What Help- Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. does

Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. is a German non-profit humanitarian aid and development organization founded in 1981 and headquartered in Bonn, with an additional office in Berlin. Its mission is to enable affected populations to live self-determined lives in dignity through emergency relief after natural disasters and conflicts as well as long-term development cooperation. The organization operates across 31 countries with 104 active aid projects, reaching approximately 8.1 million people, and runs an annual project volume of roughly €35 million.

The core service portfolio comprises programmatic offerings (Emergency Aid, Empowerment/Self-Help, Water and Health, Hunger Eradication, Climate Protection, Refugee Assistance, Children, Healthcare, and Gender Equality) alongside donor-facing services: an online donation portal built on FundraisingBox, a charitable gift shop (Spendenshop), a peer-to-peer Spendenaktion fundraising tool, a legacy/bequest giving program, and the wholly-owned subsidiary Help International Consulting which monetizes project-management expertise. The technology stack is operational rather than AI-driven: a custom CRM maintained since 1986, payments via PayPal/direct debit/credit card, advertising analytics through Meta Pixel, customer reviews via eKomi, and a third-party tax-savings calculator.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across four streams: recurring and one-time individual donations (monthly giving at suggested €10–€15 levels, with 94.3% of donated euros flowing to projects and 5.7% to administration), institutional grants from the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), BMZ, the European Union (EDF/ECHO), UN agencies (UNOCHA, WFP, UNICEF, UNOPS), and other bilateral donors; corporate partnerships including employee giving and matched campaigns; and testamentary/legacy gifts. The organization's trust architecture rests on long-standing DZI certification (held since 1992), the Deutscher Spendenrat Transparency Certificate (renewed in June 2026 through September 2029), tax-exempt status confirmed by Finanzamt Bonn-Innenstadt, and full membership in VENRO and Aktion Deutschland Hilft. Distribution combines digital channels (SEO, Meta advertising, email) with traditional channels (street fundraising infostands, telephone outreach via SAZ Services GmbH, direct mail) and ecosystem partnerships (PayPal "Give at Checkout," PAYBACK points donation).

Name

Help- Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V.

Legal name

Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V.

Website

https://help-ev.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. is a Bonn-based German non-profit, founded in 1981, providing humanitarian emergency relief and development aid across 31 countries through 104 projects with €35 million annual volume, serving disaster-affected populations, refugees, and vulnerable communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disaster Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience Programs (BPAGAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH), Refugee, Migration & Displacement Support (BPAGABAH), Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE), Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Emergency relief programs
• International development cooperation
• Donation management services
• Disaster response operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from private individuals, including monthly giving programs, direct debits, online payments, PayPal, and credit card donations. 94.3% of donations flow directly to projects.
2. Institutional Funding: Grants from government agencies including Auswärtiges Amt (German Federal Foreign Office), BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development), EU/EDF, ECHO, UNOCHA, WFP, UNICEF, Slovak Aid, and UNOPS for specific humanitarian and development projects.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate donations and cause marketing partnerships, including employee matching programs and company giving campaigns.
4. Legacies and Bequests: Testamentary donations and legacy giving programs, promoted through dedicated bequest communications and will-writing brochure distribution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. is a German non-profit humanitarian aid and development organization that delivers emergency relief, reconstruction, and long-term development programs in 31 countries through approximately 104 aid projects. It funds this work through individual donations, institutional grants, corporate partnerships, and legacies, and channels 94.3% of contributions directly to projects, with only 5.7% used for administration and advertising. The organization also operates an online donation platform, a charitable gift shop, a legacy giving program, a peer-to-peer fundraising tool, and a consulting subsidiary (Help International Consulting).

