Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts

What Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts does

The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1982 and headquartered in Westborough, MA, with a second resource center in Pittsfield serving western Massachusetts. As the state affiliate of the Brain Injury Association of America, BIA-MA delivers direct human services to brain injury survivors, family caregivers, healthcare professionals, schools, and community organizations across the Commonwealth. Its core offerings include monthly in-person and virtual support groups (with specialized cohorts for stroke, mild brain injury, LGBTQIA+, young adults, and caregivers), recreational activities (Creative Corner, BSO at Tanglewood), multiple educational workshop series (Educational Workshops, Thrivers, Guest Lectures, The Journey self-expression series), community prevention programs (Brains At Risk, Think A-Head), ACBIS professional certification (CBIS, PCBIS, Fundamental Certificate), NeuroResource Facilitation, a statewide Helpline (800-242-0030), and annual fundraising/awareness events.

The organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform; service delivery is conducted through staff, contracted facilitators, and volunteers using standard tools (WordPress website, Zoom, email, social media). Revenue is generated through five streams: tax-deductible donations and planned giving, tiered annual membership subscriptions ($5-$125 across five tiers), one-time program fees (e.g., $50 per Brains At Risk class), event fundraising (Cere-Bration Walk & Roll, Falmouth Road Race team, Annual Golf Classic, Annual Conference), and contributions from mission partners. BIA-MA is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Laura Herman, led by CEO Nicole Godaire, and maintains strategic partnerships with major neurorehabilitation providers including Seven Hills Foundation, CareOne, Encompass Health, and NeuroRestorative/Sevita. The organization also plays a quasi-regulatory role as lead plaintiff in the Hutchinson v. Patrick federal class action and through participation in the Massachusetts Acquired Brain Injury Commission.

Name

Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts

Legal name

Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts

Website

https://biama.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 that delivers support groups, educational workshops, prevention programs, and ACBIS professional certification to brain injury survivors, families, healthcare professionals, and schools across Massachusetts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Brain Injury Support Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Professional Organizations (81392)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Program Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) (HLAJANAA)

Keywords

• Brain injury support
• Disability advocacy services
• Nonprofit health services
• Caregiver support programs
• Brain injury prevention education

Headquarters

HQ city

Westborough

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and workplace giving campaigns including matching gifts support the organization's programs and services.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership subscriptions at multiple levels ($5-$125) providing newsletters, advocacy alerts, conference discounts, and professional development benefits.
3. Program Fees: Fees for specific programs such as the Brains At Risk educational class ($50 per class) and certification programs for professionals.
4. Event Fundraising: Revenue from events including Falmouth Road Race team participation, Cere-Bration Walk & Roll, Annual Golf Classic, and Annual Conference.
5. Planned Giving: Bequests, charitable remainder trusts, and retirement beneficiary designations as long-term giving vehicles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA) is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that delivers direct brain injury support services, including statewide in-person and virtual support groups, NeuroResource facilitation, recreation activities, and educational workshops for survivors and family caregivers. It also administers ACBIS professional certification programs (CBIS, PCBIS, Fundamentals) on behalf of the Brain Injury Association of America and delivers community prevention programs such as Brains At Risk and Think A-Head.

