What Plan International Deutschland E.v. does

Plan International Deutschland e.V. is a registered charitable non-profit organization (eingetragener Verein) headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, operating as the German national member of the international Plan federation. Founded originally in 1937 and celebrating its 30th German anniversary in 2019, the organization runs child sponsorship (Kinderpatenschaft) programs at 28 EUR per month connecting approximately 370,000 individual sponsors in Germany with sponsored children across 44 countries, supplemented by one-time donations, recurring donations (Dauerspenden), emergency relief appeals, symbolic gift donations (Sinnvoll Schenken), legacy giving through Stiftung Hilfe-mit-Plan, and the Plan-Shop e-commerce platform operated by subsidiary Plan Shop GmbH.

Its core operational platform is the Mein Plan online portal, which provides sponsors with child profiles, donor-to-child correspondence, donation management, and progress reporting. The technology stack is web-based, integrated with payment providers (SEPA direct debit, PayPal, Saferpay credit card processing), and operates alongside the Plan Effect Monitoring System for impact measurement across 60+ program countries. The organization maintains three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Plan Shop GmbH (e-commerce), Plan Service gGmbH (IT and administration services), and Stiftung Hilfe mit Plan (charitable foundation).

The business model is diversified and donation-based rather than commercial: revenue streams include recurring child sponsorship subscriptions, individual donations, institutional grants from German federal ministries (BMZ, AA), the European Commission (EuropeAid, ECHO, AMIF), UN agencies (UNICEF, UNHCR, UNFPA, WFP, UN-OCHA), German development banks (KfW, GIZ), corporate partnerships (HSV, HELM AG, Omaze), and approximately 100 volunteer action groups (Aktionsgruppen) across Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. Customer segments span individual sponsors, corporate partners, sports organizations, schools, public institutional donors, and youth networks. 2025 expense allocation is 83.37% to projects, 11.56% to advertising, and 5.07% to administration.

Name

Plan International Deutschland E.v.

Legal name

Plan International Deutschland e.V.

Website

https://plan.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Plan International Deutschland e.V. is a Hamburg-based charitable non-profit that runs child sponsorship programs connecting approximately 370,000 German sponsors with children across 44 countries, funded through monthly donations, institutional grants from German and EU bodies, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development & Humanitarian Aid

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), International & Global Public Health Aid Administration (Government Donors) (HLAJALAO)

Keywords

• Child sponsorship programs
• Humanitarian aid services
• International development
• Girls empowerment advocacy
• Disaster relief funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Child Sponsorship (Patenschaft): Monthly recurring donations from sponsors who support children in developing countries. Sponsors pay a monthly fee (28 EUR) that funds development projects benefiting the child, their family, and community. Communication with sponsored children is facilitated through letters, photos, and visits.
2. Recurring Donations (Dauerspenden): Regular monthly donations to designated funds such as the Girls Fund (Mädchen-Fonds), special project funds, or general operations. Donors set their own amount and frequency.
3. One-time Donations: Single donations for specific projects, emergency relief efforts, or general funding. Can be made online, by bank transfer, PayPal, or credit card.
4. Emergency Relief Donations: Donations specifically designated for humanitarian crises and disaster response, such as earthquake relief, conflict situations, and displacement emergencies.
5. Gift Donations (Sinnvoll Schenken): Symbolic gifts such as school supplies, agricultural tools, or infrastructure that can be purchased as gifts for loved ones while supporting specific project needs.
6. Public Funding and Grants: Funding from public donors including German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Foreign Office (AA), European Commission (EuropeAid, ECHO), and various UN agencies. Also includes Asyl-, Migrations- und Integrationsfonds (AMIF).
7. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with companies for child sponsorships, project funding, and cause marketing. Includes sporting partnerships like HSV and corporate donors like HELM AG.
8. Legacy Giving and Bequests: Testamentary giving and inheritance donations through the Stiftung Hilfe-mit-Plan foundation. Information and counseling on planned giving and property donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Plan International Deutschland e.V. is a registered charitable non-profit organization (eingetragener Verein) that delivers child sponsorship, donations, humanitarian relief, and international development programs. Its flagship offering is the Kinderpatenschaft (child sponsorship) program at €28/month, which connects individual sponsors in Germany with specific children across 44 program countries, complemented by one-time/recurring donations, Sinnvoll Schenken symbolic gift catalog, foundation/legacy giving, school class sponsorships, a DIY fundraising toolkit, and emergency relief appeals. Programs focus on girls' empowerment, education, healthcare, water/sanitation, child protection, and disaster response delivered through 60+ program countries and supported by 100+ DACH-region volunteer action groups.

