Samaritan Health Center

What Samaritan Health Center does

Samaritan Health Center Inc. is a 501(c)(3) faith-based free and charitable medical and vision clinic located at 3205 University Drive, Durham, NC, founded in 2008 to deliver primary medical care, preventive care, vision services, and care coordination to uninsured and underinsured individuals whose household income is below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. In 2025 it served 780 patients across 11 languages, welcomed 309 new patients, prescribed $1.1M in free medications, and operated through a hybrid model of 12 paid staff and 83 volunteers — including 16 physicians who contributed 397 hours of unpaid clinical time. Clinical scope spans adult and pediatric primary care, onsite lab work via Labcorp, STI testing, vaccinations, chronic disease management (diabetes, blood pressure, asthma), acute care, comprehensive eye exams, and a growing gynecology specialty, with specialty and behavioral-health referrals routed through Duke Financial Assistance and partner hospital systems.

The clinic's operational backbone rests on Epic for electronic medical records, full laboratory services through Labcorp, and a Community Health Team that extends care offsite into partner churches and nonprofits across Durham. Patients are seen approximately 3.75+ times per year, the main clinic operates 35 hours per week Monday through Friday, and interpreter services support multilingual delivery. Service breadth has expanded in 2025 to include onsite gynecology and mammogram access through a new partnership with Project HOPE.

The business model is donation-based, not fee-for-service: the suggested patient contribution is $20 per visit while the average clinical cost is $200, and no patient is turned away for inability to pay. Revenue is sourced from individual donations, church and foundation grants, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, stock transfers administered through the National Christian Foundation, Donor-Advised Funds, and named financial partners — Duke Health, The Leon Levine Foundation, The Summit Church, Waypoint Church, and Psalms of Life. Credentialing supports the donor narrative: NAFC GOLD Seal, NCAFCC membership, CCHF membership, and Candid (formerly GuideStar) transparency listing. The 2026-2028 strategic plan is oriented around partnership, investment, and impact.

Name

Samaritan Health Center

Legal name

Samaritan Health Center Inc.

Website

https://samaritanhealthcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Faith-based 501(c)(3) free and charitable clinic in Durham, NC providing primary medical care, vision care, and care coordination to uninsured and underinsured residents below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level, operated by 12 staff and 83 volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Free and Charitable Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Other Health Practitioners (6213), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Primary Care for Underserved Populations (e.g., migrant, homeless, refugee clinics) (HLAFAGAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hospitals, Clinics & Charitable Healthcare Providers (BPAGACAB), Faith-Based Healthcare Ministries (Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Missions) (BPAGAJAH)

Keywords

• Free charitable clinic
• Primary medical care
• Vision care services
• Preventive health programs
• Community health outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Grants: Samaritan Health Center operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and relies primarily on charitable donations from individuals, churches, and foundations. Financial partners include Duke Health, The Leon Levine Foundation, Psalms of Life, The Summit Church, and Waypoint Church. The organization accepts gifts by check, stock transfers via the National Christian Foundation (NCF), IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, Donor-Advised Fund contributions, and estate planning gifts.
2. Patient Donations: The suggested patient donation is $20 per visit, though no patient is turned away for inability to pay. The average cost per visit is $200. This represents a minimal suggested contribution rather than a required fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Samaritan Health Center is a 501(c)(3) faith-based free and charitable clinic providing primary medical care, vision care, and patient services to uninsured and underinsured residents of Durham, NC whose household income is below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. Services include onsite lab work, STI testing, vaccines, chronic disease management (diabetes, blood pressure, asthma), acute care, optometry exams and prescription eyeglasses, and care coordination for specialty referrals, behavioral health, and financial assistance applications. Care is delivered by volunteer physicians supported by paid staff, with a suggested $20 per-visit donation and no patient turned away for inability to pay.

Product overview

Samaritan Health Center operates as a free and charitable clinic providing a unified healthcare access model. The organization offers three integrated service pillars: Medical Care (primary and preventive services for adults and children), Vision Care (optometry including exams and corrective eyewear), and Patient Services (care coordination for medications, mental health, and specialty referrals). These services are delivered onsite at their Durham, NC location with support from volunteer physicians and staff, and connected to offsite resources through community partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medical Care Primary and preventive medical care for adults and children, including onsite lab work, STI testing, routine health screenings, and vaccines (COVID, flu, shingles). Provides care for chronic conditions (diabetes, blood pressure, asthma) and acute needs such as minor injuries and headaches. In 2025, onsite gynecology was added as a specialty service. Delivered to uninsured/underinsured patients in Durham, NC regardless of ability to pay.
• Vision Care Essential optometry services for corrective vision and eye health, including comprehensive eye exams, prescription eyeglasses, and screenings for common eye conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts. Provided to uninsured/underinsured patients who cannot otherwise afford eye care.
• Patient Services Care coordination for affordable medications, mental health referrals, colonoscopies, sleep studies, and cataract surgeries through financial assistance applications with local hospital systems (including Duke Financial Assistance). Connects patients to specialty care, radiology, behavioral health, and social support resources beyond the clinic's direct scope.
• Community Health Team Outreach Offsite community health services including free health screenings, sports physicals, first aid, and health education delivered at churches, schools, and nonprofit events throughout Durham. Reaches refugees, immigrants, those experiencing homelessness, and justice-involved individuals, and connects them back to the main clinic for ongoing primary care.

