Arbeitsgemeinschaft katholisch-sozialer Bildungswerke

What Arbeitsgemeinschaft katholisch-sozialer Bildungswerke does

AKSB (Arbeitsgemeinschaft katholisch-sozialer Bildungswerke in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland e.V.) is a Bonn-headquartered non-profit umbrella association founded on April 23, 1952, serving as one of Germany's largest Dachverbände for political youth and adult education. It coordinates approximately 60-61 Catholic member institutions — including academies such as Akademie am Tönsberg, Nell-Breuning-Haus, Katholische Akademie Stapelfeld, and Haus Ohrbeck — that together deliver roughly 600-700 events annually reaching more than 10,000 participants across all German states. The organization is tax-exempt under German non-profit law (gemeinnützig) and is funded primarily through federal grants from the Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMFSFJ) via the Kinder- und Jugendplan (KJP), and the Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ), supplemented by member dues and project-specific grants (e.g., from Stiftung EVZ).

AKSB's core products are political education events, seminars, and conferences covering democracy, elections, civic participation, media literacy, climate, antisemitism prevention, and interreligious/intercultural dialogue. Key programmatic offerings include the annual Jahrestagung, Kooperationskonferenz, Verwaltungsfachtagung, Grundkurs politische Bildung, the mepodi media education series, the RespACT religious-sensitive education project (with Respekt Coaches), and the Tacheles antisemitism contact point. Distribution is hybrid: physical delivery through member institutions, online registration via the central event catalog, and digital engagement through a CleverReach newsletter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram channels. Technology stack is conventional and non-proprietary — web platform with embedded YouTube videos, Google Maps integration, self-hosted Matomo analytics, and ONZUMA for the members area.

The business model is grant-funded non-profit with no equity structure, no disclosed revenue figures, and no investor base. Pricing on end-customer events ranges from free (online events, subsidized family seminars at €50/adult) to approximately €950 (single-room educational vacation programs). Andrea Rühmann has served as Managing Director since April 1, 2022, and was elected chair of the Bundesausschuss politische Bildung (bap) in October 2024, signaling sector leadership.

Name

Arbeitsgemeinschaft katholisch-sozialer Bildungswerke

Legal name

Arbeitsgemeinschaft katholisch-sozialer Bildungswerke in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland e.V.

Website

https://aksb.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AKSB is a Bonn-based non-profit umbrella association coordinating ~60 Catholic member institutions to deliver political youth and adult education across Germany, running 600+ events annually for 10,000+ participants, funded primarily by federal ministries (BMFSFJ, BMZ).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Political Education Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Sector Coordination, Clusters & Working Groups (EDADALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO), Government & Public Sector Conferences (MPAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Political education
• Civic education
• Adult education
• Youth education
• Democratic education

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (BMFSFJ/BMZ): Primary revenue stream from public funding, specifically the Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMFSFJ) and the Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ). Funding is received through programs like KJP (Kinder- und Jugendplan) and specific project grants. The organization is tax-exempt as a non-profit entity.
2. Membership Dues: 61 member organizations contribute to the organization. The exact membership fee structure is not publicly disclosed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AKSB is one of Germany's largest umbrella organizations for political education, coordinating a nationwide network of approximately 60 Catholic educational institutions that deliver over 600 high-quality learning events and professional conferences annually with more than 10,000 participants. The organization provides party-independent political education programs for youth and adults covering democracy, elections, civic participation, media literacy, climate, and social justice, and operates specialized projects such as RespACT, Tacheles, and TrollTOPIA. Funding is primarily from BMFSFJ and BMZ government grants and membership dues.

