Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

What Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America does

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), founded in 1953 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is the oldest and largest nonprofit patient advocacy organization dedicated to asthma and allergic diseases in the world. It serves the over 100 million Americans affected by these conditions — including 28+ million with asthma and approximately 6 million children with food allergies — along with their families, caregivers, and the health professionals who treat them. The organization operates three primary verticals: patient education, federal and state policy advocacy, and the trademarked Asthma & Allergy Friendly Certification Program run jointly with Allergy Standards Limited. A separately branded Kids with Food Allergies (KFA) division provides food-allergy-specific resources and community support.

AAFA's product portfolio centers on free multilingual educational content (PDF handouts in English and Spanish, the ASTHMA Care for Adults online course, patient and caregiver webinars, and the Ask the Allergist community Q&A platform), annual research reports (Allergy Capitals, Asthma Capitals, and State Honor Roll), and trademarked certification programs covering air cleaners, vacuums, bedding, HVAC filters, and — as of 2026 — treated carpet. The technology stack is primarily a content and community platform across aafa.org, community.aafa.org, and kidswithfoodallergies.org, supported by social media, email, podcast, and webinar channels, rather than a unified software product. No AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

Revenue is generated through individual and foundation donations, corporate sponsorships from pharmaceutical companies (Sanofi/Regeneron for eosinophilic esophagitis content, Aimmune Therapeutics for oral immunotherapy materials), consumer-brand sponsorships (So Delicious Dairy Free for the Safe Eats cookbook, Omron Healthcare for nebulizer education), certification licensing fees from manufacturers (e.g., Mohawk for SmartStrand carpet), and modest e-commerce sales through the AAFA online store (stadium totes at $25, posters at $6.50-$14.50). Most educational content is distributed free, and the organization maintains three regional chapters (Alaska, Michigan, New England) plus community health partnerships such as the Chicago Asthma Consortium. AAFA is governed by a Board of Directors and Medical Scientific Council, with Kenneth Mendez as President and CEO and Dr. Matthew Greenhawt as Chief Medical Officer.

Name

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

Legal name

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

Website

https://aafa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), founded in 1953, is the oldest nonprofit patient advocacy organization for asthma and allergies. It delivers education, product certification, research reports, and policy advocacy to more than 100 million Americans affected by these conditions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Advocacy and Health Education

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Asthma & Allergy-Related Pulmonary Care (HLAKANAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Health, Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAJ)

Keywords

• Patient advocacy services
• Asthma education
• Allergy research
• Health product certification
• Nonprofit health organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: AAFA relies on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations to fund its programs, research, and advocacy work. The organization states that generous support saves lives and improves health for over 100 million people in the U.S.
2. Product Sales: Sale of educational materials including books, guides, activity books, and printed handouts. Also includes awareness items like the limited edition stadium tote bag ($25) and laminated posters ($6.50-$14.50).
3. Program Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships and collaborations for educational programs and materials, such as support from Sanofi and Regeneron for EoE materials, Aimmune Therapeutics for OIT content, and So Delicious Dairy Free for the Safe Eats cookbook.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AAFA is a nonprofit patient advocacy organization that provides education, support, research, and policy advocacy for people with asthma and allergies. It runs the Asthma & Allergy Friendly Certification Program (with Allergy Standards Limited), publishes annual Allergy Capitals and State Honor Roll research reports, and distributes free and paid educational materials, webinars, and community support resources.

Product overview

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) operates primarily as a patient education and advocacy organization rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include: the Asthma & Allergy Friendly Certification Program (which tests and certifies consumer products for allergen reduction effectiveness); research publications including the annual Allergy Capitals Report and State Honor Roll Report; and educational programs such as the ASTHMA Care for Adults online course, patient/caregiver webinars, and the Ask the Allergist community feature. The Kids with Food Allergies (KFA) division provides specialized resources for food allergy management. AAFA also distributes educational handouts and guides, operates an online store with merchandise and publications, and offers decision support tools like the COVID-19 Vaccine Decision Aid. The portfolio functions as a platform of educational resources and certification services rather than a unified software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kids with Food Allergies (KFA): A division of AAFA dedicated to saving lives and reducing the burden of food allergies through support, advocacy, education and research.
• Asthma & Allergy Friendly Certification Program

