What AmeriCares Foundation does

AmeriCares Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit global health and disaster relief organization headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, founded in 1979 by Robert C. 'Bob' Macauley following his 1975 airlift of Vietnamese orphans. The organization delivers donated medicines, medical supplies, and direct health services to approximately 80 countries per year and has provided more than $24 billion in cumulative aid across 164 countries since inception, responding to 35+ natural disasters and humanitarian crises annually. Core programs are organized around three pillars: Emergency Programs (Ready–Respond–Recover cycle), Medicine Security (procurement and distribution of donated pharmaceuticals from 200+ manufacturers and distributors), and Health Services (mental health, infectious disease, maternal and child health, diabetes and hypertension). Direct-service assets include four free clinics in Fairfield County, Connecticut, the Clínica Integral de Atención Familiar in eastern El Salvador, and 12 mobile health centers in India serving nearly 300 locations, supported by a network of 4,000+ partner health clinics globally and 900+ free clinics and community health centers in the United States.

AmeriCares is funded through three primary revenue streams: individual donations (one-time, monthly recurring via the Hero for Health program, face-to-face canvassing, DAF, stock, crypto, vehicle, and IRA distributions), corporate and foundation grants (Abbott, P&G, Medtronic Foundation, The Soloviev Foundation), and in-kind pharmaceutical and medical product donations. The organization's defining economic feature is its 20:1 leverage ratio — for every $10 donated, AmeriCares delivers roughly $200 in aid — with more than 98% of donated resources flowing to health programs. It is ranked #8 on Forbes' 2025 Top Charities list with $2 billion in private donations and holds 4-star Charity Navigator, BBB Wise Giving Alliance accreditation, and Candid/GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency. Leadership is anchored by President and CEO Christine Squires, a senior executive team including SVPs for Medicine Security, Programs/CMO, Development, and Marketing, and a board chaired by Susan Grossman (Mastercard EVP) with vice chair Michael Ullmann (retired J&J EVP/General Counsel).

The go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer digital fundraising (americares.org, my.americares.org), face-to-face canvassing for monthly recurring gifts, community Leadership Councils in major U.S. metros, and event-driven fundraising (annual Airlift Benefit, golf tournaments, celebrity-co-hosted events). Disaster-response operations are supported by the ER Global Roster of trained volunteer responders and enable deployment within hours of a crisis. Marketing channels include quarterly newsletters, active social presence (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X), earned media with staff experts quoted across CBS, ABC, CNN, the New York Times, and STAT News, and celebrity ambassador partnerships. Distribution to beneficiaries operates through the partner health clinic network, AmeriCares-operated clinics and mobile health units, and direct emergency deployment of medical teams and relief supplies to disaster zones.

Name

AmeriCares Foundation

Legal name

Americares Foundation

Website

https://americares.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

AmeriCares Foundation is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1979 that delivers donated medicines, medical supplies, and direct health services to roughly 80 countries annually, responding to 35+ disasters and crises each year for disaster-affected and low-income populations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid and Global Health Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD), Humanitarian Health Coordination & Emergency Response Partnerships (HLAJAOAI), Medical Missions & Global Health NGOs (BPAGACAI), Global Health Financing Mechanisms & Pooled Funds (HLAJAOAC)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Disaster relief programs
• Global health programs
• Donated medicine distribution
• Emergency medical response

Headquarters

HQ city

Stamford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Americares receives donations from individual supporters via its website, monthly giving programs (Hero for Health), face-to-face canvassing, and one-time or stock donations. The organization emphasizes that every $10 donated can provide $200 in aid due to leverage from donated pharmaceutical products.
2. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Corporations and foundations provide financial contributions and product donations. The organization maintains relationships with over 200 pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors who donate products, and partners with corporations for disaster relief and health programs (e.g., P&G, Abbott, Medtronic Foundation).
3. Pharmaceutical and Medical Product Donations: Pharmaceutical and healthcare companies donate medicines and medical supplies, which Americares distributes to partner health clinics worldwide. This donated product forms the bulk of aid value — enabling $200 in aid per $10 donated.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AmeriCares Foundation is a global health and disaster relief nonprofit that distributes donated medicines and medical supplies, deploys emergency medical teams in response to natural disasters and humanitarian crises, and operates direct clinical health services through its own clinics and mobile health centers. The organization serves approximately 80 countries annually, delivers more than $2 billion in medical aid each year, and supports a network of more than 4,000 partner health clinics worldwide.

