What are the largest associations, federations and foundations in Germany? Based on Wikidata, here is the list of the largest organisations by donations, revenue, foundation capital, employees, members and volunteers.
The data for these lists is based on the free database Wikidata and is largely taken from the organisations' annual reports or public lists, e.g., from the German Fundraising Association (DZI), the lobby list of the German Bundestag, etc. By clicking on the edit icon of the organisation, you can verify the source or add your own data.
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The largest non-profit organisations by donations
Which organisation receives the most donations. This largely follows the DZI's definition of collection income. It usually consists of the sum of monetary donations, in-kind donations, bequests, endowments and fines. In-kind donations are only considered if tax donation receipts were issued for them. Membership fees are considered if the funds serve a charitable purpose.
The total donations decreased in 2024 compared to 2023 by -1,04%, based on 63 organizations with values in both years. In the previous year 2023 it was -7.7% with 164 organizations.
#
Organisation (781)
Donations
Year
1
CBM International
340,947,000 €
99.7%
2024
2
Ärzte ohne Grenzen
244,164,012 €
97.0%
2024
3
SOS-Kinderdorf e.V.
199,909,881 €
43.3%
2024
4
SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit
191,406,000 €
96.8%
2024
5
Plan International Deutschland
168,741,907 €
66.9%
2024
6
UNICEF Germany
159,596,981 €
94.2%
2024
7
German Cancer Aid
151,830,638 €
85.6%
2024
8
Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe
134,815,485 €
6.7%
2023
9
Malteser Hilfsdienst e.V.
120,035,010 €
21.3%
2023
10
Workers' Samaritan Foundation Germany
94,729,025 €
70.7%
2023
11
Greenpeace Germany
88,032,000 €
97.5%
2024
12
Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz
87,462,542 €
73.1%
2024
13
Welthungerhilfe
86,463,577 €
22.6%
2024
14
Brot für die Welt
82,286,560 €
24.8%
2024
15
Deutscher Caritasverband
77,726,967 €
31.8%
2023
16
Aktion Deutschland Hilft
73,038,288 €
92.1%
2024
17
World Vision Deutschland
70,355,216 €
36.3%
2023
18
Bethel Foundation
69,436,144 €
4.9%
2023
19
Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft
67,804,600 €
98.3%
2023
20
WWF Deutschland
66,278,616 €
51.7%
2024
21
German Red Cross
61,985,000 €
29.4%
2023
22
German Sea Rescue Society (DGzRS)
61,600,800 €
90.9%
2023
23
Das Kindermissionswerk ‚Die Sternsinger’
58,185,766 €
82.0%
2023
24
Naturschutzbund Deutschland
57,760,049 €
66.1%
2024
25
UNO-Flüchtlingshilfe
57,647,276 €
88.8%
2023
26
Misereor
56,309,942 €
21.1%
2023
27
VIER PFOTEN – Stiftung für Tierschutz
53,737,221 €
99.4%
2023
28
Kindernothilfe
53,322,153 €
72.9%
2024
29
betterplace.org
43,284,866 €
98.7%
2024
30
Aktion gegen den Hunger
38,256,902 €
96.3%
2024
31
German Life Saving Association
35,548,000 €
83.1%
2023
32
Bischöfliche Aktion Adveniat
34,951,438 €
81.2%
2023
33
Islamic Relief Deutschland
33,190,229 €
97.9%
2023
34
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe
31,209,979 €
45.5%
2024
35
Save the Children Germany
30,533,623 €
35.9%
2023
36
Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland
30,200,000 €
89.9%
2024
37
Deutsche Kinderkrebsstiftung
29,901,928 €
85.1%
2023
38
Ein Herz für Kinder
29,404,461 €
88.7%
2023
39
Amnesty International Germany
28,541,000 €
97.6%
2023
40
Sternstunden
28,153,181 €
94.9%
2023
41
International Pontifical Mission Society
27,091,239 €
53.1%
2023
42
German War Graves Commission
26,759,000 €
49.3%
2023
43
CARE Deutschland
26,177,178 €
25.5%
2023
44
Wikimedia Deutschland
21,176,935 €
81.9%
2023
45
Deutscher Tierschutzbund
20,461,879 €
81.5%
2023
46
Deutsche Herzstiftung
19,970,819 €
89.9%
2024
47
Weißer Ring
19,950,327 €
> 100 %
2022
48
Die Arche – Christliches Kinder- und Jugendwerk
19,357,616 €
92.2%
2023
49
terre des hommes Deutschland
19,347,856 €
33.6%
2023
50
Samaritan's Purse e.V. - Die barmherzigen Samariter
19,183,977 €
95.3%
2023
In this overview, Christoffel-Blindenmission is unique as its 2023 profit and loss statement shows over 300 million euros in in-kind donations. Bread for the World and Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe are not independent organisations but are treated as such in reporting by the Protestant Agency for Diakonie and Development and also have independent DZI seals.
