Spondylitis Association of America

What Spondylitis Association of America does

The Spondylitis Association of America (SAA), founded in 1983 by Jane Bruckel, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Encino, California, that serves as the oldest and most comprehensive U.S. patient organization dedicated exclusively to spondyloarthritis and related diseases (ankylosing spondylitis, non-radiographic axial SpA, psoriatic arthritis, enteropathic arthritis, reactive arthritis, juvenile SpA, and undifferentiated SpA). SAA's platform combines evidence-based patient education, clinical screening and assessment tools, community support programs, professional medical education, and advocacy. Core technical components include the proprietary A-Tool© screening questionnaire (developed by rheumatologist Abhijeet Danve, MD, MHS), the BASDAI Calculator, online support forums at forums.spondylitis.org, the Faces of AS storytelling website (2,000+ stories), and the eSUN monthly newsletter. The organization partners with leading medical societies — SPARTAN, GRAPPA, and NPF — through the CAPES collaborative educational series to deliver dual-channel clinician and patient programming.

SAA operates a hybrid in-person and virtual distribution model, anchored by the spondylitis.org website and complemented by the annual Global Spondyloarthritis Summit, free educational seminars across U.S. cities, the Walk Your AS Off awareness and fundraising event, and affiliated programs such as Yoga for AS (200+ hours of online classes, 3,000+ Facebook community members) and SpondyStrong. Revenue is generated through diversified streams: individual donations, membership dues, pharmaceutical educational grants (AbbVie, Novartis, Pfizer), third-party fundraising events, vehicle donations, planned giving, and educational product sales. Most core services, educational content, screening tools, support groups, and community programs are provided free of charge to patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.

SAA's customer base is segmented across individuals with spondyloarthritis (primary), caregivers and family members, healthcare professionals (rheumatologists, primary care, physical therapists), and corporate partners/sponsors. The organization holds multiple credibility certifications including Charity Navigator 4-star rating, Candid Silver Seal, GuideStar Platinum Seal, BBB Accredited Charity, Great Nonprofits Top Rated 2025, and Combined Federal Campaign participation, addressing an addressable patient population of 3.2 million Americans in a disease area marked by a 5+ year average diagnostic delay.

Name

Spondylitis Association of America

Legal name

Spondylitis Association of America

Website

https://spondylitis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Spondylitis Association of America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1983 that provides education, screening tools, community support, and professional medical programming for the 3.2 million Americans affected by spondyloarthritis and related diseases.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Advocacy and Chronic Disease Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations (HLAJAKAN)

Keywords

• Patient advocacy services
• Disease education resources
• Peer support programs
• Medical screening tools
• Community health nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Encino

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual donors contribute to support SAA's programs and initiatives. Donations are solicited through the website, events, and third-party fundraisers.
2. Membership Dues: SAA offers membership programs (Join/Renew) providing community access and benefits to individuals who pay annual membership fees.
3. Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Industry Grants: SAA receives educational grants from pharmaceutical companies such as AbbVie and Novartis to support educational seminars and programs for the spondyloarthritis community.
4. Third-Party Fundraising Events: SAA organizes and receives proceeds from fundraising events including Walk Your AS Off Day, the English Channel Swim for AS Awareness, L5 Investments Capital Cup, vehicle donations, and planned giving programs.
5. Sales of Educational Products: SAA operates an online store selling educational products, literature, and materials related to spondyloarthritis.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Spondylitis Association of America (SAA) provides free patient education, evidence-based resources, peer support programs, and clinical assessment tools for individuals affected by spondyloarthritis and related diseases. Its core deliverables include the A-Tool© screening questionnaire, BASDAI Calculator, the Global Spondyloarthritis Summit, publications (Spondylitis Plus, eSUN newsletter), support groups, online forums, and CAPES educational series co-developed with medical societies. The organization also funds spondyloarthritis research through grants such as the Early Career Investigators Award.

Product overview

The Spondylitis Association of America offers a comprehensive suite of educational, support, and research programs for the spondyloarthritis community. The organization's offerings include: the annual Global Spondyloarthritis Summit (flagship virtual conference), BASDAI Calculator and A-Tool© screening tool (clinical assessment tools), Spondylitis Plus and eSUN newsletters (publications), Seminars, Webinars, and CAPES educational series (learning programs), Find a Rheumatologist directory (referral service), Support Groups and Online Groups (peer support), Community Forums and Community Voices (story collections including Faces of AS), SpondyStrong initiative (wellness program), Prescription Assistance, research grants including the Early Career Investigators Award, and events such as Walk Your AS Off. The organization positions itself as the leading resource for spondyloarthritis education, research, and community support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Walk Your AS Off: Annual awareness and fundraising event for spondyloarthritis, typically held in May
• Global Spondyloarthritis Summit
• Spondylitis Plus
• eSUN (Electronic Spondylitis Update Newsletter)
• SpondyStrong
• SAA Storytellers
• Faces of AS

