American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is a federally chartered, congressionally established nonprofit humanitarian organization founded in 1881 that delivers disaster relief, collects 40% of the U.S. blood supply, provides safety training and certification, and supports military families through the Hero Care Network across the United States and internationally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1881
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What American Red Cross does
The American Red Cross is a federally chartered, congressionally established nonprofit humanitarian organization founded in 1881 by Clara Barton and headquartered in Washington, D.C. It operates four core mission areas: disaster relief and recovery (responding to 60,000+ disasters annually), biomedical/blood services (collecting approximately 40% of the U.S. national blood supply), training and certification (First Aid, CPR, BLS, ALS/PALS, lifeguarding, swimming), and military and international services including the 24/7 Hero Care Network (60,000+ annual emergency communications for military families) and Restoring Family Links across 23 countries. The organization is supported by a volunteer force of 325,000+ that grew roughly 25% over three years (Gen Z is the fastest-growing demographic at 42% of volunteers) and a multi-segment revenue base spanning individual donations, corporate partnerships (Grainger, Dollar General, American Airlines, Verizon, Amazon, Lilly Endowment, PetSmart Charities, Jackery, Uber, Mars Veterinary Health, and others), foundation grants, training fees, blood product sales, retail product sales, and licensing royalties of its federally protected emblem.
The technology stack spans digital platforms (redcross.org, redcrossblood.org, volunteerconnection.redcross.org) and mobile applications including the Emergency app (with accessibility features for Spanish speakers, people with disabilities, and adults over 65) and the Blood Donor app; field operations are increasingly augmented by partner-developed technology such as Verizon's AI-powered Digital Twin disaster-assessment system and Amazon's 2,000+ rapid-response power, connectivity, and water systems. Digital certificates include QR codes for instant employer verification. Distribution is multi-channel: D2C via website, 1-800-RED CROSS, text-to-give (REDCROSS to 90999), mobile apps, and a network of local chapters; B2B via corporate workplace blood drives, in-store checkout collections, and cause-marketing partnerships; and training via in-person, blended, and online formats. Ninety cents of every dollar spent is invested in humanitarian services.
American Red Cross firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- American Red Cross
- Legal name
- The American National Red Cross
- Website
- https://redcross.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1881
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- The American Red Cross is a federally chartered, congressionally established nonprofit humanitarian organization founded in 1881 that delivers disaster relief, collects 40% of the U.S. blood supply, provides safety training and certification, and supports military families through the Hero Care Network across the United States and internationally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
American Red Cross industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Humanitarian Services
- NAICS
- Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Housing Services (62422), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Individual and Family Services (6241)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disaster Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience Programs (BPAGAAAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC), Disaster Relief & Humanitarian Aid Volunteering (EDAIAGAF), Evacuation, Shelter, Mass Care & Family Reunification (HLAJAGAG), Evacuation, Repatriation & Extraction Services (THACANAG)
Keywords
Where American Red Cross is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
American Red Cross business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Financial Donations: The primary revenue stream comes from financial donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Donations can be made online, by phone, mail, text message, or through monthly giving programs. The Red Cross maintains a Disaster Responder Program for corporate partners.
- Biomedical/Blood Services: Blood collection and distribution services. The Red Cross collects approximately 40% of the nation's blood supply through blood drives and donation centers.
- Training Services and Certifications: Revenue from training courses including CPR, First Aid, BLS, ALS, PALS, lifeguarding, swimming lessons, and babysitting training. Courses available in-person, blended, and online formats.
- Product Sales: Sale of training supplies, first aid kits, emergency preparedness supplies, books, DVDs, and related products through the Red Cross Store.
