FAME

What FAME does

FAME (Fellowship of Associates of Medical Evangelism) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1972 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The organization operates a medical evangelism mission: it collects, warehouses, and ships medical supplies and equipment (exam tables, x-ray units, surgical instruments, delivery beds, medications) to a network of 30+ global mission partners operating hospitals and clinics across 40+ countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. FAME's operations are structured around four core offerings: the Medical Supply Shipping Program, Short-Term Mission Trips (for medical and non-medical volunteers at trip costs ranging $1,640-$3,690 per participant), Sustainable Projects (grants for hospitals, clinics, and medical vehicles), and the Pallet Partners monthly recurring donation program. Supporting offerings include the Adventures in Medical Evangelism youth video series, the Church Partner Program for congregation engagement, and Mobile Clinic Services for remote communities.

FAME's revenue model is donation-driven rather than product-driven. Income is generated from individual donations, church and institutional contributions, recurring Pallet Partners monthly gifts, and trip participation fees. There are no disclosed funding rounds, no venture or institutional investors, and no parent company. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and operated by a small staff (1-10 employees) including Executive Director Bill Warren (transitioning toward retirement as of 2025), Directors of Mission Resources and Short-Term Trips, and mobilization coordinators. GTM motion combines donor relationship management, volunteer recruitment, and church partnership development, with marketing channels spanning email newsletters, Instagram, blog content, prayer calendars, and the annual Night of Hope fundraising banquet.

The customer base is split across three primary segments: churches and faith-based organizations seeking mission engagement opportunities for congregations; global mission partners operating medical facilities in developing countries who receive supplies and equipment; and individual volunteers and donors who participate in trips or contribute financially. FAME maintains ECFA membership, a 4-star Charity Navigator rating, and a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, reinforcing credibility with donor audiences.

Name

FAME

Legal name

Fellowship of Associates of Medical Evangelism

Website

https://fameworld.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FAME (Fellowship of Associates of Medical Evangelism) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1972 that ships medical supplies to 30+ mission partners across 40+ countries, organizes short-term medical trips, and partners with churches, universities, and donors for medical evangelism globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Mission Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAKAHAM

Religious Retreats & Spiritual Wellness Travel Agencies

Travel & Hospitality/Travel Agencies, Tour Operators & OTAs/Religious & Pilgrimage Travel Agencies

SECONDARYEDADAHAC

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

Keywords

• Medical mission trips
• Medical supply donation
• Global health outreach
• Faith-based nonprofit
• Medical evangelism

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: FAME operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on donations from individuals, churches, and organizations. Donors can give to the Yes! Fund, specific projects, or sustainable initiatives.
2. Trip Participation Fees: Mission trip participants pay estimated costs for travel, accommodation, and program expenses. Trip costs range from approximately $1,640 to $3,690 depending on destination and duration.
3. Pallet Partners Program: Monthly recurring donation program where partners contribute to fund medical supply shipments to global partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FAME is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that acquires and ships donated medical supplies and equipment (exam tables, x-ray units, surgical instruments, medications) to missionary partners worldwide. The organization also organizes short-term medical mission trips for medical professionals and non-medical volunteers to serve alongside global partners in underserved communities, and provides grants for sustainable healthcare infrastructure (hospitals, clinics, medical vehicles).

Product overview

FAME (Fellowship of Associates of Medical Evangelism) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that operates as a medical mission organization rather than a technology company. Its core offerings center on medical evangelism: the Medical Supply Shipping Program acquires and ships medical supplies/equipment to global missionary partners; the Short-Term Mission Trips program organizes medical and non-medical volunteers for international service; and the Sustainable Projects program provides grants for hospitals, clinics, and medical vehicles. Supporting offerings include the Pallet Partners monthly giving program for supply shipments, the Adventures in Medical Evangelism youth education video series, and the Church Partner program for congregation engagement. The organization does not operate a software product or platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medical Supply Shipping Program FAME acquires and ships quality medical supplies and equipment to missionary partners worldwide, including exam tables, x-ray units, casting materials, surgical instruments, delivery beds, and pharmaceutical supplies. This program serves mission hospitals, clinics, and medical outreach operations in 40+ countries.
• Short-Term Mission Trips FAME organizes and facilitates short-term medical mission trips for medical professionals (physicians, nurses, PAs, NPs, pharmacists, dentists, optometrists, physical therapists) and non-medical participants to serve alongside global missionary partners in underserved communities. Trip costs range from approximately $1,640 (Mexico) to $3,690 (Malawi) depending on destination and duration.
• Sustainable Projects FAME provides grants for hospitals, clinics, and medical vehicles in developing countries, supporting infrastructure development for global partners. This program funds long-term healthcare capacity building in underserved regions.
• Pallet Partners Program Monthly recurring donation program enabling donors to send medicine ($25 sends medicine for 156 children) and medical supplies ($50/month for a year sends a full pallet of supplies) to support FAME's global mission partners.
• Adventures in Medical Evangelism Video Series A 5-part educational video series for youth programs (grades K-6) teaching how God uses medical evangelism worldwide, available for Vacation Bible School, camp, Junior Church, and youth group activities, accompanied by leader's guide and themed materials.
• Church Partner Program FAME partners with church leaders to provide opportunities for congregation engagement through mission trips and onsite projects, serving as an evangelism partner for church plants and growing churches. Church partners recruit volunteers and provide financial support.
• Mobile Clinic Services FAME supports mobile medical clinics that bring medicine, medical treatment, and healthcare services to remote and underserved communities lacking access to traditional medical facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400,000 people treated in 18-24 months through global partners
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Venture Christian Church (Carmel, Indiana)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAME partner church that financially supports global partners and has committed to sponsoring Dr. Darwin Pineda for advanced ophthalmology training in Cuba.
• Garden City Christian ChurchminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChurch partner that fills mission trip spots and participates in FAME programs.
• Greenwood Christian ChurchminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChurch partner with exclusive trip allocations for FAME mission programs.
• Lincolnway Christian Church (New Lenox, IL)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChurch partner whose pastor Jeff Robinson teaches at FAME pastor conferences.
• Academy Christian ChurchminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChurch partner with priority access to Thailand mission trips.
• Milligan University PA ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership providing PA students mission trip opportunities to Brazil and Kenya.
• George Fox University DMSc ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership providing doctorate medical science students mission experience in Dominican Republic.
• Hancock Regional Hospital (Greenfield, IN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital whose 15 associates have participated in FAME mission trips to Dominican Republic.
• Campus Students for Christ / Christian Campus House (Western Illinois University)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCampus ministry organization that has taken annual service trips with FAME.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Medical Teams International: Faith-based nonprofit that mobilizes medical volunteers and ships medical supplies to underserved communities globally. Closely comparable to FAME in combining short-term medical mission trips with supply distribution to partner clinics.
• MAP International: Global health nonprofit that sources and distributes donated medicines and medical supplies to mission hospitals and clinics worldwide. Directly comparable to FAME's medical supply shipping program model.
• MedShare: Recovers surplus medical supplies and equipment from U.S. hospitals and ships them to healthcare providers in developing countries. Highly comparable supply-chain recovery and distribution model to FAME.
• Samaritan's Purse / World Medical Mission: Evangelical humanitarian organization that places medical professionals in short-term and long-term mission hospitals globally. Shares FAME's evangelical medical mission orientation and church-based donor base.
• CMMB (Catholic Medical Mission Board): Faith-based nonprofit that delivers medicines, medical supplies, and volunteer medical professionals to underserved communities worldwide. Comparable in combining medical supply distribution with volunteer mission trips under a faith-aligned brand.
• Mercy Ships: Faith-based organization that operates hospital ships delivering free surgical care and medical training in port communities. Comparable faith-based medical mission model, though using a different (ship-based) delivery mechanism than FAME.
• Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA): Membership organization for Christian healthcare professionals that coordinates short-term medical mission trips and global healthcare partnerships. Comparable in mobilizing credentialed medical volunteers for evangelical-aligned global service.

Broad incumbents

• Project HOPE: Large global health nonprofit that delivers medicines, supplies, and training, and deploys medical volunteers internationally. Broader scale and secular positioning than FAME, but overlaps in the medical supply and volunteer deployment model.
• International Medical Corps: Global humanitarian organization providing emergency medical relief and healthcare services in conflict-affected and disaster-hit regions. Broader humanitarian mandate than FAME but comparable in delivering medical care and supplies in fragile states.
• Partners in Health: Global health nonprofit operating hospitals, clinics, and training programs in low-resource settings. Much larger and secular, but comparable in delivering long-term medical infrastructure in developing countries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLkeJqK5Poq6QIlGBhd72UEYigPQoJkoaf
• Instagraminstagram.com/fame_med_missions
• Xx.com/fameworld
• Facebookfacebook.com/FAMEworld
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fame

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 FAME