Refugee Rescue
Our vision A future where all those fleeing violence, abuse, hardship and war have the right to safe passage at sea. Our mission Refugee Rescue offers skilled emergency …
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Our vision A future where all those fleeing violence, abuse, hardship and war have the right to safe passage at sea. Our mission Refugee Rescue offers skilled emergency assistance to migrants in distress in the Mediterranean Sea. We bear witness to human rights violations and advocate to make local authorities and intergovernmental bodies accountable for their actions. About Refugee Rescue Refugee Rescue is a grass-roots NGO currently operating a skilled Search and Rescue (SAR) team helping displaced people at sea reach safe shores. It was formed in 2015 by ordinary Irish citizens in response to the humanitarian crisis in the Aegean Sea when thousands of people were arriving by boat, having been displaced by war, conflict, and persecution. In Greece, …
Mission
Our vision A future where all those fleeing violence, abuse, hardship and war have the right to safe passage at sea. Our mission Refugee Rescue offers skilled emergency assistance to migrants in distress in the Mediterranean Sea. We bear witness to human rights violations and advocate to make local authorities and intergovernmental bodies accountable for their actions. About Refugee Rescue Refugee Rescue is a grass-roots NGO currently operating a skilled Search and Rescue (SAR) team helping displaced people at sea reach safe shores. It was formed in 2015 by ordinary Irish citizens in response to the humanitarian crisis in the Aegean Sea when thousands of people were arriving by boat, having been displaced by war, conflict, and persecution. In Greece, our crew and volunteers saved over 15,000 people in distress. After being forced to suspend operations for 9 months, we are operating once again, in partnership with the rescue organisation Sea-Eye. Our life-saving rescue vessel, named Mo Chara (meaning 'my friend' in Irish) forms a crucial part of the Sea-Eye 4 ship. Our small and dedicated team is made up of a few core staff and many committed volunteers who work tirelessly to keep Mo Chara afloat. We share the same values of diversity, equality, integrity, respect and transparency that guide us. And none of our missions would have been possible without the generosity of hundreds of donors and partners who have enabled us to save lives. Please join us in our efforts - make a donation now. Registered charity name: Refugee Rescue - Date registered. 04/04/2016 Registered charity number: Charity Commission Number 105156 & HMRC Number NI00583
Focus areas & reach
· What they work on and whereHow it stacks up against peers
· vs. 8 similar disaster relief in IrelandConcerns
· None foundGiveRadar Analysis
Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations
GiveRadar's verified records show Refugee Rescue with a partial profile, cross-referenced across 3 independent sources.
- Its integrity score of 30 is below most of the 11,461 charities in Ireland GiveRadar tracks. GiveRadar bases this on limited verified information so far, with little on record for its financial disclosures and its governance. Explore Ireland data
- a website
- a donation page
- financial records (present for 61% of comparable organizations)
- leadership details
- a contact email
- third-party accreditation
Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-07-03. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.
Common questions
· Auto-generated from filings + methodologyRefugee Rescue is a registered disaster relief nonprofit based in Ballycastle, Ireland. It is registered with the Charities Regulator of Ireland. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 30/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate.
Refugee Rescue has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 30/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 30 ('Limited data available') reflects limited public data, not concerns about the organization. This is common for smaller, newer, or non-US charities that file fewer public records. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for disaster relief charities in Ireland is 57/100.
Refugee Rescue is located in Ballycastle, Ireland. Its registered address is 58 LEYLAND MEADOWS.
Refugee Rescue is classified as a Disaster Relief organization, registered in Ireland.
According to GiveRadar's records, Refugee Rescue is registered with the Charities Regulator of Ireland and overseen by the Charities Regulator. You can donate directly through their official donation page linked on their GiveRadar profile. GiveRadar provides data for research and does not endorse any organization. A GiveRadar Integrity Assessment reflects how much public data is available, not whether an organization is safe to donate to, so it is always smart to do your own research before giving.
Our vision A future where all those fleeing violence, abuse, hardship and war have the right to safe passage at sea. Our mission Refugee Rescue offers skilled emergency assistance to migrants in distress in the Mediterranean Sea. We bear witness to human rights violations and advocate to make local authorities and intergovernmental bodies accountable for their actions. About Refugee Rescue Refugee Rescue is a grass-roots NGO currently operating a skilled Search and Rescue (SAR) team helping displaced people at sea reach safe shores. It was formed in 2015 by ordinary Irish citizens in response to the humanitarian crisis in the Aegean Sea when thousands of people were arriving by boat... Refugee Rescue is classified as a disaster relief organization registered in Ireland.
Refugee Rescue is a registered charity in Ireland. Under the Charitable Donation Scheme, if you donate 250 euros or more in a year to an eligible charity, the charity can claim a tax refund from Revenue of approximately 45% of your donation at no extra cost to you.
See 5 years of revenue, expense breakdowns, and balance sheet.
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Tax-deductibility for donors
Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of Ireland under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.
Refugee Rescue is in Ireland, a TGE (Transnational Giving Europe) member country. Dutch donors can route gifts via Stichting Transnational Giving Europe to receive Dutch ANBI-equivalent deductibility, subject to TGE's 5% pass-through fee.
Refugee Rescue is registered in Ireland. US donors generally cannot deduct gifts to non-US charities directly. To claim a deduction, route the gift through a US 'Friends of' fiscal sponsor or a donor-advised fund that performs equivalency determination (IRS Rev. Proc. 92-94).
Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.
We check government filings and charity disclosures quarterly. If you represent this charity, claim this page to add officers directly.
Latest news
From global news sources
10 articles found
From news sources and the organization. Shown for transparency; news never affects the integrity score.
Fourth refugee rescue ship detained in Italy after saving lives at sea - Morning Star | The People’s Daily
New Reston-based nonprofit will assist Afghan refugees - FFXnow
Refugee rescue organization holds celebration for Afghan women in D.C. area - FFXnow
FactFind: What happened when Mairead McGuinness voted against EU refugee rescue missions in 2019? - The Journal
Italy impounds Banksy-financed refugee rescue ship - thecanary.co
NGO refugee rescue ship left waiting on European help that never came - People's World
Open Arms refugee rescue ship saves 250 people in the last week - Catalan News
Banksy funds boat to rescue refugees at sea - BBC
German refugee rescue ship renamed after Alan Kurdi - The New Arab
Refugee rescue NGOs reject human trafficking charges - InfoMigrants
Activity timeline
Filings and press mentions, merged
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Sign up to write a reviewCause areas in Ireland
How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.
Most common causes in Ireland
Causes charities work on most.
Sources and verification
- Registration and legal identity
- Charities Regulator of Ireland
- News and media coverage
- GDELT Project + Google News
- Supplementary verification
- GlobalGiving partner directory
Data freshness
What we know and don't know
Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.
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Mission statement · Published
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Official website · On record
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Headquarters address · On file
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Financial dataNo Charity Regulator annual return on file
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Named leadershipBoard and officer list not yet indexed
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Executive payTop-officer pay not disclosed
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Government registrationNo public registry ID
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Programs & activitiesNo named programs listed by the charity
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Direct contactNo email or phone published
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Tax-deductibilityNot verified
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Founding dateYear founded not on file
Methodology
GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.
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Quick facts about Refugee Rescue
- What is Refugee Rescue?
- Refugee Rescue is a disaster relief nonprofit organization based in Ballycastle, Ireland. Our vision A future where all those fleeing violence, abuse, hardship and war have the right to safe passage at sea. Our mission Refugee Rescue offers skilled emergency assistance to migrants in distress in the Mediterranean Sea. We bear witness to human rights violations and advocate to make local authorities and intergovernmental bodies accountable for their actions. About Refugee Rescue Refugee Rescue is a grass-roots NGO currently operating a skilled Search and Rescue (SAR) team helping displaced people at sea reach safe shores. It was formed in 2015 by ordinary Irish citizens in response to the humanitarian crisis in the Aegean Sea when thousands of people were arriving by boat, having been displaced by war, conflict, and persecution. In Greece, our crew and volunteers saved over 15,000 people in distress. After being forced to suspend operations for 9 months, we are operating once again, in partnership with the rescue organisation Sea-Eye. Our life-saving rescue vessel, named Mo Chara (meaning 'my friend' in Irish) forms a crucial part of the Sea-Eye 4 ship. Our small and dedicated team is made up of a few core staff and many committed volunteers who work tirelessly to keep Mo Chara afloat. We share the same values of diversity, equality, integrity, respect and transparency that guide us. And none of our missions would have been possible without the generosity of hundreds of donors and partners who have enabled us to save lives. Please join us in our efforts - make a donation now. Registered charity name: Refugee Rescue - Date registered. 04/04/2016 Registered charity number: Charity Commission Number 105156 & HMRC Number NI00583
- Where is Refugee Rescue located?
- Headquartered in Ballycastle, Ireland. The charity operates in 3 countries.
- Is Refugee Rescue trustworthy?
- Refugee Rescue has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 30 out of 100 (Limited data available). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
- What is Refugee Rescue's website?
- http://www.refugeerescue.org
- Are donations to Refugee Rescue tax-deductible?
- Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of Ireland under local rules. US donors should check whether the charity has an equivalency-determination letter or a US-based fiscal sponsor before claiming a deduction.