DLRG Landesverband Schleswig-Holstein e. V.

What DLRG Landesverband Schleswig-Holstein e. V. does

DLRG Landesverband Schleswig-Holstein e.V. is a non-profit registered association (eingetragener Verein) headquartered in Eckernförde that operates as the Schleswig-Holstein state chapter of the Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft, Germany's largest water rescue organization. Founded in 1926, the organization provides drowning prevention, swimming education, professional lifeguard services at 43 coastal stations along the North and Baltic Seas, disaster preparedness, and youth development programs. It serves a tripartite constituency: beach visitors and tourists during the summer season, children and youth learning to swim, and government emergency services requiring civil protection capacity. The organization operates on a volunteer-driven model with only 5 paid staff, supported by approximately 6,400 active volunteers, 36,400+ members, and over 3,500 trained lifeguards deployed seasonally.

The core technology stack is operationally physical rather than digital: rescue boats, communication systems, diving equipment, helicopter rescue gear (Air-Rescue-Specialists in partnership with Bundespolizei), and the innovative Schwimm-Mobil and Mobiles Schwimmbecken mobile swimming facilities. Digital infrastructure is limited to standard web technologies (Google Analytics, Tag Manager, Sentry monitoring, FundraisingBox donation platform, YouTube video embedding). The product portfolio is service-based: Wasserrettungsdienst (water rescue), Schwimmausbildung and Rettungsschwimmausbildung (swimming and lifeguard certification), Katastrophenschutz (disaster relief), Einsatztauchen (dive operations), Erste Hilfe (first aid), Jugend-Einsatz-Teams (youth emergency teams), seminars/webinars, and the DLRG Stiftung Schleswig-Holstein endowment foundation.

The revenue model is a diversified non-profit mix: recurring membership fees from 36,400+ members, donations (online, occasion-based, recurring, testamentary, condolence), foundation endowment returns via DLRG Stiftung Schleswig-Holstein (housed under Föerde Sparkasse's Stiftergemeinschaft), and government grants from the Schleswig-Holstein state for civil protection, swimming education, and Schwimm-Mobil programs. The organization operates through a decentralized network of over 100 local chapters (Ortsgruppen) plus direct digital channels for membership enrollment and donation processing. Distribution channels include the local chapters, 43 coastal lifeguard stations, mobile swimming units, and the online platform. Recent strategic themes include the 2025 leadership transition, the 100-year anniversary in 2026, and an advocacy coalition pushing for state-level swimming infrastructure investment.

Name

DLRG Landesverband Schleswig-Holstein e. V.

Legal name

Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft Landesverband Schleswig-Holstein e.V.

Website

https://sh.dlrg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DLRG Landesverband Schleswig-Holstein e.V. is a 100-year-old German non-profit water rescue organization operating 43 coastal lifeguard stations, swimming education programs, and disaster response services across Schleswig-Holstein through 100+ local chapters and 36,400+ members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Rescue and Lifeguard Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAAABAL

Water Safety, Lifeguarding & Training Services (Staffing, Certification)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Water Parks

SECONDARYEDAOAMAJ

Lifeguard, Water Rescue & Aquatic Safety Training

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Protective Services & Public Safety Training

SECONDARYHLAJAGAJ

Search & Rescue (Urban/Water/Wilderness) Coordination

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Response & EMS Coordination

SECONDARYTLAHAIAA

Emergency Towage & Rescue (Disabled Vessel Assistance)

Transportation & Logistics/Ports, Terminals & Maritime Services/Marine Salvage, Wreck Removal & Emergency Response

Keywords

• Water rescue services
• Swimming education
• Lifeguard certification
• Civil protection
• Drowning prevention

Headquarters

HQ city

Eckernförde

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership fees from over 36,400 members in Schleswig-Holstein
2. Donations: Online donations, occasion-based donations (birthdays, weddings), recurring donations, testamentary donations, and condolence donations
3. Foundation funding: DLRG Stiftung Schleswig-Holstein provides funding from endowment returns for water safety projects
4. Government grants: State funding for swimming education initiatives, population protection, and disaster preparedness from Schleswig-Holstein government

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DLRG Landesverband Schleswig-Holstein e.V. is a non-profit water rescue and swimming education organization that provides professional lifeguard services at approximately 43 coastal stations along the North Sea and Baltic Sea, swimming instruction and lifeguard certification training, disaster relief and civil protection operations including flood rescue, youth development programs, and specialized rescue services such as helicopter-based extraction and dive operations. The organization also funds and deploys mobile swimming instruction units (Schwimm-Mobil and Mobiles Schwimmbecken) to communities lacking swimming facilities.

