Mercy Flight Southeast
Mercy Flight Southeast is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that coordinates free air transportation for financially distressed patients via 700+ volunteer pilots using their own aircraft, serving Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Alabama, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersLeesburg, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Mercy Flight Southeast does
Mercy Flight Southeast (legal name: Mercy Flight Southeast, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit volunteer pilot organization founded in 1983 and headquartered at Leesburg International Airport in Florida. The organization coordinates free air transportation for financially distressed individuals who need to reach distant medical facilities, using a network of more than 700 volunteer pilots who donate their own aircraft, fuel, and time. Its service area covers Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas. Beyond core medical transport, the mission portfolio includes organ transplant coordination, special needs camp flights, domestic violence survivor relocation (Safe Haven program), adoption and foster care transport, compassion flights, and Homeland Security disaster relief under the HSEATS partnership.
Operationally, Mercy Flight Southeast runs mission coordination through AFIDS (Air Charity Network mission control system), supports electronic waiver signing via smartphone, and uniquely operates under a 2012 FAA exemption that allows it to reimburse volunteer pilots for fuel costs — the first such exemption granted to a volunteer pilot charity. Mission requests originate primarily through referrals from social workers, discharge planners, hospitals (including St. Joseph's Children's Hospital of Tampa, Miami Children's Hospital, Shriners Hospitals), and charitable partners (Ronald McDonald Houses, Make-A-Wish, American Cancer Society, Corporate Angel Network), with direct patient access via website and a staffed hotline.
The organization is funded entirely by individual donations, corporate/philanthropic contributions, and sponsored fundraising events (Poker Run, Swing for the Angels Pickleball, SFBAA Charity Golf Classic, galas, 5K races). It receives no government funding. Each $1 donated generates more than $10 of contributed flight services according to the organization's own claims. The organization is an affiliate of Air Charity Network (the largest U.S. public benefit flying network) and a member of Air Care Alliance, with formal partnership with the Department of Homeland Security through HSEATS since 2004. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors led by CEO Steve Purello.
Mercy Flight Southeast firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mercy Flight Southeast
- Legal name
- Mercy Flight Southeast, Inc.
- Website
- https://mercyflightse.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Mercy Flight Southeast is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that coordinates free air transportation for financially distressed patients via 700+ volunteer pilots using their own aircraft, serving Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Alabama, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mercy Flight Southeast industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Air Transportation
- NAICS
- Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812)
- SIC
- Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Air Ambulance & Medical Passenger Charter Operators (THABADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Air Medical Transport (Helicopter/Fixed-Wing) (HLAFANAD)
Keywords
Where Mercy Flight Southeast is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leesburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Mercy Flight Southeast business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the charitable mission. Memorial and honor donations accepted. Generates $10+ in flight services per $1 donated.
- Corporate/Philanthropic Donations: Contributions from companies and philanthropic organizations to fund administrative costs and operations. No government funding received.
- Sponsored Events: Annual fundraising events including 5K race in Orlando, SFBAA Golf Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Poker Run, and Gala events organized with partner organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free medical transportation services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Mercy Flight Southeast product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mercy Flight Southeast coordinates free air transportation using privately owned aircraft flown by 700+ volunteer pilots for financially distressed patients who need to reach distant medical facilities for treatment, clinical trials, transplants, chemotherapy, and other care. The service covers Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas, and is extended to special-needs camps, abuse victim relocation, adoption/foster care transport, and homeland security disaster relief missions, all delivered at no cost to passengers.
Product overview
Mercy Flight Southeast is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) volunteer pilot organization that operates as a single, unified service offering free medical air transportation. The core product is the coordination of volunteer pilot missions using private aircraft to transport financially distressed patients to distant medical facilities. Service offerings include Medical Missions, Transplant Missions, Special Needs Camp Flights, Domestic Abuse Relocation (Safe Haven Program), Homeland Security/Disaster Relief, Adoption/Foster Care Transportation, and Compassion Missions. The organization also provides Earth Angels, a ground transportation volunteer program for drivers who transport passengers between airports and medical facilities. The service coordinates approximately 2,500-3,000 missions annually through a network of over 700 volunteer pilots.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Free Medical Air Transportation Free air transportation by volunteer pilots using privately owned aircraft for financially distressed patients traveling to medical facilities, clinical trials, and follow-up care across the southeastern U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas.
