LONDON – SOS MEDITERRANEE has appointed Blue State, following a competitive pitch process, to launch its first UK digital fundraising programme. Blue State will develop SOS MEDITERRANEE’s UK fundraising base to support the long-term sustainability of operations in the Central Mediterranean.
Since 2016, SOS MEDITERRANEE has rescued more than 44,000 people (as of June 2026), nearly 1 in 4 of whom were children.
SOS MEDITERRANEE’s mission can be distilled into three parts:
- SAVE – saving lives by providing urgent rescue to people in distress in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the deadliest migratory routes in the world
- PROTECT – providing medical and psychological care to the survivors
- BEAR WITNESS – sharing survivor stories to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in the Central Mediterranean and the violations of international law occurring at sea
Why the UK?
SOS MEDITERRANEE’s move into the UK is a strategic response to ensure it can continue its operations at sea at a time when the crisis in the Central Mediterranean is no longer receiving the attention it demands.
As reported in our latest UK Giving tracker, the UK remains one of the most generous countries: over £14 billion is donated annually — underpinned by a culture of regular giving, Gift Aid, a robust high-value giving ecosystem, and a mature digital fundraising infrastructure.
The UK also represents an opportunity for faith-based giving, already well integrated within the UK — a particularly significant opportunity given that British Muslim philanthropy alone is estimated at approximately £2.2 billion annually.
Within the UK, the migration debate is highly polarised, making it a divided audience. Still, the sustained media scrutiny of maritime migration and rescue operations will increase visibility for SOS MEDITERRANEE as it aims to move from zero awareness at pace.
Our task: develop the foundation of a digital acquisition programme and a business case to scale it.
The pilot programme’s objectives are:
- Build SOS MEDITERRANEE’s brand recognition and credibility
- Drive acquisition and income generation
- Gather audience insights to inform the development of a sustainable, compliant and scalable UK fundraising model.
The Blue State team will take a sprint approach to capitalise on moments with the most income potential for SOS MEDITERRANEE, and focus on testing priority audiences sequentially, ensuring we gather meaningful insights without diluting impact.
We’re honoured to be partnering with such a defiantly present organisation and look forward to working in close collaboration with the International Development team at SOS MEDITERRANEE.
Quote from Bérengère Matta, Director of International Development, SOS MEDITERRANEE
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Blue State to boost our visibility and engage new supporters and donors in the UK. Their digital expertise will be vital in raising awareness among the British public and developing our fundraising base to sustain our lifesaving rescue operations in the central Mediterranean. This collaboration marks a crucial step in expanding our reach and impact.”
Quote from Mélanie Trabi, Client Services Director, Blue State
“We are honoured to be selected to partner with SOS MEDITERRANEE on this exciting project. It is a truly inspiring organisation and team. This is exactly the kind of brief we exist for: putting our digital fundraising expertise at the service of a humanitarian organisation using fast, iterative, and evidence-led media and creative strategy.”
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About SOS MEDITERRANEE
SOS MEDITERRANEE is an international maritime and humanitarian organisation dedicated to saving lives in the Central Mediterranean Sea, founded in 2015 in response to the escalating humanitarian crisis and the failure of authorities to act. Since launching rescue operations in 2016, SOS MEDITERRANEE has rescued more than 44,000 people — including more than 6,000 women and 10,500 children (as of 13th May 2026). The organisation is funded almost entirely by private donations.
About Blue State
Blue State is a values-led strategic, creative, campaigns, and media agency working with organisations seeking to make a positive impact — including Save the Children, UNHCR, WWF, International Rescue Committee, Greenpeace, Plan International, and UNICEF.