Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa

What Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa does

Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa (Portuguese Red Cross) is a 160-year-old humanitarian non-governmental organization founded in 1865 and headquartered in Lisbon. It is the Portuguese national society of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and operates as an official auxiliary of public authorities in civil protection. The organization delivers an integrated portfolio of services spanning health (Cartão Saúde CVP subscription with 24/7 home medical assistance, Teleassistência remote monitoring for elderly and dependent users), social support (food assistance serving 95,169 families in 2024, Cartão Dá CVP prepaid food cards, Programa Mais Feliz, social refectories and laundries), emergency response (40 ambulances integrated with the INEM national emergency system, REST SPACES mobile modular support structures, first aid training and a mobile first-aid application), youth engagement (Juventude Cruz Vermelha), and victim support (Gabinete de Apoio à Vítima in partnership with the Ministry of Justice).

Operations are distributed through a network of 160+ local structures covering all 20 Portuguese districts including the Azores and Madeira, staffed by 501-1,000 employees and 5,000+ volunteers. The organization reaches approximately one million beneficiaries annually and was awarded Portugal's highest national decoration, the Ordem da Torre e Espada, in 2025.

The revenue model is multi-stream and donation-dependent rather than commercial: individual donations (suggested €15/€30/€50 monthly tiers and €20/€80 one-time), 0.8% IRS tax consignation, corporate partnerships (CVP Corporate, solidarity products, impact salary donations), the Cartão Saúde CVP subscription (annual, undisclosed pricing), Teleassistência subscriptions, solidarity product sales (€45 Emergency Kit, €12.30 Agenda Solidária), the Vale+ in-store voucher campaign across 281 retail locations, and venue rental of the Palácio Rocha Conde d'Óbidos. Reported operating efficiency is approximately 85% of donated euros applied directly to humanitarian causes with 15% administrative cost.

Name

Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa

Legal name

Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa

Website

https://cruzvermelha.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1865

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa is Portugal's 160-year-old Red Cross society, delivering health, social, emergency response, and food-assistance services to approximately one million beneficiaries annually through 160+ local structures and 5,000+ volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food Services (624210), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) and Emergency Livelihood Support (BPAGAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE), Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) / Emergency Social Assistance (BPADADAI)

Keywords

• Humanitarian services
• Emergency response
• Social assistance
• Healthcare services
• Food security

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisboa

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly and one-time donations from individuals through the website, with options for recurring contributions via direct debit. Donation amounts include €15, €30, €50 monthly or €20, €80 one-time payments, with custom amounts available.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate membership program (CVP Corporate), corporate volunteering, product partnerships, solidarity products, and impact salary donations. Companies can collaborate through various programs and receive tax benefits.
3. Health Card Subscription: Annual subscription service providing access to a network of healthcare providers with differentiated conditions for consultations, exams, treatments, and rehabilitation.
4. IRS Tax Consignation: 0.8% of IRS tax revenue is directed to the organization at no cost to taxpayers through the national tax consignation mechanism.
5. Solidarity Products Sales: Sale of solidarity products including emergency kits (€45), commemorative items, agendas, and booklets through the online store.
6. Event Venue Rental: Rental of the Palácio Rocha Conde d'Óbidos historic venue for events, conferences, and ceremonies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa is a humanitarian non-governmental organization founded in 1865 that delivers health services, social support, food assistance, emergency response, and youth engagement programs across Portugal through a network of 160+ local structures and 5,000+ volunteers. It operates paid subscription services such as the Cartão Saúde CVP health card and Teleassistência remote monitoring, alongside donor-funded humanitarian programs for vulnerable families and elderly populations.

Product overview

Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa operates as a multi-service humanitarian organization offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services across health, social support, emergency response, education, and youth engagement. The core offerings include the Cartão de Saúde CVP (health card subscription with 24/7 medical assistance), Teleassistência (remote monitoring for vulnerable populations), and various social programs such as Cartão Dá CVP (prepaid food cards), Programa Mais Feliz (comprehensive social support), and food aid services (Refeitórios, Cantinas Sociais, Loja Social, Lavandaria Social). The emergency response capability is anchored by REST SPACES (mobile rest structures) and the Aplicação Primeiros Socorros (first aid app). Recent product launches include the Kit de Emergência (emergency preparedness kit sold online), commemorative stamps with CTT, and expanded health card partnerships. The organization also runs youth engagement (Juventude Cruz Vermelha), ambassador programs, and corporate partnership initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cartão Saúde CVP: Health card providing 24-hour medical assistance at home
• Programa Mais Feliz
• Vale +
• REST SPACES
• Juventude Cruz Vermelha
• Cartão Dá CVP
• Kit de Emergência
• Movimento #APortaAoLado
• Embaixadoras CVP

Products and services

• Cartão de Saúde CVP Annual health card subscription service providing 24/7 home medical assistance, with access to a network of healthcare providers, consultations, exams, treatments, hospitalization, and rehabilitation at differentiated conditions for subscribers and beneficiaries.
• Teleassistência Remote monitoring and assistance service for people in situations of dependence due to old age, illness, disability, or isolation, providing a daily 'friendly voice' through regular proactive calls and reactive emergency support.
• Cartão Dá CVP Prepaid card program that replaces traditional food baskets, enabling families in vulnerability to choose their own food products at partner retailers, promoting autonomy and dignity.
• Programa Mais Feliz Comprehensive social support program promoting social inclusion and territorial development, offering assistance in health, education, employment, housing, financial management, social/psychological, and legal areas for families in vulnerability.
• Kit de Emergência Emergency preparedness kit for families priced at €45, containing waterproof bag, thermal blanket, whistle, multifunction bracelet, first aid kit, lightsticks, dynamo flashlight, FM/AM radio, signaling mirror, batteries, water purification tablets, and waterproof document pouch.
• REST SPACES Mobile and modular support structures for emergency response, providing rest, hygiene, food, psychosocial support, and physical recovery for up to 100-150 operational personnel simultaneously during disaster deployments.
• Aplicação Primeiros Socorros Mobile application providing step-by-step first aid instructions and emergency guidance accessible on demand for citizens responding to medical emergencies.
• Apoio Alimentar e Social Food and social support services including food banks, hot meals, social refectories and cantinas, social laundries, and social stores providing essential nutrition and hygiene support to families in socioeconomic vulnerability.
• Juventude Cruz Vermelha (JCV) Youth development program enabling young people to develop skills and positively impact others through structured volunteer activities, humanitarian education, and engagement with the Red Cross mission.
• Loja Online CVP Online store selling solidarity products including emergency kits, commemorative stamps, solidarity agendas, and booklets, with proceeds supporting CVP's humanitarian mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95,169 families supported with food assistance in 2024 (58.6% increase from 2023)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Santander PortugalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2026Joint initiative to support victims of earthquakes in Venezuela, combining financial resources and operational capabilities for humanitarian response in the affected region.
• Fundação GalpcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026€1 million program partnership to strengthen community resilience against extreme storms and flooding. Combines Galp Foundation's resources with CVP's operational capacity for faster, closer, and more effective emergency response.
• Santa Casa da Misericórdia de LisboacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2026Partnership expanding Cartão Saúde CVP benefits to include access to healthcare consultations, exams, treatments, hospitalization, rehabilitation programs, and sociocultural advantages in Santa Casa facilities.
• Liga PortugalflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2026Projeto Golo - football solidarity initiative converting goals scored in Liga Portugal Betclic and Liga Portugal 2 into donations (€100 per goal in Betclic, €50 in Liga 2) for disaster recovery efforts.
• Grupo SousacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Protocol of cooperation to strengthen humanitarian response in Cabo Verde and Guinea-Bissau, leveraging Grupo Sousa's maritime and logistics capabilities with CVP's humanitarian expertise.
• Cruz Vermelha EspanholacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Joint response to Storm Kristin, coordinated distribution of 3,000 tarpaulins for emergency roof repairs in affected communities.
• Pingo Doce, El Corte Inglés, AuchancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2025Vale+ campaign operating in 281 commercial surfaces for food collection and solidarity voucher sales supporting families in vulnerable situations.
• Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Historic cooperation protocol covering training exchange, human resources sharing, exception situations support, international cooperation with mixed teams, AED implementation support, technological development, and joint projects for community welfare.
• Câmara Municipal de Lisboa - Serviços SociaiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtocol expanding health card benefits and access to healthcare and wellness services for Lisbon municipal workers and residents through CVP's health card program.
• Sindicato dos Jogadores (Players Union)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerInitiator of Projeto Golo football solidarity campaign, promoting player participation in converting goals to humanitarian donations for affected communities.
• Record (Media Partner)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partnership for Projeto Golo campaign, providing coverage and visibility for the football solidarity initiative supporting disaster recovery.
• CTT - Correios de PortugalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive stamp collection commemorating 160 years of CVP, with four stamps and four philatelic postcards available in CTT stores. €1 from each pack sold reverts to CVP.
• Federação Internacional das Sociedades da Cruz Vermelha e do Crescente Vermelho (IFRC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the global Red Cross Movement with membership in IFRC and collaboration with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
• Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica (INEM)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner40 ambulances integrated into the National Emergency Medical System, coordinated through INEM for emergency medical response across Portugal.
• Associação Comercial do PortominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupport for Cruz Vermelha Porto's Red'Amiga initiative, involving companies and individuals in the humanitarian mission with exclusive benefits for members.
• Ministério da Justiça e Procuradoria-Geral da RepúblicacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership establishing first Victim Support Office in Matosinhos, providing specialized assistance to crime victims in collaboration with justice authorities.
• Câmara Municipal de CascaisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for signing ceremony of partnership with Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa for health card expansion.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): Foundational Red Cross institution coordinating with CVP on international humanitarian operations and principles. Functions as a movement-level enabler and standards-setter rather than a direct operational competitor.
• Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian: Major Portuguese philanthropic foundation supporting health, education, and social causes. Operates as an adjacent ecosystem player — occasionally funding similar programs and competing for donor attention, but not a direct humanitarian service competitor.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): Global umbrella organization of which CVP is a member society. Provides movement-level coordination, funding access, and international standards — an enabling ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome: Portugal's national food bank network operating food collection campaigns with major retailers. Competes directly with CVP's Vale+ and Cartão Dá CVP food assistance programs for donor attention, retailer partnerships, and beneficiary support.
• Cáritas Portuguesa: Cáritas is Portugal's other major humanitarian NGO, providing overlapping social assistance, food aid, and support to vulnerable families. Competes directly with CVP for donor mindshare, volunteers, and corporate partnerships in the Portuguese humanitarian market.
• Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa: Historic Portuguese charitable institution providing social services, healthcare, and support to vulnerable populations. Recently partnered with CVP on Cartão Saúde CVP expansion, demonstrating direct service portfolio overlap in health and social assistance.
• Cruz Roja Española: Spanish Red Cross is the most directly comparable peer — sibling national society within the International Red Cross Movement, operating under the same fundamental principles with a comparable portfolio of health, social, and emergency services in a neighboring Iberian market.

Broad incumbents

• British Red Cross: A larger national Red Cross society operating across health, social care, refugee support, and emergency response in the UK. Useful as a comparable on operating model, subscription services, and emergency response infrastructure at greater scale.
• American Red Cross: The largest national Red Cross society, providing disaster relief, health training, and social services. Comparable on operating scale, donation infrastructure, and the model of integrating humanitarian mission with commercial-adjacent services (training, health products).
• Médicos Sem Fronteiras (MSF): Major international humanitarian medical NGO with operations in emergency medical relief. Comparable on humanitarian health emergency response and international deployment, though focused more on conflict zones than domestic social services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cruzvermelhaportuguesa.oficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/cruzvermelhaportuguesa
• Xx.com/cruzvermelha_pt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa