Deutsches Rotes Kreuz

What Deutsches Rotes Kreuz does

Deutsches Rotes Kreuz e.V. (DRK) is Germany's national Red Cross society and one of the country's largest humanitarian organizations, founded in 1863 and headquartered in Berlin. It operates as a registered charitable association (eingetragener Verein) governed by seven fundamental Red Cross principles and structured as a federal network of 15 Landesverbände (state associations), approximately 400+ Kreisverbände (district associations), Schwesternschaften (nursing sisterhoods), and specialized subsidiaries including blood donation services, mountain rescue (Bergwacht), water rescue (Wasserwacht), and the Deutsches Jugendrotkreuz youth arm.

DRK delivers a comprehensive portfolio of social, healthcare, and emergency services. Domestic operations include approximately 1,440 kindergarten/daycare facilities caring for over 100,000 children with nearly 16,000 pedagogical staff; 35 nursing schools with approximately 4,000 training places; a network of six regional blood donation services; inpatient, outpatient, day, short-term, and hospice nursing care; first-aid training (Rotkreuzkurse); emergency medical, rescue, and civil protection services; debt counseling; refugee integration; and family tracing. Internationally, DRK supports 12+ partner Red Cross/Red Crescent societies across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe with humanitarian aid, cash assistance, shelter, and capacity building.

Revenue is generated through diversified streams: private donations (one-time, recurring, testamentary), membership fees (Mitgliedsbeiträge), corporate philanthropy and CSR partnerships, fees for social and care services (partially covered by German health/long-term care insurance), public grants for civil protection and welfare programs, training tuition, and proceeds from secondhand textile collection. Pricing varies by local Kreisverband; hospice stays are 95% insurance-covered and 5% donation-funded. Distribution is decentralized through the federal structure, with the Generalsekretariat in Berlin providing national coordination and international representation. Technology footprint is limited: drkserver functions as an internal volunteer/event management system, while consumer-facing tools include the DRK first-aid mobile app and the DRK Elterncampus e-learning platform for families.

Name

Deutsches Rotes Kreuz

Legal name

Deutsches Rotes Kreuz e.V.

Website

https://drk.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1863

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK) is Germany's national Red Cross society, founded in 1863, operating a federal network delivering disaster response, blood donation, nursing care, daycare (100,000+ children), first-aid training, and international humanitarian aid across 25+ countries, funded through donations, memberships, and social service fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid and Social Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Individual and Family Services (6241), Ambulance Services (62191), Home Health Care Services (6216)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051)

akta.pro primary industry

Disaster Preparedness, Risk Reduction & Early Warning (DRR) (BPAGAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disaster Medical Assistance & Field Care (DMAT/Field Hospitals) (HLAJAGAE), Emergency Medical Care & Field Hospitals (BPADADAC), Refugee Camp Coordination & Management (CCCM) (BPADAHAC)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Emergency medical response
• Social welfare services
• Blood donation services
• Disaster relief operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices35 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Private Donations: DRK raises funds from private individuals through one-time donations, regular giving (Pate werden / godparent programs), occasion-based donations (anlassspende), condolence donations (Kondolenzspenden), testamentary gifts, and anonymized donations. A philanthropy program targets major donors and family offices.
2. Corporate Philanthropy & CSR Partnerships: DRK offers companies multiple engagement vehicles: corporate donations, cause-related marketing, strategic partnerships, corporate volunteering programs, and disaster-response conditional donations. These are coordinated through a dedicated corporate engagement team.
3. Membership Fees: DRK generates revenue through membership subscriptions (Mitgliedsbeiträge), with a supporting base of members paying periodic dues to support the organization's humanitarian mission.
4. Social Services Fees: DRK generates revenue through fees for social and care services including inpatient and outpatient nursing care, day care, short-term care, hospice services, first-aid training courses, babysitting services, and care consultation. These are partially covered by public insurance (health insurance, long-term care insurance) with co-payments from clients.
5. Public Grants & Subsidies: DRK receives government funding for its auxiliary role in civil protection (Katastrophenschutz) and as a leading welfare association (Spitzenverband der Freien Wohlfahrtspflege). Grants support specific programs including migration integration, youth work, and international humanitarian aid.
6. Training & Education: DRK offers fee-based courses including first-aid training (Rotkreuzkurse), babysitting certification, nursing education, and professional development. The 35 DRK nursing schools (Altenpflegeschulen) and educational institutes nationwide generate revenue through tuition.
7. Clothing & Material Collection: DRK collects and recycles secondhand clothing through a network of clothing containers (Kleidercontainer), clothing banks (Kleiderkammern), and clothing stores (Kleiderläden). Revenue is generated through the sale of sorted textiles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK) is Germany's national Red Cross society and one of the country's largest humanitarian organizations. It delivers a comprehensive portfolio of services including emergency medical response and disaster relief, first-aid training courses, blood collection and supply through six regional centers, in-home and inpatient elderly nursing care, hospice services, childcare across approximately 1,440 daycare facilities, family support, civil protection, mountain and water rescue, family tracing, debt counseling, and international humanitarian aid coordinated through the global Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Product overview

Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK) is Germany's largest humanitarian organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of social, healthcare, and emergency services. The organization operates primarily as a multi-service provider rather than a unified software platform. Key offerings include: First aid training courses (Rotkreuzkurse) across multiple specializations; blood donation services through six regional centers; extensive childcare and family support services including daycare for over 100,000 children; ambulatory, day, short-term, and stationary nursing care for seniors; hospice services; civil protection and disaster management including mountain and water rescue; international humanitarian aid; family tracing services; volunteer management via the drkserver internal system; and digital services including the DRK App and Elterncampus e-learning platform. The organization also provides welfare services such as clothing collection, debt counseling, supervised travel for seniors, visiting services, home emergency call systems, and operates nursing schools across Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DRK Blutspendedienst: Blood donation and transfusion services operated by the six DRK blood donation centers across Germany
• DRK Wohlfahrtspflege
• Deutsches Jugendrotkreuz (JRK)
• DRK Wasserwacht
• DRK Bergwacht
• DRK-Suchdienst
• DRK Generalsekretariat
• DRK Elterncampus
• GRCReady
• Rotkreuzkurse
• DRK-Pflegeschulen
• DRK-Kindertagesbetreuung

Products and services

• Erste-Hilfe-Kurse (Rotkreuzkurse) First aid training courses for the general public including basic first aid, first aid for seniors, first aid for children, sports first aid, and AED defibrillation training.
• Blutspendedienst (Blood Donation Service) Blood collection and supply services managed through six regional blood donation centers across Germany, supplying vital blood products to the healthcare system.
• Kindertagesbetreuung (Child Day Care) Daycare services for children aged two months to 14 years, operating approximately 1,440 facilities with nearly 16,000 pedagogical staff caring for over 100,000 children.
• Ambulante Pflege (Ambulatory/Home Nursing) Home-based nursing and care services enabling people to receive care in their familiar home environment due to age, illness, or disability.
• Tagespflege (Day Care for Seniors) Daytime care facilities providing nursing care recipients with variety, social contacts, and practical skills while allowing them to remain in their home environment.
• Kurzzeitpflege (Short-term Care) Temporary residential care for individuals who cannot be cared for at home temporarily, such as during caregiver vacation or illness.
• Hospizangebote (Hospice Services) Stationary hospice care providing dignified end-of-life care for people with incurable diseases in a home-like setting, with interdisciplinary teams ensuring pain-free farewell.
• Senioren- und Pflegeheime (Senior and Nursing Homes) Stationary care facilities providing long-term residential care for elderly and nursing care recipients with comprehensive therapeutic and recreational programs.
• DRK Elterncampus Virtual courses platform for families offering content on baby nutrition, first aid for children, and baby massage.
• Babysitterausbildung und -vermittlung Training and placement service for babysitters, connecting trained caregivers with parents seeking reliable childcare.
• Familienbildung (Family Education) Support and accompaniment services for families in various life situations, focusing on strengthening parent-child relationships and parenting competencies.
• Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenschutz (Civil Protection and Disaster Response) Civil defense and disaster management services including emergency response teams, rescue dog units, ambulance services, medical services at events, and support services for major emergencies.
• Weltweite Hilfe (International Humanitarian Aid) Humanitarian aid worldwide including disaster relief, emergency response, long-term development projects, health programs, and refugee support across multiple continents, delivered through local Red Cross National Societies.
• DRK-Suchdienst (Tracing Service) Family tracing service supporting relatives separated due to armed conflicts, natural disasters, or other emergencies to reconnect families.
• Bergwacht (Mountain Rescue) Mountain rescue service providing search and rescue operations in alpine regions, prevention, and safety education for mountain activities.
• Wasserwacht (Water Rescue) Water rescue service saving lives in and around water bodies, training lifeguards, and promoting swimming skills for all ages.
• Freiwilligendienste (Volunteer Services) Voluntary services including Federal Voluntary Service (BFD), Voluntary Social Year (FSJ), and international volunteer placements.
• DRK App Mobile application providing first aid instructions and emergency guidance for users on the go.
• Jugendrotkreuz (German Youth Red Cross) Children and youth organization of the German Red Cross offering age-appropriate humanitarian education and youth engagement activities.
• Altkleider (Used Clothing Collection and Sales) Collection and distribution of used clothing through clothing containers, clothing banks, and charity shops to support those in need.
• Betreutes Reisen (Supervised Travel for Seniors) Travel services for seniors and people with health limitations with qualified guides handling transfers, accommodation, meals, and excursions.
• Besuchsdienst (Visiting Service) Volunteer visiting service for elderly, mobile-limited, and isolated seniors providing companionship, conversation, and practical support.
• Hausnotruf (Home Emergency Call System) Home emergency call service enabling elderly and vulnerable people to summon help quickly in emergencies from their residence.
• Schuldnerberatung (Debt Counseling) Financial counseling services helping over-indebted individuals develop plans to manage and overcome their debt situations.
