Rauði krossinn - Icelandic Red Cross

What Rauði krossinn - Icelandic Red Cross does

The Icelandic Red Cross (Rauði krossinn á Íslandi) is Iceland's sole nationally mandated humanitarian organization and an accredited auxiliary to the Icelandic government under the Geneva Conventions. Founded circa 1918 and headquartered in Reykjavik, it operates a national branch network supported by 99 paid staff and 2,576 active volunteers (2025). Its service portfolio spans crisis intervention (Helpline 1717, 20,233 conversations in 2025), first aid training (14,668 trained in 2025), harm reduction (Frú Ragnheiður and the new Ylja supervised consumption facility; 10,117 visits in 2025), refugee integration and international tracing, the Vinaverkefni companionship programme for socially isolated individuals, post-imprisonment reintegration support, and 24/7 disaster response (80 activations in 2025).

The organization's mixed funding model combines individual donations through the "Friends of Humanity" monthly giving programme (3,000-10,000 ISK), annual memberships (4,900 ISK), paid first aid and safety training courses priced 13,200-38,500 ISK, webstore merchandise sales, and government contracts with agencies including Sjúkratryggingar Íslands (health insurance), Útlendingastofnun (immigration), and Fangelsismálastofnun (prison administration). It operates under the ICRC and IFRC global humanitarian frameworks and is governed by a 2021-2030 strategic plan that prioritizes digital capability-building, harm reduction scale-up, and volunteer engagement.

Tactically, 2025 marked execution of that plan: Ylja launched as a new supervised consumption facility, harm reduction extended to Suðurnes and Akureyri, the EU4Health-funded Wellbeing4U partnership opened a supranational funding channel, and a Coca-Cola Europacific Partners-backed "Keys to Society" project extended prison reintegration work. No proprietary AI/ML capabilities are evident; technology investments to date are limited to learning-platform integration and standard digital service workflows.

Name

Rauði krossinn - Icelandic Red Cross

Legal name

Rauði krossinn á Íslandi

Website

https://raudikrossinn.is

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Icelandic Red Cross (Rauði krossinn) is Iceland's nationally mandated humanitarian organization, operating crisis helpline 1717, first aid training, harm reduction, refugee integration, prison reintegration, and disaster response services through 99 paid staff and 2,576 volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian Logistics, Supply Chain & Air/Sea/Land Relief Transport (BPAGAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH), Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE)

Keywords

• Humanitarian services
• Crisis support
• First aid training
• Harm reduction programs
• Refugee integration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Reykjavík

HQ country

Iceland

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: Monthly donors ('Friends of Humanity') contribute to both domestic and international projects. Membership fee is 4,900 krónur annually. One-time donations accepted at various levels starting from 1,500 kr.
2. Training Course Fees: Revenue generated from first aid courses, water safety training, and other educational programs. Prices range from 13,200 kr for basic courses to 38,500 kr for comprehensive lifeguard training.
3. Webstore Sales: Online store selling first aid supplies, gift certificates, and merchandise. Products include first aid kits (11,900 kr), gift certificates (2,500-13,200 kr), and support packages (3,000 kr).
4. Government Contracts: Services provided under agreements with government authorities including refugee support, ambulance transport coordination with Sjúkratryggingar Íslands, and disaster response coordination.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Icelandic Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that delivers crisis support, emergency response, and social welfare services to individuals across Iceland. Its core offerings include the 24/7 Helpline 1717 for psychosocial support, first aid and lifeguard training courses, harm reduction services through the Frú Ragnheiður mobile unit and Ylja consumption facility, refugee integration and tracing services, and social inclusion programs (Vinaverkefni). Services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries and supported through donations, membership fees, government contracts, grants, and revenue from training courses and webstore sales.

Product overview

The Icelandic Red Cross operates as a diversified humanitarian organization offering a portfolio of interconnected services centered on crisis support, health education, and social welfare. Core offerings include the 24/7 Helpline 1717 for psychosocial support, first aid training courses, and harm reduction services (Frú Ragnheiður and Ylja). Social inclusion programs (Vinaverkefni) provide companionship through visiting, walking, and phone friends. Refugee and migration services include guiding friends, language training (Tölum saman), Wellbeing4U, InterACT, and tracing/family reunification services. Additional programs support prisoners post-release, offer safety/rescue training, and include a webstore, online learning platform, and integrity reporting system. The organization is structured as an independent auxiliary to the government with branches nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mannvinir (Friends of Humanity): Monthly donor program supporting all humanitarian and reconstruction work of the Icelandic Red Cross.
• Frú Ragnheiður
• Ylja
• Hjálparsíminn 1717

Products and services

• Hjálparsíminn 1717 og netspjallið (Helpline 1717 and Online Chat) A 24/7 crisis helpline and online chat service providing psychosocial support, counseling, active listening, and referrals to community resources for people in distress. Available to all residents of Iceland.
• Skyndihjálp námskeið (First Aid Training Courses) First aid training courses offered to the public, businesses, and professionals, including 4-hour (13,200 kr), 6-hour, and 12-hour (24,500 kr) courses, water safety, and recertification programs. Includes certification.
• Vefverslun (Red Cross Webstore) Online store selling first aid kits (11,900 kr), gift certificates (2,500-13,200 kr), and other Red Cross merchandise to support humanitarian work.
• Frú Ragnheiður (Mobile Harm Reduction Service) A mobile harm reduction service providing clean injection equipment, medical care, wound treatment, and psychosocial support for people with drug addictions in the capital area and other regions.
• Ylja (Supervised Consumption Facility) A supervised consumption facility providing a safe environment for drug use under healthcare professional guidance as part of harm reduction initiatives.
• Vinaverkefni (Friendship/Social Inclusion Programs) Social inclusion programs pairing volunteers with isolated individuals for companionship through visiting friends, walking friends, phone friends, and dog-assisted visits.
• Fólk á flótta (Refugees and Migrants Services) Comprehensive support services for refugees including guiding friends, language training (Tölum saman), Wellbeing4U psychosocial support, InterACT volunteer programs, and recreational funds.
• Leitarþjónusta (Tracing and Family Reunification Services) Tracing and family reunification services helping people locate missing family members separated by conflict, disasters, or migration as part of the global Red Cross network (over 150 years of operation globally).
• Öryggi og björgun námskeið (Safety and Rescue/Lifeguard Training) Safety and rescue training courses for individuals seeking to work at swimming and bathing facilities as lifeguards, including both theoretical (13,500 kr remote) and practical (38,500 kr in-person) components.
• Sálræn fyrsta hjálp (Psychological First Aid Education) Psychological first aid education and support services providing education in psychological support after major accidents and catastrophes, with multilingual resources available.
• Aðstoð eftir afplánun (Network After Imprisonment) Support program connecting volunteers with individuals completing imprisonment sentences 2-5 months before release to assist with housing, employment, finances, and social integration for up to a year.
• Wellbeing4U Mental health and psychosocial support project funded by EU4Health providing psychoeducation and peer support for refugees in their native language.
• InterACT (Refugee-led Volunteer Group) Refugee-led volunteer group where people with international protection participate in activities with organizations to build community connections while benefiting society.
• Tölum saman (Language Buddy Program) Language buddy program matching Icelandic speakers with newcomers to practice conversational Icelandic and support language learning.
• Lyklar að íslensku samfélagi (Keys to Society) Integration support program providing orientation sessions, practical guidance on the labor market, and psychological first aid for asylum seekers and recognized refugees.
• Tómstundasjóður (Recreational Fund) Recreational fund supporting refugee children up to 17 years old to participate in leisure activities not eligible for grants elsewhere, up to 30,000 ISK per year.
• Mannvinir (Friends of Humanity Monthly Donation Program) Monthly donation program supporting all humanitarian and reconstruction work of the Icelandic Red Cross, with funds divided between domestic and international projects. Tiers at 3,000/5,000/8,000/10,000 kr.
• Námskeiðsvefur (Online Learning Platform) Online learning platform providing access to Red Cross training courses including first aid, humanitarian education, and courses from IFRC and partner organizations.
• Blóðbankinn (Blood Donation Services) Blood donation services coordinated by the Icelandic Red Cross.
• Kvennadeild Reykjavíkurdeildar (Women's Division Shop & Self-Service) Women's division running hospital shops and self-service vending at Landspítali (Fossvogur and Hringbraut), with an active knitting group producing crafts for sale.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,233 conversations handled by Helpline 1717 in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint controllers for family reunification and tracing services. ICRC handles hosting and processing in the global tracing system while Icelandic Red Cross collects information from clients and registers personal data in the search system. Active collaboration in conflict zones.
• IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAligned with global IFRC Strategy 2030. Provides access to the IFRC Learning Platform for humanitarian education courses. Collaborates on international projects and humanitarian response.
• Landlæknaembættið (Office of the Surgeon General)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Helpline 1717 services and healthcare coordination.
• Neyðarlínan (National Emergency Line)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for ambulance transport coordination and emergency services integration. Icelandic Red Cross provides ambulance transport services coordinated through Neyðarlínan's system.
• Geðhjálp (Mental Health Iceland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on mental health support and psychosocial services through Helpline 1717.
• Barnaheill (Save the Children Iceland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on child welfare and protection matters related to helpline services.
• Heimili og skóli (Home and School)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on family and educational matters through Helpline 1717 referrals.
• CHI (Child Helpline International)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelpline 1717 is a member of this international network of child and youth helplines.
• Saft (Digital Safety Initiative)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelpline 1717 is a member of Saft, an awareness initiative for safe and positive internet use for children and youth in Iceland.
• Landspítali (National University Hospital of Iceland)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for needle disposal from harm reduction services. Landspítali handles disposal as part of community harm reduction to reduce used injection equipment on streets.
• Icelandic MunicipalitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with various municipalities for refugee support services, recreational fund distribution, and social activities. Applications for recreational fund admitted to Red Cross Branch in municipality of residence.
• Fangelsismálastofnun (Directorate of Prisons)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgreement to manage community service programs. Red Cross handles administration of community service placements for individuals completing sentences.
• Útlendingastofnun (Directorate of Immigration)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferrals for refugees and asylum seekers. Collaboration on family reunification applications and integration support services.
• ESC (European Solidarity Corps)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for international youth exchange and volunteer mobility programs. Information about volunteers shared with ESC as appropriate.
• Rannís (Icelandic Centre for Research)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on international youth exchanges and related volunteer programs. Volunteer information may be shared for program administration.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/raudikrossinn

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Rauði krossinn - Icelandic Red Cross