National Kidney Foundation

What National Kidney Foundation does

The National Kidney Foundation (NKF), founded in 1950 and headquartered at 30 East 33rd Street in New York, is a major U.S. voluntary health organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention, and treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). It serves an addressable population of roughly 37 million Americans living with kidney disease, an additional ~86 million at-risk adults (1 in 3 U.S. adults), and the healthcare professionals who treat them, with operating reach spanning all 50 U.S. states and Singapore. NKF's core assets are the KDOQI clinical practice guidelines (delivered through the KDOQI App and online), the eGFR Calculator, the CKDintercept primary-care initiative, the CKD Heat Map, Research Connect, NKF Patient Journey, and NKF PEERS peer mentorship. Professional offerings include the Spring Clinical Meetings (90+ sessions annually), CME/CE courses via the Professional Education Resource Center and Kidney Commute podcast, a family of NKF Journals, the Living Donation Business Case Toolkit, and the Kidney Career Center. The organization raises revenue from individual donations, fundraising events (Kidney Walk, NKF Golf Classic, Authors Luncheon, Jazz Gala), corporate partnerships and sponsorships (Circle of Excellence), planned giving, KidneyCars vehicle donations, and professional membership, while operating an Innovation Fund that makes impact investments in kidney-care biotechnology. NKF also runs policy advocacy (Voices for Kidney Health) targeting CMS, HRSA, and Congress on issues including the Living Donor Protection Act and race-free eGFR adoption. As of July 2026, Dr. Marc Hurlbert succeeds Kevin Longino (CEO since 2015) as CEO.

Name

National Kidney Foundation

Legal name

National Kidney Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://kidney.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The National Kidney Foundation is a U.S. voluntary health nonprofit that fights chronic kidney disease through the KDOQI clinical guidelines, patient and professional education, peer support, advocacy, and biotech impact investing, serving 37 million Americans with kidney disease and millions more at risk.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Kidney Disease Health Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

Keywords

• Kidney disease education
• Clinical practice guidelines
• Patient support services
• Health advocacy
• Medical research funding

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: NKF relies on individual contributions from donors who support the mission financially, including one-time donations, monthly giving programs (Change Makers), memorial and honor donations, and cryptocurrency donations.
2. Fundraising Events: Revenue generated from events including Kidney Walk, NKF Golf Classic, Authors Luncheon, Jazz Gala, Kidney Walk Your Way, and livestream fundraising through Team Kidney Streams. Events also serve awareness and community-building purposes.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate partners support NKF through sponsorships, the Circle of Excellence employer recognition program, corporate wellness solutions, and matching gift programs. Companies can become corporate partners to influence the future of kidney disease.
4. Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: Legacy giving through wills, trusts, and IRA charitable rollover. Donors can contribute through Donor Advised Funds (DAF).
5. Vehicle and Property Donations: The KidneyCars program accepts donated cars, boats, and tractors. Real estate donations are also accepted.
6. Professional Membership: NKF offers professional membership providing access to journals, CME/CE courses, professional councils, and the NSW-C credential for nephrology social work.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is a major voluntary health organization that provides kidney disease education, patient support services, clinical practice guidelines (KDOQI), peer mentorship, advocacy, and research funding. It operates nationwide programs including the NKF PEERS peer support network, NKF Cares helpline, Spring Clinical Meetings, Kidney Walk fundraising events, and the NKF Innovation Fund for kidney health biotechnology investments.

Product overview

National Kidney Foundation offers a comprehensive suite of digital health products and services for patients, healthcare professionals, and caregivers affected by kidney disease. The core offerings include the KDOQI App for clinical guidelines access, eGFR Calculator for kidney function assessment, and CKDintercept initiative for improving CKD management in primary care. Patient-facing products include NKF Patient Journey for personalized health education, NKF Peers for peer mentorship, NKF Cares support hotline, and the Kidney Learning Center with video courses. Professional resources encompass KDOQI clinical practice guidelines, Research Connect platform, NKF Journals, Spring Clinical Meetings, and Professional Education with CME/CE courses. The organization also operates fundraising events (Kidney Walk, Golf Classic, Authors Luncheon), peer support communities, advocacy programs (Voices for Kidney Health), and the NKF Innovation Fund for biotech investments. Digital tools include Recipe Finder for kidney-friendly nutrition, Online Communities, and the Kidney Career Center for nephrology professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NKF Peers: A program where kidney patients, living donors, or care partners can connect over the phone with a trained mentor.
• NKF Innovation Fund
• KDOQI
• CKDintercept
• NKF Cares