Product overview

Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. is a non-profit humanitarian aid and development organization founded in 1981, headquartered in Bonn, Germany. It is not a technology product company; its offerings consist of charitable programs and donation-related services. The organization's core work is organized around thematic program areas — Nothilfe (Emergency Aid), Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe (Empowerment/Self-Help), Wasser und Gesundheit (Water and Health), Hunger bekämpfen (Fighting Hunger), Klimaschutz (Climate Protection), Flüchtlinge (Refugee Assistance), Kinder (Children), Healthcare, and Gender Equality — delivered through approximately 104 aid projects in 31 countries with an annual project volume of roughly €35 million. On the services side, Help operates an Online-Spendenplattform (powered by FundraisingBox), a Spendenshop (charitable gift shop), Testamentsspende (legacy giving), a Spendenaktion tool (peer-to-peer fundraising), a Newsletter, and Help International Consulting (humanitarian consulting services). Project countries span Venezuela, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan/Chad, Gaza, Germany, South Sudan, Syria, the Philippines, Zimbabwe, Mali, Afghanistan, Southeast Europe, Burkina Faso, Pakistan, Myanmar, Albania, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Libya, Malawi, Morocco, Moldova, Montenegro, Niger, and others. In 2024, 94.3% of donated funds flowed directly to projects, with 3.2% spent on administration and 2.5% on public outreach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nothilfe (Emergency Aid) Immediate humanitarian response delivered after natural disasters, wars, epidemics, or large-scale displacement, securing the survival of affected people quickly, effectively, and sustainably through the provision of food, hygiene supplies, shelter, and debris-clearing tools. Targeted at disaster- and conflict-affected populations.
• Wasser und Gesundheit (Water and Health) Programs improving access to clean drinking water, sanitation infrastructure (latrines), handwashing stations, and basic healthcare, including well drilling, latrine construction, and prevention of waterborne diseases such as cholera. Targeted at vulnerable populations in crisis and development contexts.
• Hunger bekämpfen (Fighting Hunger) Programs addressing hunger, malnutrition, and undernutrition, particularly among mothers and children, delivered through food assistance, agricultural training, and income-generating measures that build long-term food security and resilience against food crises. Targeted at food-insecure communities.
• Klimaschutz (Climate Protection) Initiatives focused on disaster risk reduction and adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change, supporting communities in building resilience against climate-related shocks and implementing environmentally sustainable approaches in aid programs. Targeted at climate-vulnerable communities.
• Flüchtlinge (Refugee Assistance) Support for refugees and internally displaced persons including provision of shelter, food, healthcare, psychosocial support, and integration assistance, delivered in conflict zones and displacement contexts across multiple regions. Targeted at refugees and displaced populations.
• Kinder (Children) Programs focused on the protection, well-being, and development of children in crisis and development contexts, including child protection services, education support, and initiatives addressing the specific vulnerabilities of children in emergencies. Targeted at children in crisis settings.
• Krankenversorgung und Gesundheit (Healthcare Access) Programs improving access to primary and secondary healthcare for vulnerable populations, including medical consultations, maternal and child health services, epidemic response (including Ebola in DRC), and support for people with disabilities. Targeted at crisis-affected populations.
• Geschlechtergerechtigkeit / Frauen und Mädchen (Gender Equality) Programs that strengthen women and girls and enable self-determined lives, including menstrual health and hygiene promotion, gender-based violence prevention, and economic empowerment for women and adolescent girls. Targeted at women and adolescent girls in crisis and development contexts.
• Online-Spendenplattform (Online Donation Platform) A digital donation platform enabling one-time and recurring donations via direct debit, credit card, PayPal, and other payment methods, supporting project-specific donations, monthly giving, and fundraising campaigns, and issuing automatic donation receipts from €10. Targeted at individual donors.
• Spendenshop (Donation Gift Shop) An online shop where donors can purchase charitable gifts such as symbolic contributions toward a hygiene kit, food package, or debris-clearing tools as gifts for friends or family, with the gift recipient receiving a card explaining the donation made on their behalf. Targeted at individual donors and gift recipients.
• Testamentsspende (Legacy / Bequest Giving) A legacy giving program allowing donors to include Help in their will or estate planning, supported by a dedicated brochure on legacy giving and personalized guidance through Help's Legate & Major Donations team. Targeted at individual estate planners and major donors.
• Help International Consulting A consulting subsidiary that provides expertise in humanitarian aid, development cooperation, and project management to other organizations, governments, or institutions, leveraging Help's decades of field experience in emergency response, reconstruction, and development programs. Targeted at institutional clients.
• Spendenaktion (Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Campaign Tool) An online tool enabling individuals and organizations to create and manage their own fundraising campaigns for Help, including goal setting, duration, social sharing, and direct donation collection through Help's website. Targeted at individual supporters, community groups, and organizations.
• Help Localisation Facility (HLF) / Hilfe Lokal Fördern A facility jointly run with other organizations that strengthens local and national actors in humanitarian response, supporting partners in taking leadership of aid programs and building sustainable local capacity. Targeted at local and national humanitarian organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94.3% of donations flow directly to humanitarian projects
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VENRO (Verband Entwicklungspolitik und humanitäre Hilfe deutscher Nichtregierungsorganisationen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVoluntary association of approximately 120 German development and humanitarian NGOs. Help is a full member, participating in policy advocacy and sector coordination.
• Aktion Deutschland HilftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of German aid organizations for major disasters and emergency situations. Help is a founding member and one of 13 full members out of 24 total participating organizations. Coordinates joint rapid response to large-scale crises.
• SAZ Services GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party telephone fundraising service conducting donor outreach campaigns on behalf of Help. Calls donors via phone number 0228-9152950 to inform about work and support opportunities.
• PAYBACKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman loyalty program partnership allowing members to donate accumulated PAYBACK points (starting from 200 points) to Help's projects, with donation receipts available.
• i-gelb GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign and programming agency responsible for website design and development (Mauritiuswall 24-26, 50676 Köln).
• Scheja & Partners GmbH & Co. KGminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerData protection officer service provider (Adenauerallee 136, 53113 Bonn) providing GDPR compliance advisory services through attorney Boris Reibach, LL.M.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• German Red Cross (DRK): Largest humanitarian organization in Germany with broad domestic and international programming. Comparable in emergency-response mandate and German donor base, but operates at materially larger scale with broader portfolio.
• Caritas international: Larger German humanitarian and development arm of the German Caritas Association. Significantly bigger scale but same fundamental mission (emergency aid, reconstruction, development cooperation) and similar funding sources.
• Johanniter Unfallhilfe / Johanniter International: German humanitarian and emergency aid organization with international operations. Comparable in emergency response mission and German donor base, but operates at larger scale across a broader service portfolio.

