The ICRC is funded by contributions from the States party to the Geneva Conventions (governments); national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies; supranational organizations (such as the European Commission); and public and private sources. All funding is voluntary.

The ICRC does not wait to receive funds before it responds to urgent needs in the field, and counts on the goodwill of its contributors to provide the funds as quickly as possible.

At the end of each year the ICRC launches two budget appeals, for headquarters and the field, to cover the coming year. Operational information and statistical and financial tables (based on the original appeals) are combined in an Annual Report.