- Medical Missions Free flights for patients traveling to medical evaluations, clinical trials, treatments, and follow-up care at distant medical facilities.
- Transplant Missions Coordinated flights for organ transplant recipients and living donors, often flown in the middle of the night with advanced planning.
- Special Needs Camp Flights Transportation for children with special needs or family members with special needs to summer camp programs, including camps for burn survivors and children with critical illnesses.
- Safe Haven Domestic Abuse Relocation Flights to relocate battered spouses and children from one state-accredited safe haven shelter to another, coordinated with shelter directors or case workers.
- Homeland Security / Disaster Relief (HSEATS) First responder missions supporting natural or man-made disasters through the HSEATS program, including flying survivors, relief personnel, and supplies.
- Adoption/Foster Care Transportation Flights for agency personnel, potential parents, monitored visitation, and child placement services.
- Compassion Missions Non-medical flights for compelling humanitarian reasons such as wounded veterans or attending functions that would otherwise be impossible.
- Earth Angels Ground Transportation Volunteer driver program providing ground transportation for passengers from airports to medical facilities and back, completing the door-to-door patient journey.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,000+ missions per year coordinated
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Mercy Flight Southeast
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Mercy Flight Southeast technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Mercy Flight Southeast partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Homeland Security (HSEATS)flagshipMercy Flight Southeast became an official partner with the Department of Homeland Security through the Airport Transportation System (HSEATS) program, enabling coordinated disaster relief operations and official first responder status.
- Air Charity NetworkcoreMercy Flight Southeast is a proud member of Air Charity Network, the world's largest integrated volunteer pilot organization covering the entire United States. ACN handles 40,000+ requests annually with 7,500+ volunteer pilots and represents 90%+ of charitable aviation non-emergency flights in the nation.
- Air Care AlliancecoreAir Care Alliance is a collaborative organization that lists groups performing public benefit flying for health care and patient transport. Mercy Flight Southeast maintains membership alongside Air Charity Network.
- First Class AerospaceminorPartner supporter featured on Mercy Flight Southeast's valued partners section. First Class Aerospace is an aviation interior refurbishment company led by CEO Steve Purello.
- Signature AviationminorPartner supporter and FBO (Fixed Base Operator) hosting Alabama Wing meetings at Huntsville International Airport. Aviation services provider for volunteer pilot operations.
- SFBAA (South Florida Business Aviation Association)minorSFBAA organizes the annual Charity Golf Classic held at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens as a fundraising event for Mercy Flight Southeast.
- Aircraft GuysminorAviation-focused organization that organizes Gala events in South Florida and has donated websites to other Air Charity Network members.
- PilotMall.comminorInternet pilot supply retailer extending 10% military and veteran discount to active Mercy Flight Southeast members. Available at online store and two Florida locations.
- Ronald McDonald HousesminorCharitable organization providing housing for families of sick children. Mercy Flight Southeast coordinates missions for families receiving help from Ronald McDonald Houses.
- Shriners Hospitals for ChildrenminorHealthcare system providing specialized pediatric care. Mercy Flight Southeast provides transportation for children to and from Shriners Hospitals.
- Make-A-Wish FoundationminorWish-granting organization for children with critical illnesses. Mercy Flight Southeast has worked with Make-A-Wish to meet transportation requests for wish fulfillment.
- American Cancer SocietyminorCancer organization that refers patients needing transportation to Mercy Flight Southeast for treatment at distant medical facilities.
- Corporate Angel Network (CAN)minorRelated aviation-oriented charity that places cancer patients on corporate flights. Mercy Flight Southeast receives referrals and coordinates with CAN.
