What STELP does

STELP e. V. is a German registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) headquartered at Uhlandstraße 14, Stuttgart, operating humanitarian aid projects across 17 countries on three continents. Founded in 2015 by Serkan Eren (Executive 1st Board Chairman), the organization delivers emergency disaster relief (e.g., Turkey earthquake 2023, Burundi floods 2024, Afghanistan), education infrastructure (school construction in Logar, Afghanistan; school kits for 1,220 children in Burundi; education centers in Kenya, South Africa), women's economic empowerment (200 women in Burundi via partner Kaz'O'zah), agricultural development (corn processing in Uganda with Stay Foundation), refugee support (multiple Greek and Balkan partners), and healthcare funding (medical teams in Gaza via CADUS). Operations are delivered through a distributed network of 20+ vetted local partner organizations and an in-country "Supporter on Site" coordinator program.

The organization's "product surface" consists of an online donation platform (WordPress, accepting one-time/monthly/yearly gifts via Stripe, PayPal, and direct debit), a partner program with annual corporate fees, a voluntary membership program, a merchandise shop (including the "Twice" charity beverage with Dietz), the "Inside STELP" podcast, and a STELP Events UG subsidiary that operates as a social-business event agency in Stuttgart. The underlying technology stack is standard off-the-shelf SaaS: WordPress CMS, Salesforce NPSP CRM, Mailchimp email, Matomo analytics, Stripe and PayPal payments, Personio HR, WhatsApp Business for stakeholder communication, Dagobert Ticketing for events, and Usercentrics for consent management. No proprietary AI/ML, blockchain, or other differentiating technology is in use.

STELP's revenue mechanics are those of a donor-funded charity rather than a commercial enterprise: the primary income stream is individual donations, supplemented by recurring membership fees, corporate partner annual fees, gift partnerships, merchandise sales, and event profits from STELP Events UG that flow into the parent. Donor engagement is driven by community-led go-to-market (volunteers, social-media-driven supporter collective) and event-driven fundraising (Yoga for Good, tombolas, etc.). Pricing is entirely donation-based with suggested tiers from €2 to €100+. STELP operates without external investment, private equity backing, or listed shares, and is independently funded through its donor and partner ecosystem.

Name

STELP

Legal name

STELP e. V.

Website

https://stelp.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

STELP e. V. is a Stuttgart-based German humanitarian non-profit founded in 2015 that delivers emergency relief, education, women's empowerment, and development projects across 17 countries, funded primarily through individual donations, memberships, corporate partnerships, and a social-business event subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disaster Response & Search and Rescue (SAR) (BPADADAA), Disaster Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience Programs (BPAGAAAK), Food Assistance & Safety Nets (In-Kind, Vouchers, Cash Transfers) (BPADAJAA)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Disaster relief support
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Refugee assistance
• Emergency response

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters for general humanitarian aid or specific projects. Donors can contribute via the website, bank transfer, PayPal, or credit card.
2. Membership Fees: Voluntary membership fees from individual members that support administrative costs of the organization.
3. Partner Fees: Annual fees from corporate partners who support STELP's mission. Partner fees contribute to covering administrative costs.
4. Event Revenue (STELP Events UG): STELP Events UG operates as a Social Business event agency that creates creative events. All profits from these events are donated to STELP e.V.'s humanitarian projects.
5. Gift Partnerships: Donors can gift STELP partnerships to others as presents, providing another donation stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

STELP e. V. is a German registered non-profit humanitarian aid organization (eingetragener Verein) that collects donations from individuals and corporate partners to fund unbureaucratic, on-site humanitarian projects across 17 countries on three continents. The core offering is the donation platform enabling one-time, monthly, and yearly contributions, supplemented by a corporate partner program, an individual membership program, an event agency (STELP Events UG), a merchandise shop, and a Supporter-on-Site program that places trained local representatives in project countries to coordinate aid delivery.

