National Societies and 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.

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 Partnerships and Resource Development department: [email protected]

Trusted, engaged, accountable

A Jordanian Red Crescent volunteer sits and talks with a family in their home

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.

Find out more about:

Donor Advisory Group (DAG)

Members of the IFRC's Donor Advisory Group conduct a field trip to Mozambique following Cyclone Idai in 2019

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 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 Netherlands Government and the Netherlands Red Cross are co-chairing the DAG from 1 July 2023 until 31 December 2024.

The 2023 members of the DAG are: Australia, Canada, European Union/ European Commission (DG ECHO), Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States.

The 2023 observers to the DAG are France and Ireland.