- Licensing Royalties: The Red Cross maintains a licensing program protecting its trademarks and brand identity, licensing the use of Red Cross marks to approved partners.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Online Donation |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Text-to-Give |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Training Courses |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
American Red Cross product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The American Red Cross is a federally chartered humanitarian organization providing disaster relief and recovery (emergency shelter, food, health services, emotional support, financial assistance), blood collection and distribution to U.S. hospitals (~40% of national supply), safety training and certification (CPR, First Aid, BLS, ALS/PALS, lifeguarding, swimming), 24/7 military family emergency communication through the Hero Care Network, international humanitarian services and Restoring Family Links, and the Sound the Alarm home fire prevention campaign.
Product overview
The American Red Cross offers a comprehensive humanitarian service platform organized around four core mission areas: Disaster Relief and Recovery Services (providing emergency shelter, food, and recovery assistance), Lifesaving Blood Services (collecting and distributing blood products to hospitals nationwide), Training Courses and Certification (offering First Aid, CPR, AED, BLS, ALS/PALS, Lifeguarding, and Swimming/Water Safety programs), and Military and International Services (including the Hero Care Network for armed forces families and international humanitarian aid). The organization also provides digital tools including the Emergency App and Blood Donor App, and runs community programs like Sound the Alarm for home fire prevention and the Aquatics Centennial Campaign for water safety education.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Disaster Relief and Recovery Services Emergency shelter, food, emotional support, health services, critical relief items, long-term recovery planning, and financial assistance for individuals and families affected by natural disasters, home fires, and other emergencies.
- Lifesaving Blood Services Collection, testing, processing, and distribution of whole blood, platelet, and plasma products to U.S. hospitals for transfusions, trauma care, surgery, childbirth, and cancer treatment. Approximately 40% of the U.S. blood supply is collected by the Red Cross.
- Training Courses and Certification Certification courses including First Aid, CPR, AED, BLS for Healthcare Providers, ALS/PALS, Babysitting and Child Care, Lifeguarding, and Swimming/Water Safety, available in-person, blended, and online formats. Digital certificates with QR codes are issued upon completion. CEUs offered for healthcare professionals.
- Hero Care Network (Service to the Armed Forces) 24/7 emergency communication services, emergency leave verification, case management, financial assistance, and family reunification services for active duty service members, veterans, and their families worldwide.
- International Services Humanitarian aid and disaster response support globally, including the Restoring Family Links program that reconnects family members separated by international conflict, disaster, or migration. Supports responses in 23 countries.
- Sound the Alarm Home Fire Safety Campaign National home fire safety campaign installing free smoke alarms in high-risk communities and educating families about fire prevention and escape planning.
- Aquatics and Water Safety Program Swim lessons, water safety instructor training, and drowning prevention education for children and adults, including the Longfellow's WHALE Tales school program and culturally adapted Spanish-language resources.
- Red Cross Emergency App Mobile application providing real-time disaster alerts, safety tips, and emergency preparedness resources for hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, wildfires, and other emergencies. Includes accessibility features for diverse audiences.
- Blood Donor App Mobile application for scheduling blood donations, tracking donation history, and receiving notifications about blood drives and urgent donation needs.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90 cents of every dollar invested in humanitarian services
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use American Red Cross
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
American Red Cross technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
American Red Cross partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- GraingercoreGrainger is celebrating 25 years of partnership with the American Red Cross, having committed over $21.6 million in cash and product donations since 2001. The partnership includes over 170,000 smoke alarms for the Home Fire Campaign, Disaster Responder Program membership, Ready When the Time Comes, and Missing Maps programs. More than 40 national volunteer deployments supported through the Disaster Responder Program.
- Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer ProductsminorPromotional partnership featuring Looney Tunes characters to encourage blood donations amid national supply shortage. Campaign launches June 29, 2026, offering donors limited-edition co-branded T-shirt.
- JackerycoreJackery launched Power the Rescuers partnership with American Red Cross, including co-branded emergency power units and commitment to donate 10% of HomePower Emergency Pro profits to provide mobile power equipment to first responders. The HomePower Emergency Pro Series is the first battery backup product line to receive Red Cross endorsement.
