CARE International

What CARE International does

CARE International is a Swiss-registered global humanitarian confederation founded in 1945, originally established as the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe and renamed Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere in 1993. It is legally structured as a Swiss Association (CHE-357.762.646) headquartered in Geneva, comprising 19 national Members, 1 Affiliate (Chrysalis in Sri Lanka), and 57 Country Offices that together implement 1,467 programs across 121 countries, reaching 58.7 million people directly in FY2025. The confederation focuses on women and girls, who constitute 57% of direct program participants, and operates in six strategic areas: gender equality, crisis response, health, food and water, economic justice, and climate action. Its revenue model relies on individual donations and institutional funding from governments, UN agencies, the World Bank, and foundations — CARE does not sell commercial products and allocates 89% of all funds raised directly to program services, with only 11% absorbed by overhead and fundraising.

The organization's core technology stack is methodological rather than software-based: flagship programs include Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) — a community-led microfinance architecture used by 30 million+ people across 67 countries that has collectively saved over $11.5 billion — alongside proprietary frameworks such as the Rapid Gender Analysis, the CARE Climate Resilience Marker, Social Analysis and Action, and Community Score Card. CARE operates its outcomes through the Program Information and Impact Reporting System (PIIRS), a standardized SDG-aligned indicator system that produces longitudinal impact data for institutional fundraising. Distribution is executed via local partner organizations, country offices, direct program implementation, and cash-and-voucher assistance within 72 hours of emergencies. 97% of staff are nationals of the countries where they work, reinforcing the organization emphasis on locally-led humanitarian action articulated in its 2022 Pledge for Change commitment.

CARE has no equity, no public listing, and no traditional revenue figures; commercial-style revenue mechanics do not apply. Governance runs through a Member Assembly (chaired by Luis Montoya Tillit) with the Secretariat led by a Secretary-General and supported by an Executive Committee. Differentiated competitive advantages include 80 years of brand recognition (the CARE Package remains an iconic humanitarian symbol), deep distribution across 100+ countries, and structural participation in governance platforms including the IFRC Code of Conduct, Core Humanitarian Standard, Climate Charter, ALNAP, IASC, and the Grand Bargain.

Name

CARE International

Legal name

CARE International Secretariat

Website

https://care-international.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

CARE International is a Geneva-headquartered global humanitarian confederation of 19 Members and 57 Country Offices that implements poverty-alleviation, crisis-response, and women's empowerment programs across 121 countries, reaching 58.7 million people in FY2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medical Missions & Global Health NGOs (BPAGACAI), International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD), Humanitarian Health Coordination & Emergency Response Partnerships (HLAJAOAI), Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Disaster relief programs
• Women empowerment programs
• Poverty alleviation programs
• Crisis response services

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: CARE receives donations from individual supporters worldwide who contribute to the organization's humanitarian and development programs.
2. Institutional Funding: CARE receives funding from governments, multilateral organizations (UN agencies, World Bank), foundations, and institutional donors to implement development and humanitarian programs.
3. Program Services: In FY2024, CARE spent 89% of all funds raised on programs to benefit communities around the globe, demonstrating high program expense ratio.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CARE International is a humanitarian and development confederation delivering emergency relief and long-term development programs to save lives and defeat poverty, with a specific focus on women and girls. Its programs span crisis response, health, food and water security, gender equality, climate action, and economic empowerment, delivered through 1,467 programs reaching 58.7 million people across 121 countries in FY2025. The organization is funded by individual supporters, governments, multilateral agencies, and foundations.

Product overview

CARE International is a global confederation of humanitarian organizations (19 Members, 1 Affiliate, 57 Country Offices) offering a portfolio of development and emergency response programs rather than a technology product platform. The organization's core offerings span six strategic areas: Gender Equality, Crisis Response, Health, Food and Water, Making the Economy Work for Women and Girls, and Climate. Key programs include Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) for financial inclusion, SOAR (Strengthening Opportunities for Adolescent Resilience) for education, the AMAL Initiative for adolescent mothers, the Rapid Gender Analysis tool, and the CARE Climate Resilience Marker. The organization does not operate as a software technology company with distinct product modules but rather as a program delivery network with evidence-based initiatives focused on women and girls at the center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) A savings group methodology that enables community members (primarily women) to pool resources into a village bank, save small amounts, and borrow money in times of hardship or to invest in small businesses. Built on group savings practice, it is offered to women in poor and crisis-affected areas across 67 countries.
• Rapid Gender Analysis A tool providing rapid assessment of gender dynamics and needs during crises, used by CARE and other humanitarian actors to ensure programs address the specific needs of women and girls in emergencies.
• CARE Climate Resilience Marker

