National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics

Volunteers in Medicine is a clinic development program operated by the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC). It supports communities seeking to establish, develop, or expand free healthcare clinics based on the Volunteers in Medicine model. These locally managed and independently operated clinics provide primary care to uninsured and medically underserved people and their families, relying on community leadership and medical and non-medical volunteers.

The program offers free, customized consulting over 12 to 18 months, guiding new clinics from feasibility studies through opening. Support includes development checklists, templates, best-practice resources, connections to experts and other clinics, and, when needed, planning and readiness site visits. Expansion sites aligned with the model can also access guidance and educational materials. The NAFC/VIM Clinic Development Toolkit covers topics such as clinic formation, patient eligibility, equipment, volunteer recruitment, and prescription medication options. Eligible new clinics may apply for a $25,000 Family Medicine Cares Grant through the AAFP Foundation partnership. NAFC membership is required to participate. The program also welcomes volunteers and donations.