World Medical Relief

What World Medical Relief does

World Medical Relief is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 38-1575570) founded in 1953 in Detroit, Michigan by Irene Auberlin and currently headquartered at a 65,000 sq ft facility with 12 loading docks in Southfield, Michigan. The organization collects, sorts, and redistributes surplus medical supplies, equipment, and medications from U.S. donors to underserved populations, both domestically in Michigan and internationally across 120+ countries, and is funded primarily through charitable donations supplemented by transaction fees. Its service portfolio includes a state-licensed Affordable Prescriptions Program ($8.30 handling fee per prescription) and Diabetes Program for low-income Michigan residents, an International Container Shipment Program (40-foot containers carrying $350,000-$450,000 of inventory per shipment at a $12,000 handling fee), a Medical Mission Program, a Durable Medical Equipment and Medical Supply Service, free mobile Health Fairs, and a Hygiene Kit & Blanket Relief Program distributed through 60+ Metro Detroit shelters.

The organization's most differentiated technical asset is the Sheldon & Marion Davis Pacemaker Recycling Center, the world's first and only facility dedicated to reconditioning donated pacemakers for export, operating as Project My Heart Your Heart with FDA approval and in partnership with the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center. Each year World Medical Relief ships approximately 50-70 forty-foot containers, diverts about 4 million pounds of medical surplus from landfills, and reports a $1-to-$200 ratio of donations to delivered medical aid. The volunteer base of 30,000+ 'Angels of Mercy' is a core operating input alongside a small paid leadership team led by President & CEO George V. Samson, Ph.D. (in role since 1991). No private equity, venture capital, or institutional investor ownership is indicated; governance rests with a Board of Directors and the organization functions as an autonomous charitable entity.

Name

World Medical Relief

Legal name

World Medical Relief

Website

https://worldmedicalrelief.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

World Medical Relief is a Detroit-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit that collects and redistributes surplus medical supplies, equipment, and medications to low-income Michigan residents and medical facilities in 120+ countries, operating the world's only FDA-approved pacemaker reconditioning facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Surplus Redistribution and Humanitarian Aid

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (56292), Materials Recovery Facilities (562920)

SIC

Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122), Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medical Devices, Healthcare Supplies & Pharma Returns (Regulated) (TLAAALAG), Medical & Biohazardous Waste Transfer/Consolidation (EUAIABAF)

Keywords

• Medical surplus redistribution
• Humanitarian medical aid
• Prescription assistance
• Pacemaker recycling
• International medical relief

Headquarters

HQ city

Southfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded primarily through charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Every $1 donated generates $200 of material aid.
2. Affordable Prescription Program Fees: $8.30 handling fee per prescription plus shipping for Michigan residents accessing medications through state-licensed pharmacy.
3. Container Shipment Handling Fees: US $12,000 handling fee per 40-foot international container shipment, covering sorting, packing, and administrative expenses. Shipping costs vary by destination.
4. Medical Mission Program Fees: Varying handling fees based on selected items for medical mission shipments. Covers sorting, packing, and administrative costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

World Medical Relief collects and redistributes surplus medications, medical equipment, and supplies through multiple programs including a state-licensed pharmacy serving uninsured Michigan residents, 40-foot container shipments to international medical facilities, the world's only pacemaker reconditioning facility, mobile health fairs, and shelter-based hygiene/blanket relief. Operations are supported by charitable donations and small program handling fees.