Emerging players

• SOS Kinderdörfer (SOS Children's Villages Germany): German child-welfare NGO with humanitarian programs in crisis regions. Comparable in recurring German donor base, child-protection focus, and AA/BMZ institutional funding, though with a stronger long-term development orientation.

Direct peers

• Aktion Deutschland Hilft: Coalition of German aid organizations for major disasters; Help is a founding and full member. Directly comparable as a German humanitarian NGO operating in the same emergency-response space and joint fundraising campaigns.
• Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe: German humanitarian aid organization providing emergency relief and reconstruction, also a member of Aktion Deutschland Hilft. Highly comparable in disaster-response focus, German donor base, and AA/BMZ funding mix.
• Malteser International: Cologne-based German humanitarian aid organization focused on emergency relief, reconstruction, and health programs in crisis regions. Comparable in mission, German-base, institutional funding mix, and program portfolio (WASH, health, food security).
• Ärzte ohne Grenzen / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF Germany): German section of MSF providing emergency medical humanitarian aid in conflict and disaster zones. Highly comparable as a German-headquartered humanitarian NGO operating in many of the same crisis countries (Ukraine, DRC, Syria).
• CARE Deutschland: German arm of CARE International, operating humanitarian and development programs with a similar German institutional funder base (AA, BMZ, EU). Comparable in scale and self-help/community-empowerment approach.
• World Vision Germany: German branch of World Vision International, focused on child welfare, emergency relief, and long-term development in fragile contexts. Comparable in child-focused programs, recurring donor base, and German institutional funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/help---hilfe-zur-selbsthilfe-e-v-

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Help- Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V.