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Top Rated

American Red Cross

CharityWatch rating issued
July 2025

Top-Rated Charity
A-
CharityWatch Rating
Our independent rating based
on a number of factors.
 
91%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$25
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

American Red Cross
431 18th Street, NW
Washington , DC 20006-5009

Other Names

American National Red Cross
Red Cross

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

Prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

View similar charities
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 06/30/2024

Program Percentage: 91%

The percentage of American Red Cross's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$3,519,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $25

How many dollars American Red Cross spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$773,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters & Branches IRS Form 990 53-0196605
The American National Red Cross Consolidated Audited Financial Statements Multiple
Entity: American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters & Branches
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 53-0196605
Entity: The American National Red Cross
Document Type: Consolidated Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: Multiple

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
American Red Cross
meets governance benchmarks.
 
American Red Cross
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-In Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Gail McGovern President / CEO $1,313,605
2 Clifford Holtz Chief Operating Officer $887,528
3 Chris Hrouda President of Biomedical Services $834,115
1
Name: Gail McGovern
Title: President / CEO
Compensation: $1,313,605
2
Name: Clifford Holtz
Title: Chief Operating Officer
Compensation: $887,528
3
Name: Chris Hrouda
Title: President of Biomedical Services
Compensation: $834,115

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

CharityWatch's rating of the American Red Cross includes the financial activities of the entities consolidated in the Red Cross audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended of June 30, 2024. These entities are described in the fiscal 2024 consolidated audit (Note 1(a) re: Organization and Basis of Presentation) as follows:

"...The Organization has national and international programs that are conducted by its headquarters, Biomedical Services, and chartered local chapters. All significant intra-organizational accounts and transactions have been eliminated [in the consolidated audit]..."

According to The American National Red Cross audited Consolidated Statement of Activities for the year ended June 30, 2024, the Red Cross received donated in-kind services and materials on which it placed a total value of approximately $55,109,000.

According to the Red Cross consolidated audit of June 30, 2024 (Note 1(o) re: Contributed Services and Materials):

"...Contributed services for the year ended June 30, 2024 include the services of approximately 10,110 volunteers. The Organization recorded contributed services revenue and related expense of approximately $36 million and $39 million in 2024 and 2023, respectively. These amounts primarily represent volunteer efforts in support of Disaster Services and Services to the Armed Forces..."

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

According to the American National Red Cross tax filing for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 re: Compensation, Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, and Highest Compensated Employees (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II):

The reported "Bonus & incentive compensation" amounts paid by the Red Cross range from a high of $600,000 to a low of $50,000 for 15 total individuals in calendar year 2023. The $600,000 was paid to the President & CEO, Gail McGovern, who received reported total compensation of $1,313,605 in 2023. The reported total compensation for the other 14 individuals in 2023 ranges from $339,017 to $887,528.


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