What Kessler Foundation does

Kessler Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit rehabilitation research organization headquartered in East Hanover, New Jersey, with a second campus in West Orange, NJ. Founded in 1948 (with the research division formalized in 1998), the foundation employs 101-250 staff and operates 400+ active studies across six primary research areas: spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, autism, and mild cognitive impairment/healthy aging. Its scientific work combines neuroimaging (Siemens 3T MRI), robotic exoskeletons (Ekso, Wandercraft, Bambini), virtual reality treadmills (C-Mill), epidural and transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation, and proprietary cognitive rehabilitation protocols branded as KF-mSMT, KF-STEM, KF-NAP, KF-PAT, KF-Stride, and KF-PUPIL.

The foundation is federally designated as one of only 18 Model Systems for spinal cord injury in the U.S. and as the Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System, and is a major site of the Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation. It trains postdoctoral fellows through a 30-year partnership with Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (a Select Medical hospital).

Revenue is generated entirely through philanthropy, government grants, and foundation/corporate grants. Federal and state funding includes NIDILRR Model Systems support and a $3M Social Security Administration grant awarded in February 2023. The Kessler Society donor program offers tiered annual memberships from $500 (Member) to $100,000+ (Champion). Corporate and foundation partners include the National MS Society, Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, Hearst Foundations, and SHRM Foundation. The Kessler Foundation Learning Center (kflearn.org) provides paid and free continuing-education courses for clinicians, while flagship outputs such as the monthly nTIDE report on disability employment (with the University of New Hampshire) extend policy influence. Research is disseminated at no cost to participants; educational products and donor tiers monetize the foundation's intellectual output.

Name

Kessler Foundation

Legal name

Kessler Foundation

Website

https://kesslerfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kessler Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit rehabilitation research organization operating 400+ studies across spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, autism, and aging, serving people with disabilities through proprietary protocols and federally designated Model Systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rehabilitation Research Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Neurologic Rehabilitation (Stroke, TBI, Parkinson’s, MS) (HSADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vestibular Rehabilitation & Balance Therapy (HSADAIAF), Parent & Caregiver Training for LD/Dyslexia Support (EDAKAJAJ), Family & Community Support Services (Case Management, Referrals) (EDAJAIAK)

Keywords

• Rehabilitation research
• Cognitive rehabilitation protocols
• Spinal cord injury research
• Traumatic brain injury studies
• Disability employment research

Headquarters

HQ city

West Orange

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Donations: Individual donors contribute through online giving, mail, phone, stock donations, IRA qualified charitable distributions, and cryptocurrency. Kessler Society offers membership at $500+ annually with tiered recognition levels (Member through Champion).
2. Federal and State Grants: Federally funded research including NIDILRR Model Systems, NIH grants, and other government funding. Kessler Foundation received $3 million in federal funding for neurotrauma research (2023).
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Support from foundations and corporations including National MS Society, Hearst Foundations, Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, and SHRM Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Kessler Foundation is a nonprofit rehabilitation research organization that conducts and disseminates evidence-based research to improve recovery and independence for people with disabilities. It develops and tests proprietary cognitive and mobility interventions (e.g., KF-mSMT, KF-STEM, KF-NAP, KF-PAT, KF-Stride), operates federally designated Model Systems for spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury, and delivers professional education through the Kessler Foundation Learning Center. Its research spans spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, autism, and healthy aging.

Product overview

Kessler Foundation is a rehabilitation research organization offering a portfolio of evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation interventions, assessment tools, and employment support programs. The core offerings include KF-mSMT® (modified Story Memory Technique) and KF-STEM (Strategy-based Training to Enhance Memory) for cognitive rehabilitation; KF-NAP® (Neglect Assessment Process) and KF-PAT® (Prism Adaptation Treatment) for spatial neglect; and KF-Stride® for employment readiness among neurodiverse individuals. These products are delivered through the Kessler Foundation Learning Center online platform and supplemented by programs like the SCI Navigator. The foundation also operates federally designated Model Systems for traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury, and produces the monthly National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) reports in partnership with the University of New Hampshire.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KF-mSMT (Kessler Foundation modified Story Memory Technique) A drug-free, computer-based cognitive rehabilitation protocol that uses context and imagery to improve memory in individuals with traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and aging. Available in English and Spanish.
• KF-NAP (Kessler Foundation Neglect Assessment Process) A standardized approach for detecting spatial neglect in real-life situations, designed for clinicians to assess stroke survivors.
• KF-PAT (Kessler Foundation Prism Adaptation Treatment) Uses special prism glasses to retrain attention, helping stroke survivors overcome spatial neglect.
• KF-Stride (Kessler Foundation Strength Identification and Expression) A research-backed, online program designed to help autistic and neurodiverse youth and adults prepare for meaningful employment by focusing on identifying and communicating strengths, building confidence, and developing practical workplace skills.
• KF-PUPIL (Play, Understand, Partner, Interact, and Learn) A companion intervention inspired by KF-mSMT, featuring an educational component for family caregivers and a tabletop game designed to promote use of cognitive strategies at home.
• Kessler Foundation Learning Center An online learning platform offering flexible, online courses for rehabilitation professionals, clinicians, and caregivers. Features research-backed interventions for stroke and brain injury survivors, people with spinal cord injury, and young people with learning and thinking differences. Includes free resources and fee-based video courses for continuing education.
• SCI Navigator Program A free, dedicated resource connecting individuals with spinal cord injury and their families with trained Navigators who provide personalized guidance on rehabilitation, resources, and community reintegration.
• National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) Monthly customized reports comparing employment trends for people with and without disabilities, issued in collaboration with the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability, with five national surveys over the last decade.
• Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program A multidisciplinary fellowship program for doctoral-level investigators in medical rehabilitation, offered in partnership with Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. Has trained over 125 postdoctoral fellows in 30 years.

