International Committee of the Red Cross

Analysis

International Committee of the Red Cross is a registered charity in United States, based in Switzerland. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in November 1942, 84 years ago. Its declared purposes cover international, foreign affairs and national security, which this site groups under overseas aid and international. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (gross receipts test) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, International Committee of the Red Cross reported income of $2.87bn and spending of $2.53bn, spending 88% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $1.92bn to $2.87bn (+49%), an average of +10% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 23%. Over the whole period it spent 100% of the income it received.

Among 10,317 United States charities whose main cause is overseas aid and international and that reported income, International Committee of the Red Cross sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Gavi Alliance ($2.63bn), Good360 ($3.06bn) and Direct Relief ($2.27bn).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 99% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $7.1m (0.3% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $903.9m. At year end it held assets of $2.14bn against liabilities of $1.18bn, net assets of $955.2m. It reported 19,450 employees.