- Dollar GeneralcoreDollar General donated $250,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Responder Program for America's 250th anniversary and 25th anniversary of partnership. Total contributions exceed $11 million since 2001 through corporate donations and in-store collections.
- Teamsters (International Brotherhood of Teamsters)minorMissouri Red Cross collections workers voted to join Teamsters Local 833. Over 1,800 American Red Cross workers now covered under Teamsters National Master Agreement ratified in 2024.
- PetSmart CharitiescorePetSmart Charities renewed partnership with three-year, $2.8 million grant to expand pet-inclusive disaster services. The partnership has facilitated 14,000+ overnight pet stays in Red Cross shelters and trained 14 pet liaisons for disaster deployment.
- AmazoncoreAmazon providing 2,000+ rapid response technology systems to nonprofit disaster relief partners at no cost by 2027. Systems can restore power, connectivity, or clean water in minutes. Amazon is a Mission Leader supporter of the Red Cross. Deploying 800+ systems for 2026 hurricane season.
- Mars Veterinary HealthcoreMars Veterinary Health and American Red Cross expanded joint blood donation partnership with three combined human-and-pet blood drives at BluePearl Pet Hospitals in Minnesota, California, and Tennessee. The BluePearl Pet Blood Bank operates in 22 locations nationally.
- VCOM-Louisiana (Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine)minorPartnership with VCOM-Louisiana and Volunteer Louisiana for two-day Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. 150 junior medical students completed Tornado Mass Casualty Exercise on University of Louisiana Monroe campus.
- International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)coreAmerican Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Responds to international disasters when requested by local Red Cross or Red Crescent teams. Supports Restoring Family Links program with global network.
- VerizoncoreVerizon launched the Verizon Disaster Response Corps as the first telecommunications-American Red Cross volunteer partnership, deploying trained employee volunteers to disaster shelters. AI-powered Digital Twin technology for hurricane response developed in coordination with Red Cross needs.
- Metallica / All Within My Hands FoundationcorePartnership collected 25,000+ blood donations in the U.S. and approximately 40,000 worldwide since April 2025, including at Metallica M72 World Tour stops. Nearly half of first-time donors were ages 16-24.
- UbercoreUber committed $650,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Responder Program, including $500,000 donation and $150,000 in ride and delivery credits, to support disaster response efforts across the U.S.
- Autobell Car WashminorAutobell Car Wash donated $1 per app wash to American Red Cross disaster relief with $10,000 minimum. Company also hosted blood drive in Charlotte. More than 20-year partnership supporting disaster response and blood collection.
- Anheuser-BuschcoreAnheuser-Busch delivered over 50,000 cans of emergency drinking water to Washington State following severe flooding at Red Cross request. Partnership has delivered over 100 million cans of emergency water to Red Cross since 1988.
- FastenalminorFastenal joined Red Cross Disaster Responder Program with financial and in-kind donations. Has supported Red Cross blood drives since 2012, donating over 4,600 units of blood including 1,200 units in 2024.
- Armed Services Blood Program (Defense Health Agency)coreNew partnership enabling Military Health System to receive blood products from Red Cross while expanding blood drives on military installations and aboard ships. Builds on Service to the Armed Forces program presence on 100+ military installations.
- Duke Energy FoundationcoreDuke Energy Foundation funded $100,000 upgrade to the American Red Cross Emergency app to improve accessibility for Spanish speakers, people with disabilities, and adults over 65. Foundation committed to donate $1 per app download up to $20,000 through June 30, 2024 to support disaster preparedness.
- EG AmericaminorEG America raised $627,000 in fundraising campaign for American Red Cross, contributing to $4.1 million total since 2020. Campaign involved guest donations at checkout across stores.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
American Red Cross competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): The ICRC is the founding body of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and shares the same emblem and humanitarian mandate. It is the most direct global peer of the American Red Cross, operating under the same Geneva Conventions framework and delivering comparable services (emergency response, family reunification, healthcare in conflict zones).
