What CDC Foundation does

The CDC Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization authorized by Congress and established in 1995 to mobilize philanthropic partnerships in support of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with 51-100 employees, the foundation operates as a pass-through entity that connects external partners — corporations, foundations, individuals, and international organizations — with CDC scientists to accelerate public health projects. It does not accept unsolicited proposals and instead responds to funding requests originating at CDC, occasionally issuing RFPs for specific programmatic needs. The foundation manages over 1,500 programs cumulatively, with 228 active programs across all 50 U.S. states and multiple international countries, supported by a network of 2,339+ partnerships.

The foundation's core 'products' are public health programs and initiatives rather than commercial software or services. These include the Emergency Response Fund (activated for Ebola response in DRC/Uganda in 2026), the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program supporting 200+ field staff across 45 jurisdictions, the Overdose Response Strategy (61 teams in all 50 states), the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS), the NEST Initiative for maternal and newborn health, Workforce Services for data modernization, Global Health Security programs, and Health Equity/Thriving Communities initiatives. Underlying technology includes public health surveillance data systems, a custom Quick Response Team web application for overdose response, and data infrastructure supporting state and local health departments.

The foundation's revenue model is exclusively philanthropic: it receives funding from individual and corporate donations, government grants (CDC, HHS, USDA, state agencies), and international organizations (notably $14M+ from The Global Fund's C19RM). The organization has maintained Charity Navigator's 4-star rating for 19 consecutive years and is governed by an independent Board of Directors led by President and CEO Dr. Judy Monroe. Recent major initiatives include the $40 million Coalition to Close the Protein Gap with Tyson Foods, Cargill, Perdue Farms, and Elanco, and the Hypertension Control Alliance with AstraZeneca, indicating diversification into nutrition security and chronic disease management.

Name

CDC Foundation

Legal name

National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Inc.

Website

https://cdcfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The CDC Foundation is a Congressionally-authorized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mobilizes philanthropic partnerships to support the CDC's public health mission. It operates 228 active programs across all 50 U.S. states and internationally, connecting private-sector resources with CDC scientists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Nonprofit Program Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health Research Funding Agencies (Public/Quasi-Public) (HLAJALAB), Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA), Public Health Financing, Budgeting & Grants Management (HLAJAMAC), Chronic Disease & Health Promotion Program Funding (HLAJALAJ)

Keywords

• Public health partnerships
• Philanthropic fundraising
• Emergency response funding
• Disease surveillance programs
• Health workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Donations: Individual and corporate donations mobilized to support CDC and public health programs. The foundation has a donor program with tiers including the Margaret Ellerbe Mahoney Society for leadership donors ($1,000+).
2. Global Health Funding: Funding from international organizations like The Global Fund ($14 million C19RM) to strengthen healthcare systems in partner countries.
3. Government Contracts and Partnerships: Public funding from CDC, state health departments, and federal agencies to deliver public health initiatives. Includes funding from HHS, USDA, and various state agencies.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The CDC Foundation is an independent, Congressionally authorized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mobilizes philanthropic and private-sector partnerships to advance the work of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It operates a portfolio of public health programs spanning emergency response (e.g., Ebola, outbreaks), overdose prevention (OD2A, SUDORS, Overdose Response Strategy), workforce services and data modernization, maternal/newborn health (NEST), global health security, and health equity, funded through donations, corporate philanthropy, and government partnerships.

