Children With Diabetes

What Children With Diabetes does

Children With Diabetes (CWD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, legally T-1 Today, Inc., founded in 1995 by Jeff and Brenda Hitchcock after their daughter Marissa was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age two. Operating online from West Chester, Ohio with a 1–10 employee base, CWD provides education, peer support, and community resources to families, children, teens, adults, and healthcare professionals affected by T1D. Its audience is anchored by the annual Friends for Life Orlando conference (drawing nearly 2,000 attendees each July at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort) plus regional and international conferences in Canada and the UK.

CWD's product surface is a community-and-content platform rather than a technology product. Core offerings include a comprehensive website (childrenwithdiabetes.com) with educational content reviewed by healthcare professionals, the Ask the DTeam Q&A service, online forums, the weekly "The Weekly Diabetes" newsletter, monthly "Screenside Chats with CWD" webinars, "Masterpiece Product Theaters" sponsor webinars, the CWD Journey Awards recognition program (free to US addresses, sponsored by Lilly), a diabetes camp directory, a curated book library, T1D screening resources, and the "Life of a Low Girl" podcast. The organization does not develop proprietary technology and operates on standard web, email, and video-conferencing tools. The DTeam of clinicians (including Clinical Director Marissa Hitchcock, BSN, RN, CDCES) provides medically reviewed content and answers member questions.

CWD's business model is a three-stream nonprofit funding model: tax-deductible donations from individuals and families (processed via Kindful), conference registration fees (standard attendee $350, sponsor attendee $600 for FFL Orlando 2026), and corporate sponsorships from diabetes pharma and device manufacturers including Lilly, Dexcom, Abbott, Sanofi, Omnipod, Medtronic, Tandem, Vertex, Breakthrough T1D, Beta Bionics, Xeris, and Embecta. There are no equity investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity; the entity is founder-controlled, and COO Leigh Fickling oversees operations. The organization is highly regarded in the T1D family community (30+ years of continuous operation; ~2,000-person flagship conference; tens of thousands served cumulatively) but generates no disclosed revenue and operates as a lean, community-led nonprofit rather than a venture-backed enterprise.

Name

Children With Diabetes

Legal name

T-1 Today, Inc.

Website

https://childrenwithdiabetes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Children With Diabetes (CWD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1995 that provides education, peer support, and community resources to families, children, adults, and healthcare professionals living with type 1 diabetes, delivered through its website, the annual Friends for Life conference, and digital programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diabetes Patient Education and Support

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Type 1 Diabetes Care (HLAKADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Diabetes Education & Insulin Management (Home-Based) (HSABACAJ)

Keywords

• Diabetes patient education
• Type 1 diabetes support
• Family diabetes resources
• Chronic illness community
• Patient advocacy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

West Chester

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CWD relies heavily on tax-deductible donations from individuals, families, and supporters to fund operations, programs, and website maintenance.
2. Conference Registration Fees: Revenue from Friends for Life conference registrations, with standard attendee rates of $350 (increasing to $400 after early deadlines) and sponsor/additional attendee rates of $600.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Pharmaceutical and medical device companies sponsor CWD conferences and programs. Major sponsors include Lilly, Dexcom, Abbott, Sanofi, Omnipod, Medtronic, Tandem Diabetes Care, Vertex, Breakthrough T1D, and others in the diabetes technology and pharma space.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Children With Diabetes delivers education, community, and support resources to families and individuals living with type 1 diabetes. Its flagship offering is the Friends for Life conference series, complemented by an educational website, expert Q&A (Ask the DTeam), webinars, newsletters, a diabetes camp directory, and milestone-recognition awards. The organization is operated by T-1 Today, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1995.

Product overview

Children With Diabetes operates primarily as an educational and community-focused nonprofit organization rather than a software product company. Their core offering is a comprehensive online platform providing diabetes education and community support services. The main products include the CWD website/online platform serving as the central hub, the annual Friends for Life Conference (their flagship in-person event), the Ask the DTeam Q&A service, the CWD Journey Award recognition program, monthly Screenside Chats webinars, the Weekly Diabetes newsletter, a diabetes camp directory, a curated book library, and Type 1 diabetes screening resources. These offerings work together to provide education, community connection, and support for families affected by type 1 diabetes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Friends for Life: Annual conferences for families and individuals living with type 1 diabetes, held primarily at Disney properties in Orlando, with additional events in other locations.
• Screenside Chats with CWD
• The Weekly Diabetes
• CWD Journey Awards
• MoFFL (Moms of Friends for Life)
• CWD Fellows Program

Products and services

• Friends for Life Conference Multi-day in-person conference for families, children, teens, and adults affected by type 1 diabetes, featuring educational sessions, expert speakers, peer networking, and youth programming. Held annually in Orlando, Florida with regional Friends for Life events held at other venues.
• Ask the DTeam

