startsocial

startsocial e.V. is a German non-profit registered association (eingetragener Verein) that promotes volunteer-driven social engagement in Germany. Its core activity is the annual nationwide startsocial competition, which awards around 100 consulting scholarships to social initiatives each year. Under the motto 'Hilfe für Helfer' (Help for Helpers), the association connects professionals from business and the non-profit sector with grassroots social projects, providing four months of pro bono coaching in areas such as marketing, organizational development, accounting and fundraising. The most convincing 25 initiatives are selected by an independent volunteer jury and invited to a ceremonial federal award ceremony in Berlin, where seven initiatives receive cash prizes totaling 35,000 euros. The idea for startsocial emerged in 2000 in preparation for the International Year of Volunteers 2001. Then-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder discussed with companies how to give new impetus to social engagement, and Dr. Dieter Düsedau, then a Senior Partner at McKinsey, founded startsocial together with partners from the business community. The first nationwide competition took place in 2001 under the patronage of the Federal Chancellor. In August 2003, an association was founded to institutionalize startsocial, with its seat in Munich. Since 2009, a permanent startsocial team has been based in Hamburg. The association has been under the patronage of the respective sitting Federal Chancellor since its founding; Chancellor Friedrich Merz took over patronage in 2025. startsocial is supported by long-standing corporate partners. Main sponsors of the competition include the initiator McKinsey & Company as well as Allianz Deutschland AG, Amazon Deutschland, Deutsche Bank AG, SAP Deutschland and ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE. Since 2001, more than 8,700 social projects have applied and over 2,100 have received a consulting scholarship. Each competition round involves around 200 coaches and 300 jurors. Beyond the four-month consulting phase, startsocial offers its alumni network access to contacts, further training and individual free consulting. In 2009, startsocial was recognized as a selected location of the initiative 'Germany – Land of Ideas'. The association describes its mission as strengthening volunteer engagement through consulting, visibility and appreciation, and bringing people from business and civil society together.

The idea for startsocial emerged in 2000 in preparation for the International Year of Volunteers 2001. Then-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder discussed with various companies how to give new impetus to social engagement. In response, Dr. Dieter Düsedau, then a Senior Partner at McKinsey, together with partners from the business community, founded startsocial. The first nationwide competition took place in 2001 under the patronage of the Federal Chancellor. From the beginning, the focus was on mutual learning, with all participants winning. The response to the first two rounds from social initiatives and startsocial volunteers (jurors and coaches) was so strong that in August 2003 an association was founded to institutionalize startsocial. The association's seat is in Munich. After taking office in 2005, Chancellor Angela Merkel assumed patronage of startsocial and remained loyal to it throughout her term. Until 2008, changing teams of young McKinsey consultants drove the competition forward. The founder, Dr. Dieter Düsedau, ensured sufficient financial support from the business community. Since 2009, there has been a permanent startsocial team based in Hamburg. The alumni of startsocial form a lively network. Long-standing, valuable partnerships with business supporters make startsocial possible. Since 2001, startsocial has promoted volunteer social engagement in Germany. The non-profit association's goal is to support social initiatives through knowledge transfer between business and civil society. The competition awards around 100 consulting scholarships annually to volunteer-driven social initiatives nationwide. The winning projects are advised for four months by experts from business or the professional non-profit sector on a volunteer basis. These coaches accompany project representatives in implementing their idea or developing their project, sharing know-how in marketing, organizational development, accounting, fundraising, etc. After the consulting phase, the most convincing 25 initiatives are selected by an independent volunteer jury and invited to a ceremonial federal award ceremony in Berlin. Seven initiatives receive cash prizes totaling 35,000 euros. Each competition round involves around 200 coaches and 300 jurors as well as numerous pro bono experts. Since 2001, over 8,700 social projects have applied and over 2,100 have received a consulting scholarship. Beyond the four-month consulting phase, startsocial offers social initiatives access to contacts, further training and individual free consulting through an alumni network. startsocial has been under the patronage of the respective sitting Federal Chancellor since its founding in 2001. Chancellor Friedrich Merz took over patronage in 2025. Main sponsors of the competition include the initiator McKinsey & Company as well as Allianz Deutschland AG, Amazon Deutschland, Deutsche Bank AG, SAP Deutschland and ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE. In 2009, startsocial was recognized as a selected location of the initiative 'Germany – Land of Ideas'. The association describes its mission as strengthening volunteer engagement through consulting, visibility and appreciation, and bringing people from business and civil society together. The concrete support of individual initiatives by startsocial is described as being in the foreground, with the aim of strengthening the effectiveness of volunteer work.

• 2025

  Chancellor Friedrich Merz takes over patronage of startsocial.

• 2009

  Permanent startsocial team established in Hamburg; startsocial recognized as a selected location of 'Germany – Land of Ideas'.

• 2008

  Until this year, changing teams of young McKinsey consultants drive the competition forward.

• 2005

  Chancellor Angela Merkel assumes patronage of startsocial after taking office.

• 2003

  startsocial e.V. is founded in August to institutionalize the initiative; association seat in Munich.

• 2001

  First nationwide startsocial competition takes place under the patronage of the Federal Chancellor.

• 2000

  Idea for startsocial emerges in preparation for the International Year of Volunteers 2001; founded by Dr. Dieter Düsedau with partners from business.

Non-profit association acting as a bridge between business and civil society, strengthening volunteer social initiatives through knowledge transfer, visibility and appreciation.

• startsocial competition

  Annual nationwide competition awarding around 100 consulting scholarships to volunteer-driven social initiatives.

• Consulting scholarship

  Four months of pro bono coaching by business professionals in areas such as marketing, organizational development, accounting and fundraising.

• Alumni network

  Network offering contacts, further training and individual free consulting to former scholarship recipients.

1. 1Startseite - startsocial e.V.startsocial.de
2. 2Geschichte - startsocial e.V.startsocial.de
3. 3Über uns - startsocial e.V.startsocial.de
4. 4Team - startsocial e.V.startsocial.de
5. 5Startsocial - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
6. 6Startsocial - Wikidatawikidata.org