What Concussion Legacy Foundation does

The Concussion & CTE Foundation (formerly the Concussion Legacy Foundation) is a Boston-based 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 2007 that provides free support, education, advocacy, and research infrastructure for patients and families affected by concussion, Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS), and suspected Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Its core service portfolio is anchored by the HelpLine, a free personalized support channel (phone, text, email) that uses what the organization describes as the world's largest database of concussion and CTE providers to route patients to vetted local clinicians, and by a Peer Support program of monthly virtual group meetings, volunteer mentors, and social media communities serving more than 9,000 cumulative HelpLine requesters with a 78% client satisfaction rate. Research operations center on the UNITE Brain Bank, co-founded with the Boston University CTE Center (the world's foremost CTE research center), and the foundation's own Global Brain Bank, supplemented by a 14,779-pledge Research Registry and the Project Enlist program for military veterans. Education and advocacy programs include Stop Hitting Kids In The Head, Team Up Against Concussions (Concussion Captains), the Media Project for journalists, and the End CTE Prevention Protocol.

The organization is co-founded by Dr. Robert Cantu (Medical Director) and Dr. Robert Stern (Director of Clinical Research at BU CTE Center), with stated research collaboration with Dr. Ann McKee. It holds a 501(c)(3) status under federal tax ID 77-0689904, holds registered trademarks on its name and the End CTE program, and has earned a four-star Charity Navigator rating and a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency. It maintains country-specific sites for the US, Australia, Canada (English and French), and the United Kingdom, indicating an international footprint built without disclosed physical offices outside Boston.

The foundation is funded entirely through charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations, processed via the Classy.org donation platform and supplemented by merchandise sales and event fundraising such as the Race To End CTE. All patient-facing services are free; the foundation does not sell products or charge for clinical referrals. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed in the available source material.

Name

Concussion Legacy Foundation

Legal name

Concussion & CTE Foundation

Website

https://concussionfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Concussion & CTE Foundation is a Boston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free HelpLine support, peer mentoring, and clinical referrals to patients and families affected by concussion, Post-Concussion Syndrome, and CTE, while operating the UNITE Brain Bank with Boston University and global advocacy and research programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Brain Health Nonprofit Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Neurorehabilitation Centers (HLAFAFAH), Grief, Trauma & PTSD-Focused Teletherapy Platforms (HLALAEAL), Cognitive Stimulation & Reminiscence Therapy (Non-Clinical) (HSABAEAH)

Keywords

• Concussion support services
• CTE research programs
• Brain donation registry
• Brain health education
• Nonprofit patient advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Waltham

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 charitable gifts: As a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity (federal tax ID 77-0689904), the organization is funded primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Donations are solicited via its website, email campaigns, events, and the Race To End CTE fundraising campaign.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Concussion & CTE Foundation provides free personalized support services, education, advocacy, and research programs for individuals and families affected by concussions, Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS), and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Its core deliverables include a HelpLine that matches patients with experienced local clinicians using what the foundation describes as the world's largest concussion and CTE provider database, peer support communities, a co-founded UNITE Brain Bank with Boston University CTE Center, a Global Brain Bank brain donation program, Project Enlist research for military veterans, and education/advocacy programs such as Stop Hitting Kids In The Head, Concussion Captains, the Media Project, and the End CTE initiative.

Product overview

The Concussion & CTE Foundation (formerly Concussion Legacy Foundation) is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected support, education, research, and advocacy services. The core offerings include the HelpLine—a free personalized support service connecting patients and families with clinicians using the world's largest concussion/CTE provider database—and Peer Support connecting individuals with volunteer mentors. Research programs include the co-founded UNITE Brain Bank at Boston University CTE Center and the organization's own Global Brain Bank, along with Project Enlist for military veterans and athlete research participation. Education and advocacy programs include Stop Hitting Kids In The Head, Team Up Against Concussions (Concussion Captains), the Media Project, and the End CTE advocacy initiative with its CTE Prevention Protocol. The organization provides extensive educational resources on CTE, Post-Concussion Syndrome, and concussions, along with specialized services for law enforcement and first responders, continuing medical education, and content through podcasts including Invisible Impact and Concussion Game Plan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stop Hitting Kids In The Head: Advocacy program focused on preventing head impacts in youth athletes to prevent concussions and CTE
• Team Up Against Concussions
• End CTE
• Concussion & CTE Foundation Media Project
• HelpLine
• Peer Support
• Project Enlist
• Pledge Your Brain
• Invisible Impact Podcast
• Concussion Game Plan Podcast

