What Health Brigade does

Health Brigade is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit free and charitable clinic headquartered at 1010 N Thompson Street in Richmond, Virginia, and is Virginia's oldest free clinic, founded in 1970 (formerly Fan Free Clinic). It delivers integrated, person-centered primary care, mental health and wellness, HIV/STI testing and Ryan White case management, comprehensive harm reduction and needle exchange services, and specialized trans health services to low-income uninsured individuals (those between 139–200% of the Federal Poverty Line), Virginia Medicaid Cardinal Care recipients, people living with HIV, transgender and gender-diverse individuals, and people who inject drugs. The clinic operates as an NCQA-recognized Patient-Centered Medical Home and has adopted a formal trauma-informed care framework (since 2017) in partnership with the Greater Richmond Trauma Informed Community Network, anchored on SAMHSA's six principles.

The organization has six core clinical service lines supported by a Medication Assistance Program, an Eligibility/Registration system, and a Volunteer & Provider Program that contributes over 20,000 donated service hours annually. Delivery channels include a central clinic with weekday and evening hours, mobile harm reduction outreach at Eastside and Southside Richmond sites, and telehealth delivered through the Virginia Telemental Health Initiative. Bilingual services in English and Spanish are available. Adjacent community programs include the Art Brigade exhibition program (since 2016) and the Care Is Resistance community project (launched May 2026). The organization holds the NAFC Standards Gold Seal of Excellence (2024 and 2026).

Health Brigade's revenue model is characteristic of a community safety-net provider rather than a commercial enterprise. Services are provided free of charge to eligible patients, with no billing relationship to individuals. Operating revenue is derived primarily from government grants and institutional funding (Ryan White Part B, Virginia Department of Health, state-directed payment programs, Syringe Access Fund via AIDS United), with individual donors contributing approximately 10% of the operating budget and a long tail of corporate matching gift partners effectively doubling donor impact (Altria, AT&T, Bank of America, Capital One, Carmax, Costco, Dominion). Recent reporting indicates a roughly $1.8M funding impact from federal healthcare policy changes, highlighting material exposure to public-sector funding cycles.

Name

Health Brigade

Legal name

Health Brigade

Website

https://healthbrigade.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Health Brigade is a Richmond, Virginia-based nonprofit free clinic founded in 1970 that provides free primary care, mental health, HIV/STI, harm reduction, and trans health services to low-income, uninsured, and Medicaid populations in Greater Richmond.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Clinic Services

NAICS

Ambulatory Health Care Services (621), Other Outpatient Care Centers (62149), Other Ambulatory Health Care Services (6219), Offices of Physicians, Mental Health Specialists (621112)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Hospitals, Clinics & Charitable Healthcare Providers (BPAGACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL), Community-Based Preventive & Health Promotion Clinics (HLAFAGAO), Outpatient Mental Health & Counseling Clinics (HLAFABAC)

Keywords

• Community health clinic
• Primary care services
• Mental health counseling
• HIV STI testing
• Harm reduction programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Individual Gifts: Individual donors make up approximately 10% of the operating budget. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made online, by cash, or check. Every dollar donated becomes $8 worth of services.
2. Government Funding and Grants: Government funding and other resources represent a significant portion of the operating budget. Free clinics are experiencing strain from funding changes including provider assessment rates and state-directed payment program modifications.
3. Volunteer Services: Over 20,000 donated service hours annually from volunteers across all areas of the organization, providing primary medical care, mental health, health outreach, advocacy, and mission support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Health Brigade is a free and charitable clinic providing comprehensive primary care, mental health and wellness services, HIV/STI testing, comprehensive harm reduction/needle exchange, Ryan White Part B case management, and Trans Health services to low-income uninsured individuals and Virginia Medicaid recipients in the Greater Richmond area. Services are provided at no cost to eligible patients through an integrated person-centered care model recognized by NCQA as a Patient-Centered Medical Home.

Product overview

Health Brigade is Virginia's oldest free and charitable clinic, formerly Fan Free Clinic, offering a unified integrated care model that coordinates medical, mental health, community outreach, and care coordination services for low-income uninsured persons and those with Medicaid. The organization operates as a single integrated clinic rather than a platform-with-modules architecture. Its core service portfolio spans six clinical areas: Primary Care (NCQA-recognized PCMH), Mental Health & Wellness, HIV/STI Testing Services, Comprehensive Harm Reduction/Needle Exchange, Ryan White Part B Services, and Trans Health Services. These clinical services are supported by a Trauma-Informed Care framework, an Eligibility/Registration system, a Volunteer & Provider Program, and community-facing programs including Art Brigade and Care Is Resistance. The organization also holds NAFC Standards Gold Seal accreditation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Art Brigade: An art program that provides Health Brigade patients/clients, volunteers, staff, and guests with an opportunity to experience community-born art as a force for health and healing. The program started in 2016 and features local artists in rotating exhibitions.
• Care Is Resistance

Products and services

• Primary Care

Quantifiable outcome

• $8 worth of services for every $1 donated
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, peripheral and minor.