Product overview

STELP e.V. is a charitable organization operating primarily as a donation collection and project coordination platform rather than a technology product company. Its core offering consists of an online donation platform enabling monetary contributions to humanitarian aid projects across 17 countries. The organization extends its reach through several complementary offerings: the STELP Events event agency (operated as STELP Events UG) that generates profits for the charity, the Inside STELP podcast covering field missions, a merchandise shop selling branded products including the Twice charity drink, a partner program for corporate supporters, a volunteer program for on-site aid workers, and various fundraising campaign tools. The products function together as a unified charitable ecosystem where donations fund projects, events generate additional revenue, and volunteer/partner programs expand operational capacity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STELP Events: A creative event agency from Stuttgart that creates special events as a social business of STELP e. V. All profits flow to the humanitarian work of STELP e. V.

Products and services

• STELP Donation Platform Online donation platform enabling individuals to make one-time, monthly, or yearly monetary contributions to support humanitarian aid projects across 17 countries. Accepts credit card, PayPal, direct debit, bank transfer, Apple Pay, and Google Pay via Stripe and PayPal processing.
• STELP Events Social business event agency (operated as STELP Events UG) organizing creative events in Stuttgart such as Yoga for Good, tombolas, and other charitable gatherings, with all profits flowing to STELP e. V.'s humanitarian projects. Ticket booking handled through Dagobert Ticketing.
• STELP Shop Online merchandise shop selling STELP-branded products including the signature 'Twice' charity beverage produced in collaboration with Dietz and other branded merchandise items, with proceeds supporting humanitarian work.
• STELP Partner Program Corporate partnership program enabling companies to support STELP's humanitarian mission through annual partner fees, with multiple tiers and benefits including visibility through STELP Events, social media, and the organization's communications. Long-term corporate partners include VERMÖGENSWERKSTATT and many others across industries.
• STELP Membership Voluntary individual membership program allowing supporters to contribute regular membership fees that cover the organization's administrative costs. Membership fees qualify as tax-deductible donations under German law (EStG Section 10b).