Products and services

• Global Spondyloarthritis Summit Annual flagship virtual conference offering expert Q&As, educational tools, and community connection opportunities for individuals affected by spondyloarthritis and healthcare professionals.
• A-Tool© (Axial Spondyloarthritis Screening Tool) Patient-directed symptom-based screening questionnaire using yes/no questions to identify individuals with chronic back pain who may need further evaluation for axial spondyloarthritis and facilitate rheumatology referral.
• BASDAI Calculator Online calculator enabling patients to compute their Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index score to track and self-monitor disease activity over time.
• Spondylitis Plus Educational publication and newsletter providing comprehensive educational content, research updates, and resources for the spondyloarthritis community.
• eSUN (Electronic Spondylitis Update Newsletter) Monthly e-newsletter providing subscribers with the latest spondyloarthritis information, research updates, event announcements, and educational content.
• Seminars and Webinars Free educational seminars hosted across U.S. cities and virtual webinars featuring rheumatologists, physical therapists, mental health professionals, and pain management specialists. CME-accredited programs available for healthcare professionals.
• CAPES (Collaborative Arthritis Patient Education Series) Series of webinars and podcasts developed in collaboration with SPARTAN, GRAPPA, and NPF providing in-depth spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis education through separate programs for clinicians and patients.
• Support Groups In-person local support groups connecting individuals affected by spondyloarthritis for mutual support, shared experiences, and emotional connection.
• Community Forums (forums.spondylitis.org) Online discussion forum hosted at forums.spondylitis.org enabling community members to connect, share experiences, and exchange information about spondyloarthritis.
• Find a Rheumatologist Directory Online directory to locate patient-recommended and board-certified rheumatologists for spondyloarthritis diagnosis and treatment.
• Find a Physical Therapist Directory Online directory to locate physical therapists experienced in treating spondyloarthritis patients.
• Walk Your AS Off Annual awareness and fundraising event inviting participants worldwide to walk in their communities to raise funds and awareness for spondyloarthritis.
• Early Career Investigators Award Research grant program supporting early career researchers in conducting spondyloarthritis research.
• Faces of AS Dedicated website project showcasing over 2,000 personal stories from individuals living with ankylosing spondylitis across numerous countries and continents.

Quantifiable outcome

• 54% of spondyloarthritis patients remain undiagnosed for at least 5 years, underscoring the critical need for SAA's awareness and early detection programs.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• 12 Leading Medical Experts (Summit Speakers)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026The 8th Annual Global Spondyloarthritis Summit features 12 leading experts providing evidence-based guidance on disease management, fatigue, nutrition, resilience, and career adaptations for individuals impacted by spondyloarthritis.
• SPARTAN (Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAA partnered with SPARTAN, GRAPPA, and NPF to develop and present the CAPES series — a collection of webinars and podcasts providing in-depth education on spondyloarthritis (SpA), including psoriatic arthritis (PsA), with separate programs for clinicians and patients.
• GRAPPA (Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAA partnered with GRAPPA, SPARTAN, and NPF to develop and present the CAPES series — a collaborative educational project featuring state-of-the-art content on spondyloarthritis for both patients and clinicians.
• NPF (National Psoriasis Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAA partnered with NPF, SPARTAN, and GRAPPA to create the CAPES educational series, combining the expertise of four leading nonprofit organizations to improve research and understanding of spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
• Yoga for AS (Geoff Lindsay, CYT and Jamie Boder, CYT)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoga for AS is an affiliated online yoga program created by certified yoga teachers with spondyloarthritis, offering modified yoga courses and live classes for the SpA community. The program is promoted through SAA's resources and has over 3,000 community members.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lupus Foundation of America: Disease-specific nonprofit advocacy model applied to lupus. Highly comparable in structure, funding mix (donations + pharma grants), and operating approach (education, research support, support groups, awareness campaigns).
• Myositis Association: Rare autoimmune disease-specific nonprofit. Comparable as a peer in running a small, focused patient advocacy org with similar revenue mix, educational programs, and research grant support.
• National Psoriasis Foundation: Disease-specific nonprofit focused on psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis. Directly comparable as a co-partner in SAA's CAPES educational series and as a parallel model for category-specific patient advocacy with pharma sponsorship.
• Vasculitis Foundation: Disease-specific patient advocacy nonprofit for vasculitis. Comparable in size, mission, and operating approach (education, support groups, research grants, awareness events) to SAA's spondyloarthritis-focused model.
• Crohn's & Colitis Foundation: Disease-specific nonprofit for inflammatory bowel disease. Closely comparable operating model; enteropathic arthritis overlaps directly with SAA's scope, and the org shares similar reliance on donations, pharma grants, and CME.
• Creaky Joints (Global Healthy Living Foundation): Digital-first arthritis patient advocacy organization with strong social media, education, and patient community platforms. Comparable as a peer in arthritis-focused patient education and community engagement with greater digital scale.

Others

• American College of Rheumatology: Professional society for rheumatologists. Comparable as a key partner in clinician education and CME, and an adjacent player in the spondyloarthritis evidence ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.
• Healthline Media: Major consumer health information publisher with significant arthritis and chronic condition content. Comparable as an adjacent content/distribution competitor that influences how patients first encounter spondyloarthritis information online.

Broad incumbents

• American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA): Umbrella autoimmune disease advocacy organization. Comparable as an overlapping advocacy voice with broader disease scope, competing for the same patient and donor mindshare.
• Arthritis Foundation: The largest US arthritis patient advocacy nonprofit with a much broader scope (all arthritis types). Comparable as a peer fundraising and education competitor but operates at significantly greater scale and resources than SAA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/spondylitis
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SPONDYLITISdotORG
• Facebookfacebook.com/spondylitis
• Instagraminstagram.com/spondylitis

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Spondylitis Association of America