Product overview

Americares Foundation is a global health and disaster relief organization offering a portfolio of humanitarian programs rather than a technology product. The core offerings include Emergency Programs (disaster response and preparedness), Medicine Security (donated pharmaceuticals and medical supplies distribution), and Health Services (direct patient care). Direct service delivery includes Americares Free Clinics in Connecticut, Americares Family Clinic in El Salvador, and 12 India Mobile Health Centers. Supporting programs encompass Climate Resilience Toolkit, Mental Health Programs, Diabetes/Hypertension Management, Maternal and Child Health, and Infectious Disease Response. The organization operates through a Ready-Respond-Recover emergency cycle framework and maintains an ER Global Roster of trained volunteer responders. All programs are delivered through charitable partnerships rather than technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Americares Free Clinics: Free clinic program operating in Fairfield County, Connecticut providing care for nearly 2,000 low-income, uninsured patients annually
• Americares Family Clinic (El Salvador)
• Americares India Mobile Health Centers

Products and services

• Emergency Programs (Ready-Respond-Recover) Disaster relief services that help communities prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and humanitarian crises. Includes the ER Global Roster of trained emergency responders and the Ready-Respond-Recover cycle framework.
• Medicine Security Program Program that procures and distributes donated medicines and medical supplies from pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors to a network of 4,000+ partner health clinics globally. AmeriCares leverages donated products to provide $200 in aid for every $10 donated.
• Health Services Program AmeriCares' direct health service delivery program supporting AmeriCares-run clinics and partner health centers to provide quality health services, including mental health, infectious disease, maternal and child health, diabetes and hypertension programs.
• AmeriCares Free Clinics (Connecticut) Four free clinics operated by AmeriCares in Fairfield County, Connecticut providing free primary medical care to nearly 2,000 low-income, uninsured patients annually.
• AmeriCares Family Clinic (El Salvador) AmeriCares' Clínica Integral de Atención Familiar in eastern El Salvador providing low-cost, quality health services to local communities.
• India Mobile Health Centers 12 mobile health centers operated by AmeriCares in India providing care at nearly 300 locations, serving Mumbai's slum communities.
• Safety Net Center / U.S. Programs Access U.S. access initiative supporting more than 900 free clinics and community health centers nationwide with donated medicines and medical supplies, training, operational support, and capacity-building resources.
• Mental Health Programs Mental health and psychosocial support services for disaster survivors and health workers affected by crises and humanitarian emergencies.
• Maternal and Child Health Programs Health programs focused on maternal and child health outcomes, including nutrition interventions such as the Pediatric Nutrition Project in Vietnam that reached approximately 25,000 children.
• Diabetes and Hypertension Programs Health services focused on managing chronic diseases including diabetes and hypertension in vulnerable populations globally, including mobile diabetes care in Haiti.
• Infectious Disease Programs Response and prevention programs for infectious disease outbreaks including Ebola, cholera, and other epidemics.
• ER Global Roster Roster of trained emergency responders — including medical professionals and logistics experts — available for rapid deployment during humanitarian crises and natural disasters.