- AirLifeLineminorAviation charity providing free medical transportation. Related organization that Mercy Flight Southeast receives referrals from.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Mercy Flight Southeast competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Angel Flight East: Regional Air Charity Network affiliate providing free volunteer-pilot flights to medical patients in the Northeast U.S. Closely comparable operating model to MFSE but operating in a different geography; together they form the ACN nationwide network.
- Pilots For Patients: Louisiana-based volunteer pilot organization providing free medical air transport for patients in need. Directly comparable mission and operating model to MFSE, but with a more limited geographic footprint primarily serving the Gulf South.
Direct peers
- Corporate Angel Network: Charitable aviation organization placing cancer patients on corporate aircraft for free travel to specialized treatment. Directly comparable to MFSE as a referral-based volunteer pilot nonprofit serving financially distressed medical patients.
- Air Charity Network: Umbrella organization of which MFSE is a member; coordinates the broader U.S. volunteer pilot network (7,500+ pilots, 40,000+ requests/year). Directly comparable as the parent network providing non-emergency medical air transport through affiliated volunteer pilot organizations.
- Patient AirLift Services (PALS): Volunteer pilot nonprofit arranging free air transportation for medical patients and veterans in the Northeast U.S. Closely comparable model: volunteer pilots, free flights, referral-based mission coordination, and nonprofit funding through donations.
- Hope Flight: Volunteer pilot nonprofit arranging free flights for children and adults needing access to distant medical care. Directly comparable mission, donor-supported model, and referral-driven coordination process.
- Lifeline Pilots: Volunteer pilot nonprofit providing free air transportation for medical and humanitarian needs across the Midwest. Directly comparable model to MFSE, with similar reliance on donated aircraft, fuel, and pilot time.
- Air Care Alliance: Collaborative organization listing public benefit flying groups, including MFSE. Directly comparable as a coalition of volunteer aviation charities focused on healthcare, patient transport, and humanitarian missions.
- Veterans Airlift Command: Network of volunteer pilots providing free air transportation to wounded warriors, veterans, and their families for medical care and compassionate needs. Closely comparable operational model focused on humanitarian air transport.
Emerging players
- Mercy MedFlight: Charitable medical air transport provider offering free or low-cost flights for patients needing specialized care. Comparable mission in providing affordable air transportation to medical patients, though structured as a paid medevac operator with charitable components.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Mercy Flight Southeast social profiles
Digital presenceMercy Flight Southeast compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Mercy Flight Southeast financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mercy Flight Southeast leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Mercy Flight Southeast funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mercy Flight Southeast M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mercy Flight Southeast
What does Mercy Flight Southeast do?
Mercy Flight Southeast coordinates free air transportation using privately owned aircraft flown by 700+ volunteer pilots for financially distressed patients who need to reach distant medical facilities for treatment, clinical trials, transplants, chemotherapy, and other care. The service covers Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas, and is extended to special-needs camps, abuse victim relocation, adoption/foster care transport, and homeland security disaster relief missions, all delivered at no cost to passengers.
Is Mercy Flight Southeast a public or private company?
Mercy Flight Southeast is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Mercy Flight Southeast founded?
Mercy Flight Southeast was founded in 1983. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Mercy Flight Southeast based?
Mercy Flight Southeast is headquartered in Leesburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Mercy Flight Southeast make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate/Philanthropic Donations and sponsored Events.
Who are Mercy Flight Southeast's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Angel Flight East and Pilots For Patients. Direct peers are Corporate Angel Network, Air Charity Network, Patient AirLift Services (PALS), Hope Flight, Lifeline Pilots, Air Care Alliance and Veterans Airlift Command. Mercy MedFlight is listed as an emerging player.
Does Mercy Flight Southeast have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mercy Flight Southeast.
What industry is Mercy Flight Southeast in?
Mercy Flight Southeast's product category is Charitable Air Transportation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THABADAK, Air Ambulance & Medical Passenger Charter Operators, with a secondary code of HLAFANAD, Air Medical Transport (Helicopter/Fixed-Wing). Its NAICS code is 4812 and its SIC code is 4522.