Tzu Chi Medical Foundation

What Tzu Chi Medical Foundation does

Tzu Chi Medical Foundation (legal name: Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1993 in California as the US medical arm of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, established in Taiwan in 1966. It delivers affordable and charitable patient-centered healthcare to low-income, uninsured, and underserved populations, including immigrant, APIA, migrant worker, homeless, and senior communities. Its core offering is a four-pillar service mix of medical, dental, acupuncture, and vision care delivered through three fixed health centers (Alhambra, South El Monte, Wilmington) and five mobile clinic units (Fresno, Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, San Jose), supplemented by school-based programs, the Healthy Community Program, the Sliding Fee Discount Program, and the global TIMA volunteer medical network of more than 9,000 physicians and health professionals.

Operationally, the organization is funded through a hybrid revenue model that combines donations and charitable contributions, government healthcare program reimbursements enabled by FQHC Look-Alike certification (Medi-Cal, Medicare, most insurance), and grants from foundations and government agencies (e.g., the $11.6M California Community Schools Implementation Grant for the Mountain View School District partnership). Technology is centered on mobile clinic hardware, including optical grinding machines that produce prescription eyeglasses on-site and digital X-ray-equipped dental units, backed by an eClinicalWorks patient portal. The organization leverages a community-led go-to-market model: mobile clinics and TIMA outreach events bring services directly to schools, churches, and community centers, while a network of school district, healthcare, and nonprofit partnerships (See 2 Succeed, Kaiser Permanente, Molina Healthcare, CalViva Health, City of Hope, American Cancer Association, American Diabetes Association, USC, CSUF, Fresno Unified, St. Agnes) drives awareness and referrals. Authoritative recognition includes FQHC Look-Alike renewal (September 2025, score 99), an APIAHF Community Advocate Award (2025), GuideStar Platinum status, and the GreatNonprofits 2020 Top-Rated award.

Name

Tzu Chi Medical Foundation

Legal name

Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation

Website

https://tzuchimedical.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Tzu Chi Medical Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating three fixed health centers and five mobile clinics in California, New York, and Nevada, delivering free or low-cost medical, dental, acupuncture, and vision care to low-income, uninsured, and underserved communities through FQHC Look-Alike reimbursement, donations, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Services

NAICS

All Other Outpatient Care Centers (621498), Health Care and Social Assistance (62), Social Assistance (624), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Hospitals, Clinics & Charitable Healthcare Providers (BPAGACAB)

Keywords

• Charitable healthcare services
• Community health centers
• Mobile medical clinics
• FQHC Look-Alike services
• Free vision dental care

Headquarters

HQ city

El Monte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Tzu Chi relies heavily on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund its charitable healthcare services. The organization has GuideStar Platinum status and GreatNonprofits 2020 Top-Rated award demonstrating donor trust.
2. Government Healthcare Programs: Accepts Medi-Cal, Medicare and most health insurance plans. FQHC Look-Alike status enables reimbursement for services to eligible patients.
3. Grants and Foundation Funding: Receives grant funding such as the $11.6 million California Community Schools Implementation Grant for MVSD partnership, and $46,000 from AHMC Health Foundation for pediatric dental equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tzu Chi Medical Foundation operates a charitable healthcare delivery network comprising three fixed community health centers and five mobile clinic units that provide medical, dental, acupuncture, and vision services to underserved, low-income, and uninsured populations across California, Nevada, and New York. Services are delivered at minimal or no cost through a Sliding Fee Discount Program and are supported by donations, grants, and a global network of over 9,000 volunteer physicians through TIMA.

Product overview

Tzu Chi Medical Foundation operates a comprehensive healthcare delivery system consisting of three fixed health center locations (Alhambra, South El Monte, and Wilmington in California) providing medical, dental, acupuncture, and vision services, complemented by five mobile clinic units (Fresno, Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, and San Jose) that deliver free vision, dental, and medical services to underserved communities. The organization also runs the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA), a global network of volunteer medical professionals providing international medical missions. Additional offerings include the Healthy Community Program for health education and disease prevention, the Sliding Fee Discount Program for financial assistance, and a Patient Portal for digital access to healthcare services. In 2020, all three health centers achieved FQHC Look-Alike certification, establishing a foundation for community health initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TIMA (Tzu Chi International Medical Association): Global network of medical professionals who volunteer their expertise and time to provide quality medical services to vulnerable populations affected by disaster and poverty.
• Vision to Succeed
• See 2 Succeed
• Care4Highway99
• Senior We Care
• Smile4U
• iCare20