Product overview

DLRG Landesverband Schleswig-Holstein e.V. is a non-profit water rescue organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of services centered on drowning prevention and water safety. The core offerings include swimming training (Schwimmausbildung) and lifeguard certification (Rettungsschwimmausbildung), supplemented by operational water rescue services (Wasserrettungsdienst) and disaster relief (Katastrophenschutz). The organization operates mobile units including the Schwimm-Mobil and Mobiles Schwimmbecken for flexible swimming instruction, specialized units such as Air-Rescue-Specialists for helicopter water rescue and Einsatztauchen for dive operations, and youth programs including Jugend-Einsatz-Teams (JET). Educational services encompass seminars, training courses, and webinars, while the DLRG Stiftung provides fundraising and endowment support. Additional programs include seagrass restoration, federal volunteer service, child protection measures, and the Peter Petersen Award funding program. The organization operates the DLRG-Jugend youth wing and provides regatta security services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DLRG-Jugend Schleswig-Holstein: Youth organization of DLRG Schleswig-Holstein focused on youth work and development of young lifesavers
• DLRG Stiftung Schleswig-Holstein
• Schwimm-Mobil
• Landeszentrum

Products and services

• Wasserrettungsdienst (Water Rescue Service) Professional lifeguard services providing beach surveillance and water rescue during the bathing season at coasts and inland waters, with approximately 3,500 volunteer lifeguards deployed at 43+ coastal stations from May to September.
• Schwimmausbildung (Swimming Training)

Quantifiable outcome

• 177 people rescued from drowning in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Schleswig-Holsteinischer Schwimmverband (SHSV)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Joint advocacy for swimming infrastructure and education policy through shared positions paper on water safety and swimming education in schools.
• Landessportverband Schleswig-Holstein (LSV)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Partnership for joint policy positions on swimming facility infrastructure and school swimming programs.
• AG Bäder Schleswig-HolsteincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Coalition advocating for public swimming pool infrastructure, bathhouse renovation, and sustainable funding models for aquatic facilities.
• Bundespolizei (Federal Police)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2025Air-Rescue-Specialists (ARS) training program at Bundespolizei helicopter facilities. DLRG coordinates with federal police for helicopter-based water rescue operations across 6 nationwide locations, including Winsen/Luhe training site.
• DRK Wasserwacht Schleswig-HolsteincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2025Joint training exercises for Air-Rescue-Specialists combining DLRG and DRK water rescue capabilities. Organizations coordinate helicopter-based water rescue operations and share training resources.
• Förde Sparkasse (Stiftergemeinschaft)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2011Trust foundation structure for DLRG Stiftung Schleswig-Holstein under Förde Sparkasse umbrella, providing tax-efficient donation vehicle and endowment management.
• Gemeinde RellingenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality actively supporting the mobile swimming pool project by providing venue and logistical assistance.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI): UK-based charity operating lifeboat rescue and coastal lifeguard services, with extensive swimming education programs. Comparable as a large established non-profit water rescue organization with coastal, lifeguard, and prevention programs.
• Malteser Hilfsdienst: German emergency medical service and civil protection organization recognized as one of the five federal emergency aid organizations. Comparable as a parallel recognized Hilfsorganisation with similar mission scope in disaster preparedness.
• Surf Life Saving Australia: Australian volunteer-based coastal rescue and lifeguard organization with lifeguard training, beach safety programs, and youth development. Comparable internationally as a coastal volunteer lifeguard organization with parallel service portfolio.
• Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe: German emergency aid organization providing civil protection, rescue, and medical services. Comparable as another of the five recognized emergency organizations with overlapping civil protection activities and similar membership-driven model.
• Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB): One of Germany's five officially recognized emergency aid organizations alongside DLRG, providing civil protection, rescue services, and emergency response. Comparable as a similarly structured non-profit with overlapping civil protection mandate.
• United States Lifesaving Association (USLA): US non-profit association of open-water lifeguard professionals providing beach lifeguard training, certification, and standards. Comparable to DLRG SH's lifeguard training and certification arm across an Atlantic/Pacific coastal context.

Direct peers

• DRK Wasserwacht Schleswig-Holstein: German Red Cross water rescue organization in Schleswig-Holstein offering lifeguard training, water rescue, and youth programs. DLRG SH explicitly partners with this organization for joint Air-Rescue-Specialist training, indicating highly overlapping activities in the same state.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbrüchiger (DGzRS): Germany's maritime search-and-rescue society operating rescue vessels along North and Baltic Sea coasts. Directly comparable as a non-profit coastal rescue organization that shares operational geography and mission with DLRG SH, and was a co-recipient of the 87K EUR VR Bank donation.
• Wasserwacht Bayern: Bavarian water rescue service under the BRK (Bavarian Red Cross) providing lifeguard training, water rescue, and youth water safety programs. Operates an equivalent service portfolio to DLRG SH under different organizational branding.

Regional players

• DLRG Niedersachsen: Sister state chapter of DLRG covering Lower Saxony with same operating model (lifeguarding, swimming education, civil protection). Comparable as a peer Landesverband under the DLRG national umbrella but serving a different state geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dlrg-landesverband-schleswig-holstein

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 DLRG Landesverband Schleswig-Holstein e. V.