Round Table Germany

What Round Table Germany does

Round Table Germany (Round Table Deutschland e.V.) is a registered charitable service club established in 1954 as the German chapter of the international Round Table movement, which originated in England in 1927. The organization operates as a non-profit association (Verein) under German law and is structured as a federated network of approximately 220 local "tables" with roughly 3,400 active members nationwide, plus connections to a broader international network of more than 30,000 members in over 55 countries. Membership is restricted to men aged 18-40, with members transitioning to Old Tablers upon aging out, and the organization coordinates with sister groups Ladies' Circle, Agora Club Tangent, and the Stiftung Round Table Deutschland foundation. Headquartered in Esslingen, Germany, the organization is governed by an annually elected president and präsidium.

The organization's core offerings are social-impact programs rather than commercial products. Flagship programs include Badelotsen (a national free swimming-course initiative for children aged 6-10 who lack financial or organizational access to lessons, elevated to National Service Project status in 2026), Weihnachtspäckchenkonvoi (an annual Christmas gift convoy that has distributed over 1 million packages to children in Eastern Europe across 18 years), and Bananenflankenliga (an inclusive football league for children with disabilities). Supporting infrastructure includes the Badelotsen Online Shop (merchandise and donations), the Tabler.World member portal, and local event vehicles such as the annual Wohltätigkeitsball charity ball. Delivery is executed through partnerships with municipal pool operators (e.g., Badeland Uelzen/Stadtwerke), social-service referrers (DRK-Jugendhilfe), qualified swimming instructors, and schools. No proprietary technology, AI capability, or app-based product is disclosed.

The revenue model is donations-driven, with 100% of contributed funds reported as going directly to project execution because all labor is volunteered by members. Income streams include individual and corporate donations (structured in four tiers from Bronze €100 to Platinum €1,000+), merchandise sales (t-shirts, hoodies, pins, coins), and proceeds from charity events. The organization directs over €2 million annually to social projects in Germany. Go-to-market is community-led: growth in membership and donations occurs through personal invitations, local table meetings, regional Distrikt-Meetings, and national events such as the Annual General Meeting and Euromeetings, with the ECHO digital newsletter and Facebook pages serving as primary communication channels.

Name

Round Table Germany

Legal name

Round Table Deutschland

Website

https://round-table.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Round Table Germany is a registered charitable service club (Verein) founded in 1954, operating approximately 220 local tables with roughly 3,400 members. It runs volunteer-delivered social programs, including free children's swimming courses (Badelotsen) and cross-border humanitarian aid, funded entirely by donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bielefeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Round Table raises funds through donations for service projects. The organization maintains full transparency that 100% of donations go directly to project execution with no administrative overhead, as all members volunteer their time.
2. Merchandise Sales: The Badelotsen shop sells branded merchandise including t-shirts (€39), hoodies (€49), polo shirts (€39), pins (€10), coins (€10), and custom coins (€20). Proceeds fund swimming courses for children.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from charity events such as the annual Wohltätigkeitsball (charity ball), with proceeds directed entirely to social service projects in the region.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Round Table Germany is a non-profit charitable service club network that delivers community-driven social impact projects through a volunteer network of approximately 3,400 members organized across roughly 220 local tables. Its primary programs include the Badelotsen national service project providing free professional swimming lessons to children aged 6-10, the Weihnachtspäckchenkonvoi Christmas gift convoy delivering presents to underprivileged children in Eastern Europe, and inclusive community programs such as the Bananenflankenliga football league.

Product overview

Round Table Germany operates as a charitable service club network rather than a commercial product company. The primary offerings are social impact programs including Badelotsen (national swimming course program), Weihnachtspäckchenkonvoi (Christmas gift convoy to Eastern Europe), and Bananenflankenliga (inclusive football league). Supporting platforms include the Badelotsen Online Shop for merchandise and donations, and Tabler.World member portal. The organization functions through local 'tables' (clubs) that implement these programs, with Badelotsen serving as the current National Service Project (NSP) elected in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Badelotsen: National swimming program providing free swimming lessons for children who otherwise would not have access. The program connects qualified trainers, pool time, and funding to teach children to swim and prevent drowning.

