Sonntags-Club E.V.

What Sonntags-Club E.V. does

Sonntags-Club E.V. is a registered nonprofit association (gemeinnütziger Verein) headquartered at Greifenhagener Straße 28 in Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg district, operating as an integrated community center, counseling hub, and cultural venue for LGBTQIA+ individuals. Its core offerings include daily café operations (18:00–23:00), psychosocial and trans*-specific counseling, anti-discrimination and legal advisory services, approximately 100 cultural events per year in a 50-seat stage-equipped venue, and more than 20 regular support groups covering identities spanning lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, inter*, non-binary, and asexual communities. The organization also runs specialized services including the QUEERHOME* housing support program, monthly Trans*Inter*Swimming events at Stadtbad Charlottenburg, and international volunteer exchanges under Erasmus+/European Solidarity Corps with partners in Lithuania, Italy, and Poland.

The business model relies on a diversified mix of recurring and grant-based revenue streams: annual membership dues (€60 standard, €30 reduced rate for 100+ members), project-specific funding from the Berlin Senate Department for Justice, Consumer Protection and Anti-Discrimination, individual donations processed through Betterplace.org, modest café and event income, and free-to-use space rental (donation optional) for queer organizations and members. Operations are primarily volunteer-driven with 1–10 paid staff overseen by a parity-composed board (Achim Engelen, Christine Hackenberger, Sven Hasse), and project management led by Stephanie Ramson. The organization is a member of the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband, ILGA, Berliner CSD e.V., Initiative Queer Nations, and AndersARTIG.

The go-to-market motion is community-led: awareness flows through word-of-mouth, partner referrals, the weekly Thursday MailChimp newsletter, organic Facebook and Instagram presence, and printed flyers at city festivals. Founded in 1973 as the Homosexuelle Interessengemeinschaft Berlin (HIB) and officially registered as Sonntags-Club e.V. in 1990, the organization celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023 and is one of the oldest continuously operating LGBTQIA+ community institutions in Berlin. The technology stack is non-proprietary, limited to standard SaaS integrations (MailChimp, Betterplace, Vimeo, Google Calendar, Discord), and the organization holds no patents or trademarks.

Name

Sonntags-Club E.V.

Legal name

Sonntags-Club E.V.

Website

https://sonntags-club.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sonntags-Club E.V. is a Berlin-based nonprofit LGBTQIA+ community center offering counseling, 35+ self-help groups, 100+ annual cultural events, café operations, and specialized welfare services to queer individuals and allies, funded through membership dues, donations, and Berlin Senate grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Center Services for LGBTQIA+ Population

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Social Assistance (624), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Community center services
• LGBTQIA+ counseling
• Support group facilitation
• Cultural event programming
• Anti-discrimination advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide recurring revenue and member benefits including voting rights at the annual general meeting and reduced entry to events. Standard membership is 60€ per year, reduced rate is 30€ per year.
2. Government Project Funding: Projects are funded by the Senate Department for Justice, Consumer Protection and Anti-Discrimination. This represents institutional grant funding for specific programs and initiatives.
3. Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts monetary donations, time donations (volunteering), and conducts fundraising campaigns. A current campaign seeks 25,000€ for facility improvements including soundproofing, modern technology, and restoration of club rooms.
4. Space Rental: The club rents out its facilities to members, volunteers, and other queer organizations for private celebrations, meetings, and events. Equipment including projector, screen, microphones, laptop, and flipchart may be used. The service is free with optional donation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sonntags-Club E.V. operates a physical community center in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg that delivers a daily café, professional psychosocial, trans*, and anti-discrimination counseling (including legal advice), more than 20 regular self-help/support groups covering the full spectrum of LGBTQIA+ identities, and approximately 80 cultural events per year in its 50-seat venue. The center additionally provides specialized services such as the QUEERHOME* housing support program, monthly Trans*Inter*Swimming sessions, and international volunteer exchanges through Erasmus+/European Solidarity Corps.