Products and services

• KDOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines World-renowned clinical practice guidelines for improving the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease, accessible via the KDOQI App and professional website. Targeted at nephrology professionals, primary care physicians, nurses, dietitians, and other clinicians.
• KDOQI App Mobile application providing nephrology professionals access to KDOQI clinical practice guidelines and commentaries at the point of care.
• eGFR Calculator Online calculator tool for healthcare professionals and patients to estimate glomerular filtration rate for adults and children, supporting kidney function assessment and CKD staging.
• CKDintercept Initiative to improve chronic kidney disease testing, recognition, and management in primary care, including the CKD Change Package providing a systematic approach to transform CKD care, advance health equity, and improve healthcare quality.
• NKF Patient Journey Interactive digital tool that asks patients a few questions and provides personalized information about their kidney health.
• NKF PEERS Peer mentorship program connecting kidney patients, living donors, or care partners with trained mentors over the phone for emotional support and guidance.
• NKF Cares Support hotline offering information and emotional support for people affected by kidney disease, organ donation, or transplantation. Available Monday-Friday 9am-7pm at 855.NKF.CARES.
• NKF Innovation Fund Impact investment initiative supporting biotechnology companies developing innovations for kidney disease treatment and transplant care.
• Spring Clinical Meetings Annual premier educational event for the interprofessional kidney health team, featuring over 90 sessions, award lectures, and networking opportunities focused on nephrology and kidney care.
• Research Connect Platform connecting researchers with patients and data for kidney disease research, matching individuals with research projects based on their connection to kidney disease.
• Kidney Learning Center Online educational platform providing videos and patient stories including courses on CKD basics, living donation, and transplant information.
• Living Donation Business Case Toolkit Resource for healthcare organizations to build and grow their living kidney donation programs, providing business case arguments and implementation guidance.
• KidneyCARE Study Patient-centered research initiative where individuals share their experience living with kidney disease to advance kidney research.
• CKD Heat Map Data visualization tool showing geographic distribution and prevalence of chronic kidney disease across populations.
• Kidney Walk National fundraising event series bringing together communities to raise awareness and funds for kidney disease research, advocacy, and transplantation.
• Professional Education Resource Center CME/CE courses designed for healthcare professionals committed to improving patient outcomes in kidney care.
• NKF Journals Family of peer-reviewed journals featuring the latest research in clinical nephrology for healthcare professionals and researchers.
• Recipe Finder Searchable database of kidney-friendly recipes designed to help patients manage kidney disease through proper nutrition.
• Voices for Kidney Health Advocacy program enabling patients and supporters to add their voice to policy initiatives at local and national government levels.
• Kidney Career Center Resource connecting nephrology professionals with job openings at clinics, dialysis centers, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities nationwide.
• NKF Online Communities Digital platform where patients and caregivers can share experiences, ask questions, and get answers about kidney disease.

