer CM as Geistlicher Beirat.

Name

VinziWerke Austria

Legal name

Vinzenzgemeinschaft Eggenberg – VinziWerke

Website

https://vinzi.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VinziWerke Austria is an Austrian non-profit operating ~40 social service facilities across Graz, Vienna, and Salzburg, providing daily shelter for 450 people and meals for 1,700 people experiencing homelessness, poverty, or displacement, funded primarily through donations and public grants with 800 volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Graz

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Geldspenden (Monetary Donations): Primary funding source. The organization lives almost exclusively through donations from individuals, companies, and foundations. Donations are tax-deductible under Austrian law §4a Abs. 8 Z 1 EStG 1988. Online donation tool available via VinziStore.
2. Sachspenden (In-Kind Donations): Clothing, food, and other goods donated by individuals and businesses. These are processed through VinziShops and VinziMarkt and either distributed to those in need or sold at reduced prices.
3. Public Funding and Grants: Government funding from Land Steiermark, Stadt Graz, Diözese Graz-Seckau, Fonds Soziales Wien, and other public bodies. Housing First projects receive government financing.
4. Social Market Sales: VinziMarkt sells food and essential goods at maximum 30% of retail prices to income-qualified customers. VinziShop sells donated clothing and household items at reduced prices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

VinziWerke Austria operates a network of approximately 40 charitable facilities across Graz, Vienna, and Salzburg providing free emergency shelter, long-term housing, mobile and on-site meal services, social counseling, affordable food (VinziMarkt) and second-hand clothing (VinziShop), and Housing First programs for homeless individuals, EU poverty migrants, displaced persons from Ukraine, and women in distress.

Product overview

VinziWerke Österreich is a charitable social services organization offering a comprehensive network of shelters, social enterprises, and support programs across Austria. The organization operates approximately 40 facilities providing daily accommodation for up to 450 persons and food/essential supplies for 1,700 persons. The portfolio includes emergency shelters (VinziNest, VinziSchutz, VinziTel, VinziBett Wien, VinziPort Wien, VinziRast) for immediate protection, long-term residential facilities (VinziDorf, VinziDorf Wien, VinziLife) for stabilized housing, women-focused services (VinziHelp, Haus Rosalie), mobile meal services (VinziBus, VinziMarkt), affordable retail (VinziShop, VinziMarkt), and Housing First programs (Solido, VinziDach, Housing First in der Steiermark) for permanent housing without preconditions. Central coordination is provided through VinziHaus and regional welcome centers (VinziTreff Wien). An online donation platform (VinziStore) enables direct support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VinziNest and VinziSchutz Emergency Shelters Emergency overnight shelters in Graz serving male and female poverty migrants (Armutsmigranten/Armutsmigrantinnen). VinziNest is the largest emergency shelter in Styria, providing sleeping places, warm meals, and clean clothing free of charge.
• VinziTel Emergency Shelter Emergency overnight accommodation for men, women, and couples experiencing homelessness in Graz.
• VinziBett Wien Emergency Shelter Emergency shelter in Vienna providing overnight accommodation for women and men experiencing homelessness.
• VinziPort Wien Emergency Shelter Emergency shelter in Vienna specifically for EU citizens experiencing homelessness, addressing the unique legal and welfare needs of Armutsmigranten from EU member states.
• VinziRast Emergency Shelter Emergency shelter in Vienna with capacity for up to 48 guests, offering sleeping places, warm meals, and clean clothing.
• VinziDorf Long-Term Housing Long-term residential facility (Dauerherberge) for men recovering from homelessness in Graz and Vienna, providing stable housing and ongoing support services.
• VinziLife Long-Term Housing Long-term residential facility (Dauerherberge) for women experiencing psychological distress, offering stable housing combined with supportive care.
• Haus Rosalie Emergency Shelter Emergency shelter specifically for women in acute distress, providing immediate accommodation and support services.
• VinziHaus and VinziTreff Wien Coordination Centers Central coordination points and welcome centers for volunteers and those seeking help in Graz (VinziHaus) and Vienna (VinziTreff Wien), providing administrative services, social counseling, and referrals.
• VinziHelp Welcome Center for Women Welcome and support center specifically for women in difficult life situations, offering a safe space and assistance.
• VinziBus Mobile Meal Service Mobile meal distribution service providing free evening meals (Abendbrot) for people experiencing homelessness or poverty in Graz, operated by volunteers.
• VinziMarkt Social Supermarket Social supermarket providing food and essential household goods at prices capped at 30% of retail to income-qualified customers across Graz, Vienna, and Judenburg locations.
• VinziShop Affordable Clothing Second-hand clothing stores offering low-cost garments to people in need, operating across Graz (VinziShop Graz), Vienna Ottakring, and Vienna Erdberg with donated inventory.
• Housing First Programs (Solido, Housing First Steiermark, VinziDach) Housing First projects in Styria and Salzburg providing permanent, non-preconditioned housing solutions for chronically homeless individuals, including the Solido project (since 2017), Housing First in der Steiermark, and VinziDach (Housing First Salzburg).
• VinziHerz Humanitarian Aid for Displaced Persons Project providing humanitarian aid coordination, housing support, and integration assistance for displaced persons from Ukraine.
• VinziStore Online Donation Platform Online donation platform allowing donors to contribute specific items or funds to VinziWerke facilities and projects, with a minimum suggested donation of 2.00 euros and tax-deductible receipts under Austrian law §4a Abs. 8 Z 1 EStG 1988.

