Danish Red Cross

What Danish Red Cross does

The Danish Red Cross (Landsforeningen Røde Kors i Danmark), founded in 1876 and headquartered at Blegdamsvej 27, 2100 København Ø, is a humanitarian nonprofit organization operating as the Danish national society of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The organization serves vulnerable populations in Denmark — including refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, and socially isolated individuals — through approximately 35,000-40,000 volunteers organized across 200+ local chapters, four health clinics in major cities, a tracing service for separated families, refugee integration programs, first aid training, and asylum center operations. Internationally, it delivers humanitarian programs in conflict and disaster zones, anchored by a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DKK 154 million annually, 2022-2025) and an EU DG ECHO partnership covering 122 countries.

The organization's core operational technology centers on the "Røde Kors Parat" volunteer coordination app, integrated with Denmark's national MitID digital identity system for verification, and the "Mit Røde Kors" member portal. It maintains CHS (Core Humanitarian Standard) certification, EU Humanitarian Partnership certification, GDPR compliance, and registration with the Danish National Board of Health. The organization partners with several major foundations including Oak Foundation Denmark, Novo Nordisk Foundation, World Diabetes Foundation, Ole Kirk's Fond, and A.P. Møller Fonden, and hosts international humanitarian hubs in Copenhagen — the MHPSS Hub (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support) and HIFHUB — on behalf of the global movement.

The operating model is a hybrid funding structure combining institutional grants (government and foundations), public donations, and earned revenue from a retail arm of 250+ second-hand stores generating DKK 100+ million annually. The organization employs approximately 2,665 staff and disclosed DKK 2,235 million in aid spending in 2025. Revenue mechanics therefore depend on a diversified mix of multi-year institutional contracts, retail margin, and individual donor contributions, with no single revenue line dominating.

Name

Danish Red Cross

Legal name

Landsforeningen Røde Kors i Danmark

Website

https://rodekors.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1876

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Danish Red Cross (Landsforeningen Røde Kors i Danmark) is a humanitarian nonprofit founded in 1876 and headquartered in Copenhagen, serving vulnerable populations in Denmark and internationally through volunteer networks, health clinics, refugee integration, and disaster response programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

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

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI), Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE), Migration, Refugees & Forced Displacement Assistance (BPADABAL)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Disaster relief operations
• Refugee support programs
• Community health clinics
• Volunteer coordination network

Headquarters

HQ city

København Ø, København Ø

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Private Donations: Individual donations from the public, including one-time contributions and regular giving programs. The organization runs a lottery and accepts donations via SMS, bank transfer, and web shop purchases.
2. Second-hand Store Revenue: Over 250 Red Cross second-hand stores across Denmark generate profits that fund humanitarian activities. Annual profits exceed DKK 100 million.
3. Strategic Partnership with Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Annual strategic partnership agreement providing DKK 154 million annually (2022-2025) for international programs. In 2022, total contribution was close to DKK 300 million including additional grants.
4. EU Funding: European Union funding through DG ECHO for humanitarian operations, and DG INTPA/DG NEAR for development programs. Current geographic scope covers 122 countries.
5. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with private companies including sponsorship of health clinic and fundraising campaigns.
6. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations including Oak Foundation Denmark (health clinic since 2011), Novo Nordisk Foundation, World Diabetes Foundation, Ole Kirk's Fond, A. P. Møller Fonden, and others.
7. Membership and Inheritance: Member contributions and bequests through wills and testaments.
8. Volunteer-generated Programs: Services including first aid courses, language training, buddy programs, and community support activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Danish Red Cross delivers free humanitarian services to vulnerable populations in Denmark and internationally through a network of 200+ local chapters and 40,000 volunteers. Core offerings include the Parat volunteer matching service, four Health Clinics providing free medical care to people without Danish health access, the Tracing Service for families separated by conflict, refugee integration support, asylum center operations on behalf of the state, first aid courses, and 250+ second-hand stores that generate surplus funding for humanitarian work.

Product overview

Danish Red Cross (Røde Kors) is a humanitarian organization offering a portfolio of services including volunteer matching (Parat network), healthcare (Health Clinics in 4 cities), family tracing (Tracing Service as part of Restoring Family Links), refugee integration, first aid training, and secondhand retail operations. Digital services include the Mit Røde Kors member portal and Parat mobile app. The organization operates over 200 local chapters with approximately 35,000 volunteers across Denmark.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Røde Kors Parat: A nationwide network of volunteers helping people in vulnerable situations with acute and time-limited tasks.
• Sundhedsklinikken (Health Clinic)
• Eftersøgningstjenesten (Tracing Service)
• Røde Kors Genbrug
• Røde Kors Feriehjælp