Quantifiable outcome

• Tens of thousands of community members served over 20+ years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lilly (Eli Lilly and Company)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLilly is a major corporate sponsor of CWD programs, serving as the founding sponsor of the CWD Journey Awards program. Lilly also sponsors FFL conferences and provides insulin affordability resources featured on the CWD website.
• DexcomcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDexcom sponsors FFL Orlando conferences and provides educational content about continuous glucose monitoring technology featured through CWD programs.
• Abbott Diabetes CarecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAbbott sponsors FFL Orlando conferences, featuring their FreeStyle Libre CGM products and providing device trials at conferences.
• SanoficoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSanofi is a conference sponsor providing educational support and resources about insulin and diabetes medications through CWD programs.
• OmnipodcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOmnipod sponsors FFL Orlando conferences and provides insulin pump trials and demonstrations during conference programming.
• Medtronic Diabetes (MiniMed)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMedtronic sponsors FFL Orlando conferences and provides insulin pump technology trials and demonstrations during conference device trial sessions.
• Tandem Diabetes CarecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTandem Diabetes Care sponsors FFL Orlando conferences and provides t:slim X2 insulin pump trials and demonstrations during conference programming.
• Vertex PharmaceuticalscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVertex sponsors FFL Orlando conferences, participating in educational sessions about type 1 diabetes research and potential cures.
• Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBreakthrough T1D is a core partner providing clinical trial information, research updates, and advocacy resources through CWD. Their CMO, Dr. Thomas Danne, received the CWD President's Award for Innovation in 2026.
• T1D ExchangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerT1D Exchange partners with CWD to promote research opportunities, share data about T1D outcomes, and support the diabetes community through educational programs.
• Beta BionicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeta Bionics sponsors FFL Orlando conferences, presenting their iLet bionic pancreas technology during device trials and educational sessions.
• Xeris Pharmaceuticals (Gvoke)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerXeris sponsors FFL Orlando and the CWD Journey Awards program, featuring their Gvoke HypoPen glucagon product through educational content and conference exhibitions.
• American Diabetes AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADA partners with CWD on advocacy efforts and shares resources about diabetes research, care guidelines, and community support programs.
• EmbectaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmbecta contributes to the CWD Journey Awards program as a contributing sponsor, supporting recognition of people living with T1D.
• DPAC (Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPAC is a CWD conference sponsor, working collaboratively on public policy initiatives to improve health of people with diabetes.
• Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPAC works with CWD to advocate for policies benefiting people with diabetes, including access to insulin and diabetes supplies.
• Disney's Coronado Springs ResortcoreOthersCWD's annual FFL Orlando conference is held at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. CWD contracts room blocks at preferential rates for conference attendees.
• SequelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSequel sponsors FFL Orlando conferences with their diabetes-focused products and services.
• Touched by Type 1minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTouched by Type 1 partners with CWD to sponsor FFL Orlando and support diabetes awareness and community programs.
• TranscendminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTranscend sponsors FFL Orlando, providing low-carb food products featured at conference dining events.
• SugarPixelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSugarPixel is a CWD conference sponsor supporting FFL Orlando with diabetes technology education resources.
• CBDCE (Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCBDCE partners with CWD to support healthcare professionals in obtaining diabetes education credentials.
• Mears ConnectminorOthersMears Connect provides airport transportation services from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Disney's Coronado Springs Resort for FFL Orlando attendees.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF): The largest US T1D research and advocacy nonprofit; a documented CWD partner that competes for the same sponsor wallets and engaged T1D audience via research, advocacy, and patient programs.
• American Diabetes Association: Largest US diabetes nonprofit covering T1D, T2D, and prediabetes; a documented CWD partner. Overlaps on advocacy, education, and community, though broader in scope.

Regional players

• Diabetes UK: Primary UK diabetes charity supporting research, advocacy, and patient services; serves a comparable mission to CWD across the UK region where CWD has held conferences.

Emerging players

• Riding on Insulin: Smaller T1D nonprofit offering action-sports programs and camps for kids and teens with T1D. Comparable to CWD's camps directory and youth community programming.
• College Diabetes Network: Smaller T1D-focused nonprofit supporting college students with T1D. Overlaps with CWD on young-adult T1D audience and chapter/community model.

Direct peers

• Beyond Type 1: Largest US digital-first T1D nonprofit; runs programs, content, and community platforms for people with T1D. Direct overlap with CWD on mission, sponsor relationships, and audience.
• diaTribe Foundation: Patient-education nonprofit focused on diabetes (T1D and T2D) research, policy, and product news; comparable to CWD on patient-facing content and sponsor relationships.
• T1D Exchange: T1D-focused nonprofit running research, patient-registry, and quality-improvement programs; documented CWD partner addressing the same patient community with overlapping clinical/research stakeholders.
• Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC): T1D advocacy nonprofit focused on policy and access; documented CWD partner. Comparable on patient-advocacy mission and shared sponsor/partner base.
• Connected in Motion: T1D-focused nonprofit running adult adventure and community programs (Slipstreams, retreats). Comparable to CWD's adult T1D community programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cwdiabetes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/children-with-diabetes

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 Children With Diabetes