Product overview

Plan International Deutschland e.V. is a charitable child rights organization offering a comprehensive portfolio centered on child sponsorship and donations. The core product is the Kinderpatenschaft (child sponsorship) program, through which donors support specific children in 44 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This is complemented by various donation mechanisms including one-time gifts, recurring donations (Dauerspende), project-specific funding, and emergency aid appeals. The Mein Plan online portal provides sponsors with account management, communication tools, and access to progress reports. Additional offerings include the Sinnvoll Schenken gift catalog, the Plan-Shop e-commerce platform for artisan crafts, volunteer action groups (Aktionsgruppen), DIY fundraising tools, class sponsorship programs for schools, and legacy giving options. The organization focuses particularly on girls' empowerment and operates under the Safeguarding children protection framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kinderpatenschaft (Child Sponsorship) Flagship sponsorship program allowing individual donors in Germany to sponsor a specific child (Pat:innen) in Africa, Asia, or Latin America for €28 per month. Sponsors receive updates, photos, and can communicate with their sponsored child via letters and the Mein Plan portal. The program focuses on girl child empowerment and community-wide development, not just individual handouts.
• Spenden (Donations) Core donation mechanism offering one-time donations, recurring standing orders (Dauerspenden), and targeted project funding. Donors can direct funds to specific focus areas such as girls' empowerment, emergency aid, or general operations. Payment options include SEPA direct debit, PayPal, and credit card via Saferpay.
• Mein Plan (My Plan Portal) Online customer portal for sponsors providing access to sponsored child profiles, communication tools, donation management, progress reports, and account settings. Enables digital communication between sponsors and their sponsored children via the sponsor portal.
• Sinnvoll Schenken (Meaningful Gifting) Gift catalog offering symbolic gifts that support children and communities, such as school supplies, livestock, or infrastructure items. Purchases function as donations tied to specific project needs and can be given as gifts to family or friends.
• Plan-Shop E-commerce platform (operated by Plan Shop GmbH) selling artisan products created by communities and partners, including crafts from Nepal, coffee from Kenya (Moyo Coffee project), and merchandise. Proceeds support Plan International's development and humanitarian projects.
• Nothilfe (Emergency Aid) Emergency response donations for acute crises such as natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, landslides), armed conflict, and displacement emergencies. Currently highlighted campaigns include Venezuela earthquake relief, Sudan crisis, and Gaza/Lebanon conflict response.
• Hilfsprojekte (Aid Projects) Catalog of detailed development projects across Africa, Asia, and Latin America covering education, health, water/sanitation, income generation, and child protection. Donors can browse and contribute to specific ongoing or completed projects.
• Stiftung & Vererben (Foundation & Legacy Giving) Estate planning and foundation services (operated via Stiftung Hilfe mit Plan) allowing donors to support children through wills, legacies, or named foundations. Includes information events and consultation on charitable inheritance and property donation options.
• Eigene Spendenaktion (DIY Fundraising) DIY fundraising toolkit allowing supporters to create personal fundraising campaigns tied to celebrations, athletic events, or personal challenges. Provides digital donation boxes and fundraising-page creation tools.
• Patenschaft verschenken (Gift a Sponsorship) Sponsorship gift packages allowing donors to give a child sponsorship as a meaningful gift for birthdays, Christmas, or other occasions. Includes greeting card and welcome materials.
• Klassenpatenschaften (Class Sponsorships) School class sponsorship program connecting classes with a sponsored child and country. Educational materials and curriculum-integration options are available for teachers.
• HSV-Plan-Patenschaft (HSV Football Partnership Sponsorship) Special child sponsorship tier in partnership with the HSV football club and HELM AG, with a target of 1,887 sponsors. Includes football-themed communications and materials for HSV supporters.