The largest non-profit organisations by revenue
A list of all associations, foundations, non-profit LLCs, non-profit corporations and other charitable organisations by annual revenue.
The total revenue decreased in 2024 compared to 2023 by -0,99%, based on 67 organizations with values in both years. In the previous year 2023 it was -2.2% with 186 organizations.
#
Organisation (1190)
Revenue
Year
1
Max Planck Society
2,563,800,000 €
2021
2
Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe
2,025,782,591 €
2023
3
Alexianer GmbH
1,828,891,718 €
2022
4
Agaplesion
1,766,882,000 €
2022
5
Bavarian Red Cross
1,470,000,000 €
2020
6
Bethel Foundation
1,410,000,000 €
2020
7
SRH Holding
1,223,127,231 €
2022
8
BBT-Gruppe
1,168,767,000 €
2022
9
Gemeinnützige Gesellschaft der Franziskanerinnen zu Olpe
1,040,740,479 €
2022
10
St. Franziskus-Stiftung Münster
1,040,600,000 €
2020
11
Volkswagen Foundation
980,964,000 €
2023
12
Elisabeth Vinzenz Verbund
969,625,292 €
2022
13
Marienhaus
916,566,524 €
2022
14
Marienhaus Stiftung
908,800,000 €
2020
15
Kath. St. Paulus Gesellschaft
886,008,161 €
2022
16
Barmherzige Brüder gemeinnützige Träger GmbH
782,059,107 €
2022
17
Christliches Jugenddorfwerk Deutschlands
743,990,577 €
2022
18
Johannesstift Diakonie
736,627,452 €
2022
19
Josefs-Gesellschaft
656,147,397 €
2021
20
Immanuel Albertinen Diakonie
648,405,537 €
2022
21
Malteser Deutschland
610,309,450 €
2022
22
Caritas Association of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising
Revenue is not easy to determine in some association and holding structures, therefore it is based on annual reports.
The largest foundations by foundation capital
The largest foundations by their untouchable foundation capital. Since many foundations do not publish their foundation capital, this list is unfortunately only partially complete.
#
Organisation (736)
Foundation Capital
Year
1
Else Kröner-Fresenius-Foundation
6,200,000,000 €
2018
2
Robert Bosch Stiftung
5,095,770,171 €
2023
3
Klaus Tschira Foundation
4,091,000,000 €
2018
4
Dietmar Hopp Stiftung
3,000,000,000 €
2019
5
German Federal Environmental Foundation
2,281,125,000 €
2018
6
Elbe Habitat Foundation
2,152,686,960 €
2024
7
Zeppelin Foundation
1,451,743,470 €
2022
8
Joachim Herz Stiftung
1,350,000,000 €
2017
9
Volkswagen Foundation
1,324,707,000 €
2023
10
Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation
1,200,000,000 €
2021
11
ZEIT-Stiftung Bucerius
810,700,000 €
2022
12
Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
800,000,000 €
2022
13
Max Planck Foundation
650,000,000 €
2022
14
Bertelsmann Stiftung
619,710,300 €
2023
15
St. Korbinian-Stiftung
607,331,682 €
2019
16
St. Antonius-Stiftung
561,760,897 €
2019
17
Bischof-Arbeo-Stiftung
506,066,273 €
2019
18
Karl Schlecht Stiftung
496,000,000 €
2023
19
Fritz Thyssen Foundation
467,011,513 €
2017
20
Bavarian Research Foundation
434,200,000 €
2010
21
Pfarrpfründestiftung der Erzdiözese Freiburg
407,817,301 €
2018
22
Stiftung Polytechnische Gesellschaft
393,430,000 €
2018
23
Brost-Stiftung
373,794,800 €
2019
24
Foundation "Remembrance, Responsibility and Future"
357,904,317 €
2019
25
Körber Foundation
345,000,000 €
2023
26
Schleswig-Holstein Museums Foundation
322,920,000 €
2019
27
Dr. Jürgen and Irmgard Ulderup Foundation
320,000,000 €
2018
28
Siemens Stiftung
300,000,000 €
2018
29
Evangelische Stiftung Pflege Schönau
291,128,980 €
2019
30
Mahle-Stiftung
285,634,789 €
2018
31
Pfälzer Katholischen Kirchenschaffnei in Heidelberg
274,398,015 €
2018
32
Kölner Gymnasial- und Stiftungsfonds
266,000,000 €
2019
33
Stiftung Naturschutz Schleswig-Holstein
244,125,000 €
2018
34
SRH Holding
243,200,000 €
2018
35
UNICEF-Stiftung
183,510,000 €
2018
36
Fürst Donnersmarck-Stiftung
180,000,000 €
2023
37
Stiftung Warentest
175,000,000 €
2018
38
Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz
170,186,064 €
2023
39
Stiftung Saarländischer Kulturbesitz
169,326,000 €
2019
40
Hertie Foundation
163,152,000 €
2018
41
Deutsche Bank Stiftung
150,012,000 €
2019
42
Deutsche Telekom Stiftung
150,000,000 €
2019
43
Wilhelm Sander Stiftung
140,915,000 €
2018
44
Karg-Stiftung
139,000,000 €
2022
45
Software AG - Stiftung
138,200,000 €
2018
46
Daimler and Benz Foundation
125,000,000 €
2020
47
Rut- und Klaus-Bahlsen-Stiftung
120,000,000 €
2022
48
Stiftung Mercator
116,088,047 €
2018
49
Deutsche Wildtier Stiftung
111,075,698 €
2019
50
Stiftung zur Erforschung der Vaskulären Demenz
100,000,000 €
2020
Pure corporate foundations are not listed. The RAG Foundation is not charitable. Only the foundation capital is listed; this can differ significantly from equity capital in some cases, if foundations have invested freely available funds or, like the Liebenau Foundation, do not provide information about their foundation capital. An overview by equity capital can be found at the Association of German Foundations. Additionally, a query by balance sheet total can be helpful on Wikidata.
The largest non-profit organisations by employees
Associations, foundations and other charitable organisations by number of employees.
The total employees increased in 2023 compared to 2022 by 2,95%, based on 110 organizations with values in both years. In the previous year 2022 it was 1.6% with 362 organizations.
#
Organisation (921)
Employees
Year
1
Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe
321,600
2016
2
Arbeiterwohlfahrt
230,873
2018
3
Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres
42,178
2020
4
Workers' Samaritan Foundation Germany
41,000
2021
5
Bavarian Red Cross
33,024
2023
6
Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe
31,751
2023
7
Fraunhofer Society
30,350
2022
8
Alexianer GmbH
28,181
2022
9
Rheinischer Sparkassen- und Giroverband
27,507
2018
10
German Red Cross Lower Saxony
26,925
2023
11
Max Planck Society
23,950
2021
12
Sparkassen- und Giroverband Hessen-Thüringen
21,094
2018
13
Bethel Foundation
20,448
2020
14
Agaplesion
19,799
2022
15
Volkssolidarität
19,700
2021
16
German Red Cross Westphalia-Lippe
16,741
2024
17
St. Franziskus-Stiftung Münster
13,815
2020
18
SRH Holding
13,783
2022
19
BBT-Gruppe
13,503
2022
20
University of Göttingen
12,469
2017
21
Gemeinnützige Gesellschaft der Franziskanerinnen zu Olpe
12,337
2022
22
Marienhaus
11,445
2022
23
Barmherzige Brüder gemeinnützige Träger GmbH
11,273
2022
24
Marienhaus Stiftung
11,077
2020
25
Christliches Jugenddorfwerk Deutschlands
10,919
2023
26
Kath. St. Paulus
10,451
2021
27
Kath. St. Paulus Gesellschaft
10,430
2022
28
Elisabeth Vinzenz Verbund
10,238
2022
29
Caritas Association of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising
10,107
2023
30
Josefs-Gesellschaft
9,640
2021
31
Johannesstift Diakonie
9,613
2022
32
Malteser Deutschland
9,304
2022
33
Evangelische Heimstiftung
8,248
2022
34
Stiftung Liebenau
7,822
2020
35
Immanuel Albertinen Diakonie
7,155
2022
36
Niels-Stensen-Kliniken
6,992
2022
37
Evangelisches Johanneswerk
6,871
2022
38
Stiftung kreuznacher diakonie
6,800
2020
39
Katharina Kasper Holding
6,220
2019
40
Evangelischer Verbund Ruhr
6,080
2022
41
Stiftung der Cellitinnen zur hl. Maria
6,071
2022
42
Marienhaus Kliniken
6,038
2022
43
St. Augustinus-Kliniken
5,975
2022
44
Klinikum Westmünsterland
5,927
2022
45
Contilia
5,873
2022
46
Caritas Trägergesellschaft Saarbrücken
5,766
2022
47
Norddeutsche Gesellschaft für Diakonie
5,628
2020
48
Rummelsberger Diakonie
5,413
2022
49
Caritasverband für das Erzbistum Berlin
5,407
2020
50
AWO Alten-, Jugend- und Sozialhilfe
5,374
2022
Some federal organisations report here the number of people employed at the federal association, while others count all federally employed persons together.
