Acupuncturists Without Borders

What Acupuncturists Without Borders does

Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2005 in response to Hurricane Katrina, headquartered at 3439 NE Sandy Blvd, #304, Portland, Oregon (EIN 54-2190889). The organization provides trauma-informed integrative care to communities affected by war, conflict, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises, using the NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) auricular acupuncture protocol administered in community-style group settings. AWB trains volunteer acupuncturists, physicians, nurses, midwives, and other health professionals to create sustainable trauma-relief programs in their own communities, with active field programs in the U.S. (veterans, farmworkers, refugees) and internationally in Nepal, Mongolia, Haiti, Greece, Israel, Palestine, Mexico, Ukraine, Poland, and EU/UK. The organization's three-pillar service model comprises training healthcare providers, providing material/financial/personnel support to community-based projects, and delivering direct trauma-relief services during acute events.

AWB operates a diversified revenue model spanning multiple channels: a tiered membership program (Jing practitioner tier $100-$250, Shen clinic/business tier $150-$1,000, Qi sustaining tier $10-$60/month, and a $50 student option); 13 online courses on the LearnWorlds platform (with migration from Talent LMS planned for September 2026) and live trainings including the Greek Herbal Wisdom event at €1,270-1,600; the Medicine of Peace (M.O.P.) Shopify merchandise shop with print-on-demand apparel and accessories; four-tier corporate sponsorship (Bronze under $1,000 through Platinum over $10,000); charitable donations including vehicle and real estate via CARS and Giving Property; and the AWB Foundation, awarding five $1,000 seed grants in 2026. Distribution leverages LearnWorlds (global course delivery), Shopify (e-commerce, US shipping only), NeonCRM (membership management), and a network of AWB-affiliated community clinics. Notable flagship partners include Platinum sponsors Lhasa OMS, Mayway Corporation, Golden Flower Chinese Herbs, and The California Endowment, plus strategic co-development partners Livity Rising and Integrative Healers Action Network in the Colectivo CARE farmworker initiative. Leadership comprises Executive Director Christine Cronin (DAOM, L.Ac.) and Program Director Carla Cassler (DAOM, LAc).

Name

Acupuncturists Without Borders

Legal name

Acupuncturists Without Borders

Website

https://acuwithoutborders.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Acupuncturists Without Borders is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2005 that trains healthcare professionals to deliver trauma-informed auricular acupuncture (NADA protocol) to disaster-affected, refugee, and underserved communities globally, funded by memberships, trainings, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Trauma-Informed Acupuncture Services and Training

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Border Management & Humanitarian Border Assistance (BPADAHAL)

Keywords

• Trauma-informed acupuncture
• Community acupuncture training
• Disaster relief acupuncture
• NADA protocol training
• Nonprofit healthcare training

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

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. Membership Programs: AWB generates recurring revenue through tiered membership programs (Jing Level: $100-$250/year for practitioners; Shen Level: $150-$1000/year for clinics/businesses; Qi Level: $10-$60/month sustaining membership). Members receive benefits including training discounts, event access, and partner discounts.
2. Online Courses and Training: AWB offers 13 online courses on trauma-informed care through LearnWorlds platform, plus live in-person trainings. Pricing varies by course with member discounts available. Courses include Healing Community Trauma, Repairing the Shattered Heart certificate program, and Emergency Training.
3. Merchandise Sales (M.O.P. Shop): AWB operates the Medicine of Peace (M.O.P.) shop selling branded merchandise including apparel, accessories, water bottles, and mugs. Products are print-on-demand, sourced primarily from international manufacturers.
4. Donations and Grants: AWB receives charitable donations from individuals and organizations. The AWB Foundation awards seed grants ($1,000 each) to support local trauma-healing projects. The organization also accepts supply donations, stock donations, vehicle donations, and real estate donations.
5. Sponsorship Programs: AWB offers corporate sponsorship tiers (Bronze: under $1,000; Silver: up to $5,000; Gold: up to $10,000; Platinum: over $10,000) providing marketing benefits including website listing, social media recognition, webinar access, and event branding.
6. Live Training Events: AWB conducts in-person training events including the annual Greek Holistic Herbal Wisdom seminar (€1,270-1,600). Events include travel, lodging, and meals as part of the package pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB) is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers integrative, trauma-informed care—including NADA 5-point auricular acupuncture, therapeutic massage, and plant-based medicine—to people affected by disasters, conflict, and humanitarian crises. The organization trains volunteer licensed healthcare professionals in its standardized trauma-relief curriculum, equips them to operate free community clinics, and operates a portfolio of paid courses, seminars, memberships, sponsorships, and an online merchandise store to fund its humanitarian programming.