Products and services

• Badelotsen National service project providing free professional swimming lessons for children aged 6-10 who lack financial or organizational access to swimming courses. Coordinates qualified trainers, pool time slots, and course delivery across Germany.
• Weihnachtspäckchenkonvoi Annual Christmas gift convoy delivering presents to underprivileged children in remote rural regions of Eastern Europe, including Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine. Operates under the motto "Children help children" with volunteer-organized collection and distribution.
• Bananenflankenliga Inclusive football league for children and youth with intellectual and physical disabilities, providing a platform for participants to experience sport, friendship, and social inclusion in a supportive environment with adapted rules. Supported with sponsorship and volunteer time from Round Table 132 Uelzen.
• Warnwesten für Kinder Child safety vest distribution project providing high-visibility safety vests to kindergartens, daycares, and schools in the region to improve children's visibility and safety on roads, particularly during dark seasons.
• MS-Selbsthilfegruppe Uelzen-Bad Bevensen Support project for the multiple sclerosis self-help group, providing community activities, joint outings, BBQ evenings, and game afternoons for people with MS and their families in the Uelzen-Bad Bevensen region.
• RT70 Schwimmschule Swimming school operated by Round Table 70 Lüneburg offering free swimming instruction for children who cannot afford regular courses. Conducted every Friday at Salü swimming facility with qualified trainer Reinhard Schreiber.
• Badelotsen Online Shop E-commerce platform for Badelotsen merchandise including clothing (hoodies, polo shirts, t-shirts), accessories (pins, coins), and donation options. Supports funding for swimming courses nationwide.
• Tabler.World International member portal and platform for Round Table members providing access to member directories, club information, and Round Table resources across all member tables worldwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 75 children taught to swim since February 2022 through RT70 Lüneburg swimming school
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Badeland Uelzen (BadUE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Badeland Uelzen provides water time and facilities for Badelotsen swimming courses in Uelzen. Stadtwerke Uelzen (mycity) as operator provides the pool access completely free as a contribution to the social program.
• Stadtwerke Uelzen (mycity)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026As operator of Badeland Uelzen, Stadtwerke Uelzen provides water time completely free of charge for the Badelotsen courses, enabling children to learn to swim at no cost.
• DRK-Jugendhilfe (German Red Cross Youth)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026DRK-Jugendhilfe assists with referring children to the Badelotsen program, leveraging their social network to identify families in need.
• Schwimmschule Platschis Schwimmwelt (Heiko Förster)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026Qualified swimming instructor Heiko Förster leads the Badelotsen courses at Uelzen, providing professional swimming instruction as part of the program.
• Ladies' Circle DeutschlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe four Round Table family organizations collaborate closely on major projects. Ladies' Circle is the parallel women's organization (ages 18-45), operating as 'Side-by-Side' partners on events and service projects like Weihnachtspäckchenkonvoi and Ukraine aid.
• Old Tablers DeutschlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer Round Table members (after age 40) form Old Tablers. They maintain close ties and collaborate on projects, events, and provide mentorship to active tables.
• Agora Club Tangent DeutschlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFollow-on organization for former Ladies' Circle members, operating alongside RT, OT, and LC as part of the Round Table family.
• Stiftung Round Table DeutschlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Round Table Germany Foundation provides the institutional framework for managing donations and organizing charitable projects.
• Round Table InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational umbrella organization connecting Round Table clubs across 55 countries, enabling cross-border charitable projects and the Euromeeting program.
• Freunde Helfen KonvoicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border humanitarian aid organization that Round Table Germany supports, delivering medical and humanitarian supplies to Ukraine, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Optimist International: Service club for volunteers focused on youth programs, with local clubs running community service initiatives. Comparable in federated member-run structure and youth-impact focus.
• Civitan International: Service-club federation with local chapters focused on community service and disability/special-needs programs (parallel to Bananenflankenliga). Comparable in member-led local service model and international structure.
• JCI (Junior Chamber International): Global network of young professionals (typically 18–40) running community service and leadership projects. Mirrors Round Table's age-cohort, member-led service model, and international federation structure.
• Kiwanis International: International service-club federation with local clubs running charitable and youth-focused programs (similar to Badelotsen and Bananenflankenliga). Comparable in structure, member-driven service execution, and presence in Germany.
• Rotary International: The largest international service-club network for professionals, with local chapters running charitable projects. Closest comparable to Round Table in mission, member-led service model, and international federated structure, though Rotary is open to both genders and operates on a larger scale.
• Sertoma International: U.S.-based service club federation with local clubs serving community needs, including youth and hearing-health programs. Comparable in member-led federated service model, though geographically focused on the U.S.
• Lions Club International: Global service-club organization with local chapters executing community service projects. Directly comparable to Round Table in federated membership-based service model, fundraising activities, and focus on community impact.
• Ladies' Circle Deutschland: Side-by-side partner organization of Round Table Germany for women aged 18–45, operating local 'tables' and collaborating on shared service projects (Weihnachtspäckchenkonvoi, Ukraine aid). Most direct structural peer in the German market.
• Old Tablers Deutschland: Alumni network for former Round Table members over 40, continuing the federated local-club model and charitable activity. Direct peer in governance structure and ongoing service execution.
• Agora Club Tangent Deutschland: Follow-on organization for former Ladies' Circle members, operating as part of the Round Table family. Closely comparable in federated structure and small-scale local service focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/365010032321271
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/round-table-deutschland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Round Table Germany