The largest associations and federations by members
Associations by number of their statutory members. For federal associations, this usually results in multiple counting, as the sum of all members of the federal structures is usually given.
The total members increased in 2025 compared to 2024 by 7,18%, based on 65 organizations with values in both years. In the previous year 2024 it was -2.4% with 139 organizations.
#
Organisation (2194)
Members
Year
1
German Olympic Sports Confederation
27,874,195
2023
2
ADAC
22,383,272
2025
3
Confederation of German Trade Unions
5,995,437
2019
4
Bayerischer Landes-Sportverband
4,811,557
2025
5
Landessportverband Baden-Württemberg
3,986,516
2020
6
Bund Deutscher Karneval
2,600,000
2019
7
German Youth Hostel Association
2,434,871
2019
8
IG Metall
2,214,662
2020
9
ADAC Südbayern
2,182,154
2024
10
Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover
2,163,815
2024
11
Evangelical Church in the Rhineland
2,122,717
2024
12
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria
2,025,552
2024
13
Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft
1,955,080
2019
14
Protestant Church of Westphalia
1,885,944
2024
15
ADAC Württemberg
1,864,530
2024
16
Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Württemberg
1,723,261
2024
17
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany
1,646,039
2024
18
Roman Catholic Diocese of Münster
1,630,544
2024
19
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne
1,627,401
2024
20
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart
1,575,081
2024
21
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Freiburg
1,554,310
2024
22
Workers' Samaritan Foundation Germany
1,551,525
2024
23
Automobilclub von Deutschland
1,508,710
2024
24
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Munich and Freising
1,415,477
2024
25
Landessportbund Rheinland-Pfalz
1,397,200
2020
26
German Tennis Federation
1,366,137
2020
27
German Civil Service Federation
1,300,000
2018
28
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paderborn
1,292,435
2024
29
Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau
1,269,605
2024
30
Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe
1,205,733
2024
31
Roman Catholic Diocese of Trier
1,139,958
2024
32
Roman Catholic Diocese of Augsburg
1,125,594
2024
33
Roman Catholic Diocese of Regensburg
1,025,788
2024
34
Protestant Church in Baden
974,576
2024
35
Naturschutzbund Deutschland
872,100
2024
36
Roman Catholic Diocese of Aachen
866,641
2024
37
Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs
800,000
2018
38
German Athletics Association
798,819
2020
39
Evangelical Church in Berlin, Brandenburg and Silesian Upper Lusatia
774,820
2024
40
Landessportverband Schleswig-Holstein
769,648
2020
41
German Handball Association
754,958
2020
42
Bavarian Red Cross
741,521
2023
43
Landessportbund Sachsen
700,325
2024
44
Evangelical Church of Hesse Electorate-Waldeck
687,526
2024
45
Kraftfahrer-Schutz
650,000
2019
46
Lohnsteuerhilfe Bayern
650,000
2019
47
Roman Catholic Diocese of Essen
638,262
2024
48
Social Association Germany
636,707
2025
49
Roman Catholic Diocese of Würzburg
630,067
2024
50
German Life Saving Association
627,146
2024
Some associations like ADAC are not charitable. Not all associations are registered associations. Trade unions are often organised as non-legal associations, others are non-registered associations or historical law associations. The Bavarian Red Cross is an association-like public law corporation.
The largest non-profit organisations by volunteers
Charitable organisations by number of their volunteers.
The total volunteers increased in 2021 compared to 2020 by 0,87%, based on 103 organizations with values in both years. In the previous year 2020 it was -2.5% with 85 organizations.
#
Organisation (305)
Volunteers
Year
1
Diakonisches Werk
700,000
2018
2
German Red Cross
452,840
2023
3
Bavarian Red Cross
218,970
2023
4
Arbeiterwohlfahrt
73,753
2018
5
Naturschutzbund Deutschland
70,000
2023
6
Malteser Hilfsdienst e.V.
58,700
2023
7
Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe
45,942
2023
8
German Life Saving Association
45,000
2018
9
Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland
30,000
2019
10
German Alpine Club
29,233
2020
11
German Red Cross Westphalia-Lippe
28,809
2024
12
German Red Cross Lower Saxony
25,292
2023
13
Workers' Samaritan Foundation Germany
20,000
2018
14
Der Kinderschutzbund
15,000
2019
15
Volkssolidarität
13,000
2021
16
Lern-Fair
12,000
2021
17
VDI – The Association of German Engineers
12,000
2022
18
Caritas Association of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising
10,500
2023
19
International Pontifical Mission Society
8,000
2024
20
Samaritan's Purse e.V. - Die barmherzigen Samariter