Diözese Rottenburg-Stuttgart

What Diözese Rottenburg-Stuttgart does

Diözese Rottenburg-Stuttgart is a Roman Catholic diocese and autonomous ecclesiastical institution serving approximately 1.53 million Catholics across the Württemberg region of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Established as a diocese in 1821 and headquartered at the Bischöfliches Ordinariat in Rottenburg am Neckar, it is the third-largest of Germany's 27 Catholic dioceses by membership. The diocese delivers pastoral, educational, cultural, and social services through a network of 1,019 parishes (Kirchengemeinden) organized into five regional structures — Bodensee-Oberschwaben, Heilbronn-Franken, Schwarzwald-Neckar-Alb, Region Stuttgart, and Ulm-Ostalb — supported by approximately 24,000 full-time employees and 170,000 volunteers. Its territory extends from Bad Mergentheim in the north to Friedrichshafen in the south, and from Bopfingen in the east to Freudenstadt in the west. Bishop Dr. Klaus Krämer has led the diocese since 2024.

The diocese operates an extensive institutional portfolio wholly owned through core operating subsidiaries and adjacent entities: the Diözesanmuseum (diocesan museum), Diözesanbibliothek, Akademie der Diözese Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Bildungsforum Kloster Untermarchtal (conference and education center in a former monastery), Amt für Kirchenmusik, Hochschule für Kirchenmusik, Theologische Fakultät, Ambrosianum formation institute, Familienerholungswerk, Tagungshäuser, and Diözesanarchiv. Social welfare is delivered via the Caritasverband der Diözese Rottenburg-Stuttgart. Specialized pastoral programs serve families, children, youth and teenagers (via BDKJ), young adults, seniors, people with disabilities, and multilingual Catholic communities (Albanian, Eritrean, French, Italian, Croatian, Slovenian, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, and Vietnamese). Distribution is primarily through the parish network, supplemented by digital channels including the drs.de website portal, regional news sub-portals, social media, parish bulletins, and Zoom-based "Online Sprechstunde" advisory sessions under the "Kirche der Zukunft" transformation program.

Revenue is generated primarily through the German Kirchensteuer — a mandatory church tax of roughly 8% of income tax collected by the state from registered Catholic members and remitted to the diocese — supplemented by voluntary donations, parish contributions, and fees for educational programs, cultural events, and pastoral services. The diocese is governed under canon law as part of the German Bishops' Conference, has no external equity ownership, and does not publish audited financial statements. Recent strategic activity centers on a multi-year "Kirche der Zukunft" (Church of the Future) reform agenda covering digital transformation, sustainable use of church buildings (in ecumenical partnership with the Evangelical Church in Württemberg), and adaptive pastoral service delivery. The diocese received the Catholic Media Prize 2026 from the Deutsche Bischofskonferenz.

Name

Diözese Rottenburg-Stuttgart

Legal name

Diözese Rottenburg-Stuttgart

Website

https://drs.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1828

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Diözese Rottenburg-Stuttgart is a Roman Catholic diocese in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, serving approximately 1.53 million Catholics across 1,019 parishes via schools, museums, libraries, academies, and Caritas social welfare, funded primarily through the state-collected Kirchensteuer church tax.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rottenburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Church Tax (Kirchensteuer): The primary revenue source is the German church tax (Kirchensteuer), a mandatory contribution collected by the state from registered church members through the tax system. This constitutes the main funding mechanism for all diocesan operations including pastoral services, education, and social ministries.
2. Diocesan Contributions and Donations: Voluntary donations, parish contributions, and fees for educational programs, cultural events, and pastoral services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart provides pastoral care, Catholic sacraments, religious education from kindergarten through university level, social welfare services through Caritas, cultural offerings via diocesan museums and church music programs, and counseling for families and individuals in crisis. The diocese operates a hierarchical network of 1,019 parishes, five regional subdivisions, and church-run institutions including schools, a museum, library, academies, conference centers, and a theology faculty across the Württemberg region of Baden-Württemberg.

Product overview

The Diocese Rottenburg-Stuttgart operates primarily as a religious and cultural organization rather than a technology company. Its main 'product' is the comprehensive diocese website (drs.de) serving approximately 1.5 million Catholics as a portal for church services, events, pastoral care, and administrative information. The diocese also maintains cultural and educational facilities including the Diözesanmuseum, the Academy (Akademie), and Bildungsforum Kloster Untermarchtal. Additional offerings include specialized pastoral services for various target groups (families, youth, seniors, people with disabilities, multilingual communities) and programs addressing church building sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• drs.de - Diocese Website Portal Central website portal of the Diocese Rottenburg-Stuttgart providing information about church services, events, pastoral care, cultural offerings, and diocesan administration for approximately 1.5 million Catholics across Württemberg.
• Diözesanmuseum Rottenburg Diocesan museum showcasing religious art, artifacts, and cultural heritage of the diocese, including the Sülchenkirche and Bishop-Sproll Memorial, open to visitors and pilgrims.
• Akademie der Diözese Rottenburg-Stuttgart Academy offering educational programs, conferences, seminars, and cultural events on theology, society, and church-related topics for adults and professionals.
• Bildungsforum Kloster Untermarchtal Conference and education center in a former monastery offering spiritual retreats, choir retreats, family programs, and personal development courses for groups and individuals.
• Online Sprechstunde 'Kirche der Zukunft' Online consultation sessions on digital strategy and church transformation processes conducted via Zoom video conferencing for parishes and diocesan stakeholders.
• Seelsorge bei Menschen mit Behinderung Pastoral care services for people with disabilities including specialized services for blind, visually impaired, hearing impaired, and deaf-blind individuals across the diocese.
• Räume für eine Kirche der Zukunft Real estate and building optimization project addressing sustainable use of church buildings in cooperation with municipalities and the Evangelical Church in Württemberg.

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Caritasverband Rottenburg-StuttgartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Caritas association operates as the social welfare arm of the diocese, providing counseling, care for elderly and disabled, addiction support, family services, and disaster relief throughout the diocese's territory.
• DJK Diözesansportverband Rottenburg-StuttgartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Catholic sports federation organizes sport and spiritual retreats, combining physical activity with faith formation through programs like Sport and Spirit Days held at monasteries.
• Akademie der Diözese Rottenburg-StuttgartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe diocesan academy serves as a key educational institution offering conferences, seminars, and cultural programs on theology, society, and church-related topics.
• BDKJ (Bund der Deutschen Katholischen Jugend)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe umbrella organization for Catholic youth associations coordinates youth ministry, voluntary service programs, and intergenerational faith formation.
• Evangelische Landeskirche Württemberg (Evangelical Church in Württemberg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcumenical partnership for the 'Räume für eine Kirche der Zukunft' (Spaces for a Church of the Future) initiative, collaborating on sustainable use of church buildings and joint regional meetings.
• DiözesanmuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe diocesan museum preserves and presents religious art, historical artifacts, and cultural heritage including the Sülchenkirche and Bishop Sproll Memorial Site.
• Institut für Fort- und WeiterbildungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides continuing education and professional development for church employees and pastoral workers.
• Diözesan-Cäcilienverband (DCV) Rottenburg-StuttgartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe diocesan Cecilian association supports church music and organizes choir activities including the annual choir retreat at Kloster Untermarchtal.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/dioezese_rottenburg_stuttgart
• Facebookfacebook.com/drs.news

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries13 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 Diözese Rottenburg-Stuttgart