Product overview

The CDC Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization (not a traditional product company) that mobilizes philanthropic partnerships to support the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's public health mission. Rather than offering a unified software product or platform, the Foundation operates a portfolio of public health programs and initiatives organized around key focus areas: Emergency Response Fund (for rapid outbreak response), Workforce Services (supporting public health data modernization and staffing), the NEST Initiative (maternal and newborn health), Global Health Security programs, Health Equity/Thriving Communities initiatives, and Overdose Prevention programs (including OD2A and Overdose Response Strategy). The Foundation also manages the Fries Awards for Health recognizing public health achievements. These programs are delivered through partnerships with corporations, foundations, health departments, and community organizations rather than through traditional product modules or software offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Response Fund A flexible funding mechanism activated by the CDC Foundation to support rapid public health emergency responses, including disease outbreaks such as Ebola and other urgent health threats requiring immediate intervention.
• NEST Initiative (Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit) An initiative providing mothers and newborns with essential health supplies and support resources to help new families start strong.
• Workforce Services Programs supporting public health workforce development, including data modernization, technical assistance, and staffing support for health departments across the nation.
• State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) A data system for tracking overdose deaths, identifying emerging drug threats, and developing response strategies, supported by CDC Foundation field staff to enhance drug overdose prevention efforts.
• Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) Program A nationally coordinated cross-sector collaboration between public health and public safety, deploying two-person teams (drug intelligence officers and public health analysts) to help reduce fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses across all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Hypertension Control Alliance A coalition assembled by the CDC Foundation with AstraZeneca support to address uncontrolled hypertension through the 'Hypertension Bites' public awareness campaign.
• Global Health Security Programs International public health programs focusing on infection prevention, outbreak response, antimicrobial resistance, and healthcare system strengthening across multiple countries (e.g., DRC, Uganda, Brazil, Mozambique, Kenya, Vietnam, Philippines, Papua New Guinea).
• Thriving Communities / Health Equity Initiative Community health initiatives addressing health equity and supporting underserved populations through partnerships with community-based organizations across the United States.
• Fries Awards for Health Award program including the Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award, recognizing contributions to public health education and communication.
• Quick Response Team Software Application Custom web application built for the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness to digitize overdose response data collection in place of pen-and-paper spreadsheets.
• Veteran Suicide Prevention Evaluation Program Program partnering with CDC and Safe States Alliance to provide funding and evaluation training to veteran-serving organizations to support veteran suicide prevention and wellness transition programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 22% reduction in antibiotic prescribing rates in Arkansas outpatient clinics
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• HATCHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Partnership to address protein insecurity in the U.S. charitable food system. The Missing Piece crowdfunding campaign aims to raise $10 million to help deliver up to 3 billion protein-rich meals annually. Tony Robbins matching donations up to $8 million.
• Coalition to Close the Protein GapcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2026$40 million public-private initiative targeting America's 800-million-pound annual charitable protein deficit. Coalition members include Tyson Foods, Cargill, Perdue Farms, Elanco Animal Health, HHS, and USDA.
• Hypertension Control AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Coalition assembled by CDC Foundation with founding support from AstraZeneca. Launched 'Hypertension Bites' awareness campaign to educate adults about managing high blood pressure. Features actor Aisha Tyler.
• Rural Georgia CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2026Initiative to improve overdose prevention in rural Georgia communities by supporting 18 coalitions with funding and technical assistance. 14-month implementation ending March 2027.
• Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop Spike Response Exercise-in-a-Box toolkit for overdose spike preparedness. Partnered to host four-part cohort series in 2025 with states including New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
• Safe States AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with CDC and Safe States Alliance on Veteran Suicide Prevention Evaluation Program. Since 2018, has supported 24 veteran-serving organizations with funding and evaluation training.
• Camp Southern GroundcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVeteran-serving organization providing workforce and wellness transition programs. CDC Foundation partnership helps improve evaluation practices and suicide prevention strategies.
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner - CDC Foundation was established by Congress to help CDC work effectively with outside partners. Connects outside partners and resources with CDC scientists to accelerate CDC projects.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• American Cancer Society: Major voluntary health organization combining research funding, public education, and patient services. Relevant for understanding the scale and operational model of large U.S. health-focused nonprofits.
• United Nations Foundation: Mobilizes philanthropic and private-sector resources to support UN agencies. Applies a similar pass-through convening model to international public health, making it a model peer for global health strategy.
• Susan G. Komen Foundation: Disease-specific voluntary health organization with a similar structure of donor cultivation, research grants, public-private partnerships, and awareness campaigns.
• National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO): Membership organization for local health departments that works closely with CDC on workforce, emergency response, and public health modernization. A relevant ecosystem peer and occasional partner to CDC Foundation.
• Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation: Health-focused nonprofit that partners with governments and CDC on disease-specific programs. Demonstrates the disease-focused operating model that CDC Foundation's overdose and global health programs follow.
• Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI): Global health organization that partners with governments and funders to address public health challenges in low- and middle-income countries — directly comparable to CDC Foundation's Global Health Security programs.

Broad incumbents

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: One of the largest U.S. health-focused foundations, with a broad health portfolio that includes public health, healthcare systems, and health equity — overlapping with CDC Foundation's mission space but operating as an independent grantmaker rather than a federal-agency support organization.
• Bloomberg Philanthropies: Major public health funder with direct overlap in tobacco control and overdose prevention. Already a core CDC Foundation partner, but operates its own independent programs in the same space.
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: The dominant global health and public health grantmaker with vastly larger scale. Highly relevant as a peer for global health programming, public health data modernization, and disease-specific initiatives where both organizations operate.

Direct peers

• Foundation for the National Institutes of Health: Congressionally authorized nonprofit that mobilizes private-sector resources to support the NIH. Structurally identical model to CDC Foundation but supporting a different federal health agency — making it the most directly comparable peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CDCFound
• YouTubeyoutube.com/cdcfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/CDCFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cdc-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CDC Foundation