Quantifiable outcome

• $10 donated can provide $200 in aid (20:1 leverage ratio)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Creative Artists Agency (CAA)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 January 2026CAA and Americares partnered on a volunteer event marking one year since the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. CAA hosted the event at its Los Angeles office where hundreds of emergency go bags were packed. Americares donated the packed bags to Vida Mobile Clinic for distribution to fire-affected families. The partnership combines Americares' relief capabilities with CAA's celebrity and community platform.
• Vida Mobile CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2026Americares partnered with Vida Mobile Clinic to distribute emergency go bags (first aid kits, masks, hygiene products) to families in Los Angeles wildfire-affected communities on the anniversary of the Eaton and Palisades fires. Vida Mobile Clinic serves as the local distribution partner for Americares-donated supplies.
• Abbott and Abbott FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Abbott and the Abbott Fund partnered with Americares and the Giao Diem Humanitarian Foundation in 2006 to support the Pediatric Nutrition Project in Vietnam, providing fortified soy milk, nutritious foods, and nutrition education to preschool children in rural high-risk provinces. Abbott Fund contributed $1.9 million in funding; Abbott provided $2.7 million in product donations. The program helped approximately 25,000 children and reduced malnutrition rates at participating schools to less than 20 percent.
• Procter & Gamble (P&G)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerP&G partners with Americares as part of its community impact programs including disaster relief and clean water initiatives. P&G's programs (Tide Loads of Hope, Children's Safe Drinking Water Program) operate alongside Americares, with Americares providing health and disaster relief support in the collaboration.
• Abbott and Abbott FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbbott and Abbott Fund expanded disaster relief efforts in response to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, working with Americares along with Feeding America, Direct Relief, and World Central Kitchen to deliver nutrition products (Ensure, PediaSure, Glucerna, Pedialyte, Similac infant formula) and grants to affected communities across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
• Medtronic FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedtronic Foundation has a strategic partnership with Americares enabling crisis response deployment to global communities. Medtronic Foundation also supports employees through matched donations (up to $5,000 annually), volunteer grants, and annual Project 6 giving campaigns. The partnership enables rapid deployment of medical expertise and resources during humanitarian crises.
• Hope for HaiticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope for Haiti partnered with Americares to expand mobile healthcare services in southern Haiti to tackle the increasing diabetes crisis. The partnership addresses the growing burden of chronic disease in Haiti through mobile medical service delivery.
• Municipality of Luna, Isabela, PhilippinesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipality of Luna in Isabela, Philippines partnered with Americares Philippines to implement a Climate and Disaster Resilience Comprehensive Program aimed at enhancing local emergency response capabilities through training, equipment provision, and simulation exercises.
• Feeding AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeeding America is a partner organization in Americares' expanded disaster relief efforts for Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, coordinating nutrition product delivery to affected communities.
• Direct ReliefcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect Relief is a partner organization in Americares' expanded disaster relief efforts for Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, coordinating aid delivery to affected communities.
• World Central KitchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Central Kitchen is a partner organization in Americares' expanded disaster relief efforts for Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, coordinating meal and nutrition delivery to affected communities.
• International Medical CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with International Medical Corps enables crisis response deployment to global communities, as part of Medtronic Foundation's community impact programs.
• InterActionminorOthersAmericares maintains membership in InterAction, the largest alliance of U.S.-based nonprofits working on humanitarian aid and development around the world, to stay connected with peers and advance collaboration.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Direct Relief: Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization that distributes donated medicines and medical supplies to health providers worldwide. It is the most direct peer to AmeriCares, sharing the pharma-donation distribution model, the U.S. free clinic network, and joint participation in disaster response efforts (e.g., Hurricane Helene/Milton).
• International Medical Corps: International Medical Corps provides emergency relief, health care, and training in conflict and disaster settings globally. It partners with AmeriCares via the Medtronic Foundation ecosystem and is highly comparable in mission, geography, and emergency response operations.
• MAP International: MAP International is a global health nonprofit that provides medicines and supplies to people in need across more than 100 countries. It directly mirrors AmeriCares' donated-medicine distribution model and serves similar partner clinic and disaster response populations.
• Heart to Heart International: Heart to Heart International distributes donated medicines and medical supplies globally and operates U.S. free clinics. It overlaps with AmeriCares on both the pharmaceutical donation pipeline and domestic safety-net clinic support.

Broad incumbents

• World Central Kitchen: World Central Kitchen is a larger, highly visible nonprofit that provides food relief in disaster and crisis settings. While its core mission is food rather than medicine, it is a comparable disaster-response fundraising competitor and joint partner with AmeriCares in Hurricane Helene/Milton response.
• Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): MSF is a global medical humanitarian organization delivering emergency medical care in conflict and disaster zones. While more clinical and operating at much larger global scale, it is a benchmark peer for AmeriCares' humanitarian health mission and donor base overlap.
• International Rescue Committee: The International Rescue Committee responds to humanitarian crises worldwide, including health programming in conflict-affected countries. It is a peer in global health/crisis response fundraising, with overlapping donor segments.
• Feeding America: Feeding America is the largest U.S. hunger-relief nonprofit and is a peer/partner with AmeriCares in domestic disaster response (Hurricane Helene/Milton). It is comparable in scale, donor base, and U.S. disaster-relief execution.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): IFRC is the world's largest humanitarian network and a top-tier peer in disaster response and emergency medical deployment. It represents the upper bound of scale and global reach that AmeriCares aspires to in humanitarian health coordination.

Emerging players

• Partners In Health: Partners In Health delivers healthcare in resource-limited settings globally, with focus on chronic disease and maternal/child health. It overlaps with AmeriCares' Health Services programs (diabetes, hypertension, maternal health) and shares global clinic operating models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/americares
• Facebookfacebook.com/americares
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/americares
• Instagraminstagram.com/americares

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AmeriCares Foundation