Brain Injury Association of America

What Brain Injury Association of America does

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is a nonprofit advocacy and support organization founded in 1980 and headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, operating as the oldest and largest nationwide brain injury advocacy entity in the United States. The organization serves three primary constituencies: brain injury survivors and their families (who receive free information, referrals, and resources), healthcare professionals (who access certification and continuing education), and policy makers (who are engaged through federal advocacy campaigns including Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill). Its flagship service is the National Brain Injury Information Center (NBIIC), a free hotline (1-800-444-6443) and email support channel staffed by brain injury specialists. The organization's largest revenue-generating asset is the Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists (ACBIS), established in 1996, which administers four certification tiers — Provisional CBIS, CBIS, CBIST, and CBIS/T-AP — to a base of more than 6,000 active certificants across disciplines including speech therapy, social work, occupational therapy, nursing, and case management.

BIAA's product surface spans professional certifications, certificate courses (Brain Injury Fundamentals, Understanding Concussion), the annual State of Brain Injury Report, the Practical Guides for Families publication series, THE Challenge! magazine, paid and free webinar series (Butch Alterman Memorial Webinars, Caregiver Webinars, CEU-bearing professional webinars at $50 per session), a research grants program, the Brain Health for Kids Campaign for grades K-5, a personal stories community platform, and a careers job board. The technology layer is conventional nonprofit digital infrastructure: a WordPress-based website, a learning management system at learn.biausa.org, and an e-commerce marketplace at shop.biausa.org.

BIAA is funded through a diversified nonprofit revenue mix that includes individual donations and planned giving, corporate partnerships with major rehabilitation providers (NeuroRestorative, Centre for Neuro Skills, Select Medical, Rehab Without Walls, Special Tree, Casa Colina, Brain Mapping Solutions), ACBIS certification and study material fees, paid webinars, publication sales, and special fundraising campaigns (Luminary of the Year). The organization is led by President and CEO Rick Willis and operates under a Board of Directors structure. It is an independent nonprofit with no parent company, private equity investment, or institutional ownership identified in available data. BIAA coordinates with state-level Brain Injury Associations (BIAs) across all 50 states and has formalized coalition partnerships with the Alzheimer's Association, ACRM, NASHIA, NABIS, PINK Concussions, and TBI Model Systems.

Name

Brain Injury Association of America

Legal name

Brain Injury Association of America

Website

https://biausa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Brain Injury Association of America is the oldest and largest nationwide brain injury advocacy nonprofit, serving survivors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals through free information services, a national certification program with 6,000+ certificants, educational publications, and federal policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Health Advocacy Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (61171), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE) (EDAAALAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Neurorehabilitation Centers (HLAFAFAH)

Keywords

• Brain injury advocacy
• Professional certification programs
• Patient support services
• Healthcare education resources
• Nonprofit health organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfax

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate partners (NeuroRestorative, Centre for Neuro Skills, Select Medical, Rehab Without Walls, Special Tree, Brain Mapping Solutions, Casa Colina) provide financial and strategic support. The organization actively recruits corporate partners through its 'Be a Corporate Partner' program.
2. Professional Certifications (ACBIS): The Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists (ACBIS) offers certification programs including CBIS, CBIST, CBIS-T-AP, and PCBIS. Study materials and exam fees generate revenue. The program has over 6,000 active certificants.
3. Webinars and Educational Programs: Live webinars for CEUs are available for purchase (example: $50 per webinar). Caregiver webinars are provided free of charge. Professional education and training programs are sold through the online marketplace.
4. Publications and Merchandise Sales: Print versions of Practical Guides for Families are available in quantities of 25 or more through bulk orders. THE Challenge! Magazine and other educational materials are sold through shop.biausa.org.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, planned giving, stocks and securities donations, Luminary of the Year fundraising, and general fundraising campaigns. Donation pages are prominently featured on the website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Brain Injury Association of America operates a free National Brain Injury Information Center providing hotline and email support, professional certification programs (CBIS, CBIST, CBIS-T-AP, PCBIS) through its Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists with 6,000+ active certificants, continuing education and certificate courses (Brain Injury Fundamentals, Understanding Concussion), educational publications and webinars, and national advocacy campaigns. Revenue comes from donations, corporate sponsorships, certification fees, webinar sales, and publication sales.