Product overview

World Medical Relief is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1953 that operates as a medical surplus redistribution charity. The organization functions as a unified platform of programs centered on rescuing surplus medical resources and redistributing them to underserved populations. The core portfolio includes: the Affordable Prescriptions Program and Diabetes Program (state-licensed pharmacy services providing medications to uninsured/underinsured Michigan residents), the Pacemaker Program (the world's only pacemaker reconditioning facility), International Container Shipment Program (40-foot container shipments to global medical facilities), Medical Mission Program (mission team equipment support), Durable Medical Equipment Program, Medical Supply Service, Health Fair Program (mobile clinic partnerships), and Hygiene Kit & Blanket Relief Program. The organization also operates product and medication donation programs to collect surplus supplies. Founded by Irene Auberlin in Detroit, the organization is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan and is led by President & CEO George V. Samson, Ph.D.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Affordable Prescriptions Program State-licensed pharmacy program providing prescription medicines to uninsured and underinsured Michigan residents aged 18 and older for a flat $8.30 handling fee plus shipping.
• Diabetes Program Six-month educational program providing low-cost diabetes medications, testing supplies, and education through the state-licensed pharmacy to anyone diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.
• Pacemaker Program (Sheldon & Marion Davis Pacemaker Recycling Center) The world's first and only facility dedicated to reconditioning and recycling pacemakers, operating as Project My Heart Your Heart. Receives devices from hospitals, funeral homes, and families; cleans, tests, and certifies pacemakers for a second chance at life in underserved countries.
• International Container Shipment Program Program that consolidates surplus hospital equipment, surgical instruments, durable goods, and medicines into 40-foot sea containers valued at US $350,000-$450,000 for delivery to licensed medical facilities worldwide for a $12,000 handling fee.
• Medical Mission Program Program that equips international medical missionaries with hospital-grade equipment, essential supplies, and prescription medicines, either shipped directly by WMR or hand-delivered by mission teams.
• Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Program Program providing gently used equipment such as canes, walkers, hospital beds, and tub benches to approved clients from the Southfield warehouse for a handling fee.
• Medical Supply Service Program providing essential medical disposables including dressings, bandages, gloves, liquid nutrition, adult briefs, and bed pads to eligible clients for a small handling fee.
• Health Fair Program Free mobile health fairs conducted in partnership with Wayne Health Mobile Clinic offering COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, cholesterol screenings, diabetes screenings, and blood pressure checks with no ID or insurance required.
• Hygiene Kit & Blanket Relief Program Program distributing personal hygiene kits containing toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, soap, comb, towel, and washcloth, along with twin-size winter blankets to Metro-Detroit shelters and families in crisis.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1 donation generates $200 in medical aid (20,000% return on compassion)
• +3 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• Wayne Health Mobile CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership to bring free mobile health fairs throughout 2025. Wayne Health provides fully equipped mobile clinic unit with licensed nurses and medical assistants. Services include COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, and health screenings at Detroit headquarters.
• Forgotten HarvestminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Special support partner for September 17, 2025 health fair event, providing additional community resources at the event.
• University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Kim Eagle and Dr. Thomas Crawford led FDA-approved research proving safely refurbished pacemakers save lives. Ongoing guidance for Project My Heart Your Heart program.
• Implant RecyclingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partnership for pacemaker collection. 30,000+ pacemakers collected through this partnership for WMR's pacemaker reconditioning program.
• Pan African Cardiac SocietymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive training alliance for pacemaker implantation. African pacemaker implanters trained and return home to perform procedures, potentially saving thousands of lives.
• Wayne, Oakland & Macomb County Shelters (60+)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with 60+ shelters for annual blanket relief and year-round hygiene kit distribution throughout Metro Detroit region.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Direct Relief: Humanitarian medical aid nonprofit that distributes donated pharmaceuticals and medical supplies globally to underserved populations. Highly comparable to WMR's prescription access, medical supply redistribution, and international container/mission models, though larger in scale.
• Americares: Global health-focused nonprofit that delivers medicines, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid to communities in need. Closely comparable to WMR across prescription access, international medical aid, and emergency response programs.
• MedShare: Nonprofit that recovers and redistributes surplus medical supplies and equipment to international healthcare facilities. Operates the same surplus-medical-supply-to-international-facility model as WMR's International Container Shipment Program.
• MAP International: Nonprofit providing medicines and medical supplies to people in need worldwide. Comparable to WMR through pharmaceutical donation access and global medical supply distribution to mission hospitals.
• Brother's Brother Foundation: Pittsburgh-based humanitarian aid organization shipping medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and equipment internationally. Closely mirrors WMR's container shipment and medical mission programs in both model and recipient countries.
• CMMB (Catholic Medical Mission Board): Faith-based nonprofit delivering medicines, medical supplies, and health programs to underserved communities globally. Comparable mission-aligned medical aid and pharmaceutical redistribution model.
• Project HOPE: Global health and humanitarian organization delivering medicines, supplies, and medical training. Comparable to WMR's container shipments and medical missions with similar international hospital partners.

Emerging players

• Afya Foundation: Nonprofit that collects medical supplies and equipment for redistribution to international healthcare facilities. Operates the same surplus-redistribution model as WMR's Container Shipment Program but at smaller scale.
• Heart Care International: Nonprofit focused on bringing cardiac care, including pacemaker interventions, to underserved countries. Directly comparable to WMR's Project My Heart Your Heart pacemaker reconditioning and training alliance model.

Broad incumbents

• International Medical Corps: Large-scale humanitarian organization providing emergency relief and medical care in conflict and disaster settings. Broader scope than WMR but overlaps on international medical aid and pharmaceutical/equipment delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WorldMedRelief
• Facebookfacebook.com/worldmedicalrelief
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/worldmedicalrelief
• Instagraminstagram.com/worldmedicalrelief

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 World Medical Relief