Product overview

AKSB (Arbeitsgemeinschaft katholisch-sozialer Bildungswerke) operates as a federation of approximately 60 Catholic academic institutions, educational facilities, and associations providing political education throughout Germany. The organization delivers its core offering through over 700 annual political education events, seminars, and conferences organized both at the central level and through member institutions. Key products include the annual AKSB conference (Jahrestagung), the cooperation conference (Kooperationskonferenz), the administrative specialist conference (Verwaltungsfachtagung), the basic course in political education (Grundkurs politische Bildung), and the mepodi media education series. AKSB also operates specialized projects including RespACT (religious-sensitive political education with Respekt Coaches), the TrollTOPIA anti-hate social media project, and Tacheles (contact point against antisemitism). The organization publishes annual reports (Jahresberichte) and the AKSB-inform periodical, and offers resources like the loanable Klimakoffer (climate kit) and the Whole Institutional Approach criteria catalog for sustainability assessment. Communication services include a free newsletter and online info-lounges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Politische Bildungsveranstaltungen (Political Education Events and Seminars) Over 600 political education events and seminars conducted annually by AKSB and its approximately 60 member institutions across Germany, covering topics such as media literacy, climate crisis, populism, democracy, elections, and civic participation. Delivered for individual participants (Jugendliche und Erwachsene) and families.
• AKSB-Jahrestagung (Annual Conference) Annual conference bringing together AKSB members to discuss current political education topics, organizational matters, and elect leadership.
• Kooperationskonferenz (Cooperation Conference) Cooperation conference for AKSB members to develop collaborative solutions in challenging times.
• Verwaltungsfachtagung (Administrative Specialist Conference) Administrative specialist conference for professional development of AKSB member organization staff.
• Grundkurs politische Bildung (Basic Political Education Course) Basic course in political education providing foundational knowledge for participants.
• mepodi – Medienbildung politisch und digital (Media Education Series) Annual specialist conference series on media education and digital political education, addressing topics like AI in media literacy and disinformation.
• Fachkonferenz Interreligiöse/Interkulturelle Bildung (Specialist Conference on Interreligious and Intercultural Education) Specialist conference on interreligious and intercultural education, addressing topics like postcolonialism and Christian-Muslim dialogue.
• RespACT – Religionssensible politische Bildungsarbeit (Religious-Sensitive Political Education) Project promoting religious-sensitive political education with preventive offerings to foster respect, tolerance, and reduce prejudices in schools. Includes training modules and events for Respekt Coaches.
• Respekt Coaches Program Program within JMD (Jugendmigrationsdienste) Respekt Coaches, providing political youth education cooperation and training for respect and tolerance in schools.
• Tacheles – AKSB-Anlaufstelle gegen Antisemitismus (Contact Point Against Antisemitism) Contact point against antisemitism with three training modules: basic module for recognition and combatting antisemitism, advanced modules on handling antisemitic statements in groups and prevention for management.
• AKSB-Newsletter Free newsletter providing updates on AKSB activities, events, and news delivered via email with double opt-in confirmation.
• Klimakoffer (Climate Kit) Loanable climate kit containing games and methods for climate education in schools and youth work, including climate puzzle, privilege games, and CO2 challenge materials.
• Whole Institutional Approach – Kriterienkatalog (Criteria Catalog for Socio-Ecological Transformation) Criteria catalog developed by member institutions for organizations to assess their status in socio-ecological transformation and identify next steps.
• Online Info-Lounge: Politische Jugendbildung Online information and dialogue format connecting political youth education providers with JMD Respekt Coaches for cooperation in primary prevention at schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600+ high-quality learning events and conferences delivered annually with over 10,000 participants
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Heinrich-Böll-StiftungminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Cooperation partner for the event 'Die Unbeugsamen' (Academy evening on women in politics) held at Katholische Akademie Fulda. Joint film screening and discussion event with politician Christa Nickels.
• Katholische Akademie FuldaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Host venue and cooperation partner for joint events including 'Die Unbeugsamen' academy evening on women in politics history.
• Stiftung Erinnerung, Verantwortung und Zukunft (EVZ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Funding partner for the project 'Reden wir Tacheles! – AKSB-Anlaufstelle gegen Antisemitismus' under the EVZ program 'Strukturen schaffen gegen Antisemitismus'. Project runs from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2026. EVZ supports the establishment of contact persons for antisemitism prevention in institutions.
• GEMINI (Gemeinsame Initiative der Träger Politischer Jugendbildung)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative of political youth education providers including AKSB, AdB (Arbeitskreis deutscher Bildungsstätten), Arbeit und Leben, DVV (Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband), et (Evangelische Trägergruppe), and VBLR (Verband der Bildungszentren im ländlichen Raum). Coordinates political youth education efforts, shares best practices, and advocates for the sector.
• Bundesausschuss politische Bildung (bap)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association of political education providers. AKSB participates through GEMINI initiative. The bap coordinates sector-wide positions, organizes the Bundeskongress Politische Bildung, and advocates for political education funding.
• Katholische Akademie des Bistums HildesheimminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAKSB member institution organizing political education events including 'Gesprächsführung gegen rechte Parolen' seminars.
• Heinrich-Böll-StiftungminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPolitical foundation and cooperation partner for joint events on democracy and political education topics.
• Initiative Transparente ZivilgesellschaftminorOthersSelf-commitment initiative for transparency in civil society. AKSB has been a member since 2020, voluntarily disclosing organizational information including finances, governance, and impact.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Bundesausschuss politische Bildung (bap): National coordinating body of German political education providers. AKSB's managing director chairs bap; it coordinates the sector and organizes Bundeskongress Politische Bildung. Adjacent/ecosystem role: AKSB is a member rather than competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb): Federal government agency for political education. bpb is the primary federal funding/distribution hub for political education in Germany, sitting above AKSB in the value chain and providing complementary (sometimes overlapping) civic-education programs at much larger scale.
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES): SPD-affiliated political foundation operating one of Germany's largest political education networks. Directly comparable to AKSB in mission (democratic education, civic participation) but with party-political affiliation rather than confessional affiliation.
• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung: German political foundation affiliated with the Greens. Documented cooperation partner of AKSB (e.g., 'Die Unbeugsamen' event at Katholische Akademie Fulda). Operates its own political education programs through affiliated academies across Germany.
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS): CDU-affiliated political foundation running its own nationwide civic and political education academies. Comparable scale and mission to AKSB but tied to a specific political party rather than denominationally anchored.

Direct peers

• Arbeitskreis deutscher Bildungsstätten (AdB): National umbrella association of German educational institutions delivering political youth and adult education. AdB is a direct peer: AKSB itself coordinates with AdB through the GEMINI joint initiative for political youth education providers.
• Verband der Bildungszentren im ländlichen Raum (VBLR): Association of rural-area educational centers in Germany. Member of the same GEMINI initiative as AKSB, delivering comparable civic and political education through a rural-focused member network.
• Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband (DVV): Federal association of Germany's ~900 Volkshochschulen (adult education centers). DVV is a direct peer through the GEMINI initiative, delivering comparable civic and political adult education across Germany through a federated member network.
• Evangelische Trägergruppe (et): Protestant counterpart to AKSB coordinating evangelical political youth education providers. Same GEMINI umbrella, same federal funding access, parallel religious-affiliated civic-education delivery model.
• Arbeit und Leben: Joint organization of DGB trade unions and adult education associations delivering political and civic education. Member of the same GEMINI joint initiative as AKSB; directly comparable in mission, structure, and federal funding model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCoL9HB9PoI4sPmXr1qPUSZA
• Facebookfacebook.com/AKSBeV
• Instagraminstagram.com/aksb.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aksb

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Arbeitsgemeinschaft katholisch-sozialer Bildungswerke