Our History

The Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (FAFCC) became a Florida not-for-profit corporation on August 19, 2013. FAFCC’s 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status was granted by the IRS in a letter dated November 27, 2013.

The idea for a state association to represent and support Florida’s free and charitable clinics emerged in the mid 2000s when Florida clinic leaders began attending national free clinic conferences and started hearing about other state associations of clinics. Under the leadership of Marisel Losa, the idea became a reality. Marisel was formerly Executive Director of St. John Bosco Clinic (a free clinic) in Miami and is now CEO of the Health Council of South Florida. She negotiated with the Health Council’s Board of Trustees to allow her to “incubate” a state association for Florida’s free clinics. An unincorporated “Florida Association of Free Clinics” was born, operating as a program component of the Health Council of South Florida.

In 2013 the “FAFC Executive Committee” and the Health Council began to discuss the idea of “spinning off” FAFC into a separate, freestanding, 501c3 statewide organization. In June 2013, the “FAFC Executive Committee” unanimously adopted a transition plan to transfer the “ownership” of FAFC to the new organization by the end of 2013. A Board of Directors was created, representing leaders of clinics and networks from around the state. The Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (FAFCC) became a Florida not-for-profit corporation on August 19, 2013. FAFCC’s 501c3 tax-exempt status was granted by the IRS in a letter dated November 3, 2013. In December the Board held a strategic planning retreat and adopted major priorities for the new organization, based on input from internal and external constituencies.

By early May 2014, FAFCC had accomplished one of its strategic goals by securing a first-ever $4.5 million state appropriation for the free and charitable clinic sector. In the fall of 2014, FAFCC made 2014-2015 State Funds Grants to 69 free and charitable clinics and networks. In 2016 FAFCC’s advocacy work paid off and FAFCC was able to increase the state appropriation amount to $9.5 million. During the COVID-19 pandemic, FAFCC was able to stand strong and obtain over $147,000 in grant funds to help clinics operationalize telehealth programs, implement telehealth technologies, and complement the Diversity and Inclusion efforts made by FAFCC. As of 2022, FAFCC has 113 members across the state. FAFCC membership has continued to grow and expand every year thanks to prospective members like yourself that believe in the FAFCC Vision and Mission.