Quantifiable outcome

• 83.37% of donations go directly to project expenses
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VENRO (Verband Entwicklungspolitik und humanitäre Hilfe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVENRO is a voluntary association of around 100 German non-governmental development organizations. Plan International participates in developing codes of conduct for children's rights in development cooperation and contributed to gender guidelines handbook.
• Bündnis Entwicklung HilftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of nine permanent members and two associates providing humanitarian aid in disaster and crisis situations. Motto: 'Development is the best disaster prevention.' All member organizations hold DZI donation seals. Donations for humanitarian aid are split equally among the nine full members.
• Klima-Allianz DeutschlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGermany's broad civil society alliance for climate protection with over 150 member organizations from environment, church, development, education, culture, health, consumer protection, youth, social, and trade union sectors. Around 32 million individual members behind member organizations.
• Globale Bildungskampagne (GCE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Campaign for Education advocating for every child's right to free, quality primary education. Plan International regularly participates in action weeks and media activities.
• Aktionsbündnis gegen AidsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance advocating for the human right to life and health. Plan International participates in the specialized group on children and AIDS, contributing to publications about children and youth living with HIV and AIDS.
• National Coalition für die Umsetzung der UN-KinderrechtskonventioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Coalition for the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Germany. Plan International supported the development of shadow reports on children's rights in Germany (2008-2009).
• Integra (Deutsches Netzwerk zur Überwindung weiblicher Genitalverstümmelung)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman network for ending female genital mutilation. Plan International held the deputy chair of the network in 2007 and was member of an interministerial working group for a National Action Plan in 2009/2010.
• Bundesinitiative zum Schutz von geflüchteten Menschen in FlüchtlingsunterkünftenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal initiative for protection and participation of refugees in accommodation centers, initiated by BMFSFJ and UNICEF. Plan International contributes to developing minimum standards for refugee protection.
• Koordinationsausschuss Humanitäre HilfecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian Aid Coordination Committee where federal government and organizations advise on appropriate measures during crisis situations. Plan International is a member.
• VOICE (Voluntary Organisations in Cooperation in Emergencies)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 86 European NGOs providing humanitarian aid. The European Union considers VOICE an important interlocutor in this field.
• WASH-NetzwerkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman WASH network cooperating with 21 organizations active in development cooperation or humanitarian aid. Working together for better access to safe water, sanitation, and basic hygiene practices.
• GIZ (Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGerman development agency implementing international development projects on behalf of the German government.
• UN-OCHAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs coordinating humanitarian response.
• UNFPA (Bevölkerungsfonds der Vereinten Nationen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Population Fund working on reproductive health, gender equality, and population data.
• UNHCRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees providing protection and assistance to refugees.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Children's Fund working for children's rights, survival, protection, and development.
• WFP (World Food Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN World Food Programme - the world's largest humanitarian organization fighting hunger. In FY2025, WFP and Plan International Germany jointly supported ten projects in Africa, Central America, and Asia. Collaboration includes school feeding programs and food security initiatives.
• Hamburger SV (HSV)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFootball club partnership for child sponsorship. Joint initiative with HELM AG targeting 1,887 HSV sponsors. Uses football-themed communications to engage fans in child sponsorship.
• HELM AGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner in HSV Plan sponsorship initiative, supporting the goal of 1,887 HSV child sponsors.
• OmazeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial lottery partner. Together supporting girls worldwide through access to education, healthcare, and protection from violence.
• Plan International Global HubcoreTechnology or IntegrationInternational coordination hub in Woking, UK. Manages global sponsorship data, coordinates international programs, and facilitates communication between sponsors and sponsored children. Data transfer to UK based on EU adequacy decision.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Save the Children Deutschland: German branch of Save the Children focused on children's rights and emergency relief. Direct peer in both child sponsorship and humanitarian emergency response, sharing similar institutional donor relationships.
• SOS Kinderdorf (SOS Children's Villages Germany): German child welfare organization operating a child sponsorship and direct family support model. Direct peer in the German child sponsorship/donation market with similar recurring-donor dynamics.
• Kindernothilfe: German child-focused development NGO supporting self-help projects for children in the Global South. Direct peer in sponsor-supported child development programs and recurring donor fundraising.
• Terre des Hommes Deutschland: German child rights NGO with sponsorship and project funding model. Direct peer in the German market for child sponsorship and child protection programming.
• UNICEF Germany: German National Committee for UNICEF, focused on children's rights and emergency response. Direct peer in child-focused development and humanitarian programming with overlapping UN and government funding sources.
• World Vision Deutschland: Germany arm of World Vision, operates the most direct competing child sponsorship program in the German market. Closest head-to-head competitor on the Patenschaft value proposition.
• CARE Deutschland: German arm of CARE International, focusing on humanitarian aid and development. Direct peer in institutional grant-funded development work and individual donor fundraising.

Broad incumbents

• Brot für die Welt: German Protestant development service organization funded primarily through Diakonie and church channels. Broad peer in development project funding, though operating through a different donor-acquisition model.
• Welthungerhilfe: One of the largest German development NGOs, focused on hunger and food security. Broad peer in institutional development funding and recurring-donor fundraising, though narrower thematic focus.
• Misereor: German Catholic development agency funding international development projects. Broad peer in institutional grant funding and recurring donor fundraising across DACH region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/plandeutschland
• Facebookfacebook.com/PlanDeutschland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plan-jugendbeirat
• Instagraminstagram.com/planinternationaldeutschland

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Plan International Deutschland E.v.