What United4Rescue does

United4Rescue — Gemeinsam Retten e.V. is a German-registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in December 2019 and headquartered in Hannover at Herrenhäuser Straße 12. The organization operates as a broad civil society alliance that mobilizes financial, political, and logistical support for civilian sea rescue operations, primarily in the Mediterranean but increasingly across other European migration routes including the Atlantic, English Channel, and Balkan land border. Its founding followed a resolution by the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) in November 2019, and the alliance has since grown to 1,029+ partner organizations and 10,000+ individual donors as of 2026. The organization's stated mission is to support rescue NGOs operating where European state actors fail to provide adequate search-and-rescue capacity, and it claims 175,000 cumulative lives saved through the broader civil sea rescue effort over the past decade.

The organization's core activity is fundraising and capital deployment into a defined "alliance fleet" of rescue assets. It has channeled over €2.5 million into vessel and aircraft purchases since 2020, including the Sea-Watch 4 (€1.25M, 2020), SEA-EYE 4 (€434K, 2020), Sea-Watch 5 (€200K, 2022), SEA-EYE 5 (€465K, 2024), and the Seabird 3 reconnaissance aircraft (€170K, 2025). These assets are operated by partner rescue NGOs — Sea-Watch, SOS Humanity, Sea-Eye, SOS Mediterranee, RESQSHIP, CompassCollective, and the Humanitarian Pilots Initiative — which receive ongoing operational grants (typically €200,000+ per ship annually for the largest partners). Revenue derives from one-time and recurring individual donations (with suggested amounts of €25, €50, €100), supporting memberships (Fördermitgliedschaft), merchandise sales through an online shop, and structured crowdfunding campaigns. The technology stack is entirely non-proprietary: a FundraisingBox-powered donation platform, MailChimp newsletter delivery, Google Analytics and Ads, and standard payment processors (SEPA, PayPal, Micropayment via 256-bit SSL).

Distribution occurs through the organization's own digital channels — a trilingual (German/English/Italian) website, social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube), a twice-monthly newsletter, and a blog called Logbuch — alongside a church and community network that collects donations during services and organizes benefit events, film screenings, and theme services. The organization runs with a very lean paid staff of six (Campaigning & Fundraising, Donation administration & Alliance Coordination, Public Relations, Geschäftsführung, and alliance coordination), with an entirely volunteer board of directors chaired by Dr. Thies Gundlach. Primary beneficiaries are the operating rescue NGOs that deploy the funded fleet; end beneficiaries are migrants and refugees in distress at sea and at EU external borders.

Name

United4Rescue

Legal name

United4Rescue — Gemeinsam Retten e.V.

Website

https://united4rescue.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

United4Rescue is a German non-profit civil society alliance, founded in 2019, that funds and coordinates civilian sea rescue across the Mediterranean and other migration routes. It channels donations into a fleet of rescue vessels and aircraft operated by partner rescue NGOs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian Pooled Funds & Rapid Response Financing (BPADAOAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trust Funds & Multi-Donor Pooled Funds (BPADAOAE), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)

Keywords

• Civilian sea rescue
• Humanitarian aid
• Mediterranean rescue
• Refugee support
• Civil society alliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Hannover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters. Donors can give via online form (direct debit, credit card, PayPal), bank transfer, or set up Dauerspenden (standing orders).
2. Supporting Membership (Fördermitgliedschaft): Recurring monthly membership fees with self-determined amounts. Members receive annual donation receipts and are invited to the annual meeting.
3. Merchandise Sales: The United4Rescue online shop sells clothing and accessories (hoodies, T-shirts, bags) featuring rescue-themed designs. Products are produced ecologically and fairly through Bündnispartner dna-merch.
4. Fundraising Campaigns: Individuals and organizations can start dedicated fundraising campaigns for specific events (marathons, concerts, weddings) with proceeds going to United4Rescue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

United4Rescue operates a donation-funded civil society alliance that collects monetary contributions from individuals and organizations and channels them into a grant program supporting civilian sea rescue NGOs operating in the Mediterranean. The alliance funds the purchase, conversion, and operation of rescue vessels (Humanity 1, Sea-Watch 5, SEA-EYE 5, Humanity 2) and a reconnaissance aircraft (Seabird 3), while also providing campaign materials, a merchandise shop, and policy advocacy at the EU level.

