Medical Bridges

What Medical Bridges does

Medical Bridges is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1997 by Dr. Patti Brock and Margaret Goetz following a medical mission to El Salvador. It collects surplus medical equipment and supplies from Texas Medical Center hospitals and other institutional donors, sorts and warehouses them in a 30,000-square-foot facility at 2706 Magnet Street, and ships them as container-loads and small-scale donations to healthcare facilities in underserved communities across 107 countries and five continents. The organization self-reports 20 million-plus lives impacted since founding, with cumulative 2023-2025 throughput of $34 million in supplies, 1,443,592 pounds, and 177 containers.

The core operational platform is a physical redistribution engine: a dedicated 30,000 sq ft warehouse, biomedical technicians, supply chain managers, and a sort room run the receipt, inspection, and packaging of donated supplies. Distribution is delivered through four channels — 40-foot and 20-foot container shipments for international nonprofits ($19,500 and $10,000 processing fees respectively), one-box donations for mission trips, Texas-serving charitable clinic equipment donations, and crisis-response shipments (most prominently to Ukraine, where the organization has delivered 457+ tons of equipment and 6 mobile clinics and was awarded the Ukraine Order of Merit by President Zelenskyy in September 2023).

The business model blends four revenue streams: container processing fees paid by recipient nonprofits, individual monetary donations (monthly recurring tiers at $10/$50/$100/$200 plus one-time gifts), corporate sponsorships underwriting large shipments for CSR purposes (Chevron as flagship gala sponsor; Halliburton, Shell, Pfizer, J&J, Google, BofA, Dell via matching-gift programs), and in-kind supply donations from hospitals. Operations are run by CEO & President Walter Ulrich with a leadership team of approximately 20-30 staff including a Director of Global Health, Director of Operations, Director of Marketing, and a Managing Director for the newly opened San Antonio office.

Name

Medical Bridges

Legal name

Medical Bridges, Inc.

Website

https://medicalbridges.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Medical Bridges is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that collects surplus medical supplies from Texas hospitals and distributes them to healthcare facilities in 107 countries, primarily through container-sized shipments, charitable clinic donations, and crisis-response programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Container Processing Fees: Nonprofits pay processing fees for 40FT ($19,500) or 20FT ($10,000) shipping containers of medical supplies. Fees cover warehousing, documentation, and loading costs. Shipping/freight is separate and paid by receiving organization.
2. Monetary Donations: Individual and corporate donations fuel operations. Every $1 donated delivers $10 in medical supplies according to organization claims. Monthly giving programs available ($10, $50, $100, $200 tiers).
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporations partner with Medical Bridges to underwrite logistics of delivering large-scale medical aid globally, supporting both humanitarian impact and corporate social responsibility goals.
4. Supply Donations: Hospitals, clinics, suppliers, and families donate surplus medical equipment and supplies (wound care, syringes, ostomy supplies, etc.) which are sorted, warehoused, and redistributed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Medical Bridges is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that collects surplus medical equipment and supplies from U.S. hospitals and clinics, sorts and warehouses them in a 30,000-square-foot Houston facility, and redistributes them as container-based medical aid shipments (40FT for $19,500 or 20FT for $10,000 processing fees) to nonprofit healthcare providers in 107 countries. The organization also operates small-scale one-box donation programs for mission trips, corporate-sponsored humanitarian aid for CSR goals, and the Texas Aggie Medical Clinics (TAMCs) program installing fully equipped clinics in underserved Texas areas.

Product overview

Medical Bridges operates as a nonprofit medical surplus redistribution organization, not a traditional product company. Its 'offerings' consist of humanitarian aid services centered on collecting, processing, and distributing surplus medical supplies and equipment to underserved communities worldwide. The core service portfolio includes container-based medical aid programs (40FT and 20FT containers for nonprofits and corporate sponsors), small-scale one-box donations for mission trips and community health initiatives, and specialized programs like Texas Aggie Medical Clinics (TAMCs) and individual medical equipment support. The organization also facilitates volunteer engagement and financial donation collection through its website platform. All services are provided at low or no cost to recipients, funded through processing fees, corporate sponsorships, and charitable donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 40FT Container Medical Aid Full container shipment of donated medical equipment and supplies for international nonprofit healthcare providers, with a $19,500 processing fee covering warehousing, documentation, and loading costs (shipping costs not included; paid by the recipient organization).
• 20FT Container Medical Aid Smaller container shipment option for nonprofit healthcare providers featuring donated medical equipment and supplies, with a $10,000 processing fee covering warehousing, documentation, and loading costs (shipping costs paid separately by recipient).
• Small-Scale Donation Program One-box medical supply donations provided based on inventory availability to mission organizations, community health outreach programs, and emergency initiatives. Best suited for short-term medical missions and community health initiatives.
• Corporate-Sponsored Medical Aid Corporate partnership program that underwrites logistics for delivering large-scale medical aid shipments globally, supporting both humanitarian impact and corporate social responsibility objectives.
• Texas Aggie Medical Clinics (TAMCs) Fully equipped medical clinics installed in Health Resource Shortage Areas of rural Texas through partnership with the Texas A&M BUILD program and Texas A&M College of Medicine Rural Medicine Outreach, providing essential healthcare services in underserved counties including Jeff Davis County and Kenedy County.
• Individual Medical Equipment Donations Direct support to individuals lacking access to essential medical equipment such as wheelchairs, canes, walkers, and exam tables within the local community.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1 donated delivers $10 in medical supplies
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and regional.