• Virginia Telemental Health Initiative (VTMHI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2024Health Brigade partners with The Virginia Telemental Health Initiative (VTMHI), which aims to expand access to mental health services for un- and under-insured individuals across the Commonwealth by working with Virginia's free and charitable clinics and pre-licensed mental health providers completing licensure.
• Access NowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferrals to specialists are made through Access Now, which connects uninsured and low-income patients to specialty care services in the Richmond area.
• Richmond City Health DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth Brigade refers clients who need more immediate STI-related treatment or services not offered on-site to the Richmond City Health District.
• VCU HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVCU Health provides HIV care services. Health Brigade refers clients needing HIV medical care to VCU ID Clinic at 804-828-6163.
• The Daily PlanetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlternative HIV care provider referral option for clients not served by VCU Health. Contact: 804-491-2387.
• Virginia Association of Free and Charitable ClinicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth Brigade participates in the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, receiving support, advocacy, and collaborative opportunities. Funding for TV advertising was made possible through VAFCC.
• Greater Richmond Trauma Informed Community Network (TICN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth Brigade joined TICN in 2017 to prioritize trauma-informed approaches to care, integrating this framework into policies, procedures, and practices.
• Virginia Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth Brigade participates in statewide HIV prevention and care planning efforts with VDH, ensuring alignment with the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and developing five-year Jurisdictional Plans.
• Virginia League for Planned ParenthoodperipheralChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral source for trans health services. Health Brigade refers insured transgender patients seeking care to Virginia League for Planned Parenthood's Trans Health Line at 804-482-6154.
• Local Universities and SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth Brigade partners with universities including VCU for HPEX internships, Psychology/Counseling/Social Work graduate internships, and preceptorship programs for health professions students.
• Richmond TLC (Trans Legal Collaborative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing legal services for name and gender marker changes for transgender clients at Health Brigade.
• Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVCU provides HIV care through VCU ID Clinic, hosts interns from HPEX and Mental Health programs, and Dr. Lisa Ellis from VCU Health serves on the Board of Directors.
• United Way of Greater Richmond & PetersburgcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth Brigade participates in United Way campaigns through payroll deduction. Campaign code: #2028.
• Corporate Matching Gift PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCompanies matching employee donations include Altria, AT&T, Bank of America, Capital One, Carmax, Costco, Dominion, and many others, effectively doubling donor impact.
• Transgender Health Alliance of Central VirginiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional resource partner for transgender health services and referrals.
• Greater Richmond SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCAN provides trauma-informed care training, including leading the documentary 'Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope' for staff development.
• Child SaverscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohn Richardson-Love, LCSW from Child Savers led trauma training 'Surviving and Thriving: Trauma and Resilience' for Health Brigade staff in May 2018.
• Virginia Department of Health Comprehensive Harm ReductioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVDH oversees Comprehensive Harm Reduction programs statewide, providing partial funding for Health Brigade's needle exchange program.
• Virginia Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVDH provides the Virginia Transgender Resource and Referral List and supports statewide HIV planning efforts that Health Brigade participates in.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• Mazzoni Center:
• Virginia Department of Health: State public health agency that provides partial funding for Health Brigade's needle exchange and serves as a partner in statewide HIV planning — comparable public-health mission and a key funder/ecosystem partner.
• National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC): Industry association of which Health Brigade is a member, providing Gold Seal accreditation, advocacy, and collaborative funding — represents the broader network of comparable free and charitable clinics and serves as an ecosystem partner.

Direct peers

• Whitman-Walker Health: Washington DC-based community health center providing integrated primary care, mental health, HIV care, and LGBTQ+ services with strong harm reduction programming — directly comparable integrated care model for marginalized populations.
• Callen-Lorde Community Health Center: NYC-based community health center pioneering LGBTQ+ and trans-affirming primary care, mental health, and HIV services — operates a comparable integrated model for underserved and gender-diverse populations.
• Charlottesville Free Clinic: Virginia free clinic providing primary medical, dental, and mental health services to uninsured low-income residents — same state regulatory environment and member of the same Virginia Association of Free & Charitable Clinics network.
• Chase Brexton Health Care: Maryland-based community health center providing integrated primary care, behavioral health, and LGBTQ+ services including HIV care and PrEP — comparable integrated care model for marginalized communities.
• Neighborhood Health (Richmond): Federally Qualified Health Center serving the greater Richmond area with primary care, behavioral health, and HIV services for uninsured and Medicaid patients — overlapping service area and target population.
• CrossOver Health Ministry: Free clinic in Richmond, VA providing primary care, mental health, dental, vision, and pharmacy services to uninsured low-income patients — a direct geographic and mission peer to Health Brigade with overlapping service lines.

Peers

• Planned Parenthood South Atlantic:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/health_brigade

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

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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 Health Brigade