American Red Cross

American Red Cross
FormationMay 21, 1881; 143 years ago (1881-05-21)
FounderClara Barton
TypeCharitable organization
53-0196605
Legal statusInstrumentality of the United States and a body corporate and politic[1][2] 501(c)(3) organization
PurposeHumanitarian aid
HeadquartersAmerican Red Cross National Headquarters
Location
Region served
United States
Key people
Main organ
Board of Governors
Revenue
US$3.4 billion (2022)[4]
Websitewww.redcross.org

The American National Red Cross[5] is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. Clara Barton founded the organization in 1881 after initially learning of the Red Cross from the country of Switzerland. Barton resigned in 1904 with Mabel Thorp Boardman taking control soon after. It is the designated US affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the United States movement to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The organization is involved with and responsible for the aftercare of notable disasters, such as the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912, World War I, the Spanish Flu Outbreak of 1918, World War II, Hurricane Katrina, and the Maui wildfires of 2023.

The American Red Cross offers services and development programs such as blood donations, plasma and tissue services, and additional research.[6] It has also had a long-standing relationship with the US military, providing emergency and non-emergency services, including family communications and recreation.

  1. ^ 36 U.S.C. § 300101
  2. ^ "Our Federal Charter". American Red Cross. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Clolery, Paul. "ARC's McGovern To Retire, Holtz To Be New CEO". the nonprofit times.
  4. ^ "American National Red Cross". Forbes. Forbes.
  5. ^ "Congressional Charter of the American Red Cross" (PDF). May 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 13, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  6. ^ "What We Do | Red Cross | Disaster Relief, Emergency Management". American Red Cross. Archived from the original on July 19, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2015.