Young Onset Parkinson’s Network

What Young Onset Parkinson’s Network does

Young Onset Parkinson's Network (YOPN) is a U.S. nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2020 by Anna Grill (diagnosed with YOPD at age 38) that operates a free, private membership community for individuals living with Young Onset Parkinson's Disease (diagnosed at age 50 or younger) and their care partners. The organization delivers its core offering through a membership portal built on the Wild Apricot platform, providing access to a member-only resource library, monthly community gatherings, small group discussions, and the Resource Navigator Program for mental wellness support. YOPN complements the portal with a multi-format content ecosystem: the Living Well Starts Here vodcast (video podcast, relaunched April 2024), The YOPD Times international newspaper, a blog covering exercise, nutrition, cognitive wellness, and family planning, monthly speaker series events featuring movement disorder specialists, and YOPN Live in-person local social groups launched in February 2024 across seven U.S. cities including Washington DC, Rochester NY, and Los Angeles CA.

YOPN's partner programs extend its reach across specialized exercise modalities (Rock Steady Boxing, Parkinson's PWR Moves, My Parkinson's Gym, Prime PD, Power for Parkinson's circuit training) and academic collaboration (Johns Hopkins Center for Music and Medicine). As of September 2024, the organization reports more than 1,200 members across all 50 U.S. states and 38 countries.

The business model is freemium from the member's perspective (membership is free; practitioners and medical professionals are ineligible) and donation/grants/sponsorships-funded from the operator's perspective. Revenue streams include individual donations, multi-tier corporate sponsorships (Visionaries, Leaders, Champions, Friends tiers with recognition and event access), and foundation grants such as the Parkinson's Foundation Community Grant (three consecutive years, $16,000 in 2022) and a Coverys Community Healthcare Foundation contribution supporting the Resource Navigator Program. Go-to-market is community-led, driven by peer referrals, content marketing, and partnerships. In September 2024, YOPN merged into Parkinson & Movement Disorder (PMD) Alliance while retaining its independent membership model and YOPD-specific focus.

Name

Young Onset Parkinson’s Network

Legal name

Young Onset Parkinson's Network

Website

https://yopnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Young Onset Parkinson's Network (YOPN) is a nonprofit membership organization providing free resources, community, and support programs to individuals diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's Disease (age 50 or younger) and their care partners, operating across all 50 U.S. states and 38 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

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. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support in exchange for recognition and access to the YOPD community. Multiple sponsorship tiers available (Visionaries, Leaders, Champions, Friends) with varying levels of promotional access, event recognition, and marketing opportunities.
2. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to support the organization's mission of providing free membership and resources to the YOPD community.
3. Grants: Grant funding from foundations including Coverys Community Healthcare Foundation, Parkinson's Foundation (community grants), supporting specific programs like the Resource Navigator program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Young Onset Parkinson's Network (YOPN) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides free education, peer support, community events, and advocacy resources for individuals diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's Disease (YOPD) and their care partners. Its core offerings include virtual and in-person support groups, educational programming, community-building events, and digital resources tailored to the unique life-stage challenges (employment, parenting, finances) faced by people diagnosed before age 50.

Product overview

Young Onset Parkinson's Network (YOPN) is a nonprofit membership organization that provides a comprehensive ecosystem of support, education, and community for individuals with Young Onset Parkinson's Disease (YOPD) and their care partners. The organization operates a free membership platform (YOPN Membership Portal) as its core offering, supplemented by multiple programs including the YOPN Podcast (Living Well Starts Here), The YOPD Times newspaper, YOPN Live in-person events, the Resource Navigator Program, Monthly Community Gatherings, Small Group Discussions, Speaker Series events, and Exercise/Wellness Classes through partner programs. All programs are designed specifically for the YOPD community, which faces unique challenges distinct from late-onset Parkinson's.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Living Well Starts Here: YOPN's podcast/video podcast (vodcast) series featuring frank discussions on topics affecting people with Young Onset Parkinson's. Features rotating co-hosts including Melissa Livingston, Jeremy Likness, Esther Labib-Kiyrash and Chris Sutphin.
• YOPN Newspaper / The YOPD Times