Quantifiable outcome

• Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) delays dialysis onset by an average of 14 months in late-stage CKD patients and saves Medicare approximately $47,000 per patient
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Pharmacy Organizations CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026NKF collaborated with leading U.S. pharmacy organizations in urging a nationwide transition to race-free estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for medication-related decision-making, replacing the Cockcroft-Gault equation with the 2021 CKD-EPI formula. The coalition emphasizes coordinated action across clinicians, health systems, laboratories, regulators, and educators.
• Tessa FilmsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2026NKF partnered with Tessa Films to launch a kidney donation awareness campaign in April 2026, featuring award-winning filmmaker Melissa Silverman (who is on the kidney transplant list) using humor to promote living kidney donation. The campaign launched during Donate Life Month.
• Eisai Inc.coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2026NKF partnered with Eisai to launch Kompass, a digital destination helping kidney cancer patients and caregivers navigate the complexities of diagnosis and treatment. The platform provides personalized resources, doctor discussion guides, survivor advice, and peer support services.
• KCCurecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2026KCCure joined Eisai and other advocacy organizations including NKF, KidneyCAN, and the Kidney Cancer Association in launching the Kompass digital platform for kidney cancer patients.
• KidneyCANcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2026KidneyCAN partnered with Eisai and advocacy organizations including NKF, KCCure, and the Kidney Cancer Association to launch the Kompass digital platform for kidney cancer patient support and education.
• Kidney Cancer AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2026The Kidney Cancer Association partnered with Eisai and advocacy organizations including NKF, KCCure, and KidneyCAN to launch the Kompass digital hub for kidney cancer patients.
• Boehringer IngelheimcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2026NKF joined Boehringer Ingelheim's Detect the SOS collective alongside the American Diabetes Association, WomenHeart, and The Mended Hearts to increase ACR/UACR screening among adults with type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure for early CKD detection. The initiative featured a Super Bowl commercial starring Octavia Spencer and Sofia Vergara.
• inTandem HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025NKF and inTandem Health announced a partnership in December 2025 to improve kidney transplant support for patients and donors across the U.S., integrating peer support with digital platforms. The collaboration aims to increase transplant volumes and support more living donors, leveraging inTandem's Human Connect platform and NKF's network of trained mentors.
• Healthy.iominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2025In March 2025, the National Kidney Foundation partnered with UK-based Healthy.io to distribute free at-home urine test kits targeting marginalized and high-risk populations for chronic kidney disease early detection. This partnership addresses the critical gap where 90% of CKD patients are unaware of their condition.
• Singapore Dialysis Providers (Six Major Providers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSix major dialysis providers in Singapore, led by NKF, formed a shared platform to advocate for employer understanding, workplace inclusion, and employment opportunities for approximately 10,000 dialysis patients. Includes NKF's EMPower+ program and Kaki Corner cafe for vocational rehabilitation.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Kidney Fund: Direct peer: another major US voluntary health organization dedicated to kidney disease, providing financial assistance, education, and advocacy for kidney patients. Directly competes with NKF for donors, partnerships, and patient mindshare.
• National Kidney Registry: Direct peer: nonprofit organization focused on kidney paired donation and transplant logistics. Comparable mission area (transplant access and living donation) and overlaps with NKF's transplant strategy programs and advocacy for the Living Donor Protection Act.
• Kidney Cancer Association: Direct peer: voluntary health organization dedicated to kidney cancer. Co-partnered with NKF on Eisai's Kompass digital platform (Feb 2026), indicating collaboration rather than pure competition in overlapping kidney disease spaces.

Broad incumbents

• American Heart Association: Broad incumbent: large US voluntary health organization with overlapping model (donor-funded, advocacy, professional guidelines, public campaigns). Comparable in scale and structure, though focused on cardiovascular rather than renal disease.
• American Diabetes Association: Broad incumbent: leading VHO addressing diabetes, a top comorbidity and cause of CKD. Co-participates with NKF in Boehringer's Detect the SOS screening initiative, demonstrating direct collaboration and overlapping patient populations.

Emerging players

• PKD Foundation: Emerging player: smaller voluntary health organization dedicated to polycystic kidney disease. Operates with similar VHO model but narrower disease focus; competes for a subset of kidney patients and donors.
• NephCure Kidney International: Emerging player: nonprofit focused on rare kidney diseases (nephrotic syndrome, FSGS, IgA nephropathy). Overlaps with NKF on glomerular disease awareness and competes for research-grant-driven donor support.
• KidneyCAN: Emerging player: smaller advocacy nonprofit focused on kidney cancer research funding. Co-partnered with NKF on the Eisai Kompass launch; operates similar advocacy/awareness model in narrower cancer niche.

Others

• American Society of Nephrology: Others: professional society for nephrologists and kidney researchers. Comparable in clinical guideline influence (ASN also publishes kidney guidelines) and professional membership offering; serves HCPs while NKF focuses more on patients/professionals across broader kidney disease.

Regional players

• National Kidney Foundation Singapore: Regional player: separately incorporated affiliate of the National Kidney Foundation in Singapore, providing dialysis, patient welfare, and rehabilitation services. References in the data (EMPower+, Kaki Corner, $3M PD initiative) suggest structural alignment with US parent but distinct geographic operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nkf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/kidneyfoundation?sub_confirmation=1
• Facebookfacebook.com/nationalkidneyfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-kidney-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationalkidneyfoundation
• TikToktiktok.com/@nationalkidneyfoundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments9 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Kidney Foundation