Quantifiable outcome

• 58.7 million people reached directly in FY2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2026UNDP supported Vanuatu's green energy sector with a gender-responsive capacity needs assessment. CARE likely participates in similar UNDP initiatives.
• ShelterBoxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2025CARE and ShelterBox are among five aid groups working together on Gaza humanitarian response, reporting that shelter materials were not entering Gaza despite authorization.
• United Nations (UN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2025The UN and five aid groups including CARE reported on shelter materials not entering Gaza. CARE engages with UN agencies, UNFCCC, and participates in UN climate negotiations.
• Accenture Development PartnershipscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 6 December 2024Accenture's Development Partnerships (ADP) works with NGOs including CARE on social, economic and environmental issues including agriculture, climate, energy, health, humanitarian aid, inclusive finance and livelihoods.
• International Labour Organization (ILO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2019, CARE's advocacy contributed to adoption of a new ILO Convention aimed at ending violence and harassment in the world of work. CARE also partnered with ILO for the Decent Work Coalition.
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARE partnered with IFAD and ILO to launch the Decent Work Coalition, aiming to create more equal livelihoods for those working in food systems.
• Governments (Various)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARE works with local and national governments to strengthen policies, improve service delivery, and implement programs. For example, the Government of Tanzania launched National Farm Field and Business School Guidelines based on CARE's work.
• Women-Led OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARE prioritizes women-led organizations and women's rights organizations because women are usually missing from decision-making tables. CARE's Women's Voice and Leadership program supports women's rights organizations in Côte d'Ivoire and Uganda.
• Emory UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARE partnered with Emory University and local NGOs in India for the CROPS program, demonstrating how integrating home gardens and greywater use can improve dietary diversity.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Oxfam International: Global confederation of humanitarian and development NGOs working on poverty, gender, food security, and crisis response across 80+ countries. Directly comparable to CARE in mission, confederation structure, and program portfolio, with similar focus on women's rights and economic justice.
• Mercy Corps: US-headquartered global humanitarian and development INGO working in conflict-affected and climate-stressed contexts. Comparable to CARE in emergency response, economic empowerment, and food security programs, though Mercy Corps is more centralized and less federation-based.
• International Rescue Committee: Humanitarian INGO providing emergency relief, refugee support, and recovery programs in conflict-affected countries. Highly comparable to CARE in crisis response, health, and women/girls programming, with similar geographic footprint and donor base.
• Save the Children International: Global INGO focused on children's rights, education, health, and emergency response in 100+ countries. Comparable to CARE in scale, federation governance, humanitarian response, and institutional funding sources, with greater emphasis on child-focused programming.
• Norwegian Refugee Council: Humanitarian INGO specializing in displacement, refugee, and IDP programming in conflict-affected countries. Comparable to CARE in emergency response operations, advocacy, and donor base, with deeper specialization in forced displacement.
• World Vision International: Christian humanitarian INGO operating child sponsorship, emergency response, and long-term development programs in 100+ countries. Comparable to CARE in geographic reach, donor-funded model, and emergency response, with a faith-based sponsorship-driven revenue model.
• Plan International: Global INGO focused on children's rights and gender equality, particularly for girls, in 80+ countries. Closely comparable to CARE in women/girls focus, confederation structure, and rights-based development approach, with somewhat narrower geographic scope.

Broad incumbents

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): Independent medical-humanitarian organization providing emergency medical care in conflict zones and epidemics. A broader incumbent in the humanitarian sector; comparable in crisis-response delivery and field operating model, but more narrowly focused on medical care than CARE's multi-sector portfolio.
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): Neutral, impartial humanitarian organization focused on protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict. A broader institutional incumbent in the humanitarian sector; comparable in conflict-zone operations, though more focused on protection of civilians and prisoners of war than CARE's development orientation.

Emerging players

• BRAC International: Large development organization operating in 11+ countries with programs on poverty alleviation, women's empowerment, education, and microfinance. Comparable to CARE in poverty alleviation, women's economic empowerment, and locally-led delivery, though more concentrated in Asia and Africa and more focused on development than emergency response.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat8 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/care-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CARE International