Quantifiable outcome

• 780 patients served in 11 languages; $1.1M in free medications prescribed; 16 physicians volunteered 397 hours of their time
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and supporting.

• Project HOPEstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025In 2025, Samaritan partnered with Project HOPE to make mammograms more accessible for patients, expanding cancer screening services.
• Duke HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuke Health is listed as a financial partner of Samaritan Health Center. The clinic also leverages Duke Financial Assistance for specialty referrals for its patients, enabling access to Duke's specialty care services for uninsured/underinsured patients.
• The Summit ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Summit Church is a financial and community partner, contributing to Samaritan's mission. The church community refers patients and provides volunteer/donor support.
• Waypoint ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaypoint Church is listed as a financial partner and community supporter of Samaritan Health Center.
• LabcorpcoreTechnology or IntegrationSamaritan Health Center provides full laboratory services through its partnership with Labcorp, enabling onsite lab work and diagnostic testing for patients.
• Epic SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationSamaritan uses Epic as its electronic medical record system. Volunteers requiring Epic access receive training. Epic is the foundational technology for patient records management.
• Duke Financial Assistance ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSamaritan staff collaborates with patients to access specialty services (colonoscopies, sleep studies, cataract surgeries) through Duke Financial Assistance applications, enabling access to specialty care for uninsured patients.
• North Carolina Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NCAFCC)supportingOthersSamaritan Health Center is listed as a member clinic of NCAFCC, connecting it with the broader network of free and charitable clinics across North Carolina.
• Christian Community Health Fellowship (CCHF)supportingOthersSamaritan is a member of CCHF, a national Christian organization focused on healthcare to the underserved, providing fellowship, resources, and a network of like-minded clinics.
• National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC)supportingOthersSamaritan holds the NAFC GOLD Seal and is listed as a NAFC member clinic, demonstrating adherence to quality standards in free and charitable healthcare.
• National Christian Foundation (NCF)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSamaritan has partnered with NCF to process gifts of marketable securities (stocks, mutual funds, bonds) for efficient donation processing. Donors can transfer appreciated securities directly through NCF.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CrossOver Healthcare Ministry: Faith-based free clinic in Richmond, VA providing comprehensive primary care, vision, and pharmacy services to uninsured patients through volunteer providers; mirrors Samaritan's faith identity, volunteer model, and service mix.
• Good Samaritan Health Center: Faith-based free clinic in Atlanta, GA providing primary medical, dental, and vision care to uninsured populations through volunteer providers; closely mirrors Samaritan's faith-based, volunteer-physician, comprehensive-care model.
• Care Ring: Charlotte, NC nonprofit providing low-cost primary care, pharmacy, and care coordination to uninsured and underinsured populations; comparable North Carolina safety-net mission, donor-funded model, and care-coordination emphasis.
• Lincoln Community Health Center: Durham-based Federally Qualified Health Center providing primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care to uninsured and underinsured residents in the same market as Samaritan, serving the same <300% FPL population with comparable primary care services.
• The Free Clinics: Free and charitable clinic network in Henderson County, NC delivering primary medical and dental care to uninsured residents through volunteer providers — virtually identical service model, volunteer-staffed structure, and North Carolina safety-net positioning.
• Volunteers in Medicine (Hilton Head): Volunteer-physician-driven free clinic in Hilton Head, SC delivering comprehensive primary care to uninsured residents; the national 'VIM' model is structurally analogous to Samaritan's volunteer-driven operating approach.
• Open Door Clinic of High Point: NC-based free clinic providing primary medical care to uninsured residents using volunteer providers; comparable faith-affiliated, donor-funded model operating in the same regulatory and demographic environment.
• Community Care Clinic of Rowan County: NC free clinic offering primary care, pharmacy access, and chronic disease management to low-income uninsured residents; nearly identical volunteer-provider, donation-funded service model.

Broad incumbents

• Piedmont Health Services: Larger NC FQHC network operating multiple sites across central North Carolina serving uninsured and underinsured patients; broader scope and federal funding give it more resources, but it competes for the same uninsured population in overlapping geographies.

Regional players

• NC MedAssist: NC-based nonprofit free pharmacy program providing prescription medications to uninsured and underinsured residents statewide; complementary to Samaritan's $1.1M free-medications program and addresses the same medication-access barrier for low-income North Carolinians.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SamaritanHealth
• Facebookfacebook.com/SamaritanHealthCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/samaritan-health-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Samaritan Health Center