Swiss Red Cross

What Swiss Red Cross does

Swiss Red Cross (SRC) is the largest and most important humanitarian organization in Switzerland, founded on 17 July 1866 in Bern by General Guillaume Henri Dufour and federal councillor Jakob Dubs on the initiative of the International Committee of the Red Cross. It is registered as an association under Swiss civil law and is the sole Red Cross society recognized in Switzerland, with the red cross emblem and name legally protected under the Geneva Conventions and Swiss federal law. SRC operates through 24 cantonal associations, 4 rescue organizations, the SRC Humanitarian Foundation, and Swiss Transfusion SRC, supported by a workforce of 1,001–5,000 employees and approximately 48,430 volunteers.

The organization's core service portfolio spans emergency aid and disaster relief (including CHF 10M approved for Ukraine response and CHF 11M deployed in 2024), health programmes reaching 2,773,716 individuals in 2024, healthcare qualification recognition for 19 regulated professions via the PreCheck Portal, tracing services for missing persons (1,435 supported in 2025), family reunification services (583 requests in 2025), migration and displacement support, and everyday support services for elderly and vulnerable populations including second-hand stores in 8 cantons. Digital infrastructure includes the Sui SRK mobile app launched in April 2025 for refugee mental health support (available in five languages), the ActNow peer-to-peer fundraising platform, and a website built on Contentful, Vercel, and Locize. International operations span approximately 30 countries across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central/South America, and Central/Southeast Asia.

The business model is a diversified non-profit funding structure: private donations (one-time, monthly, and annual tiers of CHF 50–250), annual federal and cantonal government appropriations and public authority assignments (including blood transfusion and healthcare recognition services), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) programme contributions for international projects, Swiss Solidarity appeal distributions, corporate partnerships (Coop since 2015, Helsana, Novartis, Swiss Post since 2022, Colin&Cie), and the SRC Humanitarian Foundation. The Red Cross Ball in Geneva has raised over CHF 12 million cumulatively over 20 years. SRC is a constituent of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement alongside 190 other national societies, the ICRC, and the IFRC.

Name

Swiss Red Cross

Legal name

Swiss Red Cross

Website

https://redcross.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1866

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Swiss Red Cross is Switzerland's largest humanitarian organization, founded in 1866, providing emergency aid, disaster relief, health programmes, refugee support, tracing services, and healthcare qualification recognition domestically and in approximately 30 countries, funded through donations, government grants, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI), Resettlement, Relocation & Repatriation Support (BPADAHAD), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Refugee/Migrant Health & Resettlement Health Units (HLAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Disaster relief operations
• Healthcare qualification recognition
• Family reunification services
• Blood transfusion services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Private donations and sponsorships: Private individuals, foundations, companies, cantons, cities and communal authorities donate funds that are either earmarked for specific services and projects or for work in general. Companies support through sponsorship agreements.
2. Public authority assignments: The Swiss Red Cross provides specific services on assignment from federal and cantonal authorities, including recognizing foreign healthcare qualifications and blood transfusion services.
3. Swiss Solidarity contributions: The SRC is one of 25 partners accredited by Swiss Solidarity, which collects donations for humanitarian crises and disasters in partnership with the Swiss national broadcaster.
4. SRC Humanitarian Foundation: The foundation supports campaigns and humanitarian projects run by Red Cross and Red Crescent societies.
5. Service fees: Some services are subject to a charge, maintained at socially acceptable levels. Income partially funds these services through donations.
6. SDC contributions: The Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation provides financial support for SRC projects abroad through programme contributions, mandates, special grants, and disaster relief.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Swiss Red Cross (Schweizerisches Rotes Kreuz / Croix-Rouge suisse) is a humanitarian organization that delivers disaster relief, health programs, migration and tracing services, healthcare qualification recognition for foreign-trained professionals, and donation-funded aid across Switzerland and approximately 30 partner countries. It operates as part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, with 24 cantonal associations and around 70,000 volunteers delivering services directly to vulnerable populations.

