Führungs-Akademie des DOSB e.V.

What Führungs-Akademie des DOSB e.V. does

Führungs-Akademie des DOSB e.V. is the official non-profit leadership academy of the Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund (DOSB), Germany's national Olympic committee and peak sports federation. Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Cologne (with legal registration in Berlin Charlottenburg), the organization delivers continuing education, consulting, and member services for sports federations, state and district associations, clubs, and individual executives and volunteers across the German organized sports system. It operates as a registered association (e.V.) under the institutional umbrella of the DOSB.

Its product portfolio spans multi-module certification programs (DOSB-Verbandsmanager*in, Digitalisierungsmanager*in, Change Manager*in, Datenschutzkoordinator*in, JUMP Junior Management), executive leadership programs (Führungskräfte-Programme, TOP-Managementprogramm, Spot On! VR/AI training), organizational consulting (change management, Leitbild development, Safe Sport strategy, Olympic bid dialogue forums), and member services including the Datenschutzportal, Rechtstelegramm legal newsletter, coaching, and diagnostic tools (Digitalisierungscheck, Satzungscheck, Website-Check). Technology footprint is light: no proprietary platform, with delivery via in-person seminars at partner training venues and digital formats (Zoom, webinars); the notable technical component is the use of Virtual Reality combined with AI-based feedback in the Spot On! presentation-skills program.

The business model combines revenue from certification and seminar fees (tiered by DOSB-membership status, with member rates typically 30–50% below non-member rates), bespoke in-house training contracts, consulting engagements, the Rechtstelegramm annual subscription, and institutional co-funding from the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. Go-to-market is primarily sales-led and community-led, relying on the DOSB member network, alumni referrals, and partner organizations such as FLVW, Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln, Universität Bern, and Save the Children. The academy employs approximately 11 staff and does not publicly disclose revenue.

Name

Führungs-Akademie des DOSB e.V.

Legal name

Führungs-Akademie des Deutschen Olympischen Sportbundes e.V.

Website

https://fuehrungs-akademie.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The official non-profit leadership academy of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), delivering certification programs, leadership development, consulting, and member services for German sports federations, associations, clubs, and their executives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Leadership Development and Association Management Education

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD)

Keywords

• Sports leadership training
• Association management education
• Executive coaching services
• Sports governance consulting
• Organizational development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Hennef

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Continuing Education & Seminar Fees: Revenue from individual seminar and webinar registrations. Pricing is tiered by membership status (members pay lower rates). Individual courses range from 65 EUR (members) for short webinars to 340 EUR for full-day seminars. The core offering includes professional development programs for sports organization leaders and staff.
2. Certification Program Fees: Revenue from structured certification programs such as DOSB-Verbandsmanager*in (1,850 EUR members / 2,750 EUR non-members), Digitalisierungsmanager*in (375 EUR members / 565 EUR non-members), and JUMP Junior Management Program (1,250 EUR members / 1,900 EUR non-members). Programs span multiple modules over several months and are not individually bookable.
3. Consulting & Organizational Development Services: Revenue from organizational consulting engagements with sports federations and associations. Services include change management, Leitbild development, Safe Sport strategy development, and strategic association development. Delivered as custom workshops or long-term advisory engagements.
4. Inhouse-Qualifizierungen: Customized in-house training programs for member organizations, priced individually based on scope and contract terms. Revenue recognized under separate contract agreements for organizational clients.
5. Membership Services & Publications: Member organizations access exclusive services including the Datenschutzportal, Rechtstelegramm (legal newsletter at ~33 EUR/year), coaching pool, and publications. Membership is tied to DOSB membership; member organizations pay reduced seminar fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Führungs-Akademie des DOSB e.V. is the official leadership academy of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and provides continuing education, certified qualification programs, leadership development, and organizational consulting services to sports federations, associations, clubs, and their leaders across Germany. The core portfolio includes multi-module certification programs (e.g., DOSB-Verbandsmanager*in, Digitalisierungsmanager*in, Datenschutzkoordinator*in, Change Manager*in), leadership programs (Führungskräfte-Programme, JUMP, TOP-Managementprogramm), consulting on change management, Safe Sport, and Leitbild development, and member services such as the Datenschutzportal, Rechtstelegramm, and coaching pool.