Products and services

• Tzu Chi Health Center – Alhambra

Quantifiable outcome

• FQHC review passed September 2025 with high score of 99
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mountain View School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Formal partnership bringing dental, vision, and medical services directly onto school campuses at Parkview School, Maxson Elementary, Twin Lakes School, and La Primaria Elementary. Mobile dental clinic transforms classrooms into treatment spaces. More than 200 appointments completed at three of MVSD's nine campuses. Funded through $11.6M California Community Schools Implementation Grant.
• See 2 SucceedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVision partnership program distributing free prescription eyeglasses to underserved children. Program milestone: 5,000th pair of eyeglasses dispensed in May 2023 since program inception in 2015.
• OneLegacyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to spread awareness about organ donation through Tzu Chi's healthcare network. Tzu Chi partners with OneLegacy to promote the gift of life through organ donation education.
• Kaiser PermanenteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner supporting Tzu Chi's community health initiatives and mobile clinic programs.
• Molina HealthcareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare insurance partner serving Medi-Cal patients who receive care at Tzu Chi health centers.
• CalViva HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedi-Cal managed care plan partner serving Fresno County residents who access Tzu Chi mobile clinic services.
• City of HopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner collaborating on cancer awareness and chronic metabolic disease management programs.
• American Cancer AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for cancer awareness programs and free PSA tests and colon cancer screenings.
• American Diabetes AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Chronic Metabolic Disease Management Program launched in 2014, expanding to include patients with hypertension, high cholesterol, and hyperglycemia.
• Fresno Unified School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner hosting Tzu Chi mobile clinic events and health education programs for students and families.
• St. Agnes Medical CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner in Fresno providing referrals and collaborative care for underserved patients.
• OneLegacyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrgan donation organization partnering with Tzu Chi to educate communities about organ donation through Tzu Chi's healthcare events.
• University of Southern California (USC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership for healthcare education, training, and community health initiatives.
• California State University FullertonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership supporting health education and community health programs.
• Tzu Chi Youth and Tzu Chi Collegiate AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYouth volunteer groups (Tzu Shao and Tzu Ching) assist with mobile clinic operations, equipment setup, and community outreach at events.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AltaMed Health Services: Large Los Angeles-based FQHC providing primary care, dental, and specialty services to underserved, predominantly Latino populations. Most directly comparable community-health peer in Tzu Chi's core geography, though AltaMed is substantially larger and operates as a full FQHC.
• Remote Area Medical: National nonprofit that operates mobile clinics delivering free medical, dental, and vision care to underserved and uninsured populations. Closest comparable to Tzu Chi's mobile-clinic delivery model and volunteer-driven charitable mission.
• South Central Family Health Center: LA-based FQHC serving predominantly Latino underserved populations with primary care, dental, and vision services. Comparable in mission and Southern California footprint.
• Venice Family Clinic: Los Angeles-based FQHC providing comprehensive primary care, dental, vision, and behavioral health to low-income and uninsured populations. Comparable in mission, services mix (medical/dental/vision), and target population in the same LA market.
• Asian Health Services: Oakland-based FQHC serving Asian and Pacific Islander American communities with multilingual primary care, dental, and behavioral health. Highly comparable in APIA-focused mission and community health center model, though in Northern California.
• Charles B. Wang Community Health Center: New York City-based FQHC serving Asian American communities with primary care, dental, and behavioral health services. Directly comparable in APIA focus and in New York City—Tzu Chi's NY Mobile Clinic service area.
• Clinica Romero: Los Angeles-based FQHC Look-Alike providing affordable primary care, dental, and behavioral health to uninsured and low-income populations. Comparable in Look-Alike status, sliding-fee model, and LA-area target market.
• Eisner Health: Los Angeles-based FQHC providing medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health services to underserved communities. Direct peer in service mix and LA geography, though Eisner operates more fixed sites.

Broad incumbents

• Kaiser Permanente Community Health: Kaiser Permanente is already a listed Tzu Chi partner; its broader community-health and Medicaid programs represent the established incumbent ecosystem for Medi-Cal managed care in California against which Tzu Chi's smaller health centers compete and contract.
• Adventist Health / Adventist HealthCare: Large nonprofit health system operating hospitals, clinics, and community health programs across the Western US. Provides overlapping outpatient/community-health services to underserved populations and is a potential partner/competitor for hospital referrals in Tzu Chi's service area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tzuchiusa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSWBfjLE0c0q1NZ9Qb7ryeg
• Facebookfacebook.com/tzuchimed
• Instagraminstagram.com/tzuchiusamedical
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/btcmf

Compliance4 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 Tzu Chi Medical Foundation