Product overview

AWB is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing integrative, trauma-informed care to communities affected by disasters, conflict, and humanitarian crises. The organization operates as a multi-channel service provider: (1) direct trauma-relief services through disaster relief and community clinics staffed by trained volunteers; (2) professional education via online and live training programs including the signature Healing Community Trauma course and AWB Emergency Training; (3) international programs such as Colectivo CARE in partnership with Livity Rising and IHAN; (4) grant funding through the AWB Foundation; (5) membership programs at multiple tiers for practitioners, clinics, and businesses; and (6) the Medicine of Peace (M.O.P.) Shop selling branded merchandise. AWB also coordinates field programs in Haiti, Mexico border, Ukraine/EU/UK, Palestine, and Greece. The organization does not offer a software product, public API, or AI/ML capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AWB Foundation: A foundation dedicated to removing financial barriers that prevent AWB-affiliated practitioners from starting trauma-healing projects in their communities. In 2026, the foundation will award five $1,000 seed grants.
• Colectivo CARE (Community Alliance for Resilience and Equity)
• Medicine of Peace (M.O.P.) Shop

Products and services

• Healing Community Trauma in Times of Crisis (Signature Training) AWB's flagship training that equips licensed healthcare professionals with the protocols, ethics, and clinical skills to deliver trauma-informed integrative care (NADA auricular acupuncture plus massage and plant-based medicine) in community and disaster-response settings. Sold to individual practitioners and to organizations that host trainings.
• AWB Emergency Training Live and online training course delivered by Christine Cronin and Carla Cassler that prepares licensed practitioners to deliver NADA-protocol auricular acupuncture in disaster-response and emergency contexts. Sold to individual healthcare professionals and to organizations that host the training on-site.
• Greek Holistic Herbal Wisdom Seminar Five-day in-person international seminar held in Greece that teaches practitioners the integration of regional Greek herbs into AWB's trauma-informed care methodology. Sold to licensed acupuncturists and integrative practitioners as a destination training event with tiered pricing including shared lodging, single occupancy, and tuition-only options.
• AWB Online Trauma-Informed Care Course Catalog (13 courses) A catalog of 13 self-paced online courses available anytime on the AWB LearnWorlds platform that teach trauma-informed integrative care techniques (including the Healing Community Trauma and Repairing the Shattered Heart certificate program) for licensed acupuncturists, physicians, nurses, midwives, and bodyworkers.
• Medicine of Peace (M.O.P.) Shop AWB's branded online merchandise store selling apparel and accessories such as T-shirts, hats, and bags on Shopify, with free domestic shipping on orders of $75 or more. Revenue supports AWB's humanitarian programming.
• AWB Membership Programs (Practitioner and Clinic/Business tiers) Tiered annual membership program with separate Practitioner tiers (from $50 to $250) and Clinic/Business tiers (Bronze $150, Silver $300, Gold $500, Platinum $1,000) that provide practitioners and clinics with network affiliation, training access, and free advertising benefits.
• AWB Community Trauma-Relief Clinics Free community clinics operated by AWB-trained volunteers that deliver NADA-protocol auricular acupuncture and related trauma-informed care to underserved populations including veterans, refugees, farmworkers, first responders, and disaster survivors in communities across the United States.
• Colectivo CARE Initiative Collaborative program that organizes free integrative acupuncture care for historically underserved populations including veterans, refugees, farmworkers, first responders, and disaster survivors, delivered through AWB's community-clinic infrastructure.
• AWB Corporate Sponsorship Packages Tiered corporate sponsorship offering for TCM and wellness brands structured at Business Supporter ($1,000), Bronze ($2,500), Silver ($5,000), and Gold ($10,000+) levels, providing sponsor recognition on the AWB website, at events, and across programming in exchange for support of humanitarian trauma-relief services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 years of trauma-healing service since Hurricane Katrina response in 2005
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Lhasa OMSflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor ($10,000+) based in Weymouth, MA. For almost 40 years, Lhasa OMS has been helping build the acupuncture profession through quality products, customer service, continuing education, and donation programs to support relief efforts worldwide.
• Mayway CorporationflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor ($10,000+) based in Oakland, CA. Family business importing and distributing traditional Chinese medicine since 1969, focused on herb quality and TCM practice. Partner in Mexico Border Project providing Chinese herbal formulas.
• Golden Flower Chinese HerbsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor ($10,000+) based in Albuquerque, NM. Complete single source for Chinese Medicine products assembling patent formulas from high-quality bulk herbs.
• The California EndowmentflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor ($10,000+) based in Los Angeles, CA. Mission to expand access to affordable, quality healthcare for underserved communities and promote health improvements for all Californians.
• Kamwo Meridian HerbscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor (up to $10,000) based in New York, NY. Largest dispensary on the east coast and trusted purveyor of Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 50 years.
• AcureacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor (up to $5,000) based in Las Vegas, NV. One-stop web shop for acupuncture clinic supplies since 2013.
• WabbocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor (up to $5,000) based in Lake Elsinore, CA. Wholesaler, manufacturer, and distributor of medical and acupuncture supplies for over two decades.
• Florida State Oriental Medical Association (FSOMA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor (up to $5,000) based in Bradenton, FL. 501(c)6 professional association serving Florida Licensed Acupuncturists since 1994.
• asiamedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor (up to $1,000) based in Germany. Acupuncture needle manufacturer since 1989 offering over 30 needle types with 300+ variants.
• NCCAOMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor (up to $1,000) based in Washington, DC. National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine promoting professional standards and credentialing.
• Blue Poppy EnterprisesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor (up to $1,000) based in Portland, OR. Information, goods, and services for acupuncture and Chinese medicine advancement.
• Tianjiang / Treasure of the EastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor (up to $1,000) based in Ithaca, NY. Complete line of granule extracts made by Tianjiang Pharmaceutical with industry-leading quality control.
• Livity RisingflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-lead partner in Colectivo CARE (Community Alliance for Resilience and Equity), providing trauma-informed integrative care to Santa Cruz County farmworkers. Collaborative initiative with AWB and Integrative Healers Action Network.
• Integrative Healers Action Network (IHAN)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-lead partner in Colectivo CARE. Provides clinics and network for trauma-informed care delivery to underserved communities impacted by disasters and social injustice.
• PlantEdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHerbal education partner based in Evia, Greece. Led by herbalist Maria Skarli, provides hands-on herbal seminars at Falagaki Farm for AWB's Greek Holistic Herbal Wisdom program.
• Center for Farmworker FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner for bimonthly mobile clinics providing integrative care (acupuncture, cupping, massage, chiropractic) for Central California farmworkers.
• Salud Para la Gente CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatsonville, CA partner clinic providing healthcare services alongside AWB mobile clinics for farmworker communities.
• Parteras Midwifery GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTijuana, Mexico midwifery group partnered with AWB at Justicia en Salud Clinic, providing integrative reproductive healthcare for refugees with acupuncture training for midwives.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationE-commerce platform hosting AWB's Medicine of Peace (M.O.P.) shop and online course store.
• LearnWorldscoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline learning platform hosting AWB's 13 online courses. Migration from Talent LMS planned for September 2026.
• CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVehicle donation partner arranging free vehicle pickup and handling donation process for AWB.
• Giving PropertyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReal estate donation partner making it easy to donate land, residential, or commercial properties to AWB, covering all loans, liens, and closing costs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF): Global medical humanitarian organization providing emergency medical care in conflict zones, disasters, and humanitarian crises. Comparable to AWB in delivering health services in humanitarian contexts, but operates at vastly larger scale across all medical specialties, not trauma-informed acupuncture specifically.
• American Red Cross: Large-scale U.S. disaster response and humanitarian aid organization providing emergency relief, health services, and training. Comparable to AWB in disaster response and volunteer-based service delivery, but at a fundamentally larger scale and broader mission scope.
• Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian and development organization working in disaster response and recovery, food security, and economic development. Comparable to AWB in disaster response and community resilience programming across multiple humanitarian contexts.
• International Medical Corps: Humanitarian organization delivering emergency medical services and training in conflict and disaster settings worldwide. Comparable to AWB in combining direct medical service delivery with healthcare-professional training in humanitarian contexts.
• Direct Relief: Humanitarian medical aid organization providing medicines, supplies, and support to disaster-affected and underserved communities globally. Comparable to AWB in delivering medical assistance in disaster and humanitarian contexts, though focuses on pharmaceutical and medical supply delivery rather than direct clinical care.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, supporting refugees and displaced populations with health, education, and economic programs. Comparable to AWB in serving refugees and asylum seekers (including AWB's Mexico border work) with trauma-informed support.

