What SAMU does

SAMU First Response is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit humanitarian organization founded in 1982 in Spain and headquartered in Washington, DC. It serves vulnerable populations, including migrants, refugees, and communities affected by natural disasters, through field hospitals, mobile medical units, canine search teams, welcome centers, food pantries, and educational programs branded as Escuelita SAMU. Operational infrastructure includes field hospitals with stated capacity of 120 to 150 daily consultations, a 3D printing lab used to produce medical equipment, and a roster of nearly 3,000 professionals worldwide, with US operations formally launched in June 2022.

Core programs span disaster relief, migrant reception along the US-Mexico border, and emergency medical deployments, with named collaborations including the American Red Cross, FEMA, Project HOPE, the Arizona and Puerto Rico Departments of the Family, and corporate partners such as Accenture. Impact metrics cited include 240,742+ warm meals served and 24,074+ individuals assisted.

The organization is funded through individual donations, foundation grants (for example, a Sundt Foundation grant underwriting a Southern Arizona food pantry), and corporate partnerships, consistent with a traditional US 501(c)(3) contribution model. As a nonprofit, it does not sell goods or services for revenue; its "output" is programmatic service delivery measured in meals, consultations, and beneficiaries reached.

Name

SAMU

Legal name

SAMU Foundation

Website

https://samufirstresponse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SAMU First Response is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides disaster relief, migrant reception, and emergency medical services to vulnerable populations across the US and internationally. It operates field hospitals, welcome centers, and food pantries, supported by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid and Emergency Response Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Food Services (624210), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Education / Education in Emergencies (EiE) (BPADADAN), Emergency Food Assistance & Nutrition Response (BPADADAE), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI), Emergency Food Security & Nutrition in Humanitarian Crises (BPADAJAI)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Disaster relief operations
• Emergency medical response
• Migrant reception services
• Search and rescue

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: SAMU First Response operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization funded primarily through charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization accepts financial donations, in-kind donations of goods, and used clothing and household items.
2. Foundation Grants: The organization receives grants from foundations such as The Sundt Foundation ($5,000 grant for food pantry launch) to support specific programs and initiatives.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Volunteer Support: Corporate partners like Accenture provide volunteer support and donations through programs like Day of Service, with funding from organizations like Welcome.US for community initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SAMU First Response is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit humanitarian aid organization that provides disaster relief, emergency response, and support services to vulnerable populations in the United States and abroad. Core offerings include migrant reception and integration services at the U.S.-Mexico border, deployment of self-sufficient Emergency Medical Teams and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) units, community education programs, and food and supply distribution through physical resource centers. All services are delivered at no cost to beneficiaries and are funded through donations, grants, and corporate partnerships.

Product overview

SAMU First Response is a humanitarian aid organization that offers emergency response and support services rather than a traditional technology product. The organization provides disaster relief, migrant support, and educational programs through a network of services including: Disaster Relief and Emergency Support, Social Emergencies for Vulnerable Groups, International Missions with USAR teams, and Training and Education programs. Key programs include the Home Base Initiative for immigrant families, Escuelita SAMU for children's education, Project SMILE for socio-emotional health in Puerto Rico, Food Pantry Services in Arizona, Know Your Rights Classes, Arizona Resource Centers, and Emergency Medical Team deployment capabilities. These services work together to provide comprehensive humanitarian assistance during national and international crises.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Disaster Relief and Emergency Support

Quantifiable outcome

• 240,742+ warm meals served to individuals in need
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 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

26 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and standard.

• AccenturemajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 October 2025Accenture partnered with SAMU First Response for 18th Annual Metro DC Day of Service 2025, with volunteers supporting the Haitian community in Maryland through digital connectivity initiatives. Funded through Welcome.US donation.
• Department of the Family of Puerto RicomajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2025Government agency collaborating on projects promoting well-being and safety of individuals, families, and communities through access to safe housing, psychosocial support, education, and recreational activities.
• Fundación SAMUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish non-profit foundation that provides support and assistance to SAMU First Response. Parent organization relationship with shared mission of humanitarian aid and emergency response.
• SAMU S.A.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish corporation affiliated with the SAMU organization that supports humanitarian operations.
• American Red CrossmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor humanitarian organization working in disaster relief and emergency services. Member of National VOAD.
• Project HOPEmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal humanitarian and medical organization that SAMU regularly partners with, notably for Jamaica Hurricane Melissa response.
• FEMAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal Emergency Management Agency - key government partner in US disaster response operations.
• World Central KitchenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization that feeds people in communities around the world, providing meals during disaster response.
• Team RubiconmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisaster response organization that pairs veterans with first responders for emergency operations.
• Catholic CharitiesstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial services organization supporting migrants and vulnerable populations.
• CARECENstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral American Resource Center supporting immigrant communities.
• AmericaresstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth-focused relief and development organization providing medical supplies and support.
• United WaystandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederation of charities focused on health and education services.
• Good360standardStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization distributing product donations to charities.
• Save The Children VisionstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization focused on children's welfare and development programs.
• VOAD (State Chapters)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVoluntary Organizations Active in Disaster - member of National VOAD and state chapters including Arizona, Virginia, Maryland, Puerto Rico, and South Carolina VOAD.
• General Consulate of Mexico in Nogales, ArizonamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsular partnership for civic education initiatives including Know Your Rights classes and Ventanilla de Educación Cívica program.
• Center for Victims of Torture (CVT)standardStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided initial school bags for back-to-school drive supporting 28 children at Casa Misericordia, expanding to 100 children with additional community support.
• Casa Misericordia y de Todas las NacionesstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerShelter for migrant families in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, home to Escuelika school for children.
• Washington English CenterstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided scholarships for SAMU staff to improve English language skills through group classes and individual tutoring, enhancing service delivery to migrants.
• Crossroads MissionstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted Know Your Rights classes and receives food donations from SAMU for Nogales community support.
• Nogales Community Food BankstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceived 976 lbs of food donations from SAMU for community food security.
• Instituto Nacional de Migración (Mexico)standardStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexican immigration authority receiving donations of baby formula, shoelaces, and warm clothing from SAMU.
• Andalucía TRADEstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerMet during strategic meetings in New York to explore collaboration opportunities and share SAMU's mission.
• The Bowery MissionstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric New York organization providing food, shelter, and life-transforming services to people experiencing homelessness. Potential for collaboration identified during New York visit.
• U.S. Department of State (YLAI Program)standardStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted YLAI fellow Nicole Ruiz from Aruba for professional placement, collaborating on outreach and entrepreneurial leadership planning.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Americares: Health-focused relief and development organization providing medical supplies and emergency response. SAMU partners with Americares for material support, and both compete for similar disaster-health funding pools.
• World Central Kitchen: Nonprofit that provides hot meals to communities affected by disasters and humanitarian crises. Highly comparable to SAMU's 244,342-meal service line and active disaster-response food distribution.
• Project HOPE: Global health and humanitarian organization that responds to disasters with medical teams and supplies. SAMU explicitly partners with Project HOPE on deployments such as Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, indicating direct operational overlap.
• Catholic Charities USA: Network providing social services including migrant reception, refugee resettlement, and emergency assistance. SAMU is an active partner, and both serve overlapping beneficiary populations at the U.S. border.
• Team Rubicon: Veteran-led disaster response organization that conducts search-and-rescue and debris operations across the U.S. SAMU is listed as a partner, and both organizations share the rapid-deployment disaster-relief mission in the U.S.
• Direct Relief: Humanitarian medical aid organization that delivers emergency medical supplies and supports field operations globally. Comparable operating model to SAMU's medical-focused disaster response.
• International Rescue Committee: Major humanitarian NGO operating refugee resettlement, asylum, and emergency response programs for migrants in the U.S. and globally. Directly comparable to SAMU's border reception and migrant integration services.
• International Medical Corps: U.S.-based humanitarian NGO that deploys emergency medical teams and field hospitals internationally in disaster and conflict zones. Directly comparable to SAMU First Response's EMT field hospital capability and rapid-deployment model.

Emerging players

• Border Angels: Volunteer-driven nonprofit providing humanitarian aid to migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. Smaller and more focused than SAMU, but operates in the same border-reception space with similar service lines.

Broad incumbents

• Doctors Without Borders / MSF: Largest independent international medical humanitarian organization, deploying field hospitals and EMTs globally. Operates at much greater scale than SAMU but represents the upper-bound incumbent whose capabilities SAMU's EMT field hospital mirrors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/samu_usa
• Facebookfacebook.com/SAMUFirstResponse
• Instagraminstagram.com/samu_first_response

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 SAMU