Product overview

Sonntags-Club E.V. is a community center and registered non-profit association offering an integrated ecosystem of services for the LGBTQIA+ community. The core offering centers on a café/social hub (open daily 18:00-23:00) combined with professional counseling services (psychosocial, couple, trans*, anti-discrimination, legal advice). The organization runs approximately 80 cultural events annually in its 50-seat venue with full stage equipment, hosts over 20 regular support groups spanning identities (trans*, lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersex, non-binary, asexual) and topics (seniors, youth, addiction, gaming, hiking), and provides specialized services including the QUEERHOME* housing support and Trans*Inter*Swimming. International engagement through Erasmus+/European Solidarity Corps programs brings volunteers to work on antidiscrimination and queer rights projects. The organization also offers room rental for private events and publishes a weekly Thursday newsletter for members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Café
• Counseling and Advisory Services
• Trans* Counseling
• Legal Advice for LGBTQIA+ Individuals
• Cultural Events and Stage Program
• Support Groups
• International Volunteer Programs (Erasmus+/ESC)
• QUEERHOME* Housing Support
• Trans*Inter*Swimming
• Trans*JobMentoring Project
• Donation and Fundraising Campaign (Vereinsräume)
• Annual Membership Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 6000+ participants use offerings annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LGL (Lithuanian Gay League)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership for European volunteer exchanges under Erasmus+/ESC programs. Sonntags-Club sends volunteers to work with LGL in Vilnius, Lithuania for 10-month programs focusing on LGBTQIA+ rights and visibility.
• TransInterQueer e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for the Trans*JobMentoring project, a 15-month pilot program with nationwide model character to improve employment opportunities for trans* people.
• Netzwerk Antidiskriminierungsberatung der Landesstelle BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sonntags-Club is a counseling center of the network for anti-discrimination counseling of the Berlin state office for equal treatment against discrimination.
• Netzwerk Lesben, Schwule und Transgender für Gleichbehandlung gegen DiskriminierungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the network for LGBTQ equality and anti-discrimination work in Berlin.
• Il Cassero (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian LGBTQIA+ organization partner in multiple youth exchange projects including 'Bodies That Matter' (2014) and 'Giving an Account to Oneself' (2015).
• Bez!Miar (Poland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolish LGBTQIA+ organization partner in youth exchange projects including 'Bodies That Matter' (2014) and 'Giving an Account to Oneself' (2015).
• LGL Vilnius (Lithuania)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLithuanian LGBTQIA+ organization partner in youth exchange projects, hosts European volunteers from Sonntags-Club.
• AHA (AndersARTIG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation between the oldest West Berlin and oldest East Berlin LGBT organization. QYouth group meets alternately at both venues (1st/3rd Monday at AHA in Schöneberg, 2nd/4th Monday at Sonntags-Club).
• SalzgeberminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm distribution company cooperating with the 2. Halbzeit group for film evenings at the Sonntags-Club.
• Seitenwechsel SportvereinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports club for women, lesbians, trans*, inter* and girls. Joint organizers of the Trans*Inter*Swimming event held monthly at Stadtbad Charlottenburg.
• Paritätischer WohlfahrtsverbandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSonntags-Club is a member of the German Parity Welfare Association, a large umbrella organization for social welfare organizations.
• ILGA (International Lesbian and Gay Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational membership in the global LGBTQIA+ federation.
• Berliner CSD e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Berlin Christopher Street Day organization.
• Initiative Queer NationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Initiative Queer Nations coalition.
• AndersARTIGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of AndersARTIG, a network for queer initiatives in Brandenburg.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TransInterQueer e.V. Berlin-based trans*, inter*, and non-binary advocacy organization; strategic cooperation partner on the nationwide-model Trans*JobMentoring pilot, sharing trans-specific service delivery in the same city.
• Schwulenberatung Berlin: Major Berlin LGBTQ+ counseling and social services provider; overlaps directly with Sonntags-Club's psychosocial, anti-discrimination, and housing support services for queer people in Berlin.
• AndersARTIG (AHA e.V.): The oldest West Berlin LGBTQ+ organization and a documented cooperation partner; runs complementary self-help groups and shares the QYouth program with Sonntags-Club on alternating weeks.
• Schwules Museum Berlin: Berlin's LGBTQ+ museum and cultural institution; directly comparable as another long-standing East/West Berlin LGBTQIA+ cultural and community venue that partners with Sonntags-Club on programming and exhibitions.
• Mann-O-Meter e.V. Berlin-based gay men's community and counseling center; directly comparable as another long-standing Berlin LGBTQ+ community center offering counseling, groups, and cultural programming alongside Sonntags-Club.

Broad incumbents

• ILGA-Europe: The European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association; comparable as the continental advocacy and federation umbrella of which Sonntags-Club is a member.
• Bundesvereinigung Trans* (BVT*): National umbrella for trans* self-help groups and advocacy in Germany; comparable as a trans*-focused peer at the federal level that connects to Sonntags-Club's trans* counseling and group programming.
• Lesben- und Schwulenverband in Deutschland (LSVD): Germany's largest nationwide LGBTQ+ civil rights and policy advocacy association; comparable as the umbrella political and rights counterpart to Sonntags-Club's community- and service-delivery focus.

Regional players

• LGL (Lithuanian Gay League): Lithuania's leading LGBTQIA+ rights organization and Erasmus+/ESC partner of Sonntags-Club; comparable as a peer running self-help groups, counseling, and antidiscrimination work, but based in Vilnius.
• HOSI Wien: Austria's longest-standing LGBTQ+ civil rights and community organization based in Vienna; comparable as a German-speaking peer running community events, counseling, and advocacy, though operating in Austria rather than Germany.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/188985537
• Facebookfacebook.com/sonntagsclub
• Instagraminstagram.com/sonntags.club
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sonntags-club-e.v.

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Sonntags-Club E.V.