The American Red Cross is the nation’s largest, independent, nonprofit humanitarian organization helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to all types of emergencies.  No other entity provides our depth of services to communities in the United States and around the world.

Every household in America has benefited in some way from the life-saving mission of the Red Cross.  Through a volunteer-led network of more than 700 local chapters and 36 Blood Services regions; through more than half a million volunteers and 35,000 employees; we are a powerful, grassroots organization.  As one of 180 Red Cross and Red Crescent societies around the world, we belong to a global humanitarian force of 98 million employees, volunteers and members.

Every single day, we harness the very best of humanity to carry out our mission in five complementary service-delivery areas—Disaster Services, Health and Safety Services, Biomedical Services, Service to the Armed Forces and International Services.  We make a difference in ways that can be felt in your neighborhood and around the world.

The Red Cross is not a government agency; we rely on private donations of time, talent, money and blood to do our work.  We rely on the generosity and willingness of people and businesses to help others in need.  We are proud of the fact that 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends goes to humanitarian services and programs.

 

Our Mission & Charter

 

The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. 

 

Although the Red Cross is a charity, not a government agency, its authority to provide disaster relief was formalized when, in 1905, the Red Cross was chartered by Congress to “carry on a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same.”  The charter is not only a grant of power, but also imposes upon the Red Cross duties and obligations to our nation and our partners overseas, to disaster victims and to the people who generously support our work with their donations.