Quantifiable outcome

• 810 children gained access to education in Afghanistan
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kaz'O'zahcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner organization in Burundi led by Ange Muyubira. Kaz'O'zah provides business development services for underserved communities, focusing on women's empowerment and support for families affected by flooding in May 2024. STELP supports their work providing school kits for children and business training for women.
• Stiftung Entwicklungs-Zusammenarbeit Baden-Württemberg (SEZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment cooperation foundation from Baden-Württemberg that collaborates with STELP on projects in Burundi. The foundation has longstanding ties to Burundi dating to the 1980s, with official partnership agreement signed in 2014. Supports both emergency relief and long-term development projects.
• Stay FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss foundation supporting STELP's Uganda project focused on local value creation for smallholder farmers. The partnership supports processing of corn into cornmeal and bran to help farmers become more self-reliant.
• ISS Network (International Social Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork providing multilingual daycare center for children in earthquake-affected Turkey. STELP finances the daycare center in Defne and Samandag, with ISS operating the facilities.
• CADUS e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin-based humanitarian aid organization operating as the only German NGO with a Medical Emergency Team active in Gaza. STELP provides financial support for CADUS's medical work including primary healthcare and emergency response.
• SOS Balkan RouteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing emergency aid for pushback cases at the Bosnian-Croatian border, including food supplies for people on the move.
• Medical Solidarity International e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing mobile emergency medical assistance for refugees at the Bosnian-Croatian border. STELP covers costs for rental cars and supports their medical operations.
• Radosti DruzenjaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation running a meeting place for children and adults with disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, offering educational and therapeutic workshops.
• Collective AidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supported by STELP for mobile emergency response and laundry room operations for refugees in Greece.
• Project ArmoniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject in Athens providing food to refugees, financially supported by STELP.
• Refugee Biriyani & BananasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization distributing food and relief supplies on Chios, Greece, and in Egypt for refugee families.
• Habibi Works / Soup & Socks e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization running a free shop for personal care products and operating a soup kitchen for people on the move in northern Greece.
• Europe CaresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization operating the Community Center Paréa on Lesbos. STELP covers rent costs for this community space.
• Be Aware and ShareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss organization financing community center rent on the Greek mainland in Ioannina, supported by STELP.
• FenixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing free legal advice to refugees during the asylum process on Lesbos and in Athens. STELP covers court costs for Fenix clients.
• Northern Lights AidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing medical care for residents of the Asimakopolou camp in Kavala, Greece, with financial support from STELP.
• AMEN TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndian organization run by supporter on site Evangeline, conducting education and awareness programs on female menstruation in India.
• LEO (Liberating Education Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner in Kenya building a hybrid education center for young adults from difficult backgrounds, supporting up to 100 young people with university-related courses.
• TLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization operating an education center for young adults from difficult backgrounds in Cape Town, South Africa. STELP supports purchase of 20 computers for internet access.
• Hamami Zutua e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization in Cameroon working on aquaponics installation in the Meiganga region to support sustainable agriculture and education.
• VERMÖGENSWERKSTATTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term corporate partner supporting STELP through engagement and advocacy. Partner Volker Hildebrand has been connected to STELP for nearly 10 years.
• Various Event SponsorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple companies support STELP Events including Akis Getränke, Berger Group, CTP, BW Bank, ConsiderJames, Creative Gestaltung, Dagobert Ticketing, DMZ Weinstadt, Dr. Hauschka, Emilu Hotel, Endgame Entertainment, Fischer Trezza, IKEA, LBS, Lust und Liebe, Mitea, Nicer Spaces, Party Rent, Seeberger, Skyeline Live, Stadtkultur Stuttgart, UMT Textil, Unibev, VfB Stuttgart, Von Helden und Gestalten, WALA, Waldhotel.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Welthungerhilfe (Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e.V.): One of Germany's largest private humanitarian and development aid organizations, with multi-country emergency and long-term development programs funded by donations, institutional grants, and government contracts. Operates at far greater scale but serves as the natural reference point for STELP's donor-base ambition and program mix.
• Malteser International: German humanitarian relief organization providing emergency medical aid, disaster response, and reconstruction programs across multiple continents. Direct overlap with STELP's emergency medical relief (e.g., CADUS partnership) and disaster-reconstruction work in Turkey/Greece, at greater institutional scale.
• German Red Cross (DRK): Germany's largest humanitarian organization with extensive international relief operations, refugee support, and disaster response funded by donations, membership fees, and government contracts. Direct overlap with STELP's refugee support (Greek islands, Balkan route) and emergency relief mandate.
• SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit: German-headquartered NGO supporting children and families globally through education, healthcare, and emergency aid funded by individual donations and corporate partnerships. Direct thematic overlap with STELP's education, orphan support, and school-construction work, though at substantially larger scale.
• Caritas international: German Catholic humanitarian aid organization delivering disaster relief, refugee support, and long-term development programs globally. Overlaps with STELP's refugee aid work in Greece/Bosnia and disaster response footprint, though Caritas operates with substantial institutional backing and member-fee support.
• Ärzte ohne Grenzen / Médecins Sans Frontières Germany: German branch of the global medical-humanitarian organization delivering emergency medical care in conflict and disaster zones. Comparable on emergency medical relief positioning, donor-driven funding, and country footprint, though operating at vastly larger scale and established brand recognition.

Others

• betterplace.org: Germany's leading donation platform for NGOs, through which STELP actually receives donations. Not a peer organization but an enabling partner and channel; comparable peers tend to be the NGOs using the platform, not the platform itself.

Direct peers

• terre des hommes Deutschland e.V. German humanitarian NGO focused on children's rights, education access, and emergency relief in developing countries, primarily donation-funded. Highly comparable mission overlap (children, education, refugees) and similar volunteer-and-donation driven fundraising model in the German market.
• Hilfswerk International: Austrian/German-speaking humanitarian NGO delivering disaster response and development cooperation programs. Comparable private non-profit profile with multi-country field operations, donor-driven funding, and emergency-plus-development program mix.
• CADUS e.V. Berlin-based German humanitarian aid NGO that operates medical emergency response (notably the only German NGO with a Medical Emergency Team in Gaza) and field deployments in crisis zones. CADUS is both a STELP program partner and an obvious operational peer, with comparable lean structure and a focus on flexible, rapid humanitarian response.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKBkwDJ-VEuDQiYbX9-G52w
• Facebookfacebook.com/STELP.SupporterOnSite
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stelp-e.v.
• Instagraminstagram.com/stelp.eu
• TikToktiktok.com/@stelp.eu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 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 STELP