• DRK Altenpflegeschulen (Nursing Schools) Network of 35 nursing schools across Germany offering approximately 4,000 school places for geriatric care professionals and geriatric care assistants.
• Tages- und Begegnungsstätten (Day and Meeting Centers for Seniors) Social meeting places for seniors offering activities including gymnastics, dancing, handicrafts, breakfasts, game afternoons, film evenings, and computer courses.
• GRCReady (Humanitarian Staff Pool) Humanitarian personnel pool for short-term assignments in crisis and disaster situations, providing trained professionals for international deployments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 children cared for in approximately 1,440 DRK daycare centers
• +3 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ukrainian Red Cross (Ukrainisches Rotes Kreuz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRK supports the Ukrainian Red Cross within a comprehensive aid program spanning emergency relief, disaster protection, health, and social services. DRK provides funding, technical assistance, and capacity building to help the Ukrainian Red Cross deliver humanitarian assistance to affected populations in Ukraine and refugees abroad.
• IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRK is a member of the IFRC and coordinates international humanitarian operations through this global federation, which provides surge capacity, global logistics, and coordination mechanisms for disaster response and development programs worldwide.
• ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRK collaborates with the ICRC on humanitarian operations including field hospital deployments and the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, as evidenced by the Florence Nightingale Medal awarded to a DRK staff member serving in an ICRC field hospital in Gaza.
• Madagascar Red Cross (Madagassisches Rotes Kreuz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRK works closely with the Madagascar Red Cross on climate resilience and disaster preparedness projects, strengthening local communities' capacity to respond to increasingly frequent natural disasters driven by climate change.
• Ethiopian Red Cross (Äthiopisches Rotes Kreuz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRK partners with the Ethiopian Red Cross to assist displaced populations affected by armed conflicts, providing humanitarian cash assistance, shelter materials, sanitation, and agricultural training.
• Sudanese Red Crescent (Sudanesischer Roter Halbmond)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRK collaborates with the Sudanese Red Crescent to deliver emergency humanitarian aid under extremely difficult conditions following the outbreak of armed conflict in Sudan, one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.
• Somali Red Crescent Society (Somalischer Roter Halbmond)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRK has been active in Somalia for approximately 25 years, partnering with the Somali Red Crescent Society to address poverty, political instability, infrastructure gaps, and climate-related disasters.
• Palestinian Red Crescent Society (Palästinensischer Roter Halbmond)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRK works with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society on emergency aid in Gaza and a development program for children and youth with disabilities in eight rehabilitation and integration centers across the Palestinian territories.
• Lebanese Red Cross (Libanesisches Rotes Kreuz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRK supports the Lebanese Red Cross in maintaining life-saving services and social programs amid multiple overlapping crises, building on a multi-year partnership.
• Syrian Arab Red Crescent (Syrischer Arabischer Roter Halbmond)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRK supports humanitarian relief operations in Syria following 13 years of armed conflict and the 2023 earthquake, working through the Syrian Arab Red Crescent as the primary operational partner.
• Venezuelan Red Cross (Venezolanisches Rotes Kreuz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRK supports the Venezuelan Red Cross in providing emergency relief and improved healthcare in Venezuela, where a severe prolonged crisis has compromised basic medical care for much of the population.
• Ugandan Red Cross (Ugandischanisches Rotes Kreuz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRK supports the Ugandan Red Cross in education, food security, and water supply projects, while also helping Uganda manage its role as a refuge destination for displaced people from South Sudan.
• Bangladeshi Red Crescent Society (Bangladeschischer Roter Halbmond)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRK supports the Bangladeshi Red Crescent Society in responding to recurrent floods, landslides, and the refugee crisis affecting nearly one million refugees from Myanmar's Rakhine region.
• DRK-Dialogforum e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRK-Dialogforum e.V. is a separate entity that facilitates dialogue between DRK and political stakeholders, corporate partners, and civil society to support DRK's humanitarian mission.
• Private Companies (Corporate Partners)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDRK partners with companies through cause-related marketing, corporate donations, strategic partnerships, corporate volunteering, and conditional disaster-response donations. Engagement mechanisms include a corporate newsletter, CSR partner portal, and direct corporate engagement team.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/roteskreuz_de
• YouTubeyoutube.com/DRKonline
• Facebookde-de.facebook.com/roteskreuz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/germanredcross
• Instagraminstagram.com/roteskreuz_de
• TikToktiktok.com/@roteskreuz.de

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Deutsches Rotes Kreuz