Product overview

Führungs-Akademie des DOSB e.V. is a training and continuing education institution for the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), offering a comprehensive portfolio of certification programs, leadership development, consulting services, and member resources for sports organizations. The core offerings include certified qualification programs (DOSB Verbandsmanager*in, Digitalisierungsmanager*in, Datenschutzkoordinator*in, Change Manager*in) and leadership programs (Führungskräfte-Programme, JUMP Junior Management, TOP-Management). These are complemented by consulting services for organizational development, change management, and Safe Sport implementation, as well as member services including a Datenschutzportal, Rechtstelegramm, coaching, and various diagnostic tools (Digitalisierungscheck, Satzungscheck, Website-Check). The organization also maintains a Forum & Wissenschaft platform addressing digitalization and AI topics, and delivers online learning through webinar series like Führungsfunken and hybrid formats combining digital and in-person sessions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Führungskräfte-Programme Modular leadership programs for executives in organized sports, combining practice-oriented knowledge with valuable exchange in a fixed network of engaged colleagues.
• DOSB Verbandsmanager*in Blended learning qualification program for persons in management and leadership positions in sports associations, based on the Freiburg Management Model for Non-Profit Organizations. Three modules covering system management, marketing management, and change management.
• Digitalisierungsmanager*in 4-module practice-oriented program teaching strategy, change management, and tools to digitally transform sports clubs and associations.
• Datenschutzkoordinator*in Training to become a data protection coordinator acting as liaison between external data protection officers, responsible board members, and staff in clubs or associations. Includes course materials and final certificate.
• Change Manager*in Qualification program for change management in sports organizations.
• JUMP – Junior Management Programm Three-module training program for young talents in sports clubs and associations, developing personal, social, and methodological competencies for future leadership challenges.
• TOP-Managementprogramm Management program for executives, directors, and leadership figures from top sports associations, focusing on modern leadership in dynamic environments.
• Spot On! – Ihr Auftritt im Sport Innovative intensive training using Virtual Reality, AI-based feedback, peer feedback, and video analysis to improve presentation skills, presence, and communication.
• Beratungsleistungen (Consulting Services) Strategic association development and organizational consulting for sports associations, clubs, and umbrella organizations, including change management, mission statement development, Safe Sport consulting, and Olympic bid dialogue forums.
• Safe Sport Beratung Consulting and process support for sports associations to effectively embed Safe Sport in structures, culture, and daily operations.
• Inhouse-Qualifizierungen Customized in-house training programs for member organizations (sports federations, associations, clubs), delivered at the client's site and priced individually based on scope.
• Frauen in Führung (Women in Leadership) Targeted program portfolio supporting women in sports organizations, including the Women's Leadership Program and women-specific seminars addressing communication, governance advancement, and mentorship.
• Datenschutzportal Online member platform with information on data protection topics for members of the Führungs-Akademie.
• Rechtstelegramm Annual subscription legal newsletter providing information and practical assistance on legal questions in club and association work, starting from 33 EUR per year.
• Coaching Individual coaching services for personal clarity, orientation, and development in sports organizations.
• Digitalisierungscheck Service to assess digitalization status and readiness of member organizations.
• Satzungscheck Expert review of club and association statutes for members.
• Website-Check Certification and tips for legally compliant website design for members.
• Krisen-PR Crisis PR support service for member organizations.
• Forum & Wissenschaft Forum platform addressing digitalization, AI in sports, digital accessibility, crisis management, and the Cologne Sports Lecture (Kölner Sportrede).
• Führungsfunken Webinar Series Digital compact webinar series covering leadership topics including Servant Leadership, Lateral Leadership, Agility Self-Check, Managing Young Talent, Team Development, and Psychological Safety.
• Standard Seminars and Webinars Individual seminars and webinars of varying duration (2 hours to 2 days), covering Servant Leadership, Talent Management, Design Thinking, LEGO Serious Play, conversational guidance for cases of interpersonal violence, current case law on club and association law, and related leadership topics.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 years of experience supporting sports organizations in Germany
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• Universität Bern (Institute of Sport Science)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe academy supports the University of Bern's research project 'Who Drives Digitalisation in Sport Organisations?' examining the roles, competencies, and structures of digitalization managers in sports organizations. The academy contributes expertise and supports participant recruitment for the online survey component. The project aims to develop role profiles, identify success factors, and derive practical recommendations for digital transformation in sports associations.
• Save the Children Deutschland e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Save the Children for Safe Sport and child protection training. Save the Children provides expert trainers (e.g., Britt Kalla, Senior Referentin Safeguarding) for academy seminars on the responsible use of children's images in sports and related safeguarding topics. The partnership strengthens the academy's Safe Sport portfolio with specialized child welfare expertise.
• Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln (German Sport University Cologne)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in the continuing education master's program 'Führung und Management im Spitzensport' (Leadership and Management in Elite Sports). The academy sponsors a research project on decision-making processes of sports directors in German elite sports federations, conducted under the academic supervision of the Psychological Institute of the German Sport University Cologne. The project is led by Jana Ebert (German Gymnastics Federation) and André Brendel (German Canoe Federation).
• FLVW (Fuß- und Leichtathletik-Verband Westfalen)keyGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing partnership for leadership program delivery. The FLVW has run five-plus rounds of the U30 Leadership Program and a Women's Leadership Program with the academy. The FLVW sponsors participants' enrollment costs and provides ongoing mentorship and support to program graduates. Alumni from the program have progressed into governance roles within the FLVW and its affiliated clubs and districts.
• DOSB (Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund e.V.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe academy is the official leadership academy of the DOSB. The DOSB provides institutional backing, member network access, and strategic alignment. The academy's Director Wigbert Walter is a member of the DOSB Direktion. The academy developed the official 'DOSB-Verbandsmanager*in' certification program and supports DOSB initiatives including Safe Sport strategy and Olympic bid dialogue forums.
• Deutsche BahnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDeutsche Bahn provides discounted CO2-neutral event tickets (starting from 16.19 EUR) for seminar participants traveling to academy events. Booking is handled via a link provided in the seminar confirmation email. The partnership reduces barriers to in-person attendance and supports sustainability goals.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• IOC Olympic Solidarity: The IOC's program delivering education, training, and development support to National Olympic Committees worldwide. Broader geographic scope than Führungs-Akademie and serves a wider portfolio of NOC development needs.

