Program Overview

Launched in 2011, this humanitarian program helps new and existing free clinics to care for the uninsured in areas of need across the United States by providing new grants for the purchase of tangible items, such as exam tables, EHR systems, and medical equipment. Family Medicine Cares USA also gives AAFP members, residents, and students the opportunity to volunteer their time and talents.

Why Free Clinics?

There are over 30 million uninsured people in the United States. Existing free clinics have seen a dramatic increase in patients with the majority of these patients coming from working households. The need far exceeds existing capacity, and some areas have no free clinic access at all. Even now with the Affordable Care Act, there is and always will be an underserved population of men, women, and children who simply fall through the cracks.

Our Partner: Volunteers in Medicine America

The AAFP Foundation does not directly start and maintain free clinics, but collaborates with a non-profit organization, Volunteers In Medicine America, which has a tested model for developing sustainable, locally supported free clinics. Since the mid-1990s, Volunteers in Medicine America has assisted more than 90 communities in the clinic development process. The AAFP Foundation works with the organization to identify strong potential clinic advocates, and Volunteers in Medicine America provides expertise and guidance throughout the clinic development process.

Application Details

The 2021 application period is now open. If you're interested in applying for a 2021 grant, please read the eligibility requirements and guidelines, including how to apply. Applications are accepted until July 15th at 7 pm (CDT).

View application materials.

Family Medicine Cares USA: Grant Award Recipients

As of 2020, Family Medicine Cares USA has awarded over $1.1M to 20 new clinics and 59 existing clinics. Between July 1, 2019-June 30, 2020, 43 clinics have reported over 51,000 patient visits. 

2020 Award Recipients

• Volunteers in Medicine Christian County, Nixa, Missouri*
• New Braunfels Christian Ministries, New Braunfels, Texas
• Cura for the World, Sand Springs, Oklahoma
• The Free Clinic of Meridian, Meridian, Mississippi
• Good Shepherd Ministries of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Ozanam Inn Tulane Weekend Clinic, New Orleans, Louisiana

Funding for the following clinics provided courtesy of The Humana Foundation.

• Interprofessional Community Clinic at Rosalind Franklin University Medical Clinic, North Chicago, Illinois
• Guadalupe Clinic, Wichita, Kansas
• Health Resource Center, St. Louis, Missouri
• Gennesaret Free Clinics, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Helping Hands Health and Wellness Center, Columbus, Ohio
• Iowa City Free Medical Clinic, Iowa City, Iowa
• Genessee County Free Medical Clinic, Flint, Michigan
• Martha’s Clinic, Temple, Texas
• Portland Street Medicine, Portland, Oregon
• Clinica Espernza/Hope Clinic, Providence, Rhode Island
• Rhode Island Free Clinic, Providence, Rhode Island
• Culture of Life Ministries, Harlingen, Texas
• Good Samaritan Clinic, Northport, Alabama
• Martin Luther King Health Center, Shreveport, Louisiana
• Volunteers in Medicine Jacksonville, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida
• Indiana University Outreach Clinic, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Scotland Community Health Clinic, Laurinburg, North Carolina
• His Hands Free Clinic, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Sojourner Health Clinic, Kansas City, Missouri
• Family Community Clinic, Inc., Louisville, Kentucky
• C-ASIST Free Family Health Clinic, Dearborn, Michigan

2019 Award Recipients

• St. Peter Community Free Clinic, St. Peter, Minnesota*
• Clinica Mi Salud, Orlando, Florida*
• Clinica del Sur - A Volunteers in Medicine Partnership, Ponce, Puerto Rico*
• Just in Time Medical Clinic, Maumee, Ohio*
• Health For All, Inc., Bryan, Texas

2018 Award Recipients

• Volunteers in Medicine Dearborn, Ohio and Switzerland Counties, Lawrenceburg, Indiana*
• Clinica Tepati, Sacramento, California
• Indian American Medical Association Charitable Foundation (IAMACF) and New Life Volunteering Society (NLVS) Free Health Clinic, Chicago, Illinois
• MedZou Community Health Clinic, Columbia, Missouri
• Columbia-Harlem Homeless Medical Partnership, New York, New York
• Houston Outreach Medicine, Education and Social Services (HOMES) Clinic, Houston, Texas
• The Hearts & Hands Clinic, Statesboro, Georgia
• Community Medicine Clinic at Florida Hospital, Orlando, Florida

2017 Award Recipients

• Salud Sin Fronteras Student Run Free Clinic, El Paso, Texas*
• Greenville Free Medical Clinic, Greenville, South Carolina
• Anne Kastor Brooklyn Free Clinic, Brooklyn, New York
• St. Jeanne de Lestonnac Free Clinic, Orange, California
• TriCity Health Partnership Medical and Dental Clinic, St. Charles, Illinois
• Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine, Indio, California
• Mission Travis Mercy, Forth Worth, Texas
• Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry's Doctors' Medical Clinic, Asheville, North Carolina

2016 Award Recipients

• Student Outreach to the Area Residents Student Run Free Clinic (SOAR SRFC), Rootstown, Ohio*
• Virginia G. Piper St. Vincent de Paul Medical & Dental Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona
• University of Arizona Mobile Health Program, Tucson, Arizona
• Wheeling Health Right, Inc., Wheeling, West Virginia
• Hope Medical Clinic, Lexington, Oklahoma
• Good Neighbor Health Clinic, White River Junction, Vermont
• Cape Volunteers in Medicine, Cape May Court House, New Jersey
• Mollie R. Wheat Memorial Clinic, Terre Haute, Indiana

2015 Award Recipients

• Three Angels Clinic Inc. in Ocala, Florida*
• Volusia Volunteers in Medicine in Daytona Beach, Florida*
• Still Caring Health Connection in Kirksville, Missouri*
  
• Campbell University Community Care Clinic in Buies Creek, North Carolina
• Hope Clinic of Garland, Inc. in Garland, Texas
• Camden Community Health Center in Camden, New Jersey
• Parker Family Health in Red Bank, New Jersey
• NLVS and IAMACF in Chicago, Illinois

2014 Award Recipients

• The Free Clinic of Meridian in Meridian, Mississippi*
• Cornerstone Community Health, Inc. Free Clinic in San Bernardino, California*
• UR Well in Rochester, New York
• Gennesaret Free Clinics, Inc. in Indianapolis, Indiana
• CrossOver Healthcare Ministry in Richmond, Virginia
• Grace Medical Home in Orlando, Florida
• Community Volunteers in Medicine in West Chester, Pennsylvania

2013 Award Recipients

• Montgomery County Free Clinic, Inc. in Crawfordsville, Indiana*
• Mills Health Clinic in Minnetonka, Minnesota*
• Southeast Indiana Health Center in Batesville, Indiana*

2012 Award Recipients

• Faithworks Medical Clinic in Monroe County, Michigan*
• Clackamas Volunteers In Medicine - The Founder's Clinic in Clackams County, Oregon*

2011 Award Recipients

• Bluffton-Jasper Volunteers In Medicine in Bluffton County, South Carolina*
• Space Coast Volunteers In Medicine in Brevard County, Florida*

*Family Medicine Cares USA grant awarded to new free clinic.

Make a Donation

If you would like to be part of this rewarding work in the U.S., but do not feel like you can commit the time to volunteer, please consider making a donation. Please know that through your donation you are making a difference by helping those in need.