What Brain Aneurysm Foundation does

The Brain Aneurysm Foundation (BAF) is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1994, headquartered in Hanover, Massachusetts, and the largest private funder of brain aneurysm research in North America. It operates as the nation's only nonprofit solely dedicated to brain aneurysm awareness, education, patient and family support, federal advocacy, and research grant-making. Its core 'products' are non-monetized: educational content (multilingual fact sheets, detection and treatment guides, a PriMed program educating ~7,500 primary care professionals annually, 36+ webinars, and The 1 in 50 podcast), patient and caregiver services (12+ in-person and virtual support groups and an online community at bafsupport.org), advocacy infrastructure (Ellie's Law and an annual Capitol Hill Advocacy Day), and a research grant program that has committed over $6.5 million since 2007, with $575,000-$590,000 awarded annually in recent cycles. It also maintains a wholly-owned Canadian charitable entity, Brain Aneurysm Foundation of Canada, for tax-receipted giving north of the border.

The foundation's revenue model is entirely donation-based and distributed across six streams: individual giving (one-time gifts, the $18/month '18 Minute Circle' recurring tier, memorial/honor donations), fundraising events (six regional run/walks, the NYC Marathon and Falmouth Road Race, golf tournaments, comedy nights, plus a BrainPower DIY platform), planned giving/legacy society bequests, vehicle donations processed through CARS, corporate matching gifts via Double the Donation, and external research grants awarded to academic institutions in the U.S. and Canada. Its distribution channels are digital (bafound.org, podcast, social, email), community-based (support groups hosted at hospitals such as Mass General, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern Medicine, and Beth Israel Deaconess), and event-driven. Partnerships with Mayo Clinic, the AANS/CNS Cerebrovascular Section, the American Stroke Association, LoveYourBrain, Cerenovus (Johnson & Johnson MedTech), and RapidAI anchor its scientific and programmatic capabilities.

BAF does not develop proprietary technology; its 'tech stack' is conventional nonprofit infrastructure (website CMS, donation processing via Convio/Luminate, Google Translate widget, matching-gift integrations). Its primary AI involvement is indirect — seeding and convening AI-powered research (including RapidAI's neurovascular imaging platform) rather than building AI in-house. The organization is governed by an independent board led by Chairman Tom Tinlin and Executive Director Christine Buckley, with clinical guidance from a 38-member Medical Advisory Board of internationally recognized cerebrovascular specialists.

Name

Brain Aneurysm Foundation

Legal name

Brain Aneurysm Foundation

Website

https://bafound.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Brain Aneurysm Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded 1994 and based in Hanover, MA, that is the largest private funder of brain aneurysm research in North America and the only U.S. nonprofit solely dedicated to brain aneurysm awareness, education, patient support, and federal advocacy for patients, survivors, caregivers, and clinicians.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Health Advocacy

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Brain aneurysm awareness
• Aneurysm research funding
• Patient support services
• Healthcare advocacy nonprofit
• Neuroscience education

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanover

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. Individual Donations: The foundation receives donations from individuals through its website donation portal, monthly giving programs (The 18 Minute Circle at $18/month), one-time gifts, and memorial/honor donations in lieu of flowers.
2. Fundraising Events: Revenue generated from participation in events including run/walk events in multiple cities (Pittsburgh, Long Island, Philadelphia, New York City, Chicago, Louisville), the Falmouth Road Race, TCS NYC Marathon, golf tournaments, and comedy nights.
3. Research Grants: The foundation awards grants to academic researchers studying brain aneurysm early detection, treatment modalities, and technological advances. Grant awards range from $20,000 to $50,000 each.
4. Planned Giving/Bequests: Donors can include the Brain Aneurysm Foundation in their estate plans through bequests, charitable trusts, beneficiary designations on IRAs, and life insurance policies. Members of the BAF Legacy Society receive event invitations and complimentary event registration.
5. Vehicle Donations: The foundation accepts vehicle donations through CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services), including cars, trucks, boats, RVs, and other vehicles.
6. Corporate Matching Gifts: Many companies match employee charitable donations through matching gift programs, potentially doubling or tripling the impact of individual donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Brain Aneurysm Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers brain aneurysm awareness, education, patient and family support, advocacy, and private research funding. It funds research through an annual grant program ($20,000–$50,000 awards, $6.5M+ committed since 2007), provides educational publications and webinars to patients and primary care professionals, runs in-person and online support groups, hosts The 1 in 50 podcast, and advocates for federal funding through Ellie's Law.