Products and services

• Røde Kors Parat (Volunteer Matching Network) A nationwide network of volunteers who help people in vulnerable situations with acute and time-limited practical tasks such as moving, accompaniment to appointments, and short-term support. Volunteer helpers are verified through MitID and CPR number before being dispatched to help tasks. Free for people in need.
• Sundhedsklinikken (Health Clinic) Free basic health care service providing doctor consultations, nursing care, pregnancy examinations, physiotherapy, acute dental treatment, and children's vaccinations to adults, children, and infants without Danish CPR number, health insurance card, or other health coverage. Operates in four cities: Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense, and Aalborg.
• Eftersøgningstjenesten (Tracing Service) Free and confidential service that helps people separated by conflict, disaster, or migration reconnect with family members. Part of the global Restoring Family Links network covering 192 countries. Offers family searches, Red Cross Messages, and detention documentation through the ICRC.
• Refugee Integration Services Comprehensive support for refugees and migrants including Danish language training (online and in-person), networking cafés, volunteer buddy matching, friendship families, and practical assistance with settling into Danish communities.
• Førstehjælpskurser (First Aid Courses) First aid training courses and certification programmes for individuals and organizations, including Samarit volunteer first-aiders who provide assistance at public events.
• Røde Kors Genbrug (Second-hand Stores) Over 250 second-hand stores across Denmark operated by more than 10,000 volunteers, generating profits exceeding DKK 100 million annually that support Red Cross activities. Includes an online webshop at rodekorsgenbrug.dk.
• Asylcentre (Asylum Centers) Danish Red Cross operates asylum centers and manages asylum seekers arriving in Denmark on behalf of the Danish authorities, providing shelter, food, and support services.

Quantifiable outcome

• DKK 2,235 million deployed for humanitarian work in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership Framework Agreement (2019-2023) covering international humanitarian law, protection, MHPSS, non-communicable diseases, innovation, digitalisation, partnerships, and rapid deployment. ICRC provides mandate and experience in fragile and complex humanitarian situations.
• Danish Medical Association (Lægeforeningen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of the Health Clinic in 2011. Continues to support and advocate for healthcare access for vulnerable populations.
• Danish Refugee Council (Dansk Flygtningehjælp)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of the Health Clinic in 2011. Collaborative relationship supporting healthcare access for refugees and migrants.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of 192-national society federation. Danish Red Cross contributes to IFRC's multilateral operations annually and engages with IFRC's reference centres for knowledge and services.
• Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish Red Cross hosts this hub in Copenhagen. It promotes psychosocial wellbeing and builds technical expertise in mental health and psychosocial support as a core component of international activities.
• Humanitarian Innovative Finance Hub (HIFHUB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish Red Cross hosts this global initiative that leverages financial instruments to address humanitarian challenges through investible projects, capacity building, and sector-wide collaboration.
• Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on joint publications in 2020 on migration and returnees in West Africa and Ethiopia, drawing attention to climate change, conflict, and displacement needs.
• Aarhus UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership on health innovation research.
• University of CopenhagenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership on mental health research.
• London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership as part of Partnering for Change (P4C) programme involving Novo Nordisk and ICRC. Aims to improve understanding of non-communicable diseases in humanitarian settings.
• Livelihoods Reference CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFramework agreement with IFRC reference centre for livelihoods expertise.
• Climate Change Reference CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFramework agreement with IFRC reference centre for climate change expertise.
• 510 InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFRC initiative using digital and data-based solutions to improve humanitarian action.
• Private Sector PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompanies support Danish Red Cross with technical assistance, expertise in health or climate, technologies, logistics, and personnel. Collaboration with banks, insurance companies, DFI, and private investors to adapt financial tools to humanitarian contexts.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Norwegian Red Cross: A Nordic sister National Society of the IFRC with a comparable multi-service model of health clinics, refugee integration, asylum operations and second-hand retail funded by government, EU and private donations; shares organizational structure and mission.
• Swedish Red Cross: Swedish National Society within the ICRC/IFRC movement running similar domestic social programs (loneliness, refugee support, tracing) plus international humanitarian deployments; operates as a legal auxiliary to the Swedish government just as Danish Red Cross does.
• British Red Cross: UK National Society operating similar refugee support, family tracing, emergency response and volunteer mobilization programs and competing for many of the same European government and multilateral funding pools.
• Dutch Red Cross (Rode Kruis): Dutch National Society with a comparable portfolio of volunteer-led domestic services, international humanitarian operations, family tracing and 900+ aid stations; comparable in operational breadth and digitization of volunteer mobilization.
• Danish Refugee Council (Dansk Flygtningehjælp): Danish-headquartered humanitarian NGO specializing in displacement and refugee protection; co-founded Danish Red Cross's Health Clinic and competes directly for Danish MFA, EU and foundation funding for refugee programming.
• German Red Cross (DRK): Germany's National Society and the largest IFRC member society; runs analogous domestic social, refugee and health programs and a major international humanitarian operation, making it a like-for-like scaled peer.
• Finnish Red Cross: Finnish National Society with overlapping humanitarian programming (migration support, tracing service, blood/health activities and volunteer-driven retail) and similar Nordic institutional donor relationships.

Broad incumbents

• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): Geneva-headquartered umbrella body with the Geneva Conventions mandate; signs the Partnership Framework Agreement that channels Danish Red Cross's international mandate and operates at greater scale in conflict zones.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): Global federation of 192 National Societies; Danish Red Cross is a dues-paying member that contributes annually to IFRC multilateral operations and consumes IFRC reference centre services (livelihoods, climate, MHPSS).

Emerging players

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): Independent medical humanitarian organization with overlapping NCD and refugee health programs; competes with Danish Red Cross for DG ECHO grants and unrestricted private donations in similar crisis-affected settings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/danskrodekors?lang=da
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGSDJNCcQNsLJKP6PhF8kvg
• Facebookfacebook.com/roedekors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/danish-red-cross
• Instagraminstagram.com/rodekorsdk/?hl=da

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Danish Red Cross