Cruz Roja Costarricense

Name

Cruz Roja Costarricense

Legal name

Benemérita Cruz Roja Costarricense

Website

https://cruzroja.or.cr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1885

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Medical Services and Humanitarian Aid

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian Coordination & Disaster Risk Reduction IGOs (BPADAAAE)

Keywords

• Emergency medical services
• Prehospital care
• Humanitarian assistance
• Disaster response
• First aid training

Headquarters

HQ city

San José

HQ country

Costa Rica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: The primary revenue stream is voluntary donations from individuals, corporations, and organizations. Donations are solicited through the website and direct outreach campaigns. The organization emphasizes that donations fund ambulance fuel, medical and rescue equipment, and infrastructure improvements.
2. Training and Capacitation Courses: Revenue generated from selling training courses including First Aid and CPR (Heart Saver / Salva Corazones with AHA certification, 8-12 hours), Basic First Aid BPA (40 hours), 4x4 Safe Driving (₡75,000), Emergency Vehicle Operation MVE (₡130,000), talks and workshops from ₡25,000, and monthly continuous training programs at ₡14,000 per person/month.
3. Emergency Equipment Store (Tienda Cruz Roja): E-commerce sales of emergency preparedness equipment including compact kits (Ruta Segura), household first response kits, and corporate first aid stations. Revenue from merchandise supports the humanitarian mission.
4. Real Estate Sales and Rentals: The organization generates revenue through the sale and rental of properties it owns, including land near the Hospital del Trauma in La Uruca, San José and buildings in Zapote near the Banco Nacional de Sangre. Proceeds directly fund humanitarian operations.
5. Institutional Employment and Salaried Staffing: Revenue partially derived from employing staff (1,360 salaried workers) in operational and administrative roles, funded through a combination of donations, service fees, and institutional budgets. Also recruits for specialized roles such as drivers at auxiliary committees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cruz Roja Costarricense is a private, non-profit humanitarian organization that delivers 24/7 prehospital emergency medical care, disaster response, search and rescue, and first aid/CPR training to the general population of Costa Rica through a network of 111 auxiliary committees and a fleet of more than 700 ambulances. It funds operations through donations, paid training courses, an e-commerce store selling emergency preparedness equipment, and real estate transactions.

Product overview

Cruz Roja Costarricense operates as a unified humanitarian organization offering an integrated portfolio of services centered on emergency response and community welfare. Its core offerings include 24/7 prehospital emergency care (Atención Prehospitalaria) with a fleet of 700+ ambulances and over 500,000 annual emergencies attended, complemented by training and certification programs (Cursos y Capacitaciones) covering first aid, CPR, and emergency vehicle operation. The organization sustains its operations through a Tienda (online store) selling emergency equipment and official merchandise, a Donaciones (donation) platform, and a real estate (Inmobiliario) program for property sales and rentals. Four strategic Programs — Gestión de Riesgos y Respuesta a Emergencias, Persona Adulta Mayor, Cruz Roja Juventud, and Doctrina y Protección — organize its humanitarian work, alongside a Voluntariado program with over 5,500 active volunteers across 111 auxiliary committees nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CRREC: Centro de Referencia para la Resiliencia Comunitaria y Ambiente (CRREC) — dedicated to strengthening community capacity to prepare, adapt, and recover from risks and emergencies.
• CRCapacita
• Tienda Cruz Roja

Products and services

• Respuesta a Emergencias (Atención Prehospitalaria)
• Cursos y Capacitaciones (Training Courses)
• Tienda Cruz Roja (Online Store)
• Venta y Alquiler de Propiedades (Real Estate)