Product overview

Swiss Red Cross operates as a unified humanitarian organization offering a portfolio of interconnected services rather than a modular software platform. The core offerings include donation-based emergency aid programs, healthcare qualification recognition services, tracing services for missing persons, family reunification support, and everyday support services. A notable recent addition is the Sui SRK mobile app (launched April 2025) providing mental health and social support for refugees. The organization maintains regional presence through 24 cantonal associations and extends international reach across approximately 30 countries. Services range from immediate disaster response to long-term integration support, with programs funded primarily through donations, public authority assignments, and institutional partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Donation Program Channel for individual donors and corporate supporters to contribute funds to Swiss Red Cross humanitarian programs, including disaster relief, migration support, and health services.
• Healthcare Qualification Recognition (PreCheck) Federal-mandated recognition service for foreign-trained healthcare professionals seeking to practice in Switzerland, including diploma evaluation, language requirements, and registration support.
• Restoring Family Links (Tracing Service) Tracing service that helps reunite family members separated by conflict, disaster, migration, or other humanitarian crises, leveraging the global Red Cross network.
• Migration and Displacement Support Programs providing social, legal, and integration support to asylum seekers, recognized refugees, and migrants across Switzerland.
• Sui SRK Mobile App Mobile application providing users streamlined access to Swiss Red Cross services, donation options, and information about humanitarian programs.
• Everyday Support Services Community-based services supporting elderly and vulnerable individuals in daily living, including companionship, mobility, and household assistance delivered by volunteers.
• Disaster Relief Operations Emergency response operations providing relief supplies, financial aid, and on-the-ground support to populations affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts, including the Syria earthquake response and Ukraine crisis response.
• Second-hand Stores Network of second-hand retail stores run by cantonal Red Cross associations that generate revenue to fund humanitarian programs and offer affordable goods to local communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,773,716 individuals reached with health interventions in 2024
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CoopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2015. Joint initiatives include '2 x Christmas' food drive, 'Grittibänzen' sales, and 'Tag der guten Tat' campaigns. Coop provides generous product donations and supports SRC humanitarian work.
• HelsanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner committed to promoting health and wellbeing of Swiss population. Joint efforts to ensure as many people as possible can receive and provide first aid, including in psychological emergencies. Helsana employees can participate in first aid courses during work hours.
• NovartiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership. Novartis supports SRC conflict prevention programme 'chili' in Switzerland and disaster prevention in Honduras. Also supports acute emergency relief situations.
• Swiss PostcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partnership established in 2022. Joint efforts to combat poverty in Switzerland, focusing on '2 x Christmas' initiative and year-round financial support for people suddenly in financial distress.
• Colin&CieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner; wealth managers Colin&Cie and their clients donated CHF 230,000 to Red Cross from Social Responsibility Fund created in 2019 partnership.
• Swiss SolidaritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRC is one of 25 accredited partners. Swiss Solidarity collects donations for humanitarian crises and disasters in partnership with Swiss national broadcaster, supporting long-term reconstruction projects.
• SRC Humanitarian FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitution of the Swiss Red Cross with sole purpose of supporting campaigns and humanitarian projects run by Red Cross and Red Crescent societies.
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded the SRC in 1866. ICRC is a Swiss organization supporting victims of armed conflict worldwide and coordinating international relief activities.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRC is one of 191 national societies. IFRC coordinates international relief operations from Geneva headquarters and promotes collaboration between national societies.
• National Red Cross and Red Crescent SocietiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner191 national societies form the world's largest humanitarian network. SRC works hand in hand with local Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in mission countries, supporting organizational development and volunteer management.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz): Germany's largest humanitarian organization and a national society of the Red Cross Movement, operating across 19 Landesverbände with analogous programs in disaster response, refugee integration, healthcare qualification recognition, and voluntary services — directly comparable to SRC's Swiss operating model.
• British Red Cross: The British national society with directly parallel services in refugee support, family reunification tracing, emergency response, and health/social assistance programs — operating under the same Red Cross Movement umbrella and serving a similar advanced-economy migrant population.
• Austrian Red Cross: The Austrian Red Cross is the Austrian national society of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, with directly comparable mandate in disaster relief, refugee support, healthcare qualification recognition, and donor-funded humanitarian programming across Austrian cantons.
• French Red Cross (Croix-Rouge française): France's largest humanitarian NGO and Red Cross national society, providing directly comparable disaster relief, refugee support, healthcare workforce integration, and donation-funded community services across French regions.
• Caritas Switzerland (Caritas Schweiz): Switzerland's largest humanitarian aid organization and a direct domestic peer in donation-funded poverty relief, refugee integration, and social services — competing for Swiss donors, volunteers, and corporate partnerships in the same Swiss charitable market.
• Swiss Solidarity (Glückskette): Swiss fundraising foundation collecting donations for humanitarian crises in partnership with Swiss public broadcaster; SRC is one of 25 accredited partner organizations. Operates as a channel peer for Swiss humanitarian donation flows and emergency appeal revenue.
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Switzerland: Swiss-anchored international medical humanitarian organization with directly comparable donor-funded emergency health programming, volunteer/field-worker model, and Swiss-domiciled fundraising operations targeting many of the same conflict-zone geographies.
• Italian Red Cross (Croce Rossa Italiana): Italian national Red Cross society with directly parallel emergency response, migrant support (notably at Mediterranean entry points), healthcare qualification services, and volunteer-driven community health programs.

Broad incumbents

• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): The Geneva-based founding body of the Red Cross Movement, providing protection and assistance to conflict victims globally. SRC's founder and broader institutional parent — overlapping governance and international mandate, though ICRC focuses on armed conflict and SRC on broader humanitarian work.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): Geneva-headquartered global umbrella coordinating the 191 national Red Cross societies including SRC. IFRC sets standards and coordinates international relief operations, providing the institutional framework within which SRC's international cooperation programs operate.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RotesKreuz_CH
• YouTubeyoutube.com/swissredcross
• Facebookfacebook.com/RotesKreuzCH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schweizerisches-rotes-kreuz
• Instagraminstagram.com/roteskreuz_ch
• TikToktiktok.com/@roteskreuz_ch

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 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 Swiss Red Cross