Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative

What Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative does

Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative (BVMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 that provides free primary and specialty healthcare to working uninsured adults in Bergen County, New Jersey. The organization was established by Dr. Sam Cassell and operates with a volunteer-driven delivery model, drawing on a bench of 75+ volunteer healthcare professionals (including specialists in endocrinology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, and cardiology) supported by a small paid staff of approximately 20–30 employees. BVMI currently serves nearly 1,000 patients annually who are Bergen County residents, aged 18+, employed, earning at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, and uninsured.

BVMI's service portfolio spans Primary Medical Care, a Diabetes Prevention, Care and Education Program, a Women's Health Initiative, Chronic Disease Management, a Mental Health Program, Case Management, and Telehealth visits. Services are delivered at two clinic locations — the Lynn Diamond Healthcare Center in Hackensack (75 Essex Street, Suite 100) and the Russell Berrie Healthcare Center in Garfield (529 Midland Ave.) — with the Garfield site opening in 2025 under the Unity Health Partnership. The organization reports clinical outcomes that exceed national HEDIS benchmarks for diabetes control, hypertension control, and mammography screening, and reports a 300%+ increase in mental health visits since 2023. All healthcare is provided at no cost to patients; the cost to serve one patient for a year is stated at $1,500–$2,800.

BVMI's revenue model is entirely donation-funded, drawing on individual donations, recurring sustaining memberships, planned giving (Dr. Samuel A. Cassell Legacy Society), corporate and foundation grants, securities and cryptocurrency gifts, and an annual fundraising calendar that includes the Legends Luncheon, Anniversary Gala, and Golf Classic. Named financial partners include Aetna, Bank of America, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cigna Foundation, Direct Relief, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the NJ Department of Health, the Wawa Foundation, the Russell Berrie Foundation, and Quest Diagnostics. Hospital partners — Valley Health System, Englewood Hospital, and Hackensack Meridian Health — provide charity care referrals and board representation. The Garfield Expansion Campaign targeted $1,750,000 in capital support. BVMI holds Charity Navigator four-star status (97/100), Candid/GuideStar Platinum, NAFC Quality Standards certification, and BBB Accredited Charity recognition.

Name

Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative

Legal name

Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative

Website

https://bvmi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 that provides free primary, specialty, and mental healthcare to working uninsured adults in Bergen County, New Jersey. It serves nearly 1,000 patients annually across two clinic locations (Hackensack and Garfield) plus telehealth, supported by 75+ volunteer healthcare professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Clinic

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists) (621111), All Other Outpatient Care Centers (621498), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Hospitals, Clinics & Charitable Healthcare Providers (BPAGACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Independent Primary Care Practices (HLAFAGAA), Outpatient Mental Health & Counseling Clinics (HLAFABAC)

Keywords

• Free healthcare services
• Primary medical care
• Chronic disease management
• Community health clinic
• Women's health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hackensack

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual donors supporting free healthcare services for uninsured Bergen County residents.
2. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Financial support from corporate partners and foundations including Aetna, Bank of America, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cigna Foundation, Direct Relief, Horizon BCBSNJ, and others.
3. Legends Luncheon Event: Annual fundraising event raising significant funds; the 2025 Legends Luncheon raised $213,000.
4. Monthly Sustaining Program: Monthly donation program (Monthly Refill) providing reliable ongoing income through secure credit card donations.
5. Planned Giving/Legacy Society: Dr. Samuel A. Cassell Legacy Society accepting bequests, IRA designations, life insurance, and other planned gifts.
6. Securities and Cryptocurrency Donations: Accepts donations of stocks and cryptocurrency, providing tax-advantaged giving options for donors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative operates a free volunteer-driven healthcare clinic providing comprehensive primary medical care, specialty care (diabetes, women's health, chronic disease, mental health), telehealth, and case management services to uninsured working adults in Bergen County, NJ. All services are provided at no cost by 75+ volunteer healthcare professionals across two clinic locations.