Quantifiable outcome

• Handles over 500,000 emergencies per year (approximately 1 per minute)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026Mexican Red Cross participated in the international search and rescue mission in Venezuela alongside Cruz Roja Costarricense, contributing capabilities and expertise to the joint humanitarian operation.
• Cruz Roja Colombiana (Colombian Red Cross)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026Colombian Red Cross participated in the international rescue mission in Venezuela alongside Cruz Roja Costarricense, providing collaborative support during the search and rescue operations.
• Cruz Roja Portuguesa (Portuguese Red Cross)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026Portugal's Red Cross provided backing and support during the international rescue mission in Venezuela coordinated by Cruz Roja Costarricense.
• United StatessupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026United States provided backing and experience to strengthen the international humanitarian effort during the Venezuela rescue mission.
• ChilesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026Chile provided support and experience during the international search and rescue mission in Venezuela.
• El SalvadorsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026El Salvador provided support and experience during the international search and rescue mission in Venezuela.
• Cruz Roja Venezolana (Venezuelan Red Cross)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026Cruz Roja Costarricense deployed a team of 16 specialized rescuers to Venezuela following seismic events. The Venezuelan Red Cross served as the host society and coordination body for the international rescue mission. The mission included search and rescue, medical support, and coordination with local authorities.
• Cruz Roja Panameña (Panamanian Red Cross)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Panamanian Red Cross hosted the Regional Symposium on International Humanitarian Law (DIH) in Panama, marking the opening of the Regional Center for International Humanitarian Law. Cruz Roja Costarricense participated actively in the dialogue.
• Cruz Roja Española (Spanish Red Cross)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Spanish Red Cross collaborated in the organization of the Regional Symposium on International Humanitarian Law alongside AECID, CICR, and the Panamanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation co-organized the Regional Symposium on International Humanitarian Law together with the Panamanian Red Cross, the ICRC, and the Spanish Red Cross.
• Comité Internacional de la Cruz Roja (CICR / ICRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is one of the three components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The CICR is an independent and neutral organization that protects and assists victims of armed conflicts and ensures compliance with international humanitarian law. Cruz Roja Costarricense participates in its activities and adheres to its doctrine.
• Federación Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja (IFRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies coordinates disaster and health emergency response worldwide, supporting National Societies. Cruz Roja Costarricense operates under its strategic agenda, including the 2021-2030 Development Plan aligned with IFRC objectives.
• American Heart Association (AHA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe American Heart Association provides international certification for Cruz Roja Costarricense's Heart Saver / Salva Corazones first aid and CPR course, granting internationally recognized credentials to course graduates.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cruz Roja Española (Spanish Red Cross): Spanish National Society of the Red Cross. Direct peer National Society providing emergency response, social programs, training, and humanitarian operations; has partnered with Cruz Roja Costarricense on regional humanitarian law initiatives.
• Canadian Red Cross: Canadian National Society of the Red Cross movement. Direct peer providing emergency response, disaster management, training, and humanitarian aid programs across Canada.
• British Red Cross: UK National Society of the Red Cross movement. Direct peer offering emergency response, refugee support, first aid training, and humanitarian aid; comparable scope of activities and volunteer-driven model.
• St. John Ambulance: International humanitarian organization providing first aid training, ambulance services, and emergency response across multiple countries. Comparable model as volunteer-driven first aid and prehospital care provider.
• American Red Cross: U.S. National Society of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Directly comparable as a peer National Society providing emergency response, disaster relief, training, and volunteer mobilization, but operating at much larger scale in the United States.
• Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross): Mexican National Society of the Red Cross movement. Direct regional peer providing prehospital emergency care, ambulances, training, and volunteer-based humanitarian services across Mexico, with closer geographic and cultural comparability than European or U.S. peers.
• Cruz Roja Colombiana (Colombian Red Cross): Colombian National Society of the Red Cross. Direct regional peer providing prehospital care, disaster response, and volunteer programs; collaborated with Cruz Roja Costarricense on the Venezuela earthquake rescue mission.

Broad incumbents

• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): Independent humanitarian organization within the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement focused on armed conflict and international humanitarian law. Strategic partner to Cruz Roja Costarricense but not a direct operational peer in prehospital care.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): Global umbrella organization coordinating the activities of 191 National Societies including Cruz Roja Costarricense. Acts as a strategic incumbent partner rather than direct competitor, defining the strategic agenda Cruz Roja Costarricense operates under.

Regional players

• Cruz Roja Panameña (Panama Red Cross): Panamanian National Society of the Red Cross movement. Regional peer providing similar emergency response, training, and humanitarian services in neighboring Panama; recently hosted the regional humanitarian law symposium with Cruz Roja Costarricense participation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CruzRojaCRC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CruzRojaCRC
• Facebookfacebook.com/cruzrojacostarricense/?locale=es_LA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cruzrojacostarricense
• Instagraminstagram.com/cruzrojacrc
• TikToktiktok.com/@cruzrojacostarricense?_r=1&_t=ZS-95lMUzY1SJI

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Roja Costarricense