Vineyard Christian Academy

What Vineyard Christian Academy does

Mercy In Action is a US-headquartered 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1990 by the Penwell family and legally organized as Mercy In Action Vineyard Inc. in Idaho. It addresses the global crisis in maternal, newborn, and child health through two integrated business lines: (1) free charity birth centers in the Philippines, established since 1991 and operated by Filipina licensed midwives across three islands (Luzon, Leyte, Samar), which have delivered over 17,500 babies at no cost to families with maternal and newborn survival rates reported as four times better than the Philippines national average; and (2) Mercy In Action College of Midwifery, a MEAC-accredited four-year Bachelor of Science degree-granting school delivering online CEU courses, a Post-Graduate Diploma in International Midwifery, and NARM Exam Prep to midwives, doctors, and nurses worldwide.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform beyond a Squarespace-hosted website and an online education portal; its "products" are clinical service capacity, accredited curriculum, and thought-leadership content (including books such as Sustainable Birth in Disruptive Times and Birth Models That Work). Distribution is split between in-country field operations (Philippines birth centers, disaster response missions such as the 2013 Super Typhoon Haiyan deployment that delivered 110+ babies in 60 days) and global online education delivery. It also runs the Megan's Babies memorial program providing newborn layettes at sponsored centers.

The revenue model is dual-track: charity birth-center operations are funded entirely by tax-deductible donations from individuals, churches, monthly recurring sponsors, Donor-Advised Funds, and appreciated stock (revenue_model: donations), while the College of Midwifery generates tuition from its BS degree, diploma, NARM prep, and CEU programs. All clinical services to families are provided free of charge. Post-October 2022, following co-founder Scott Penwell's death, co-leadership has been assumed by Ian and Rose Penwell alongside Kristen and Matt Benoit, with founder Vicki Penwell continuing in the organization.

Name

Vineyard Christian Academy

Legal name

Mercy In Action Vineyard Inc.

Website

https://mercyinaction.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mercy In Action is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating free charity birth centers in the Philippines and a MEAC-accredited College of Midwifery, serving impoverished mothers globally while training midwives through online degree and continuing education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maternal and Child Healthcare Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Midwifery & Birth Centers (HLAFAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lactation, Postpartum & Perinatal Support Services (HLAFAJAN), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG)

Keywords

• Midwifery education
• Maternal healthcare
• Non-profit healthcare
• Birth center services
• Midwifery continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Boise

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 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: Mercy In Action is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates entirely on donations from individuals, churches, and organizations. Donor contributions fund medical supplies, food for pregnant women, salaries of national midwives in the Philippines, and travel for training health workers globally. The organization offers monthly recurring donation options for sponsors.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mercy In Action operates free charity birth centers in the Philippines that provide prenatal, birth, and postnatal care to families living in poverty, and runs a MEAC-accredited College of Midwifery that offers a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery degree, a Diploma in International Midwifery, an online NARM exam preparation course, and continuing education units for midwives. The birth services are provided at no cost to beneficiaries and are funded through donations, while the educational programs are delivered online and supported by tuition and CEU fees.

Product overview

Mercy In Action is a non-profit organization operating a multi-faceted maternal and child health ministry comprising a MEAC-accredited four-year Bachelor of Science degree-granting College of Midwifery with online CEU courses, a Post-Graduate Diploma in International Midwifery, and NARM Exam Prep Online. The organization also operates free charity birth centers in the Philippines staffed by Filipina Licensed Midwives, provides medical mission outreaches and disaster response, and publishes educational materials including the Midwifing Mercy Book. The portfolio includes the Megan's Babies memorial program providing newborn supplies and medical assistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mercy In Action College of Midwifery: A MEAC accredited Bachelor of Science degree-granting school of midwifery operated by Mercy In Action.
• Megan's Babies

