dpsg

What dpsg does

DPSG (Deutsche Pfadfinder*innenschaft Sankt Georg) is Germany's largest Catholic scouting association, founded in 1929 and registered as a non-profit association (Bundesamt Sankt Georg e.V.) headquartered in Mönchengladbach, Germany. It serves approximately 80,000–95,000 members organized into five age-based sections — Bibergruppe, Wölflingsstufe (6+), Jungpfadfinderstufe (9+), Pfadistufe (12+), and Roverstufe (15+) — supported by roughly 20,000 volunteer adult leaders (Leiter*innen). Programs are delivered through a nationwide network of parish-affiliated local troops (Stämme), diocesan branches, and the Westernohe national training center, with structured age-progression curricula covering outdoor adventure, democratic participation, ecological awareness, critical consumption, political education, and spiritual development.

The organization's technology footprint is deliberately conservative and open-source: the public website runs on Drupal CMS, supported by Piwik/Matomo analytics, LimeSurvey for surveys, CleverReach for email newsletters, Google Maps for the troop-finder, and a WhatsApp broadcast channel for member communications. DPSG maintains a WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility commitment (partially conformant as of December 2025) and is GDPR/DS-GVO/KDG-compliant. There is no proprietary software product, no mobile app, no API surface, and no AI/ML capability disclosed.

DPSG's business model is a classic non-profit association model: recurring membership dues collected at the local troop level, annual fundraising campaigns (Jahresaktion) running since 1962, donations routed through a dedicated foundation (Stiftung Pfadfinder*innenschaft) and a Friends-of-DPSG association, and public/government funding accessed through its BDKJ membership and Catholic institutional channels. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market motion is community-led: recruitment happens through parish and diocesan networks, word-of-mouth among existing member families, and a digital presence (website, social media segmented by age cohort, newsletter, WhatsApp). Strategic and operating partnerships with BDKJ, ICCS, the Ring deutscher Pfadfinder*innenverbände (rdp), scout associations in France/Near East/South Africa/Bolivia/Rwanda, and the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb) extend institutional reach beyond what membership alone would provide.

Name

dpsg

Legal name

Deutsche Pfadfinderschaft Sankt Georg

Website

https://dpsg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Short description

DPSG is Germany's largest Catholic scouting association, founded in 1929 and serving roughly 80,000–95,000 children, youth, and adult leaders through a nationwide network of parish-affiliated local troops and diocesan branches. It delivers age-based outdoor, civic, and spiritual programs funded by membership dues, donations, and public subsidies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Scouting Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Growth Mindset, Motivation & Goal-Setting Programs (EDAMAIAE), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Youth scouting programs
• Scout leadership training
• Youth development services
• Catholic youth association
• Outdoor adventure camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Mönchengladbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Members pay annual dues/contributions to participate in the DPSG. The organization is a registered non-profit association (Bundesamt Sankt Georg e.V.) relying on membership fees as a primary revenue stream.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The DPSG raises funds through its annual campaigns (Jahresaktion), direct donations (Spenden), and a dedicated foundation (Pfadfinder-Stiftung). Fundraising campaigns focus on themes such as disability inclusion, international justice, and ecology.
3. Public/Government Funding: As a large youth organization affiliated with the Catholic Church and part of BDKJ (Bund der Deutschen Katholischen Jugend), the DPSG may receive public funding and subsidies for specific programs, international youth exchanges, and youth welfare activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

DPSG delivers structured, age-based scouting programs for children, youth, and young adults organized into five tiers (Biber, Wölflings, Jungpfadfinder, Pfadi, Rover), complemented by adult volunteer leader training (Leiter*innen-Ausbildung) and themed educational programming in political education, ecology, critical consumption, participation, and spirituality. Programs are delivered through local parish-affiliated troops, diocesan branches, and the Westernohe national training center, and supplemented by a digital adventure resource (100Abenteuer).

Product overview

The DPSG (Deutsche Pfadfinderschaft Sankt Georg) is Germany's largest Catholic scouting association founded in 1929, serving approximately 80,000-95,000 members across all ages. The organization offers a structured five-tier age-based scouting program: Bibergruppen (under 6), Wölflingsstufe (6+), Jungpfadfinderstufe (9+), Pfadistufe (12+), and Roverstufe (15+), with leadership training available from age 18. Beyond the core scouting programs organized by age groups, DPSG provides thematic educational offerings including political education (Methodenfächer), ecological programs (Ökologie), critical consumption awareness (Kritischer Konsum), youth participation (Teilhabe), and international exchange initiatives. The organization also operates the 100Abenteuer website as a supplementary resource for scout activities and adventures. DPSG is structured across diocesan associations and is co-educational, with male and female members learning and playing together in groups organized by similar age.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 100Abenteuer: Online platform providing adventure ideas and activities for DPSG members
• Zeltgeflüster
• Westernohe
• Kobold
• Rüsthaus

