Hilfswerk Der Evangelisch-reformierten Kirche Schweiz (heks)

What Hilfswerk Der Evangelisch-reformierten Kirche Schweiz (heks) does

HEKS (Hilfswerk der Evangelisch-reformierten Kirche Schweiz), also operating as HEKS/EPER and Swiss Church Aid, is the humanitarian aid and development organization of the Swiss Reformed Church. Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Zürich, HEKS implements programs in more than 30 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Switzerland, organized around four thematic priorities: Climate Justice, Right to Land and Food, Flight and Migration, and Inclusion. In Switzerland, the organization delivers direct social services to migrants and marginalized populations, including language courses, legal counseling, interpreting services (Dolmetschdienste), assisted living support (Wohnbegleitung), work and employment assistance, and elderly migrant care. Internationally, HEKS runs rural development, food security, school feeding, climate adaptation, peacebuilding, and emergency humanitarian response programs through direct field offices and local partner organizations.

HEKS is funded primarily through individual donations (one-time and recurring), Swiss Reformed Church contributions, corporate partnerships, foundation grants, and institutional grants from bodies such as the Swiss SDC and the UN World Food Programme. The organization holds ZEWO certification and Swiss UID CHE-111.751.619, with donations tax-deductible in Switzerland. Donations are processed through a multi-platform digital stack including TWINT, PayPal, PostFinance, Datatrans, RaiseNow (PCI DSS certified), and Koalect, with CRM managed on Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Tocco. The marketing infrastructure runs on Drupal 9 with email automation via ActiveCampaign and advertising across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google Ads, and Microsoft Advertising channels.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed and HEKS is a non-profit entity, so traditional commercial metrics do not apply. The organization is executing a Strategy 2023-27 focused on consolidation, focus, and transformation. Recent operational priorities include emergency response to the 2026 Venezuela earthquake (with partner Maniapure), ongoing Gaza humanitarian assistance (with MA'AN Development Center and SKAT Consulting for shelter engineering), and continued partnerships in Haiti, Eastern Europe, and the South Caucasus. The TransformAction Lab operates as an internal social innovation unit, and HEKS participates in the ACT Alliance global church humanitarian coalition.

Name

Hilfswerk Der Evangelisch-reformierten Kirche Schweiz (heks)

Legal name

Hilfswerk der Evangelisch-reformierten Kirche Schweiz

Website

https://heks.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Short description

HEKS (Swiss Church Aid) is the humanitarian and development arm of the Swiss Reformed Church, operating programs in over 30 countries across climate justice, right to land and food, migration, and inclusion, funded by donations, church contributions, and institutional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food Services (624210), Community Food Services (62421), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) and Emergency Livelihood Support (BPAGAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH), Food Assistance & Safety Nets (In-Kind, Vouchers, Cash Transfers) (BPADAJAA)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Development cooperation programs
• Refugee integration support
• Community development programs
• Human rights advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: HEKS raises funds through individual donations, regular giving programs, emergency appeal campaigns, and sponsorship/guardianship programs. Donors can give one-time or recurring contributions through the website, with options for specific campaigns or general operational support.
2. Institutional Grants and Partnerships: HEKS receives funding from Swiss government agencies (SDC), foundations, public authorities, and international organizations such as the World Food Programme for specific project implementation.
3. Church and Corporate Partnerships: HEKS engages church congregations, businesses, and corporate partners as supporters and funders. Church partnerships involve congregations supporting development and humanitarian projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HEKS is the humanitarian aid organization of the Swiss Reformed Church, delivering humanitarian emergency response, international development cooperation, and social integration services in Switzerland and over 30 countries worldwide. Its offerings span four thematic areas—Climate Justice, Right to Land and Food, Flight and Migration, and Inclusion—through regional and country programs implemented directly and via local partner organizations. In Switzerland, HEKS provides direct beneficiary services including interpreting, language courses, legal advice, assisted living support, age and migration services, and employment integration.