Product overview

The Brain Injury Association of America operates as a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of educational, certification, and support services centered on brain injury awareness, treatment, and advocacy. The core offerings include the National Brain Injury Information Center (NBIIC) providing free support services, the Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists (ACBIS) certification program with four certification levels (PCBIS, CBIS, CBIST, CBIS/T-AP), certificate programs like Brain Injury Fundamentals and Understanding Concussion, Practical Guides for Families, the annual State of Brain Injury Report, webinar programs (Butch Alterman Memorial, Caregiver, and professional webinars), Research Grants Program, Brain Health for Kids Campaign, an online marketplace, and the Personal Stories community platform. The organization also publishes THE Challenge! magazine and facilitates advocacy campaigns including the National Brain Injury Conference and Awareness Day.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists (ACBIS): The nation's largest and longest-running professional brain injury certification program offering certifications including CBIS, CBIST, CBIS-T-AP, and PCBIS.
• National Brain Injury Information Center (NBIIC)
• Brain Health for Kids Campaign

Products and services

• National Brain Injury Information Center (NBIIC)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6,000 active ACBIS certificants working across the spectrum of brain injury care
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Alzheimer's AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026BIAA joined the Alzheimer's Association Brain Health Roundtable in May 2026, collaborating on brain health initiatives and research dissemination.
• American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 October 2025Collaborated on joint statement for improving communication about brain injury. ACRM's Brain Injury Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group participated in developing the guidance document.
• National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 October 2025Collaborated on joint statement for improving communication about brain injury. NASHIA represents state agencies that administer brain injury services.
• North American Brain Injury Society (NABIS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 October 2025Collaborated on joint statement for improving communication about brain injury. NABIS is a professional organization serving brain injury specialists.
• PINK ConcussionsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 October 2025Collaborated on joint statement for improving communication about brain injury. Focuses on female brain injury from sports and trauma.
• TBI Model SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 October 2025Collaborated on joint statement for improving communication about brain injury. TBI Model Systems are federally designated centers of excellence in brain injury research and care.
• NeuroRestorativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing brain injury rehabilitation services. Listed among BIAA's corporate partners on the main website. NeuroRestorative offers post-acute brain injury rehabilitation programs.
• Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. Listed among BIAA's corporate partners. CNS operates residential and outpatient brain injury rehabilitation programs.
• Select MedicalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing rehabilitation services. Listed among BIAA's corporate partners. Select Medical operates critical illness recovery hospitals and rehabilitation hospitals.
• Rehab Without WallscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing brain injury rehabilitation services. Listed among BIAA's corporate partners. Offers community-based brain injury rehabilitation.
• Special TreecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing brain injury rehabilitation services. Listed among BIAA's corporate partners. Special Tree offers residential and outpatient rehabilitation services.
• Casa ColinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing rehabilitation services. Listed among BIAA's corporate partners. Casa Colina operates acute rehabilitation and outpatient services.
• State Brain Injury Associations (BIAs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of state-level Brain Injury Associations providing localized support, resources, advocacy, and services. Find Your BIA feature on the website helps connect individuals to their state BIA.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA): Membership organization of state agencies administering brain injury services. Co-signs joint statements with BIAA and operates at the intersection of public policy, state program delivery, and brain injury professional practice.
• American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM): Interdisciplinary rehabilitation medicine organization including the Brain Injury Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group. Co-develops joint guidance with BIAA and serves an overlapping professional community with continuing-education products.
• Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation: National paralysis and spinal cord injury advocacy nonprofit offering direct support services, professional resources, and grant programs. Closely mirrors BIAA's free information-center, family resource, and advocacy model in an adjacent neurological condition.
• North American Brain Injury Society (NABIS): Professional society serving clinicians and researchers in brain injury, focused on continuing education and interdisciplinary collaboration. Direct peer to BIAA in the professional-education segment of the brain injury ecosystem.
• American Stroke Association (a division of AHA): Stroke and acquired brain injury advocacy/education arm of the American Heart Association that issues professional education, certifications, and patient resources — overlapping materially with BIAA's NBIIC, ACBIS, and survivor-caregiver content.

Broad incumbents

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): US mental-health advocacy nonprofit with a national office, state affiliates, helpline-style information services, and a heavy education/outreach mission — structurally analogous to BIAA including its freemium support and chapter model.
• American Cancer Society: One of the largest US voluntary health organizations, with a comprehensive advocacy, research funding, patient support, and professional education model — useful as a benchmarking peer for BIAA's scale and revenue diversification potential.
• Alzheimer's Association: Largest US voluntary health organization focused on Alzheimer's, with an analogous model of national advocacy, professional education, local chapters, donor funding, and corporate partnerships. Directly comparable to BIAA given their recent collaboration on the Brain Health Roundtable.
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society: Large US disease-focused nonprofit that combines research funding, professional education, advocacy, and a chapter network — mirroring BIAA's structure around a chronic neurological condition. Operates on the same donations, walks, and corporate partnership model.

Others

• Psych Central / Healthline (dotdash meredith): Digital health information publishers serving patient/caregiver audiences with condition-specific content, webinars, and resource directories. Comparable as a content-and-community distribution channel competing for consumer attention in brain injury.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/biaamerica
• Facebookfacebook.com/BrainInjuryAssociationofAmerica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Brain Injury Association of America