Products and services

• Concussion & CTE Foundation HelpLine Free, personalized support service for patients and caregivers dealing with acute concussion symptoms, Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS), and suspected CTE. Connects users to vetted local clinicians via phone, text, or email, leveraging the world's largest concussion and CTE provider database.
• Peer Support Program Monthly virtual group meetings and social media community connecting patients and caregivers with volunteer mentors who provide peer support during concussion, PCS, and CTE recovery journeys.
• UNITE Brain Bank Co-founded with Boston University CTE Center, the UNITE Brain Bank is described as the world's foremost CTE research center, advancing understanding of brain trauma through brain donation and research.
• Global Brain Bank Global brain donation initiative enabling individuals to pledge their brains for CTE research, expanding the foundation's brain donation registry beyond the UNITE Brain Bank partnership.
• Project Enlist Research program catalyzing the advancement of critical research on traumatic brain injury (TBI), PTSD, and CTE among military veterans, advancing treatment development in collaboration with Boston University CTE Center.
• Research Registry Platform for athletes and individuals to contribute to concussion and CTE research by pledging their brains and participating in clinical research opportunities. The foundation reports 14,779 all-time Research Registry pledges.
• Stop Hitting Kids In The Head Education and advocacy initiative raising awareness that CTE caused by repetitive head impacts can be prevented by eliminating head hits in youth sports.
• Team Up Against Concussions / Concussion Captains Program encouraging athletes to commit to concussion safety and become Concussion Captains to educate peers about concussion prevention in their sports communities.
• Concussion & CTE Foundation Media Project First and only concussion education program for journalists, equipping media professionals with tools to educate millions on concussion and CTE as a public health issue.
• End CTE
• Law Enforcement & First Responders Support Specialized support services within the HelpLine for law enforcement officers and first responders dealing with occupational concussion and brain trauma exposure.
• Continuing Education (CME) Continuing medical education (CME) opportunities for healthcare providers and professionals on concussion and brain trauma, supporting their professional certification requirements.
• Concussion Clinics Directory Online directory connecting patients with concussion clinics and experienced local clinicians, powered by the foundation's provider database.
• Imminent Brain Donation Program for individuals with terminal conditions that enables expedited brain donation for CTE research, working alongside the foundation's Brain Banks research programs.
• Personal Stories / Legacy Stories Published inspirational stories from individuals and families affected by concussions, PCS, and CTE, providing hope and community connection across the foundation's audience.
• Invisible Impact Podcast Podcast focused on Post-Concussion Syndrome that provides education and personal stories of recovery for patients, caregivers, and the wider PCS community.
• Concussion Game Plan Podcast Podcast focused on concussion education and concussion culture in sports, supporting the foundation's awareness and prevention mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 9,000 families provided with vetted medical recommendations and peer support through the HelpLine
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles9 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Boston University CTE CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Concussion & CTE Foundation co-founded the UNITE Brain Bank at the Boston University CTE Center, which remains the world's foremost CTE research center. Foundation co-founders Dr. Robert Cantu and Dr. Robert Stern serve as Medical Director and Director of Clinical Research at the BU CTE Center, respectively. The foundation also advances treatment development for brain trauma in military veterans in collaboration with this partner.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• National Athletic Trainers' Association: Professional membership association for athletic trainers who manage concussion response in youth and collegiate sports. Comparable as an adjacent stakeholder in concussion education, protocols, and youth-sport safety culture.
• Boston University CTE Center: Academic research center co-founding the UNITE Brain Bank with the foundation. Comparable as the foundation's flagship research partner and as the leading scientific institution publishing on CTE — adjacent rather than competitive.

Regional players

• Headway — the brain injury association: UK-based brain injury charity providing information, support, and rehabilitation services. Comparable as a peer brain-injury support organization serving patients and caregivers, though primarily UK-focused and broader than CTE.
• The Drake Foundation: UK-based nonprofit funding research into the long-term effects of head injuries in sport. Comparable as a sport-concussion research funder and awareness organization, though primarily focused on the UK/European sports ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Alzheimer's Association: Largest US voluntary health organization focused on a neurodegenerative disease, offering 24/7 Helpline, peer/community programs, research funding, and advocacy. A model and broader incumbent peer in voluntary health organization structure for an aging-disease-focused foundation.
• ALS Association: Voluntary health organization funding research and providing patient/family services for ALS, another currently incurable neurodegenerative disease. Comparable operating model: research grants, peer support, advocacy, donor-driven funding, and disease-specific awareness campaigns.
• Parkinson's Foundation: National voluntary health organization for Parkinson's disease offering Helpline, support groups, CME, and research funding. Comparable as a neurodegenerative disease-focused nonprofit with patient services plus research investment.

Emerging players

• PINK Concussions: Nonprofit focused specifically on female brain injury, including concussion in women and girls. Comparable as a niche concussion-focused peer addressing a specific underserved sub-segment of the same patient population.

Direct peers

• International Concussion Society: Organization aggregating concussion research, treatment guidelines, and clinician education. Comparable as a peer focused on concussion awareness, clinician education, and resource aggregation.
• Brain Injury Association of America: National nonprofit serving patients and families affected by brain injury, including concussion and TBI. Directly comparable as a peer advocacy/support organization for the same patient populations, with overlapping HelpLine, education, and policy missions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/concussionlf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ConcussionandCTE
• Facebookfacebook.com/concussionfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/concussionandcte
• Instagraminstagram.com/concussionandcte

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Concussion Legacy Foundation