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Donate for sea rescue in the Mediterranean

Every donation counts. Every donation saves lives.

Since 2016, Sea-Eye e. V. has been operating in the central Mediterranean and has already saved more than 18,000 people from drowning. With the SEA-EYE 5, we are where help is needed most — and we stand for what matters: humanity.

We rely on your donation so we can continue rescuing people in distress at sea.

Donate now

Donate regularly

Long-term support, life-saving impact.
Sea-Eye Dauerspende

Gift Donation

Give a gift that saves lives.
Sea-Eye Geschenkspende

Ship sponsorship

Become one of more than 3,000 sponsors of the SEA-EYE 5.
Schiffspatenschaft

Fundraiser

Support us with your own fundraiser.
Deine Spendenaktion

Your City Saves Lives

Cities & municipalities save lives — find out more now.
Deine Stadt rettet

This is how your donation is used:

Rescue operations

Statutory education & public outreach

Administration & other expenses

Passing on funds

Percentage shares of total income in 2024, source: Sea-Eye e.V. Annual Report 2024

Will I receive a donation receipt?

For donations up to €300, you do not require a donation receipt. To claim your donation for tax purposes, a bank statement is sufficient in conjunction with our confirmation of donation for the tax office.

For individual donations of €300 or more, we will automatically send you a donation receipt the following month. We send donation receipts to regular donors at the end of the year.

To claim donations from abroad, please inform yourself about the local laws there.

If you have any questions, please contact kontakt@sea-eye.de.

What impact does my donation have?

Your donation saves lives! Unfortunately, sea rescue remains the responsibility of civil society. We go where Europe seals itself off and looks away. Every Euro helps us protect lives.

Can I donate regularly?

Yes, simply select the “monthly” option in the donation form. Regular donations enable us to plan and thus secure our rescue operations.

What will my donation be used for?

Your donation goes directly into our work. Over 65% of donations are used for rescue operations. The remainder will be used for all other obligations in accordance with the association’s articles of association (educational and public relations work, administrative tasks, allocation of funds and other expenses). You can find more information in our annual report.

Why are donations necessary for Sea-Eye's work?

In 2025, the German government cut all support for civil sea rescue from the budget. Thanks to your solidarity, we can continue, set sail, and save lives.

Can companies donate?

Yes! Whether your company is small or large: with your financial support, you can create real impact. With a donation from your company, you directly contribute to helping people in distress. You can donate via our donation form or by bank transfer. Your donation is tax-deductible, and you will receive a donation receipt.

How can churches, associations, communities, or municipalities donate?

You can support us with a one-time or regular institutional sponsorship. Please contact us to discuss how our mission can become your mission too.

I have a foundation and would like to support you.

As a foundation, you can support Sea-Eye through one-time or regular donations, or within the framework of a funding partnership. In addition to financial support, content-related cooperation formats are also conceivable, for example, in the form of events, professional exchange, or supporting your communication work. We would be happy to work with you to consider what best contributes to achieving your foundation’s purpose! Please feel free to contact us.