American Parkinson Disease Association
APDA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1961 that fights Parkinson's disease through community-based support, education, research funding, and advocacy. It serves approximately one million people living with PD in the U.S. via a nationwide network of local Chapters, nine research centers, and free patient programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1961
- HeadquartersStaten Island, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What American Parkinson Disease Association does
American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1961 and headquartered in Staten Island, New York, dedicated to fighting Parkinson's disease through a combination of patient and family support services, education, research funding, and public policy advocacy. The organization serves approximately one million people living with Parkinson's disease (PD) in the United States and their care partners, operating through a nationwide grassroots network of local Chapters, Information & Referral Centers, and toll-free phone support, and reaching every U.S. state through its 18-city Optimism Walk series and virtual events platform.
APDA funds Parkinson's research through nine Centers for Advanced Research embedded in major academic medical institutions and through a portfolio of grant programs including the George C. Cotzias Memorial Fellowship, Post-Doctoral Fellowships, Research Grants, Diversity in Parkinson's Disease Research Grants, and Bridge Funding Awards (inaugurated in 2025). Patient-facing products and services include the APDA Symptom Tracker mobile app, an extensive online Resource Library, the National Rehab Resource Center, virtual exercise and educational classes, the Be Active & Beyond exercise guide, professional training courses for healthcare providers, and the recently launched ParkinSex: The Game (May 2026) addressing intimacy challenges for couples affected by PD.
APDA operates a donation-based revenue model in which all programs and services are provided free of charge. Funding streams consist of individual donations (one-time and monthly recurring), corporate sponsorships (e.g., Benchmark Senior Living), and fundraising events such as the Optimism Walk series. The organization has cumulatively raised and invested more than $338 million since 1961, with more than $65 million directed specifically to research, and engages in public policy advocacy including support for the federal Paraquat Prevention Act.
American Parkinson Disease Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- American Parkinson Disease Association
- Legal name
- American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc.
- Website
- https://apdaparkinson.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1961
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- APDA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1961 that fights Parkinson's disease through community-based support, education, research funding, and advocacy. It serves approximately one million people living with PD in the U.S. via a nationwide network of local Chapters, nine research centers, and free patient programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
American Parkinson Disease Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Disease Support Services
- NAICS
- Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Specialized Adult Day Programs (Parkinson’s, Stroke, MS, etc.) (HSABANAE), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)
Keywords
Where American Parkinson Disease Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Staten Island
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
American Parkinson Disease Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Individual donations from supporters, including one-time and monthly recurring gift options, with honor and memorial gift capabilities
- Fundraising Events: Revenue from events such as the Optimism Walk series and other fundraising campaigns
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for events and programs, such as Benchmark Senior Living sponsoring the Massachusetts Optimism Walk
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free programs and services for Parkinson's patients and families |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
American Parkinson Disease Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
APDA provides free support, education, and community programs for individuals impacted by Parkinson's disease through a nationwide network of Chapters and Information & Referral Centers, complemented by digital tools including the Symptom Tracker App, virtual exercise classes, and an online Resource Library. The organization also funds Parkinson's disease research through grants, fellowships, and nine Centers for Advanced Research at major academic medical centers, having invested more than $68 million in research since 1961. All patient- and family-facing services are provided at no charge, with operations funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events such as the Optimism Walk series.
Product overview
APDA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting Parkinson's disease through support, education, research, and community programs. The organization offers a portfolio of patient-facing digital and in-person services including the Optimism Walk fundraising events, Virtual Events with exercise and movement classes, the APDA Symptom Tracker App, and an extensive Resource Library. APDA also provides professional training courses for healthcare providers and funds critical Parkinson's disease research through grants, fellowships, and nine Centers for Advanced Research at major academic institutions. The organization recently launched ParkinSex: The Game as an intimacy resource for couples affected by Parkinson's.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ParkinSex: The Game: A free card game designed to help couples living with Parkinson's disease navigate physical and emotional intimacy challenges, a companion to APDA's original 2023 ParkinSex kit.
- Optimism Walk
- Be Active & Beyond
Products and services
- APDA Symptom Tracker App Mobile application that allows people with Parkinson's disease to log and track their symptoms over time. Free for patients.
- Optimism Walk A nationwide fundraising and awareness walk series featuring 18 events across the United States to raise critical funds for APDA's programs, research, and resources for the Parkinson's community.
- Virtual Events & Exercise Classes Online calendar of virtual exercise and movement classes, educational programs, and webinars accessible to Parkinson's patients, families, and care partners regardless of location.
- Resource Library Online library of hundreds of articles, webinars, and publications on Parkinson's disease filterable by topic, covering treatment, exercise, mental health, caregiving, and more.
- National Rehab Resource Center Resource center providing specialized rehabilitation information and support for people with Parkinson's disease.
- Professional Training Courses Training courses for healthcare professionals working with Parkinson's disease patients, covering clinical care and current research.
- Research Grants & Fellowships Grant and fellowship programs funding Parkinson's disease research, including the George C. Cotzias Memorial Fellowship, Post-Doctoral Fellowships, Diversity in Parkinson's Disease Research Grants, Research Grants, and Bridge Funding Awards.
- Centers for Advanced Research A network of nine research centers located at major U.S. academic and medical institutions advancing Parkinson's disease research.
