Care Ring

What Care Ring does

Care Ring is a 70-year-old nonprofit healthcare organization founded in 1955 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It serves uninsured, underinsured, and low-income residents of Mecklenburg County through three program pillars: Access to Care (Care Ring Clinic, Physicians Reach Out, The Bridge community-based care), Maternal-Child Health (Nurse-Family Partnership, A Guided Journey, Two Generation Clinic), and Access to Nutrition (Client Choice Food Pantry). In FY25 the organization served 7,535 people, with 1,275 families in maternal-child programs (237% growth over five years) and nearly 6,000 specialty-care patients connected to 1,600+ volunteer providers across 200+ practices delivering $77.9M in donated care in a single year.

The organization's underlying technology stack is standard non-clinical healthcare IT rather than proprietary technology. Care Ring uses Epic EHR through Novant Health Community Connect and the MyChart patient portal, online donation platforms, HIPAA-compliant referral forms, and video conferencing for telemedicine visits. The competitive value sits in its operational network and community trust, not in technology differentiation.

Care Ring's business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue mix. Foundation grants (SECU Foundation, Duke Endowment, Bissell Ballantyne Legacy Foundation, Leon Levine Foundation, Kate B. Reynolds, CVS Health Foundation) and public funding (HRSA Healthy Start Enhanced, NC DHHS, Mecklenburg County) anchor programmatic budgets. Corporate and individual philanthropy — including the Corporate Champions program at $1,000+ — supplies unrestricted support, while in-kind medical services donated through Physicians Reach Out represent tens of millions annually. Patient pricing is no-cost at the clinic, income-based eligibility for specialty referrals, and sliding scale/Medicaid at the Two Generation Clinic. Care Ring distributes services through direct clinic visits, home visitation (NFP), community health worker outreach, and a mobile health unit in Grier Heights, supported by a new 14,000 sq ft facility opened in February 2025.

Name

Care Ring

Legal name

Care Ring

Website

https://careringnc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Care Ring is a Charlotte-based nonprofit, founded in 1955, that provides free primary care, donated specialty care via a 1,600-provider network, maternal-child health home visiting, and food assistance to uninsured and low-income Mecklenburg County residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists) (621111), Ambulatory Health Care Services (621), Other Outpatient Care Centers (62149), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Primary Care for Underserved Populations (e.g., migrant, homeless, refugee clinics) (HLAFAGAN)

Keywords

• Community health services
• Free primary care
• Maternal child health
• Specialty care referral
• Food pantry assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants: Major grants from foundations fund specific programs and expansion initiatives. Examples include $350,000 from SECU Foundation for facility renovation, $3,097,054 from HRSA Healthy Start Enhanced grant, and seed funding from The Duke Endowment and Bissell Ballantyne Legacy Foundation for the Two Generation Clinic.
2. Public Funding: Funding from government sources including NC DHHS Division of Public Health, NC DHHS Office of Rural Health, Mecklenburg County Community Service Grant, and Mecklenburg County Health Department.
3. Corporate & Private Philanthropy: Donations from corporations, foundations, and individuals at various levels including Corporate Champions ($1,000+ leadership investment), legacy gifts, stock gifts, donor-advised funds, and matching gifts. Corporate partners include health systems, insurance companies, and banks.
4. In-Kind Medical Services: Over 1,600 medical providers across 200+ practices donate care through the Physicians Reach Out program, representing tens of millions in donated services annually ($77.9M in donated care stated). Health system partners donate millions in charges including primary/specialty care, diagnostics, and hospital services.
5. Patient Donations: Voluntary donations requested at time of service at the Care Ring Clinic and for PRO applications. Donations are suggested but no patient is turned away for inability to pay.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Care Ring delivers free or low-cost primary medical care, specialty care referrals through a network of 1,600+ volunteer providers, maternal-child health programs including nurse home visiting and community health worker support, and a client choice food pantry to uninsured, underinsured, and low-income Mecklenburg County residents. Services are organized across three pillars: Access to Care, Maternal-Child Health, and Access to Nutrition.