Products and services

• Asthma & Allergy Friendly Certification Program A certification program that tests and certifies consumer products for effectiveness in reducing allergens and improving indoor air quality for people with asthma and allergies.
• Kids with Food Allergies (KFA) A division of AAFA focused on saving lives and reducing the burden of food allergies through support, advocacy, education and research.
• Allergy Capitals Report Annual research report ranking the top 100 most challenging cities in the contiguous United States to live with seasonal pollen allergies.
• State Honor Roll Report Annual policy report assessing how states support people with asthma and allergies through school-related policies.
• Asthma Capitals Report Annual research report ranking cities based on asthma prevalence, mortality, and health outcomes.
• ASTHMA Care for Adults Online educational course providing comprehensive resources for managing asthma in adults.
• Patient and Caregiver Webinars Educational webinar series covering multiple topics including asthma, eczema, eosinophilic esophagitis, food allergies, nasal polyps, and urticaria.
• Safe Eats Desserts Recipe Cookbook Collection of 32 allergy-friendly dessert recipes free of cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts.
• Educational Handouts and Guides Free PDF resources covering asthma management, food allergies, emergency action plans, and condition-specific guides available in English and Spanish.
• AAFA Online Store E-commerce platform offering awareness items, educational materials, books, and merchandise for U.S. shipping.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 million people in the U.S. affected by asthma and allergies benefit from AAFA's programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• International Facility Management AssociationsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 June 2026Co-presented the Leadership in Innovation Award to ARPA-H alongside AAFA and the International WELL Building Institute, recognizing breakthrough innovation in healthy indoor air.
• International WELL Building InstitutesupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 June 2026Co-presented the Leadership in Innovation Award to ARPA-H alongside AAFA and the International Facility Management Association for work in healthy indoor air quality.
• Chicago Asthma ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026Collaboration on community asthma education through the Community Health Worker Educational Forum. AAFA's Certification Program participated as a supporting educational partner at the forum held at Sinai Health System's Glasser Auditorium, bringing together community health workers and asthma educators.
• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Joint advocacy visit to U.S. Capitol on World Asthma Day 2026, calling on Congress to protect programs for people with asthma and allergies. AAAAI is a leading professional organization for allergists and immunologists.
• ARPA-H (Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025ARPA-H received the Leadership in Innovation Award from AAFA and partners for its BREATHE and PRO-MICROBE R&D programs developing next-generation technologies for measuring indoor air quality and supporting health interventions.
• Sinai Health SystemsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2025Host venue for the Chicago Asthma Consortium's Community Health Worker Educational Forum. AAFA partnered with Sinai Health System to deliver asthma education to community health workers.
• Allergy Standards LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Joint partnership for the Asthma & Allergy Friendly Certification Program. Allergy Standards Ltd provides the technical standards and testing protocols, while AAFA provides the patient advocacy perspective and brand. The program certifies that products genuinely reduce allergens in the home environment.
• Sanofi and RegeneronsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Corporate sponsors for educational materials on eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and atopic dermatitis. Supported development of Tales of EoE coloring book and related educational resources.
• Aimmune TherapeuticssupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Sponsor of oral immunotherapy (OIT) educational content. Provided support for AAFA's guide to OIT treatment while AAFA maintains editorial independence.
• So Delicious Dairy FreesupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Sponsor of the Safe Eats Dessert Recipe Cookbook, an allergy-friendly recipe collection. Provided support for recipe development and community engagement.
• Omron Healthcare, Inc.supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership for nebulizer educational materials. Omron supported the development of AAFA's nebulizer handout for patients.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Lung Association: National nonprofit focused on lung health, including asthma, with overlapping education, advocacy and research missions. Larger and broader in scope than AAFA, but directly competes for asthma-related donor dollars, policy attention, and patient mindshare.
• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI): Professional society for allergists/immunologists. Distinct from AAFA (which is patient-facing), but an active advocacy partner and core clinical authority that shapes the ecosystem AAFA operates within, including joint Capitol advocacy and CMO recognition.
• Global Allergy & Asthma Patient Platform (GAAPP): International umbrella of patient organizations focused on allergy, asthma and atopic diseases. Directly comparable to AAFA at a global level, and competing/coordinating on cross-border advocacy, awareness campaigns and patient resources.

Direct peers

• Allergy & Asthma Network: Patient advocacy nonprofit serving asthma, allergy and related conditions. Closely comparable in mission, programs (education, advocacy) and patient community to AAFA, and competes for the same patients, providers and corporate sponsors.
• Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE): Leading nonprofit focused on food allergy research, education and advocacy — directly overlapping AAFA's Kids With Food Allergies (KFA) division. Comparable patient community, advocacy posture and corporate sponsor base.

Others

• Allergy Standards Limited: Technical partner that co-develops the Asthma & Allergy Friendly Certification standards and testing protocols with AAFA. Functionally a peer in the certification market, given they jointly own the program's standards backbone and category expansion roadmaps.
• International WELL Building Institute (IWBI): Sets the WELL Building Standard for healthy indoor environments. Co-presents awards with AAFA on indoor air quality innovation; adjacent (not competing) as AAFA operates in patient education while IWBI operates in building certification, but they intersect on indoor air quality mission.

Emerging players

• National Eczema Association: U.S. patient advocacy nonprofit for eczema/atopic dermatitis. Overlaps with AAFA's atopic dermatitis and EoE programming and competes for the same corporate sponsors (Sanofi/Regeneron, etc.) and patient audiences.

Regional players

• Immune Deficiency Foundation: Patient advocacy nonprofit in immunology-adjacent space. Less direct overlap but a comparable U.S. nonprofit model: education, advocacy, community and research support for patients with chronic immune-mediated conditions.
• Asthma + Lung UK: U.K.-based national charity for asthma and lung disease. Mirrors AAFA's mission in a different geography, making it a structurally comparable peer for international benchmarking and an indirect comparator for U.S. donors evaluating relative impact.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ForLifeWithoutLimits
• Facebookfacebook.com/AAFANational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2514191
• Instagraminstagram.com/aafanational
• TikToktiktok.com/@aafanational?lang=en
• Xx.com/AAFANational

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America