Product overview

HEKS (Swiss Church Aid) is a humanitarian aid and development organization of the Swiss Reformed Church, operating as a charitable NGO rather than a technology product company. Its offering consists of humanitarian assistance, development programs, and social services organized as integrated regional and thematic programs. The core programs include humanitarian aid, rural development, climate justice, inclusion, right to land and food, and flight/migration support. In Switzerland, HEKS provides social services including interpreting (Dolmetschdienste), language courses, legal advice, assisted living (Wohnbegleitung), age and migration support, work and employment assistance. The TransformAction Lab serves as a social innovation unit. Regional programs cover Latin America (Brazil, Colombia, Haiti, Honduras, Venezuela), Europe (11 countries including Romania, Ukraine), Asia (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Israel/Palestine, Lebanon, Myanmar, Syria), and Africa. Church cooperation programs facilitate partnerships between Swiss and international church communities. The organization processes donations through multiple payment platforms including TWINT, PayPal, Datatrans, PostFinance, and RaiseNow.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TransformAction Lab: A program offering by HEKS focused on transformation and innovation in social impact.

Products and services

• Humanitarian Aid

Quantifiable outcome

• 9,700 seed producers supported in Haiti
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration23 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ACT AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHEKS is a member of ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and church-related organizations engaged in humanitarian aid and development. This membership provides coordination opportunities and shared advocacy on international humanitarian issues.
• Alianza BiodiversidadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLatin American alliance for biodiversity conservation supported by HEKS since 2018. Focuses on protecting traditional seed systems and smallholder farmers from industrial agriculture threats. Budget: CHF 25,000.
• Programme de Réhabilitation Rurale (PRR) der Methodistischen Kirche von HaiticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal implementation partner in Haiti for agricultural development and food security projects in Grand'Anse region, including school feeding programs.
• Fondation Paradis des Indiens (FPDI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner in Haiti supporting rural development and community initiatives in Grand'Anse.
• World Food Programme (WFP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN agency providing technical standards and partial funding for school feeding programs in Haiti. HEKS follows WFP guidelines for documentation and program implementation.
• Stiftung Lampas der Reformierten Kirche im Bezirk BihorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRomanian foundation supported by HEKS for counseling domestic violence victims. Budget: CHF 330,000. Provides psychological and legal support to approximately 150 victims annually.
• Emek ShavehcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsraeli partner organization working on archaeological heritage protection and cultural rights in Israel/Palestine. Budget: CHF 150,000.
• AkevotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsraeli organization supported for archival research project on Israeli peace processes. Budget: CHF 148,913.
• MA'AN Development and Aid AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner implementing humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza, including shelter materials and cash assistance for displaced families.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Swiss Red Cross: Switzerland's largest humanitarian organization, also operating domestic social services and international development programs with similar diversified funding from donations, government grants, and federation support.
• TearFund Switzerland: Swiss evangelical Protestant development organization with comparable church-based fundraising, focus on poverty and hunger in developing countries, and Swiss donation-driven model.
• Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation: Swiss development cooperation NGO focused on rural development, water/agriculture, and inclusion in developing countries — directly comparable international rural development programs and Swiss donation-funded model.
• Swissaid: Swiss development NGO with comparable rural development focus on Global South food sovereignty, smallholder farmer support, and Swiss church/sympathy fundraising model.
• Caritas Switzerland: Swiss Catholic humanitarian and development organization with comparable dual domestic-international structure, ZEWO certification, donation model, and broad program portfolio. Closest Swiss peer in mission and operating model.

Broad incumbents

• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): Geneva-headquartered global humanitarian organization focused on conflict-affected populations; overlap on Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Colombia, and Ukraine operational theaters.
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Switzerland: Larger international humanitarian medical organization with Swiss base, similarly raising funds from individual donors and operating in conflict zones — competes for the same Swiss humanitarian donor pool.
• CARE Switzerland: Swiss office of CARE International focused on humanitarian aid, women's empowerment, and food security — comparable program portfolio in countries where HEKS operates (Haiti, Bangladesh).
• Oxfam Switzerland: Swiss affiliate of Oxfam international network, raising funds in Switzerland for global poverty, food security, and humanitarian response programs — directly competes for institutional and individual donor funds.

Others

• World Food Programme (WFP) Switzerland Liaison Office: UN agency that is both a partner (HEKS follows WFP school feeding guidelines in Haiti) and a broader institutional actor in the same food security humanitarian space where HEKS operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCy9XSBHb8DqJjV4hT8Z9P-A
• Facebookfacebook.com/HEKS.wirkt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heks-eper-headquarter
• Instagraminstagram.com/heks_eper

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

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 Hilfswerk Der Evangelisch-reformierten Kirche Schweiz (heks)