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Rutgers New Jersey Medical School - Department of Physical Medicine and RehabilitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for the Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program, providing multidisciplinary mentorship and multi-institutional collaboration for postdoctoral fellows in rehabilitation science.
• Kessler Institute for RehabilitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Select Medical hospital for postdoctoral fellowship program and collaborative research. Federally designated as Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System and Northern New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury System.
• University of New Hampshire Institute on DisabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to produce the monthly National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) report comparing employment trends for people with and without disabilities. Partnership includes five national surveys over the last decade.
• Reynolds Consortium (National and International Collaborators)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 5 national and international collaborators supporting spinal cord stimulation research at the Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center. Enables multi-site studies and shared infrastructure.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Shirley Ryan AbilityLab: Leading rehabilitation research hospital in Chicago that combines clinical care with translational research across SCI, TBI, stroke, and MS. Directly comparable to Kessler Foundation in mission, federally designated Model System status, and integration of research with clinical rehabilitation.
• Shepherd Center: Atlanta-based neurorehabilitation hospital and research institute specializing in SCI, TBI, and multiple sclerosis. Operates a federally designated Model System and runs its own research arm, making it a close peer to Kessler Foundation's SCI/TBI research programs.
• Spaulding Rehabilitation Network: Harvard Medical School-affiliated rehabilitation system with a research institute (Spaulding Cambridge) conducting neurorecovery and mobility research. Comparable in scope to Kessler Foundation, with stronger academic medical school backing but similar research portfolio.
• Burke Neurological Institute: Weill Cornell Medicine-affiliated neuroscience research institute focused on neural recovery after stroke, TBI, and SCI. Comparable as a peer rehabilitation research organization that combines neuroimaging, neuromodulation, and cognitive research similar to Kessler's approach.
• Craig H. Neilsen Foundation: The largest private funder of SCI research and rehabilitation in the U.S., awarding grants and fellowships that directly overlap with Kessler's SCI research priorities. Comparable as a nonprofit grantmaking entity focused on the same condition area and talent pipeline.
• Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation: National nonprofit dedicated to SCI research, treatment, and quality-of-life programs. Comparable to Kessler Foundation's SCI mission, federal Model System context, and emphasis on community reintegration and employment for people with paralysis.
• MedStar National Rehabilitation Network: Washington, D.C.-area rehabilitation hospital network with active research programs in stroke, TBI, and SCI, including federally designated Model Systems. Comparable to Kessler Foundation in clinical-research integration and federal designation status.
• Mt. Sinai Rehabilitation Center: Academic rehabilitation medicine department within the Mount Sinai Health System, conducting research across stroke, brain injury, and SCI. Comparable in scope to Kessler Foundation with stronger hospital-system integration but similar research portfolio.

Emerging players

• National Multiple Sclerosis Society: Largest nonprofit funder of MS research and services in the U.S., directly funding Kessler's MS fellowships and programs. Comparable as a nonprofit advancing MS cognition, mobility, and employment research, but operating at a national advocacy and grantmaking scale rather than a single research-site model.

Regional players

• Brain Injury Association of America: National advocacy and research organization advancing TBI awareness, treatment, and policy. Comparable to Kessler's TBI focus but oriented toward advocacy and education rather than direct research; complementary as a policy and dissemination channel for Kessler's TBI findings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/kesslerfdn
• Xx.com/KesslerFdn
• Facebookfacebook.com/KesslerFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-kessler-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Kessler Foundation