Product overview

The Brain Aneurysm Foundation operates as a nonprofit advocacy organization offering a comprehensive suite of services rather than a single software product. Its core digital presence includes the bafound.org website providing education, awareness, and resources. The portfolio encompasses educational materials (publications, webinars, The 1 in 50 podcast), patient and family support services (in-person and virtual support groups, online community at bafsupport.org), fundraising platforms (BrainPower DIY fundraising), advocacy programs (Ellie's Law initiative, Annual Advocacy Day), and research funding (grant awards exceeding $6.5M since 2007). The foundation also advances AI-driven healthcare through partnerships supporting RapidAI's brain aneurysm detection technology and funding multiple AI research initiatives for early detection. Key events include annual run/walk fundraising events nationwide. Services are complemented by volunteer programs, planned giving options, and partnerships with organizations like the American Stroke Association and LoveYourBrain.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The 1 in 50 Podcast: A podcast hosted by Executive Director Christine Buckley, providing a platform for sharing stories, insights, and strategies related to brain aneurysm awareness and support. Named after the statistic that 1 in 50 people live with an unruptured aneurysm.

Products and services

• In-Person and Virtual Support Groups Peer-led support meetings for brain aneurysm patients and their family members offered in person at hospitals and medical centers across the U.S., with virtual attendance options and specialized groups such as grief support and AVM support.
• Online Support Community (bafsupport.org) Online forum, blog, and discussion community hosted at bafsupport.org where brain aneurysm survivors, caregivers, and bereaved families can connect, share experiences, and access resources.
• Publications and Educational Materials Educational publications including fact sheets, diagnosis and treatment booklets, recovery and caregiver guides, memory books, event planning guides, and youth fact sheets, available in multiple languages with Canadian editions.
• The 1 in 50 Podcast Podcast hosted by Executive Director Christine Buckley sharing survivor, caregiver, and clinician stories, insights, and strategies related to brain aneurysm awareness and support, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
• Brain Aneurysm Educational Webinars On-demand and live educational webinars covering brain aneurysm symptoms, treatment options, recovery, comorbidities, and the role of AI in aneurysm detection, reaching both patients/families and primary care professionals.
• Run/Walk and Road Race Fundraising Events Annual participatory fundraising events including multi-city run/walks (Pittsburgh, Long Island, Philadelphia, NYC, Chicago, Louisville), the Falmouth Road Race, the TCS NYC Marathon, the Tinlin Family Golf Tournament, and the Laughter is the Best Medicine comedy night.
• BrainPower DIY Fundraising Platform Self-service DIY fundraising platform that lets supporters create personalized fundraiser pages (for comedy nights, yard sales, fitness classes, etc.) with no minimum or fee to get started.
• Brain Aneurysm Research Grant Awards Program Annual research grant program awarding $20,000 to $50,000 per recipient to academic and clinical investigators for brain aneurysm early detection, treatment modalities, and technological advances, including a Chairs of Research option that lets donors direct funding to specific research areas.
• Ellie's Law Advocacy Initiative Federal legislative advocacy program supporting Ellie's Law (H.R. 2678 / S. 1609) to create dedicated brain aneurysm research funding through NIH/NINDS, named in honor of Ellie Helton.
• Annual Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill Annual Washington, D.C. advocacy event where survivors, caregivers, and foundation representatives meet with legislators to advocate for increased federal research funding and support Ellie's Law.
• Planned Giving and Legacy Society Estate-planning giving program offering bequests, charitable trusts, IRA beneficiary designations, and life insurance policy contributions, with Legacy Society members receiving Research Grant Symposium invitations and complimentary event registration.
• Vehicle Donation Program Vehicle donation program accepting cars, trucks, boats, RVs, and other vehicles in partnership with CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services).
• Volunteer Programs (National Volunteer Council, Community Ambassador, Event Organizer, General Volunteer) Volunteer engagement program offering National Volunteer Council (ambassador), Community Ambassador, Event Organizer, and General Volunteer roles to support awareness, events, and grassroots outreach across the U.S. and Canada.