Product overview

Care Ring is a nonprofit healthcare organization offering a coordinated portfolio of programs organized into three focus areas: Access to Care (Care Ring Clinic, Physicians Reach Out, Community-Based Care), Maternal-Child Health (Nurse-Family Partnership, A Guided Journey including Healthy Start Enhanced), and Access to Nutrition (Client Choice Food Pantry). The organization recently launched the Two Generation Clinic as a new post-partum wellness model and delivers services through its new 14,000 sq ft facility opened February 2025. Services are provided at no or low cost to uninsured, underinsured, and those lacking access to affordable healthcare in Mecklenburg County, NC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Care Ring Clinic Primary care clinic providing medical services at no cost to patients including annual check-ups, chronic disease management, well-woman care, sick care, lab tests, school/employment physicals, TB skin tests, and health education. Services available in-person and via virtual visits for uninsured and underinsured Mecklenburg County residents.
• Physicians Reach Out (PRO) Specialty care referral program linking uninsured Mecklenburg County residents to a network of over 1,600 medical providers donating primary care, surgeries, orthopedic care, cancer care, dental care, and diagnostics at no cost. Served nearly 6,000 patients annually with $77.9M in donated care.
• Nurse-Family Partnership Free nurse home visitation program pairing at-risk first-time mothers with registered nurses during pregnancy through child's second birthday. Provides prenatal education, newborn care support, developmental milestone tracking, and connections to community resources for income-eligible Mecklenburg County residents.
• A Guided Journey Maternal and Child Health Community Health Worker initiative connecting pregnant women and those up to 90 days postpartum with CHWs who serve families until the child is two years old. Provides doctor establishment, food/transportation/daycare referrals, and parenting education with voluntary participation and no referral required.
• Client Choice Food Pantry Food pantry in partnership with Nourish Up providing up to one week's supply of free groceries including fresh produce, dairy, and meats. Clients shop with assistance from volunteers. Operates 2-3x weekly at 1514 N. Graham Street with community member referral through Nourish Up.
• The Bridge: Community-Based Care Community-embedded healthcare initiative deploying mobile health units to underserved neighborhoods for on-site health screenings, care coordination, counseling support, and health coaching. Currently serving Grier Heights community with expansion planned to additional neighborhoods.
• Two Generation Clinic Post-partum holistic wellness clinic enabling new mothers and their children to receive care together at the same visit. Provides medical care for the whole family, breastfeeding help, counseling services, same-day sick visits, vaccines, and connections to other services including free transportation. Accepts Medicaid; uninsured patients pay-what-they-can.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 7,535 people in FY2025 in Mecklenburg County
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The BulbminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2025Care Ring hosts The Bulb free produce distribution every Thursday from 11am-12pm. No referral or appointment needed - open to all Charlotte neighbors while supplies last.
• Nourish UpcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2017Care Ring partners with Nourish Up (formerly Loaves & Fishes and Friendship Trays) as an official food pantry site. Nourish Up delivers weekly groceries and Care Ring serves as a host site for food distribution. In 2024, Care Ring programs referred 4,300+ patients to Nourish Up pantries.
• MedLink of MecklenburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA consortium of local healthcare safety-net providers including free/charitable clinics, health systems, and FQHCs. Care Ring coordinates specialty care for member clinic patients.
• Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy (CCLA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCLA provides pro bono legal services to Care Ring patients including ACA Marketplace enrollment, Social Security disability benefits, and immigration assistance.
• Baby BundlesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonates baby showers in a bag with $300+ worth of newborn essentials (clothes, blankets, books, toys) for every Care Ring NFP baby.
• NC MedAssistcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable pharmacy providing free or reduced-cost prescription medications to ensure clients can establish and maintain good health.
• Atrium HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor health system partner donating millions in charges to PRO each year including primary/specialty care, diagnostics, and hospital services. Also provides Epic through Community Connect.