- ParkinSex: The Game A free card game designed to help couples living with Parkinson's disease navigate physical and emotional intimacy challenges through prompts paired with common household items.
- Chapters and Information & Referral Centers A nationwide grassroots network of APDA Chapters and Information & Referral (I&R) Centers providing local in-person support groups, exercise classes, education, and community resources for the Parkinson's community.
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 1 million people in the U.S. living with PD served
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use American Parkinson Disease Association
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
American Parkinson Disease Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
American Parkinson Disease Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered moderate, minor and core.
- Benchmark Senior LivingmoderateBenchmark Senior Living sponsors the American Parkinson Disease Association Massachusetts Chapter's 40th Annual Optimism Walk in Framingham, Massachusetts, with a fundraising goal of $200,000. The partnership supports over 21,000 people living with Parkinson's disease in Massachusetts.
- Benchmark at South FarmsminorBenchmark at South Farms in Middletown, Connecticut hosts a three-part educational series on brain health and aging in partnership with APDA. The series covers Parkinson's disease, caregiver burnout, and dementia, led by specialists from both organizations.
- Clinical Sexologist and Medical ProfessionalscoreAPDA developed ParkinSex: The Game with input from affected couples, a clinical sexologist, and medical professionals, creating a resource that addresses an underserved aspect of Parkinson's care.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
American Parkinson Disease Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research: The largest Parkinson's-focused research and patient advocacy nonprofit, raising cumulatively over $1 billion to fund research. Directly competes with APDA for PD donors, research talent, and brand recognition.
- Parkinson's Foundation: Formed from the merger of National Parkinson Foundation and Parkinson's Disease Foundation, the Parkinson's Foundation operates a similar portfolio of research funding, patient services, and educational resources, competing head-to-head with APDA.
- Davis Phinney Foundation: A smaller Parkinson's-focused nonprofit emphasizing living-well programs and patient education. Comparable to APDA's exercise and education programs targeting people living with PD.
Emerging players
- PMD Alliance (Parkinson & Movement Disorder Alliance): An emerging nonprofit focused on education and support for Parkinson's and other movement disorders. Competes with APDA for patient and care-partner engagement, especially in digital education and virtual programs.
- Brian Grant Foundation: A smaller PD-focused nonprofit founded by former NBA player Brian Grant, emphasizing exercise, nutrition, and wellness programs. Comparable to APDA's exercise and wellness service line.
Broad incumbents
- Alzheimer's Association: A large disease-specific health nonprofit operating a comparable model of research funding, patient/care-partner support, advocacy, and chapter network. Demonstrates the scaled-up version of APDA's operating model in an adjacent neurodegenerative disease.
- ALS Association: A national disease-specific nonprofit operating a similar research-funding, patient-services, and advocacy model. Comparable to APDA in structure, scale, and constituent engagement approach.
- American Cancer Society: The largest U.S. disease-specific health nonprofit, demonstrating the fully-scaled version of APDA's chapter-based, donation-funded, research-and-services model. Useful as a structural and operational benchmark.
Regional players
- Cure Parkinson's: A UK-based Parkinson's research nonprofit funding clinical trials and drug-repurposing studies. Comparable to APDA's research-funding mission but operating in a different geography with no U.S. service overlap.
Others
- World Parkinson Coalition: An international coalition that convenes the global Parkinson's community through triennial congresses. Adjacent to APDA through shared PD-community focus but operates primarily as a convener rather than service or research provider.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
American Parkinson Disease Association social profiles
Digital presenceAmerican Parkinson Disease Association compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
American Parkinson Disease Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
American Parkinson Disease Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
American Parkinson Disease Association subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
American Parkinson Disease Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
American Parkinson Disease Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about American Parkinson Disease Association
What does American Parkinson Disease Association do?
APDA provides free support, education, and community programs for individuals impacted by Parkinson's disease through a nationwide network of Chapters and Information & Referral Centers, complemented by digital tools including the Symptom Tracker App, virtual exercise classes, and an online Resource Library. The organization also funds Parkinson's disease research through grants, fellowships, and nine Centers for Advanced Research at major academic medical centers, having invested more than $68 million in research since 1961. All patient- and family-facing services are provided at no charge, with operations funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events such as the Optimism Walk series.
Is American Parkinson Disease Association a public or private company?
American Parkinson Disease Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was American Parkinson Disease Association founded?
American Parkinson Disease Association was founded in 1961. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is American Parkinson Disease Association based?
American Parkinson Disease Association is headquartered in Staten Island, United States, in the North America region.
How does American Parkinson Disease Association make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are fundraising Events and corporate Sponsorships.
Who are American Parkinson Disease Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Parkinson's Foundation and Davis Phinney Foundation. Emerging players are PMD Alliance (Parkinson & Movement Disorder Alliance) and Brian Grant Foundation. Broad incumbents are Alzheimer's Association, ALS Association and American Cancer Society. Cure Parkinson's is listed as a regional player. World Parkinson Coalition is listed as an others.
Does American Parkinson Disease Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for American Parkinson Disease Association.
What industry is American Parkinson Disease Association in?
American Parkinson Disease Association's product category is Nonprofit Disease Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAA, Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS), with a secondary code of HSABANAE, Specialized Adult Day Programs (Parkinson’s, Stroke, MS, etc.). Its NAICS code is 813212 and its SIC code is 8300.