Product overview

The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing a comprehensive suite of support services, educational programs, professional certifications, and community awareness initiatives for brain injury survivors, families, caregivers, and professionals. The organization's service portfolio includes: in-person and virtual support groups across Massachusetts; recreation activities such as Creative Corner and cultural events; multiple educational workshop series (Educational Workshops, Thrivers series, Guest Lectures, The Journey self-expression series); community prevention programs (Brains At Risk driving awareness and Think A-Head school program); professional certification programs (CBIS, PCBIS, Fundamental Certificate); advocacy and public policy initiatives; and annual events including a conference, walk/run fundraiser, and road race team. The organization does not offer a technology product but provides human services, with membership and donations as funding mechanisms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Support Groups Monthly in-person and virtual support groups across Massachusetts providing survivors and families a forum for sharing information, peer support, and socialization. Includes specialized groups for mild brain injury, stroke survivors, caregivers, LGBTQIA+, couples, young adults, and gender-specific groups.
• Recreation Activities SHIP-funded recreational activities including Creative Corner craft sessions and Boston Symphony Orchestra events at Tanglewood, providing forums for connection, reduced isolation, and healing for brain injury survivors in Massachusetts.
• Educational Workshops for Survivors & Family Caregivers Virtual educational workshops led by Amy Karas, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS/T covering topics including communication, brain functions, routines, healthy aging, time management, memory changes, social communication, emotion management, brain fatigue, cognitive strategies, and SMART goal setting.
• Brains At Risk
• Think A-Head
• Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) Certificate
• Provisional Certified Brain Injury Specialist (PCBIS) Certificate
• Fundamental Certificate
• NeuroResource Facilitation
• Annual Brain Injury Conference Annual two-day professional conference providing education, networking, and professional development for brain injury professionals.
• Membership Subscription
• Cere-Bration: Walk & Roll Annual family-friendly fundraiser walk and roll event bringing together individuals and teams to support those affected by brain injury.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Seven Hills FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner organization providing neurorehabilitation and brain injury services; collaboration on advocacy and community programming
• CareOnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner offering neurorehabilitation programs; collaboration on brain injury care and services
• Community Rehab CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner providing brain injury rehabilitation services; partnership for resource sharing and referrals
• May InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner offering brain injury school and rehabilitation programs; collaboration on professional services
• Supportive LivingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner providing supportive living services for individuals with brain injuries; partnership for service coordination
• NeuroRestorativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner (part of Sevita) offering post-acute brain injury rehabilitation and supported living services
• Encompass HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner operating rehabilitation hospitals; collaboration on stroke and brain injury survivor support groups
• VinfencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner providing brain injury and behavioral health services; collaboration on community-based supports
• AdvocatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner providing services for individuals with developmental disabilities and brain injuries
• Numbers for NonprofitsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Falmouth Road Race team coordination; organization serves as race sponsor for 2026 event with team of 29 runners
• The Run HouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline pop-up store partner creating BIA-MA branded merchandise; 15% of proceeds donated back to the organization
• Brain Injury Association of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliate relationship; BIA-MA is the state affiliate providing ACBIS certification programs on behalf of BIAA
• Spaulding Rehabilitation Neurorehabilitation LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on research studies involving BIA-MA members; values lived experiences of brain injury survivors and caregivers in research
• Massachusetts Brain Injury CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in coalition working on brain injury policy and services
• ABI Stakeholders Advisory BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory board participation for acquired brain injury services and policy
• MA Prevent Injuries Now Network (DPH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition participation for injury prevention initiatives
• Massachusetts Traffic Safety Coalition (DPH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition participation for traffic safety and prevention programs
• Massachusetts Department of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Return to Learn Workgroup, Youth Concussion Advisory Workgroup, and epidemiological data on traumatic brain injury
• TBI Model Systems Advisory BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in national research consortium for traumatic brain injury

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Brain Injury Association of America: National umbrella organization of which BIA-MA is a state affiliate. BIAA sets national policy, runs the ACBIS certification program that BIA-MA delivers locally, and coordinates cross-state brain injury advocacy, making it the most direct top-of-funnel comparable.
• North American Brain Injury Society: Professional society for brain injury clinicians and researchers that complements BIA-MA's professional development mission through conferences, education, and research dissemination. Comparable in serving the brain injury professional community.

Direct peers

• Brain Injury Association of New York: State-level brain injury association operating under the same BIAA affiliate model as BIA-MA. Provides support groups, resource navigation, professional training, and advocacy for New York brain injury survivors, with a comparable service mix and funding structure.
• Brain Injury Association of California: California state affiliate of BIAA offering survivor support, family services, professional education, and prevention programming. Closely mirrors BIA-MA's service portfolio at a larger geographic scale, making it a key operational comparable.
• Brain Injury Association of Texas: Texas state BIAA affiliate delivering survivor and family support, professional development, and advocacy. Same nonprofit charter, affiliate structure, and core programming mix as BIA-MA.
• Brain Injury Association of Virginia: Virginia state BIAA affiliate providing direct survivor services, support groups, and professional training. Operates on the same affiliate model with comparable service lines and donor-based revenue.

Others

• Brain Trauma Foundation: National nonprofit focused on brain injury research, guidelines, and policy. Adjacent to BIA-MA's public policy and awareness work, particularly on concussion and TBI prevention initiatives.
• National Association of State Head Injury Administrators: Membership organization of state brain injury administrators that shapes federal and state TBI policy. BIA-MA participates in similar policy ecosystems, including the ABI Stakeholders Advisory Board.
• United Spinal Association: Disability advocacy nonprofit delivering resource navigation, peer support, and policy advocacy. Mirrors BIA-MA's survivor and family support model within the broader disability community.

Emerging players

• National Stroke Association: National nonprofit serving stroke survivors, a major subset of BIA-MA's acquired brain injury population. Comparable mission of survivor support, education, and advocacy with overlapping customer segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BrainInjuryMA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brain-injury-association-of-ma
• Instagraminstagram.com/braininjuryma
• Xx.com/braininjuryma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 Massachusetts