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80,000 members across Germany participating in weekly group sessions, camps, and annual campaigns
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bund der Deutschen Katholischen Jugend (BDKJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DPSG is an active member of the BDKJ, the umbrella organization of Catholic youth associations in Germany. This membership provides institutional representation, shared advocacy on youth policy issues, and access to collective resources and campaigns.
• International Catholic Conference of Scouting (ICCS) / Internationale Katholische Konferenz des PfadfindertumscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DPSG is an active member of ICCS, the international Catholic scout conference that coordinates Catholic scouting worldwide. This provides access to global Catholic scouting networks and joint international programs.
• Ring deutscher Pfadfinder*innenverbände (rdp)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DPSG is one of five German scout associations that collaborate within the rdp (Ring deutscher Pfadfinder*innenverbände). The rdp coordinates shared activities, participation in world scouting events, and joint advocacy at the national level.
• Pfadfinder*innen France (French Scout Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DPSG maintains a long-standing partnership with French scouts, including joint events, exchanges, and a German-French commission (Deutsch-Französische Kommission).
• Scout Partners in the Middle EastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DPSG has partnerships with scout associations in the Middle East region, facilitating cross-cultural exchange and international youth encounters.
• South African Scout AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DPSG maintains a partnership with scouts in South Africa as part of its international friendship and solidarity program, connected to the annual campaign themes of international justice.
• Scout Partners in BoliviaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DPSG has a partnership with scouts in Bolivia as part of its international justice and global solidarity programming.
• Scout Partners in RwandaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DPSG maintains a partnership with scouts in Rwanda as part of its international justice programming, including study trips and exchanges.
• Freundinnen & Freunde der DPSG (Friends of DPSG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Freundinnen & Freunde der DPSG (Friends of DPSG) association supports the work of the DPSG through fundraising, advocacy, and network building.
• Stiftung Pfadfinder*innenschaft (DPSG Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DPSG has a dedicated foundation (Stiftung Pfadfinder*innenschaft) that supports the association's charitable work, youth programs, inclusion initiatives, and international projects through donations and endowment income.
• Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe bpb (Federal Agency for Civic Education) supports the DPSG's political education programs and methods, including the Methodenfächer 'Pfadfinden ist politisch' initiative.
• International Commissioner (IC) / Paul KlahrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe International Commissioner (voluntary, unpaid position) represents the DPSG in international relations, conferences, and bilateral contacts with national scout organizations. Currently held by Paul Klahre. Supported by the International Working Group (IAK) and full-time staff at the federal office.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bund der Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder (BdP): Germany's interconfessional scout association and member of the same rdp ring as DPSG. Directly comparable on youth scouting programs, age tiers, volunteer-led local troop model, and federal structure across Germany.
• Verband Christlicher Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder (VCP): Germany's largest Protestant scout association, also rdp member. Comparable on faith-based co-educational scouting, age-tiered programs, parish/church-anchored troops, and Bundeszentrum-like training infrastructure.
• Pfadfinderbund Weltenbummler: Smaller German scout association focused on alternative, travel-oriented scouting. Comparable as a competing member association within the German scout landscape addressing the same youth demographic.
• Scouts et Guides de France (SGdF): France's primary Catholic scout association and ICCS counterpart. Directly comparable on faith-based co-educational scouting, age-tiered sections, and bilateral partnership overlap with DPSG via the Deutsch-Französische Kommission.

Emerging players

• Bund der Deutschen Katholischen Jugend (BDKJ): National umbrella of Catholic youth associations of which DPSG is a member. Directly comparable on Catholic youth programming, parish-anchored delivery, public funding access, and shared political-advocacy platform in Germany.
• Katholische Studierende Jugend (KSJ): Smaller Catholic youth association affiliated with the BDKJ umbrella alongside DPSG. Comparable on faith-based values-led youth programming and parish-anchored delivery, though targeting an older student demographic.

Broad incumbents

• The Scout Association (UK): Largest national scout organization in a European market; the dominant British scout association. Comparable as a multi-tier age-based volunteer-delivered scouting organization, though secular and at much larger scale than DPSG.

Others

• World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM): Global umbrella organization encompassing national scout associations including DPSG's German peers. Relevant as the institutional environment and standards-setter within which DPSG operates and accesses international programming.
• International Catholic Conference of Scouting (ICCS/CICS): Worldwide coordination body of Catholic scout associations of which DPSG is an active member. Comparable as the institutional platform that channels DPSG's international solidarity and partnership programming.
• Ring deutscher Pfadfinder*innenverbände (rdp): Umbrella of five German scout associations (including DPSG) coordinating joint advocacy, world-scout participation, and shared national representation. Directly comparable as DPSG's coordination counterpart for inter-association strategy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/dpsg
• Facebookfacebook.com/dpsg.de
• Instagraminstagram.com/dpsg.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deutsche-pfadfinderschaft-sankt-georg

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about dpsg