CardioStart, conceived in 1987 and incorporated in November 1994, is an international humanitarian organization dedicated to assisting children and adults with heart disease. CardioStart is fully registered in the United States as a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit charity, and is supported by chapters in several locations in the USA. It is separately registered under charity law in the United Kingdom, and is affiliated with the World Heart Foundation.

In response to requests from countries lacking heart and lung surgical and other specialist facilities, volunteer teams conduct overseas missions utilizing medical, technical and non-medical expertise from numerous locations throughout the world.