Product overview

United4Rescue is a broad civil society alliance supporting civilian sea rescue in the Mediterranean. The organization operates a donation platform enabling one-time and recurring donations, an online fundraising campaign system, and a merchandise shop selling clothing and bags. They coordinate an alliance fleet of rescue vessels (Humanity 1, Sea-Watch 5, SEA-EYE 5, Humanity 2) and an aircraft (Seabird 3), all funded through donations and their grant program that supports over 20 rescue organizations. The organization also provides campaign materials, publishes a newsletter, and manages an alliance partnership network of over 1,000 organizations. All products and services are offered free or at low cost to support the humanitarian mission of saving lives at sea.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Donation Platform
• Online Fundraising Campaigns
• United4Rescue Shop
• Alliance Partnership (Bündnispartner)
• Funding Program (Förderprogramm)
• Supporting Membership (Fördermitgliedschaft)

Quantifiable outcome

• 175,000 lives saved through civil sea rescue efforts supported by the alliance
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Integration9 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sea-EyecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2020Rescue organization operating SEA-EYE 4 and SEA-EYE 5 alliance ships. United4Rescue funded €434,000 for SEA-EYE 4 purchase and €465,000 for SEA-EYE 5 co-purchase.
• SOS HumanitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2020Rescue organization that took over Sea-Watch 4, now operating it as Humanity 1. Received €200,000+ annually for operational costs. Also operating Humanity 2, a sailing rescue ship.
• Sea-WatchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2019Primary rescue organization operating alliance ships. United4Rescue co-purchased and funded Sea-Watch 4 and Sea-Watch 5. Sea-Watch provides operational management of rescue missions and crew.
• Ärzte ohne Grenzen (Doctors Without Borders)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitially provided medical support aboard Sea-Watch 4, including a 4-person medical team with doctor and midwife plus two staff for communication and vulnerable persons support.
• SOS MediterraneeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates the Ocean Viking rescue ship. United4Rescue provided €170,000 for Ocean Viking conversions and maintenance in 2020.
• RESQSHIPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman rescue organization operating sailing ship NADIR for monitoring and rescue in central Mediterranean. Received €50,000-80,000 annually for operations and shipyard work.
• CompassCollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates TROTAMAR III sailing vessel for search and rescue missions between Tunisia and Lampedusa. United4Rescue funded conversions, repairs, and mission costs totaling €38,000+.
• Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding institutional supporter that initiated the #wirschickeneinschiff campaign. Rat und Synode der EKD decided in November 2019 to support civilian sea rescue through a broad civil society alliance.
• Humanitarian Pilots Initiative (HPI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer pilots operating reconnaissance aircraft. United4Rescue helped purchase Seabird 3 aircraft for €170,000 to enable observation flights over Mediterranean and Atlantic.
• Utopia 56minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench organization providing emergency aid to refugees attempting to cross the English Channel. United4Rescue provided €30,000-50,000 annually for operational support.
• Grupa GranicaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolish network providing humanitarian aid for migrants at the Belarus-Poland border. Egala association within the network received €60,000 for winter emergency aid.
• dna-merchminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProduction partner for United4Rescue merchandise shop. Produces hoodies, T-shirts, and bags ecologically and fairly.
• Ben & Jerry'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIce cream company supporting United4Rescue as an alliance partner.
• Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman Trade Union Confederation is an alliance partner supporting civilian sea rescue.
• World Vision DeutschlandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDevelopment organization as alliance partner supporting sea rescue efforts.
• Koordinierungsrat der Muslime in Deutschland (KRM)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCoordination Council of Muslims in Germany as interfaith alliance partner.
• Stadt Palermo / Bürgermeister Leoluca OrlandominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCity of Palermo and its mayor were founding members and supported during the Alan Kurdi crisis. Palermo is designated as a 'Safe Harbor' (Sicherer Hafen).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sea-Eye: German sea rescue organization operating SEA-EYE 4 and SEA-EYE 5, co-financed by United4Rescue. Closely comparable in mission scope, German organizational base, and Mediterranean operations.
• Sea-Watch: German civilian sea rescue NGO that operates alliance ships co-funded by United4Rescue (Sea-Watch 4, Sea-Watch 5). Most direct operational peer with shared mission, geography, and donor base.
• SOS Humanity: Sea rescue organization operating Humanity 1 and Humanity 2 alliance ships with multi-hundred-thousand euro annual support from United4Rescue. Same operating model and target geography.
• SOS Méditerranée: European maritime-humanitarian organization operating the Ocean Viking in the Central Mediterranean, which received United4Rescue conversion and maintenance funding. Directly comparable mission and geographic focus.
• RESQSHIP: German NGO operating the sailing vessel NADIR for monitoring and rescue in the Central Mediterranean, supported annually by United4Rescue. Niche but directly comparable German sea rescue peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/united4rescue
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united4rescue

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 United4Rescue