How the Swedish Sea Rescue Society Powers its Mission with Smarter Payments
Keeping Sweden’s Waters Safe – 24/7
With next-generation payment technology.
Benefits
14%
Increase in the number of monthly donations since implementation.
User-friendly
Donors no longer need to fill out extensive forms, thanks to AIS.
Reduced dropouts
More potential donors are now able to make donations.
Background
The Swedish Sea Rescue Society (SSRS) has been a cornerstone of maritime safety in Sweden since 1907. SSRS is a fully independent organisation responsible for 90% of the country’s sea and lake rescues. Unlike many emergency services, it receives no government funding and relies entirely on membership fees, donations, and volunteer efforts. With a dedicated crew of 2,500 volunteers, SSRS provides 24/7 rescue services along the Swedish coastline and major lakes, responding to life-threatening emergencies and preventative assistance calls.
Despite its long history and vital role, SSRS is often mistaken for a publicly funded organisation. This misconception presents challenges regarding fundraising, as many potential donors are unaware of the organisation’s reliance on private contributions. With 140,000 members supporting its work, SSRS is primarily sustained through annual membership fees, but these funds mainly cover operational costs such as fuel and maintenance. More significant investments, such as purchasing new rescue boats, upgrading stations, and enhancing rescue capabilities, require ongoing fundraising efforts.
Challenge
Maintaining financial stability while ensuring an efficient and scalable donation process is a constant challenge for SSRS. While membership fees provide a foundation for day-to-day operations, they are not enough for long-term investments. The organisation must continuously attract new donors and encourage existing members to contribute more, particularly for large-scale funding initiatives.
A significant obstacle SSRS faces is the public perception of its funding model. Many assume that the organisation receives state support, impacting the urgency and motivation to donate. Seasonality also plays a significant role in SSRS’s operations. The summer months bring a surge in boating activity, increasing demand for rescue services and new memberships. During peak season, SSRS must onboard thousands of new members while ensuring that transactions are processed smoothly and efficiently. Handling this seasonal influx can be challenging without a robust and scalable payment solution.
Additionally, while Swish is a widely used A2A payment method in Sweden, it does not facilitate donor onboarding or long-term engagement. To secure sustainable funding, SSRS required a payment solution that could help streamline the sign-up process, ensure a frictionless donor experience, and support recurring contributions while maintaining GDPR compliance.
We prefer our donors to sign up via our website – this is where an AIS like Brite’s Data Solutions comes in handy.
Solution
To address these challenges, SSRS partnered with Brite to enhance its donation and membership payment processes. By integrating Brite’s Data Solutions, SSRS has established a smoother and more efficient way for supporters to contribute, improving donor conversion rates and ensuring long-term financial stability by quickly and smoothly gathering account information.
A key benefit of Brite’s Account Information Services (AIS) is its ability to streamline the donor onboarding process. Unlike Swish, which does not facilitate structured donor engagement, Brite enables supporters to provide their information securely in a GDPR-compliant manner. This allows SSRS to build stronger, long-term relationships with its contributors.
Scalability was also crucial in SSRS’s decision to work with Brite. During peak summer months, when over 2,500 new members sign up each week, SSRS requires a reliable and efficient payment system capable of handling a high volume of account processing without delays or complications. Brite’s open banking infrastructure ensures that account data is processed quickly and securely, allowing SSRS to focus on its core mission—saving lives at sea.
Results
Frictionless Donations
With Brite’s streamlined account onboarding process, SSRS has made it easier than ever for supporters to contribute. SSRS is set to ensure more donors complete their contributions by reducing friction in the donation journey.
Scalability for Peak Seasons
Open banking infrastructure will allow SSRS to handle its seasonal new member surge efficiently. Eliminating delays and administrative strain during the summer months, when over 2,500 new members join each week, is crucial.
Improved Donor Engagement
Brite’s Data Solutions enables SSRS to collect donor details, strengthening long-term engagement securely. By maintaining GDPR-compliant records, SSRS can build relationships with supporters and encourage ongoing contributions.
Reliable and Transparent Processing
Supporters benefit from a secure and intuitive donation experience, reinforcing trust in SSRS as a responsible and transparent organisation.
We need to go from processing 30-50 new members or donors in the winter weeks to processing over 2500 new members or donors every week in the summer months.