Others

• Acupuncture Now Foundation: Nonprofit advancing public awareness and integration of acupuncture in mainstream healthcare. Comparable as a nonprofit working at the intersection of acupuncture practice and broader healthcare/audience-building, though focuses on advocacy and education rather than direct trauma-relief service delivery.
• National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA): Nonprofit that trains and registers acupuncture detoxification specialists, established to promote the NADA auricular protocol that AWB uses as its core clinical methodology. Comparable as the protocol authority and adjacent ecosystem enabler rather than a direct service competitor.

Direct peers

• Livity Rising: Organization providing trauma-informed integrative care to underserved communities. Direct peer and explicit co-lead partner with AWB in the Colectivo CARE initiative serving farmworkers in Santa Cruz County, using overlapping modalities (acupuncture, cupping, massage).
• Integrative Healers Action Network (IHAN): Network providing integrative trauma-informed care clinics to underserved communities impacted by disasters and social injustice. Directly comparable to AWB — co-leads the Colectivo CARE initiative with AWB in Santa Cruz County — and shares the same NADA-protocol-based integrative care model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AWBAlbumsMain
• Facebookfacebook.com/acuwithoutborders
• Instagraminstagram.com/acuwithoutborders
• Xx.com/ACUwoBORDERS

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 Acupuncturists Without Borders