Products and services

• Mercy In Action College of Midwifery Bachelor of Science in Midwifery degree program A MEAC-accredited bachelor's degree program in midwifery delivered online to prepare students for careers as Certified Professional Midwives, with the academic credentials required to sit for the NARM exam and qualify for licensure. The program is designed for prospective midwifery students nationwide who want a distance-education pathway into the profession.
• Diploma in International Midwifery A postgraduate diploma program in international midwifery that prepares practicing midwives for cross-border and humanitarian birth practice. The program is offered alongside the bachelor's degree at the College of Midwifery.
• NARM Exam Prep Online An online preparatory course for the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) certification exam, structured to help midwifery students and graduates pass the NARM exam required for CPM credentialing.
• Online CEU Courses for Midwives A catalog of online continuing education courses that award continuing education units (CEUs) to licensed midwives and other birth professionals who need credits to maintain state licensure or NARM certification. Courses are purchased individually online.
• Mercy In Action Charity Birth Centers Free-of-charge birth centers located in the Philippines (Dipolog and Olongapo) that provide prenatal, birth, and postpartum care to pregnant women and families in extreme poverty. Services are funded through donations and are provided at no cost to beneficiaries.
• Mercy In Action Medical Mission Outreaches Short-term international medical mission trips that send teams of midwives, students, and volunteers to underserved regions to provide maternal healthcare and training. The missions are open to licensed midwives, midwifery students, and volunteers who want to support the charity birth center model in the field.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 17,500 babies delivered free of charge with excellent outcomes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Childbirth Initiative (ICI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll Mercy In Action sponsored birth centers are required to be approved clinical sites of the International Childbirth Initiative (ICI), formerly the International MotherBaby Childbirth Initiative (IMBCI). Mercy In Action has been invited to teach this model to hospitals, professional associations and clinical settings worldwide through webinars in many countries.
• MEAC (Midwifery Education Accreditation Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMercy In Action College of Midwifery is MEAC accredited and is a Bachelor of Science degree-granting school. The accreditation ensures quality standards for the midwifery education programs.
• NARM (North American Registry of Midwives)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMercy In Action offers online NARM Study Exam Prep courses that have helped hundreds of midwives pass their North American Registry of Midwives board exam.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Midwives for Haiti: Operates a birth center and trains skilled birth attendants in Haiti, combining free maternal services with midwifery education for local women. Directly comparable to Mercy In Action's combined birth-center-plus-education model in a low-resource setting.
• One Heart World-Wide: Works to reduce maternal and newborn mortality in underserved regions (Nepal, Tibet, Mexico) through training local skilled birth attendants and strengthening birth centers. Highly comparable mission and operating model to Mercy In Action's Philippines work.
• Bumi Sehat Foundation International: Founders Robin Lim runs a free, midwife-led birth center model in Indonesia serving low-income families, with international midwifery training and disaster-response components. This is the closest functional peer to Mercy In Action's free Philippines birth centers and global midwifery education model.
• Commonsense Childbirth: Operates the Jennie Joseph Birth Center serving low-income and at-risk mothers in the U.S., with a training institute for midwives and perinatal health workers. Comparable model of midwife-led birth services plus workforce education, though U.S.-focused.

Broad incumbents

• Partners In Health: Large global health NGO providing maternal and newborn care in low-resource settings, with a broader mandate spanning infectious disease and health systems strengthening. Overlaps with Mercy In Action's maternal-health focus but at substantially greater scale.
• Save the Children: Major international NGO with extensive maternal, newborn, and child health programs globally, including in the Philippines. Competes for donor dollars with Mercy In Action but operates at vastly larger scale with broader programming.
• Every Mother Counts: Founded by Christy Turlington Burns, this is a larger, well-funded NGO focused on global maternal health through grantmaking, advocacy, and storytelling. Operates in adjacent space to Mercy In Action with significantly greater fundraising scale and brand recognition.

Others

• Direct Relief: Large humanitarian medical aid organization that supplies medications, supplies, and equipment to health providers in low-resource settings. Functions as an enabling partner/supplier rather than direct competitor to Mercy In Action's birth centers.
• International Confederation of Midwives (ICM): Global professional and advocacy body for midwives, of which Mercy In Action's leadership is an active participant at Congress and regional events. Provides ecosystem context rather than direct service competition.

Emerging players

• Frontier Nursing University: U.S.-based accredited university offering nurse-midwifery and women's health education programs with a strong focus on serving rural and underserved populations. Comparable midwifery education arm but lacks Mercy In Action's international free-clinic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vineyard-christian-academy

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Vineyard Christian Academy