Quantifiable outcome

• Funded over $6.5 million in research since 2007
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Singer FoundationminorOthersSinger Foundation supports the Brain Aneurysm Foundation's mission through charitable contributions, helping fund research, education, and awareness initiatives.
• Mayo CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMayo Clinic provides medical expertise and research collaboration, with their specialists serving on the foundation's Medical Advisory Board and contributing to educational resources.
• AANS/CNS Cerebrovascular SectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe AANS/CNS Cerebrovascular Section provides neurosurgical expertise and research collaboration, with their members contributing to the foundation's Medical Advisory Board and research grant reviews.
• RapidAIcoreTechnology or IntegrationRapidAI, a leader in neurovascular imaging AI, was developed in part with early funding from the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. The foundation continues to highlight RapidAI's brain aneurysm detection platform as a success of their research investment.
• The Andrew David Heitman FoundationminorOthersThe Andrew David Heitman Foundation supports the Brain Aneurysm Foundation's research and awareness initiatives through charitable giving.
• American Stroke AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Brain Aneurysm Foundation and American Stroke Association share a common goal of saving lives through education, advocacy, and early detection. Together they raise awareness about the critical connection between brain aneurysms and stroke, empowering patients, families, and healthcare professionals with knowledge and resources.
• LoveYourBrainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLoveYourBrain is a national nonprofit dedicated to improving the mental, physical, and social well-being of people with brain injury and their caregivers. The partnership provides BAF community members with access to free, research-backed mindfulness, yoga, psychoeducation, and community-building programs.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Heart Association / American Stroke Association: Largest U.S. cardiovascular nonprofit, with the American Stroke Association division covering stroke and related cerebrovascular conditions. A current BAF partner with overlapping mission in stroke awareness and patient education, but vastly larger scale and broader disease focus.
• National Stroke Association: Long-standing nonprofit focused exclusively on stroke awareness, prevention, and recovery. Directly adjacent to BAF because ruptured aneurysms are a leading cause of hemorrhagic stroke, creating overlapping patient populations and education channels.
• American Cancer Society: Largest U.S. cancer-focused nonprofit with comparable pillars of research funding, patient support, advocacy, and Relay For Life-style event fundraising. A useful scale benchmark for what BAF's disease-specific model can grow into.

Direct peers

• Joe Niekro Foundation: Brain aneurysm-specific nonprofit founded after the death of baseball pitcher Joe Niekro from a ruptured aneurysm. Focuses on awareness, research funding, and patient support — directly overlapping BAF's mission in the same narrow disease niche.
• The Bee Foundation: Nonprofit dedicated to brain aneurysm awareness and research funding, named in memory of Bernadette 'Bee' McVerry. Closely mirrors BAF's grantmaking and education model in the same disease category.
• ALS Association: Disease-specific nonprofit funding ALS research, providing patient services, and driving federal advocacy through Ice Bucket Challenge-era fundraising infrastructure. Operates a comparable model of research grants, support services, and Capitol Hill advocacy.
• Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA): Disease-specific nonprofit funding neuromuscular disease research and providing multidisciplinary care and patient services. Comparable model combining research grants, clinical care support, and grassroots fundraising events.

Emerging players

• National Brain Tumor Society: Nonprofit focused on brain tumor research, advocacy, and patient support. Operates in the adjacent neuro-oncology space with overlapping medical advisory networks and similar patient-education and policy-advocacy playbooks.

Others

• Cerebral Aneurysm Foundation (international): Note: BAF's own Canadian entity (Brain Aneurysm Foundation of Canada) is a wholly-owned subsidiary, not a peer. Listed here as a placeholder for the broader ecosystem of regional aneurysm support groups operating outside the U.S.
• Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS): Professional medical society for neurointerventional surgeons who treat brain aneurysms. Not a patient-facing nonprofit but a key partner/peer organization — its AANS/CNS Cerebrovascular Section already collaborates with BAF on the Medical Advisory Board and grant review.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BRAINANEURYSMS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/brainaneurysmfound
• Facebookfacebook.com/bafound
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-brain-aneurysm-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/bafound

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles35 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Brain Aneurysm Foundation