- The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army is one of the largest U.S. disaster relief and social services nonprofits, operating feeding programs, emergency shelters, and long-term recovery services in direct overlap with the Red Cross. Both organizations co-received the $40M Lilly Endowment grant in 2022 for climate-related disaster response, underscoring their direct comparability.
- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): The IFRC is the global umbrella organization coordinating the 191 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, including the American Red Cross. It is a direct peer in coordinating international disaster response, blood service standards, and humanitarian capacity building worldwide.
- Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders: MSF is a leading international medical humanitarian organization providing emergency medical care in disaster and conflict zones worldwide. It is a direct peer of the Red Cross in delivering frontline humanitarian aid, with comparable donor-supported funding models and global operational footprint.
- Direct Relief: Direct Relief is one of the largest U.S. humanitarian medical aid organizations, providing emergency medical supplies and disaster response in direct overlap with the Red Cross's biomedical and disaster services. Comparable scale and donor-funded operating model.
- Americares: Americares is a U.S.-based health-focused humanitarian aid organization responding to disasters and supporting health systems worldwide. It directly parallels the Red Cross's biomedical, disaster response, and emergency preparedness services with a comparable donor-funded nonprofit model.
- Habitat for Humanity International: Habitat for Humanity is a major U.S. nonprofit focused on housing and long-term disaster recovery, sharing the Home Depot Foundation partnership channel with the Red Cross. It directly competes in post-disaster reconstruction and recovery services that complement the Red Cross's shelter and recovery mission.
- Catholic Charities USA: Catholic Charities USA is one of the largest U.S. social services networks, providing disaster relief, refugee resettlement, food, housing, and family services in direct functional overlap with the Red Cross's humanitarian mission. Comparable scale, federal funding, and donor-supported operating model.
Emerging players
- World Central Kitchen: World Central Kitchen is a fast-growing nonprofit providing disaster relief meals that has become a direct operational peer to the Red Cross's feeding programs. It received Truist Foundation funding alongside the Red Cross for hurricane relief, illustrating its emergence as a competing humanitarian responder.
- Team Rubicon: Team Rubicon is a veteran-led disaster response nonprofit deploying trained volunteers in overlapping operations with the Red Cross. It is an emerging peer in volunteer-driven disaster response that competed for the Home Depot Foundation's disaster preparedness grants alongside the Red Cross network.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
American Red Cross social profiles
Digital presenceAmerican Red Cross compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
American Red Cross financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
American Red Cross leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
American Red Cross funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds27 records
Investors20 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
American Red Cross M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about American Red Cross
What does American Red Cross do?
The American Red Cross is a federally chartered humanitarian organization providing disaster relief and recovery (emergency shelter, food, health services, emotional support, financial assistance), blood collection and distribution to U.S. hospitals (~40% of national supply), safety training and certification (CPR, First Aid, BLS, ALS/PALS, lifeguarding, swimming), 24/7 military family emergency communication through the Hero Care Network, international humanitarian services and Restoring Family Links, and the Sound the Alarm home fire prevention campaign.
Is American Red Cross a public or private company?
American Red Cross is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was American Red Cross founded?
American Red Cross was founded in 1881. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is American Red Cross based?
American Red Cross is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does American Red Cross make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Financial Donations are the primary driver. The others are biomedical/Blood Services, training Services and Certifications, product Sales and licensing Royalties.
Who are American Red Cross's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), The Salvation Army, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders, Direct Relief, Americares, Habitat for Humanity International and Catholic Charities USA. Emerging players are World Central Kitchen and Team Rubicon.
Does American Red Cross have an API?
No public API is recorded for American Red Cross.
What industry is American Red Cross in?
American Red Cross's product category is Humanitarian Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAAAK, Disaster Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience Programs, with a secondary code of BPAGAAAC, Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI). Its NAICS code is 6242 and its SIC code is 8300.