Direct peers

• DFB-Akademie: The German Football Association's training center in Frankfurt, delivering education and development programs for football officials, coaches, and administrators in Germany. Direct in-country peer for German sport-association leadership training.
• LaLiga Business School: Spanish LaLiga's educational institution delivering executive and management programs for the football industry. Direct comparable in providing sport-specific leadership and management training through a national league/federation.
• UEFA Academy: The educational arm of UEFA, providing leadership, management, and coaching education to European football associations. Closely comparable structure to Führungs-Akademie des DOSB, but operating at the pan-European level for football only.
• The FA Learning (England Football Learning): The English FA's education platform offering coaching, safeguarding, and governance training for the English football ecosystem. Comparable function as a national-federation-affiliated education provider.

Emerging players

• SRH Hochschule Heidelberg: German private university with sport management and event management programs. Adjacent educational provider competing for the same pool of German sport executives seeking professional development credentials.
• IST Hochschule für Management: German private university of applied sciences offering bachelor's and master's degrees in sport management. Adjacent competitor in sport-management education within the German market, with formal degree credentials the academy cannot offer.

Others

• ADG Akademie Deutscher Genossenschaften: German academy providing management training and consulting to cooperatives and associations. Comparable structure as a member-based, German continuing-education provider, though focused on cooperative rather than sport governance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/f%C3%BChrungs-akademie-dosb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Führungs-Akademie des DOSB e.V.