Reasons for action are wars and conflicts, famines, earthquakes, floodings, emergencies concerning the environment and other unpredictable disasters.

Aktion Deutschland Hilft includes 24 German aid organizations, which raise donations together and coordinate their measures.

In 2009 Aktion Deutschland Hilft was active for refugees in Sri Lanka (May), and victims of an earthquake in Indonesia in August and October as well as for people hit by the 2009 West Africa floods.

[5] Member organisations are subjected to national and international accepted norms and agreements,[2] for example: All financed projects are audited by external controllers.

The cooperation helps member organizations to reduce costs and to provide the maximum amount of donations direct into the projects.