Product overview

Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative operates as a free healthcare clinic offering a unified portfolio of medical services for uninsured working adults in Bergen County, NJ. The organization provides Primary Medical Care as the foundation, supplemented by specialized programs including the Diabetes Prevention/Care and Education Program, Women's Health Initiative, Chronic Disease Management, and Mental Health services. Additional offerings include Telehealth for remote consultations and Case Management to connect patients with community resources. All services are delivered through volunteer healthcare professionals at two clinic locations (Hackensack and Garfield) with a team-based approach combining physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, and dietitians.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary Medical Care Comprehensive primary medical care services including annual physical exams, laboratory work, preventive care, and treatment for acute and chronic conditions delivered by volunteer physicians and nurse practitioners to eligible uninsured working adults in Bergen County, NJ.
• Diabetes Prevention, Care and Education Program Program providing diabetes management, monitoring, medication management, and education on healthy diet and exercise for patients with diabetes or pre-diabetes, exceeding national Medicaid benchmarks for diabetes care.
• Women's Health Initiative Specialized healthcare services for women including annual women's health exams, cancer screenings, mammogram referrals for women 40 and over, and diagnostic services through hospital partners.
• Chronic Disease Management Ongoing care and education for patients with chronic conditions including diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity, with medication monitoring and lifestyle counseling.
• Mental Health Program Free, culturally-sensitive mental health care including screening for anxiety and depression, counseling services, and referrals to volunteer or staff mental health professionals for low-income working residents.
• Telehealth Services Virtual healthcare visits allowing patients to consult with providers remotely from home, offering convenience and accessibility for those with childcare, transportation, or scheduling challenges.
• Case Management Services Services connecting patients to community resources including food assistance, rent and utility aid, employment information, legal services, and other support to help families meet basic needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Exceeds HEDIS benchmark: patients with diabetes have controlled blood sugar (national benchmark 34.7%)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Valley Health SystemflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerValley Health System is a major healthcare partner, presenting the Legends Luncheon and providing specialty care referrals. They have representatives on BVMI's Board of Trustees.
• Englewood HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnglewood Hospital accepts charity care patients referred by BVMI, providing surgical services like gallbladder surgery through their charity care program.
• Hackensack Meridian HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital system partner with representation on BVMI's Board of Trustees (COO Mark Sparta serves on board).
• Meadowlands Chamber Basket BrigadecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to distribute Thanksgiving meals to BVMI families; 50 families received full Thanksgiving meals including fresh turkey and fixings.
• Feed the Front Lines NJminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnected BVMI with local restaurants to provide hundreds of hot, nutritious meals to patients during COVID-19 pandemic.
• Crypto for CharityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatform partner enabling cryptocurrency donations; processes crypto gifts and sends USD proceeds to BVMI.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Valley Health System: Bergen County hospital system and BVMI's flagship partner presenting the Legends Luncheon. Comparable as a local incumbent health system providing specialty referrals and board oversight.
• Hackensack Meridian Health: Large New Jersey hospital system that partners with BVMI (board representation). Comparable as a regional incumbent that provides charity care, specialty referrals, and lab/diagnostic services referenced in BVMI's care model.

Others

• Direct Relief: Healthcare-focused nonprofit that supplies medications and medical supplies to BVMI. Comparable as a critical enabling partner in the free-clinic ecosystem, channeling donated pharmaceuticals to safety-net providers.
• National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC): Industry association that certifies BVMI (NAFC Quality Standards Seal). Comparable as the umbrella organization representing free and charitable clinics with similar operating models and patient populations across the U.S.

Direct peers

• Metropolitan Family Health Network: Jersey City, NJ-based FQHC providing comprehensive primary and preventive care to uninsured and underserved patients. Comparable to BVMI in mission, patient population, and primary-care delivery model.
• Zufall Health: New Jersey-based federally qualified health center network providing primary, dental, and behavioral care to uninsured and underinsured patients on a sliding-fee basis. Directly comparable as a community-governed, multi-site safety-net clinic serving low-income New Jersey residents.
• Henry J. Austin Health Center: Trenton, NJ-based FQHC offering primary care, behavioral health, and pharmacy services to uninsured and underinsured residents. Directly comparable as a New Jersey safety-net provider with a similar volunteer/staffed clinician mix and donation-supported model.
• Neighborhood Health Services Corporation: Plainfield, NJ-based FQHC delivering primary medical, dental, and behavioral health to uninsured and underinsured populations. Directly comparable to BVMI as a New Jersey safety-net primary care provider serving a similar low-income, predominantly working-poor patient mix.
• Volunteers in Medicine (national network): National network of free clinics powered by volunteer healthcare professionals serving uninsured patients. BVMI is a member of this model; VIM is directly comparable in its volunteer-driven, free-care-for-the-uninsured structure.

Regional players

• Bergen New Bridge Medical Center: Bergen County's public hospital and Paramus-based safety-net provider offering care to uninsured and underinsured residents. Comparable as a regional safety-net provider serving overlapping patient demographics in the same county.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BVMIhealthcenter
• Xx.com/BVMI

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative