Real Hermandad del Refugio

What Real Hermandad del Refugio does

Real Hermandad del Refugio (legal name: Santa, Pontificia y Real Hermandad del Refugio y Piedad de Madrid; NIF G28843118) is a private nonprofit charitable association founded on March 17, 1615 in Madrid, Spain, and declared of Public Utility. It is the oldest continuously operating charitable institution in Madrid, with all Spanish kings from Felipe IV onward as members of the Brotherhood (Hermanos) until the present day. The organization is governed by a Junta de Gobierno of approximately 12–13 members led by Hermano Mayor-Presidente Fernando Ramírez de Haro y Valdés, Conde de Bornos.

The Hermandad delivers four core social services free of charge: a social dining hall (Comedor Social) serving approximately 400 hot and cold dinners daily (104,460 dinners in 2025), bi-weekly food distribution to 60 people across 18 families, a weekly clothing bank (Ropero) that distributed 1,327 items to 215 people in 2025, and educational scholarships (becas Purísima Concepción) for hundreds of children at partner Catholic schools — the Hermandad's own school closed in June 2023. It additionally manages two 17th-century Baroque heritage churches, San Antonio de los Alemanes (donated by Felipe V in 1702) and Monasterio de San Plácido, operating them as public cultural sites through ticketed guided tours, self-guided visits, and an annual Festival Internacional de Órgano plus chamber concert programming, all in partnership with Optima Cultura.

Revenue is sourced from five streams: recurring member contributions (400+ Hermanos), individual one-time and recurring donations (including the tiered 'Hazte Amigo' subscription program at €10–€50/month), in-kind food donations from public institutions and corporate partners (Banco de Alimentos de Madrid, Fundación La Caixa, Coca-Cola, El Corte Inglés, Santander, and others), public grants from Ayuntamiento de Madrid and Comunidad de Madrid, and ticket/concert revenue from the heritage churches. Donors benefit from Spanish tax deductions under Ley 49/2002 (up to 80% on first €250 for individuals). The organization employs 1–10 staff and is supported by 150+ non-member volunteers. No specific revenue or financials are publicly disclosed.

Name

Real Hermandad del Refugio

Legal name

Santa, Pontificia y Real Hermandad del Refugio y Piedad de Madrid

Website

https://realhermandaddelrefugio.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Real Hermandad del Refugio is a 410-year-old Madrid-based nonprofit that delivers free daily social services — including 400 dinners per day, bi-weekly family food parcels, clothing, and educational scholarships — funded through member contributions, institutional donors, and ticket revenue from two historic Baroque churches it manages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Voluntary member contributions (aportaciones de Hermanos): Members of the Brotherhood (Hermanos) make regular financial contributions to fund charitable activities. Membership is voluntary and ongoing.
2. Individual donations (donativos particulares): One-time or recurring monetary donations from individuals via transfer, Bizum, or direct debit. Donations from individuals support the social dining hall, food distribution, and clothing programs.
3. Corporate and institutional food donations: Private companies and public institutions donate food products (raw materials, packaged goods, pastries, prepared meals) which are used in the social dining hall and bi-weekly family food distributions.
4. Cultural tourism and concert ticket sales: The organization operates two Baroque churches — San Antonio de los Alemanes and Monasterio de San Plácido — as tourist destinations. Ticket sales from self-guided visits, guided tours, and concert events at these heritage sites generate revenue dedicated entirely to funding charitable works.
5. Fiscal tax benefits for donors: Under Spanish law (Ley 49/2002), donors receive tax deductions (80% on first €250, 40% thereafter for individuals; 40-50% for companies). This incentivizes donations and is a structural component of the funding model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Real Hermandad del Refugio provides direct social welfare services to vulnerable populations in Madrid, including a social dining hall (Comedor Social) serving approximately 400 hot and cold dinners daily, bi-weekly food parcel distribution to 60 people from 18 families, a clothing bank (Ropero) distributing hygiene items to 215 people annually, and educational scholarships (Becas Purísima Concepción) covering costs not funded by public education for hundreds of children at partner Catholic schools. The organization also manages two historic Baroque churches (San Antonio de los Alemanes and Monasterio de San Plácido) that serve as cultural tourism assets, hosting guided visits, self-guided tours, and an annual Festival Internacional de Órgano whose ticket revenue is entirely dedicated to funding charitable works.

Product overview

Real Hermandad del Refugio is a charitable organization (Asociación Benéfica) founded in 1615 that provides social welfare services in Madrid. Its core offerings include: Comedor Social (social dining room serving approximately 400 dinners daily), Reparto de Alimentos a Familias (food distribution to families in exclusion), Apoyo Educativo/Becas Purísima Concepción (educational scholarships for disadvantaged students), Ropero (clothing distribution), and cultural/cultural tourism services including visits to San Antonio de los Alemanes and San Plácido churches, plus concerts and the annual International Organ Festival. The organization operates as a single unified charitable entity rather than a platform architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Comedor Social Social dining hall operating daily from 19:00 to 20:00 with capacity for 90 seated diners, serving approximately 400 hot and cold dinners daily (80 hot and the remainder cold/semi-cold takeaway meals including sandwiches, fruit, and drinks). Provided free of charge to people experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty in Madrid, without any conditions required for access.
• Reparto de Alimentos a Familias

Quantifiable outcome

• 104,460 dinners delivered in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Colegio Santa Isabel de la Compañía de las Hijas de la CaridadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFollowing the closure of the Brotherhood's own school (Colegio Purísima Concepción) in June 2023, agreements were established with this school. The Brotherhood funds educational scholarships for children from low-income families at this institution, covering costs not provided by the Comunidad de Madrid such as uniforms, materials, extracurricular activities, and integration works.
• Colegio de la Orden de Nuestra Señora de la Merced, Madres Mercedarias de Don Juan de AlarcóncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond partner school following the closure of the Brotherhood's own educational institution. The Brotherhood funds scholarships for vulnerable students at this school, covering education costs not funded by public administration.
• Urso Hotel & SpaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel donates daily breakfast surplus (pastries and fruit) to the Brotherhood's social dining hall. Hotel employees also volunteer to serve dinners at the organization.
• Universidad Camilo José CelaminorGTM or Marketing Partner20 young volunteers from this university participated in a volunteering program at the Brotherhood, visiting the church and museum guided by the Hermano Mayor and Vice President.
• Ayuntamiento de MadridcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic institution listed as a benefactor of the Brotherhood, providing institutional support and potentially funding for charitable programs.
• Comunidad de MadridcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional public administration listed as a benefactor, providing institutional and financial support for social programs.
• Fundación La Caixa (Comedores con Alma)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor foundation benefactor supporting the 'Comedores con Alma' (Social Dining with Soul) program, contributing food and funding for the social dining hall operations.
• Fundación Bancaria IbercajaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking foundation listed as a benefactor, providing financial support for charitable programs.
• Fundación Mahou-San MiguelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrewery foundation listed as a benefactor supporting charitable activities.
• Cáritas MadridcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Catholic charitable confederation listed as a social action partner, collaborating on assistance to people in need.
• Banco de Alimentos de MadridcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFood bank providing food products for distribution to families in need through the Brotherhood's bi-weekly food distribution program.
• Coca-Cola EspañaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a private company benefactor donating food and beverage products for the social dining hall.
• El Corte InglésminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Spanish department store listed as a corporate benefactor, likely donating products or funds.
• Banco Santander S.A.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Spanish banking group listed as a corporate benefactor.
• Optima Cultura (artisplendore.com)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManages ticketing and cultural visit operations for San Antonio de los Alemanes and San Plácido churches on behalf of the Brotherhood. All ticket revenue is directed to fund the Brotherhood's charitable works.
• Festival Internacional de Órgano San Antonio de los AlemanescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn annual international organ music festival organized by the Brotherhood at San Antonio de los Alemanes church, with support from cultural institutions including Alliance Française Madrid, Instituto Italiano di Cultura Madrid, Instituto Polaco de Cultura, Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Madrid, Centro Checo Madrid, and Casa Luna.
• Fundación Ángeles CustodiosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation listed as a benefactor supporting the Brotherhood's social programs.
• Cooperativa COVAPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDairy cooperative listed as a corporate benefactor, donating dairy products for the social dining hall.
• IbercajaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking foundation and corporate benefactor of the Brotherhood.
• Industrias Lácteas La AsturianaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDairy company listed as a corporate benefactor donating dairy products.
• Asociación 31 de Enero TerciosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAssociation that organized a joint solidarity collection of toys and food with the Brotherhood in December 2024.
• Sacra y Militar Orden Constantiniana de San JorgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the charity concert 'Un Recorrido por la Historia de la Música Española' on September 24, 2026, together with the Brotherhood.
• Real Hermandad de Caballeros de San FernandominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the charity concert 'Un Recorrido por la Historia de la Música Española'.
• Real Cuerpo de la Nobleza de MadridminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the charity concert 'Un Recorrido por la Historia de la Música Española'.
• Real Asociación de Hidalgos de EspañaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the charity concert 'Un Recorrido por la Historia de la Música Española'.
• Maestranza de Caballería de San FernandominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the charity concert 'Un Recorrido por la Historia de la Música Española'.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/real-hermandad-del-refugio

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Real Hermandad del Refugio