• Novant HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSignificant PRO partner donating millions in care annually including primary/specialty care, diagnostics, and hospital services. Contracts a nurse for NFP team and donates Epic access.
• Crisis Assistance MinistryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNFP families receive emergency rent/utility assistance and household essentials via direct referral from their nurse.
• Wheels 4 HopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNFP nurses refer families for affordable vehicles. W4H takes donated cars, repairs them, and provides to community members at low cost.
• PRO Network (200+ practices)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of independent practices including OrthoCarolina, CEENTA, Charlotte Gastroenterology, Carolina Asthma & Allergy, Smile Charlotte, Charlotte Radiology donating millions in care to PRO patients annually.
• ONE Charlotte Health AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in The Bridge initiative providing mobile health unit for professional, private patient care space in Grier Heights.
• LISC CharlottecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed Westside Wellness Collab administering CVS Health Foundation funding. Partner in Charlotte Health Zone initiative with Care Ring as one of three nonprofits delivering services.
• Mecklenburg County Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in launching A Guided Journey (2021) and ongoing maternal health initiatives. Kimberly Scott, DrPH serves as Board member.
• Moore & Van Allen (MVA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides pro bono legal advice on wide variety of topics and ensures compliance with laws affecting agency operations.
• LabcorpminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides lower-cost and no-cost laboratory testing services to Clinic and PRO patients since 2008.
• Strata PMGminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilding partner assisting with construction and development of new 14,000 sq ft facility.
• Morris-Berg ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm for new facility development.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bethesda Health Center: Free clinic in Charlotte serving low-income, uninsured Mecklenburg County residents through volunteer providers—directly overlapping Care Ring's primary care and specialty-referral model in the same geography.
• Charlotte Community Health Clinic: Federally Qualified Health Center operating multiple Charlotte locations serving uninsured and underinsured patients across primary care, behavioral health, and pediatrics—competes with Care Ring Clinic for the same Medicaid/uninsured base.
• Shelter Health Services: Charlotte-based free clinic providing primary care and specialty referrals for individuals experiencing homelessness—comparable volunteer-provider model targeting overlapping Medicaid/uninsured populations.
• NC MedAssist: NC nonprofit pharmacy program providing free and reduced-cost prescription medications to low-income uninsured residents across NC—operates as a Care Ring partner but functions as a parallel safety-net service for the same target population.
• Nurse-Family Partnership (National Service Office): National organization that licenses the evidence-based nurse home visiting model Care Ring implements—direct counterpart for the MCH program layer and a potential anchor for replication partnerships.

Others

• National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics: National trade association representing 1,400+ free and charitable clinics including Care Ring (NAFC GOLD Seal recipient)—defines the industry standards, quality benchmarks, and policy advocacy that frame Care Ring's operating model.
• Nourish Up: Charlotte-area food security nonprofit that operates the food pantry Care Ring hosts and refers 4,300+ patients to annually—strategic ecosystem partner addressing food as a social determinant of health.

Broad incumbents

• Novant Health: Major Charlotte-based regional health system that donates millions in primary/specialty care to PRO annually and licenses Epic to Care Ring—broad incumbent whose footprint substantially shapes Care Ring's operating environment.
• Atrium Health: Largest Charlotte-area health system and one of Care Ring's most significant PRO donors, contributing millions in hospital, diagnostic, and specialty charges—broad incumbent in the same regional safety-net ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Healthy Start Programs (HRSA national network): Federal Healthy Start network of programs addressing maternal and infant mortality in underserved communities—Care Ring is one of ten locations awarded the Enhanced grant, making this peer set direct comparable sites for performance and replication.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJxNWFYlu64CNOHnVOADERw
• Facebookfacebook.com/CareRingNC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/care-ring/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/careringnc
• Xx.com/careringnc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Care Ring