Governments
The work of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is made possible in large part by the contributions of National Societies and their respective governments.
Our National Societies as partners
As a membership organization, the IFRC’s main goal is to serve our 191 member National Societies and to support them to deliver effective local humanitarian action at all times. When the IFRC Secretariat engages with government partners, we always do so jointly, in close cooperation with our National Societies.
National Societies are also our partners. Each National Society provides annual statutory contributions to the IFRC to support our overall mission and goals. The amounts of these contributions vary and are determined by a formula approved by the General Assembly.
In addition, National Societies can make voluntary contributions and donations to the IFRC. Voluntary contributions and donations provided by National Societies and their respective governments are our largest source of income.
Crucially, National Societies and governments provide the majority of funding to our regular resources budget—unearmarked funding that gives us the greatest financial flexibility—and to IFRC emergency appeals.
We simply could not deliver our wide-ranging and life-saving work without the support of National Societies and their governments. And it is our steadfast commitment to be trusted, valued and accountable partners to them at all times.
To find out more, or to discuss partnering with the IFRC to support our work, please contact our Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization department: [email protected].
Top government donors
An Angola Red Cross volunteer explains how to use water safely and follow best hygiene practices in order to avoid catching cholera.
Photo: Agostinho Jorge/Angola Red Cross
Top Government Donors (CHF millions) in 2023
- United States Government: 72.8
- German Government: 33.6
- Swiss Government: 19.5
- Irish Government: 15.0
- Italian Government: 14.3
- Japanese Government: 12.5
- British Government: 10.2
- Swedish Government: 9.8
- French Government: 8.9
- Spanish Government: 5.6
Top National Society donors
Top National Society donors (CHF millions) in 2023
- The Netherlands Red Cross: 50.6
- Canadian Red Cross Society: 48.2
- British Red Cross: 39.7
- American Red Cross: 30.1
- Japanese Red Cross Society: 25.8
- Norwegian Red Cross: 25.5
- Finnish Red Cross: 20.2
- Australian Red Cross: 15.7
- Austrian Red Cross: 13.6
- Danish Red Cross: 13.1
Donor Advisory Group (DAG)
Members of the IFRC's Donor Advisory Group conduct a field trip to Mozambique following Cyclone Idai in 2019
Photo: IFRC/Corrie Butler
In 2012, the IFRC established the Donor Advisory Group (DAG) made up of representatives from donor governments, member National Societies of those same countries, and the European Union.
To become a member of the DAG the National Society and their government need to contribute more than 10 million Swiss francs to the IFRC annually for at least two years in a row.
The goals of the Donor Advisory Group are to:
- Provide a forum for high-level strategic and policy discussion on global issues—including humanitarian and development assistance and donor trends
- Help the IFRC strengthen our partnerships for the benefit of all members of the Donor Advisory Group and our 191 National Societies
- Provide high-level strategic inputs to the IFRC as to how it can strengthen partnership opportunities
DAG members and observers
With the IFRC, the Spanish Government and the Spanish Red Cross are co-chairing the DAG from 1 January 2026 until 31 December 2026.
The 2026 members of the DAG are Austria, Canada, European Union (DG ECHO), Finland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America.
The 2026 observer to the DAG is: The United Arab Emirates.
Trusted, engaged, accountable
A Jordanian Red Crescent volunteer sits and talks with a family in their home
Photo: IFRC
As the world’s largest humanitarian network, the IFRC is committed to being trusted, engaged and accountable to our many and diverse stakeholders.
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