Products and services

• YOPN Membership Free membership enrollment that gives individuals with Young Onset Parkinson's Disease and their care partners access to the network's support groups, educational programming, events, and community resources.
• Peer Support Groups Regular virtual and in-person peer-led support group meetings that connect Young Onset Parkinson's patients and their care partners with others facing age-specific challenges of YOPD.
• Educational Programs Educational programming and resources covering topics relevant to YOPD — including employment, parenting, finances, treatment, and research — designed for the Young Onset demographic.
• Community Events Online and in-person community-building events that bring the YOPD membership together for connection, awareness, and networking.
• Care Partner Support Resources and peer support tailored to the spouses, family members, and other care partners of YOPD patients, addressing their distinct support needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,200 members served in first three years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Parkinson & Movement Disorder (PMD) AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024In September 2024, YOPN joined PMD Alliance, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that educates, empowers, and connects people across the Movement Disorder Care and Support Ecosystem. Under this partnership, YOPN maintains its unique membership model and sole focus on the YOPD community while gaining access to operational and organizational resources to support continued growth. PMD Alliance had been a longtime partner, and discussions revealed the two organizations were well suited to fill each other's gaps in support.
• Supernus PharmaceuticalsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2022Sponsorship agreement with Supernus Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing products for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. The sponsorship supports YOPN's speaker series, including educational events on managing OFF Episodes in Parkinson's Disease, and the bi-monthly podcast series Living Well Starts Here.
• Parkinson's FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2022Parkinson's Foundation awarded YOPN a Community Grant for the third consecutive year ($16,000 in 2022). The grant supported exercise/movement classes designed for the young onset PD population, programs/resources for the newly diagnosed, and mental health and YOPD intersection support.
• Prime PDminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner providing high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise classes for YOPN members during Parkinson's Awareness Month and ongoing programming.
• My Parkinson's Gym (MPG)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner providing exercise classes including BIG Cardio, Balance & Stability, Intro to Boxing, and Full Body Mobility & Stretching. Classes designed specifically for the active Young Onset population.
• Rock Steady BoxingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization providing boxing exercise classes adapted for people with Parkinson's disease, offered through YOPN programming.
• Power for Parkinson'sminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner providing circuit training classes through YouTube videos, with 74 different videos available through YOPN's exercise programming.
• Parkinson's PWR (PWR Moves)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner providing PWR Moves exercise classes focusing on Parkinson's-specific functional movement training.
• Johns Hopkins Center for Music and MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for speaker series events, providing information on how music is being used to help people with PD. Susan Magsamen from the center has spoken at YOPN events.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Davis Phinney Foundation: Parkinson's-focused nonprofit dedicated to helping people with Parkinson's live well today, with strong emphasis on young-onset and active-living programs, exercise, and education. Directly comparable mission, target population, and program mix to YOPN.
• Power for Parkinson's: Nonprofit providing free exercise and wellness classes (including circuit training) for people with Parkinson's. Already a YOPN program partner, directly comparable in offering exercise/community programs to the PD population.
• Brian Grant Foundation: Foundation established by former NBA player Brian Grant, who was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's. Provides exercise, nutrition, and community resources specifically for the YOPD population — directly overlapping with YOPN's niche.

Emerging players

• Twitchy Woman: Online blog and community started by a woman diagnosed with YOPD, covering lifestyle, research, and personal stories. Closely comparable to YOPN in being YOPD-led and content-driven, though operating primarily as a blog rather than a membership nonprofit.

Others

• Rock Steady Boxing: Nonprofit affiliate network of boxing gyms providing PD-specific exercise classes. A direct program partner of YOPN; comparable in serving the Parkinson's community through structured exercise but operating a different model (gym affiliate network vs. patient membership community).

Broad incumbents

• Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research: The largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research globally, also running the Fox Insight patient study and community engagement programs. Overlaps with YOPN in patient community building and CNS-pharma partnerships.
• American Parkinson Disease Association: Large national Parkinson's nonprofit providing information, education, and support across all PD populations including YOPD. Much broader scope than YOPN but overlapping audience and mission in the support/education category.
• Parkinson & Movement Disorder Alliance: National 501(c)(3) nonprofit that educates, empowers, and connects people across the Movement Disorder Care and Support Ecosystem. YOPN's parent organization since September 2024, providing the broader umbrella under which YOPN's YOPD-specific programs now operate.
• Parkinson's Foundation: Major national Parkinson's organization funding research and providing education/support. Three consecutive years of community grants to YOPN indicates direct funder relationship; overlapping mission around PD community education and support.

Regional players

• Parkinson's UK: UK-based Parkinson's charity providing research, support, and information including for people with YOPD. Comparable mission and program types but geographically focused on the UK rather than competing directly with YOPN in the US/global digital space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100070645145279
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/young-onset-parkinsons-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Young Onset Parkinson’s Network