Quantifiable outcome

• Daily accommodation for up to 450 people across 40 institutions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SPARminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetail partner for 'Nougat spendet Glück' Zotter chocolate sales. 50 cents per bar donated to VinziWerke. Also provides food donations.
• wolke blau agencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvertising agency providing pro bono campaign support for VinziNest renovation fundraising. Contributing digital and crossmedia marketing expertise.
• WEB Windenergie AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWon photovoltaic panel installation bid for VinziNest roof, contributing to sustainable building renovation.
• Deloitte SteiermarkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services firm providing pro bono support for accounting and consulting services.
• Caritas SteiermarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on winter emergency services, sharing information about open facilities during holidays, and ongoing cooperation in serving people in need.
• Zotter SchokolademinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChocolate manufacturer producing 'Nougat spendet Glück' bars sold at SPAR, with 50 cents per bar donated to VinziWerke.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Volkshilfe Österreich: Austrian poverty-relief NGO operating food distribution, family support, and social services. Directly comparable to VinziWerke's VinziMarkt/VinziBus food-distribution mission and poverty-counseling services.
• Wiener Tafel: Vienna food bank collecting surplus food and distributing it to social institutions and people in need. Closest direct comparison for VinziMarkt/VinziBus food-distribution operations.
• Gruft - Wiener Straßensozialarbeit: Vienna street-outreach organization providing medical care, shelter referrals, and social services to rough sleepers. Direct peer for VinziWerke's Vienna emergency-shelter and street-level beneficiary engagement.
• Caritas Österreich: Austria's largest Catholic charitable organization, operating shelters, social counseling, food aid, refugee services, and Housing First programs nationally. Closest direct peer — same Catholic identity, similar beneficiary populations, and overlapping service lines (emergency shelter, social markets, refugee aid).
• BAWO - Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Wohnungslosenhilfe: Austrian umbrella association for homelessness services, coordinating shelter and housing programs across providers. Peer for VinziWerke's housing-services network and a coordinating body within the same homelessness-services ecosystem.
• Caritas Steiermark: Regional Styrian branch of Caritas, delivering shelter, food aid, refugee services, and social counseling in Graz and across Steiermark. Already a cooperating partner of VinziWerke on winter emergency services; closest head-to-head competitor in VinziWerke's home region.
• Diakonie Österreich: Protestant counterpart to Caritas, providing shelter, refugee aid, family services, and social counseling across Austria. Highly comparable as a faith-based welfare organization competing for the same donor, volunteer, and government-contract pools.
• Neunerhaus: Vienna-based charity providing housing, healthcare, and social counseling for homeless and unstably housed people. Direct peer for VinziWerke's Vienna operations (VinziTreff, VinziBett, VinziPort, VinziDorf Wien), with a more medical-care overlay.

Broad incumbents

• Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Österreich: Austrian social services and emergency aid organization operating shelters, refugee services, and social welfare programs. Comparable as a multi-service welfare incumbent competing for the same donor and contract markets.
• Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz: Austrian Red Cross — large humanitarian organization with overlapping emergency relief, refugee aid, and social services. A broader incumbent with a wider portfolio (emergency medical, blood donation, disaster response) that competes for donations and government contracts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vinzihelp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vinziwerke

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries16 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 VinziWerke Austria