• Nova UkrainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partnership for delivering medical aid to Ukraine during the ongoing conflict. Nova Ukraine serves as on-the-ground partner coordinating distribution to Ukrainian hospitals and healthcare facilities.
• DAAR FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partnership supporting medical aid delivery to Ukraine alongside Nova Ukraine and other partners.
• ChevronflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of One People One World Gala. Chevron supports employee giving programs that match donations to Medical Bridges.
• Baker InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborations with Baker Institute (Rice University) for fostering education and advocacy in global health.
• World Affairs CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for fostering education and advocacy in global health; supported World Health Day Virtual Forum.
• Texas A&M BUILD ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent-led initiative honoring the 12 Aggies lost in the 1999 Bonfire collapse; partners to install Texas Aggie Medical Clinics (TAMCs) in underserved Texas areas.
• Texas A&M College of Medicine Rural Medicine OutreachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting rural healthcare through Texas Aggie Medical Clinics.
• Texas A&M Telehealth InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology partnership supporting telehealth capabilities in rural Texas clinics.
• McDermott Will & SchultemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted 2026 New York Reception at their venue, bringing together partners and supporters.
• Care for A Child's HeartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenya partner receiving pediatric cardiac, surgical, neonatal, and critical care medical supplies from Medical Bridges.
• Good Neighbors USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuatemala partner receiving maternal, pediatric, emergency, and diagnostic care medical supplies.
• Project MendregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Antonio partner collaborating on medical supply distribution in South Texas.
• HalliburtonmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor corporate partner collaborating with Medical Bridges; supports employee giving matching programs.
• ShellmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering employee matching gift programs for donations to Medical Bridges.
• PfizermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering employee matching gift programs.
• Johnson & JohnsonmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering employee matching gift programs.
• GooglemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering employee matching gift programs.
• Bank of AmericamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering employee matching gift programs.
• DellmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner offering employee matching gift programs.
• Texas Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal source of surplus medical supplies from Texas Medical Center hospitals; Medical Bridges began collecting donations from this major medical complex.
• Texas Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor hospital system donating surplus medical supplies for redistribution to underserved communities.
• M.D. Anderson Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor cancer center donating surplus medical supplies.
• Houston MethodistcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor hospital system donating surplus medical supplies.
• Kelsey-Seybold CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor clinic donating surplus medical supplies.
• Rotary InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal service organization partnership supporting medical supply distribution.
• Convoy of HopecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian organization partnership for disaster response and medical supply distribution.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MedShare: Largest US medical surplus redistribution nonprofit, collecting and shipping donated medical supplies to underserved communities globally. Operates the same core model as Medical Bridges — hospital surplus sourcing, warehouse sorting, international container shipments — making it the closest direct comparable.
• Direct Relief: Major humanitarian medical aid organization delivering pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and equipment to underserved communities worldwide. Highly comparable mission and container-scale aid distribution model, with significantly larger scale.
• Americares: Health-focused relief and development nonprofit that distributes donated medicines, medical supplies, and equipment globally. Comparable in mission (medical aid to underserved communities) and global distribution footprint.
• Project HOPE: Global health and humanitarian organization delivering medical aid, supplies, and training to communities in crisis and developing countries. Comparable in delivering container-scale medical aid and operating crisis response programs.
• MAP International: Nonprofit that provides medicines and medical supplies to people in need worldwide, including through containerized aid shipments. Closely comparable product offering and distribution model.
• International Medical Corps: Global humanitarian organization providing emergency relief, healthcare, and medical supplies in conflict zones and disaster-affected areas. Comparable in delivering medical infrastructure and supplies to crisis-affected regions like Ukraine.
• Brother's Brother Foundation: Pittsburgh-based humanitarian aid nonprofit distributing donated medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and equipment globally. Comparable in container-based medical surplus redistribution and international partner network.
• Afya Foundation: Nonprofit that collects unused medical supplies from U.S. hospitals and redistributes them to under-resourced healthcare facilities internationally. Closely comparable in medical surplus redistribution mission and operations.
• CMMB (Catholic Medical Mission Board): International nonprofit providing healthcare and medical supplies to underserved communities worldwide, including via donations and containerized shipments. Comparable in humanitarian medical aid distribution.
• Heart to Heart International: Nonprofit providing medical aid, disaster response, and health services globally through donated medical supplies and volunteer-supported programs. Comparable in humanitarian medical supply distribution model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/medicalbridges
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@medicalbridges9277
• Facebookfacebook.com/medicalbridgesinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/medical-bridges-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/medicalbridges
• TikToktiktok.com/@medicalbridgesinc?lang=en

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Medical Bridges