Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation

What Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation does

Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation (ASDF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN #20-8820570) headquartered in Schererville, Indiana, that delivers direct financial aid, assistive technology, and public education to families of children with autism spectrum disorder in the United States. The foundation operates four core programs: the Autism Awareness Project, which has distributed nearly 5 million bilingual (English/Spanish) early-detection bookmarks to new parents through hospitals in all 50 states since 2010; the Holiday Gift Card Program, which distributes e-gift cards to families with the greatest need via a partner-network lottery during a fixed November application window; the iPad For Kids Program, which donates Apple iPads preloaded with third-party communication apps to nonverbal and minimally verbal autistic children via a monthly lottery; and the Summer Scholarship Program, which funds attendance at social-skills, equine, and aquatic therapy camps through a nationwide network of more than 19 partner organizations.

The underlying technology stack is intentionally lean: a WordPress-based public website (myasdf.org) and a third-party donation storefront (myasdf.careasy.org) handle donor acquisition, while the iPad program depends on consumer Apple hardware and third-party augmentative/communication applications rather than proprietary software. Digital marketing execution is outsourced to Katapult Marketing, and the foundation publishes a blog, educational resources (including Autism 101 curricula for law enforcement, EMS, and fire and rescue personnel), and peer-reviewed Stories of Hope on GreatNonprofits.org.

ASDF is funded almost entirely by individual public donations, with no disclosed enterprise, foundation, or government grants. Donations are accepted as one-time gifts or recurring subscriptions (monthly, quarterly, yearly) at preset tiers of $25, $50, $75, $100, $500, and $1,000, plus custom amounts, payable by credit/debit card, bank account, mailed check, or vehicle donation. All donations are tax-deductible under the organization's 501(c)(3) status, and the foundation is registered to solicit in at least 11 U.S. states. The organization carries Great Nonprofits Top-Rated recognition for 2025 and 2026 and a Candid Platinum Transparency seal for 2026, and reported 2025 program output of 615 iPads distributed, $50,000 in holiday gift cards, and $93,970 in camp scholarships across 23 states.

Name

Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation

Legal name

Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation

Website

https://myasdf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation (ASDF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity that funds direct aid for U.S. families of autistic children through four programs: hospital-distributed early-detection bookmarks, an iPad-for-nonverbal-children lottery, holiday gift cards, and summer camp scholarships, supported by a national partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autism Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism 1:1 Paraprofessional / Aide Support Services (EDAKAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Early Intervention (Educational) (EDAKAKAB), Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), Autism Executive Functioning & Academic Skills Intervention (EDAKAKAI), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ), Autism Teacher Training & Professional Development (EDAKAKAL), Autism-Specific Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAA)

Keywords

• Autism awareness education
• Disability support services
• Charitable giving programs
• Nonprofit family assistance
• Special needs advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations (one-time and recurring): Primary revenue stream from public donations. Donor chooses preset tier ($25, $50, $75, $100, $500, $1,000) or custom amount, with billing cadence of one-time, monthly, quarterly, or yearly. All donations are tax-deductible (501(c)(3), EIN #20-8820570). Payments processed online via credit card (Amex, Discover, Mastercard, Visa) or bank account, with check donations mailed to the Indiana office.
2. Vehicle donations: Secondary donation stream where donors can call a dedicated phone line (626-808-6540) to donate vehicles to ASDF, with proceeds supporting ASDF programs.
3. Other Ways to Give: Additional giving mechanisms including check-by-mail to the Schererville, IN office, managed via a dedicated donation portal (myasdf.careasy.org/home).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation (ASDF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity that educates the public about autism, provides families with tools and educational materials for early detection, and delivers direct financial assistance, assistive technology (iPads), and therapeutic/summer camp scholarships to families raising autistic children. Its programs include the Autism Awareness Project (bilingual bookmark distribution to hospitals in all 50 states), the iPad For Kids Program (monthly lottery-based iPad distribution to nonverbal children), the Holiday Gift Card Program, and the Summer Scholarship Program (social skills camps, equine therapy, and aquatic therapy).

Product overview

Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation (ASDF) is a single 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (not a multi-product software platform) that delivers a unified portfolio of charitable programs supporting autistic children and their families. The portfolio is anchored by four core programs named on the Our Programs page: the Autism Awareness Project (educational outreach distributing autism awareness bookmarks and an Early Detection Kit to hospitals in all 50 states), the Holiday Gift Card Program (direct financial assistance via randomly distributed e-gift cards), the iPad For Kids Program (direct iPad donations to support nonverbal communication, distributed via monthly lottery), and the Summer Scholarship Program (which itself comprises the Aquatic Therapy and Equine Therapy sub-programs that fund camp and therapeutic-lesson scholarships). These named programs are also aggregated under the donation-page groupings "ASDF Giving Tree" and "ASDF Camp Scholarships," and the foundation funds them through one-time and recurring online donations, mailed checks, and a vehicle donation program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ASDF Giving Tree: Financial assistance umbrella providing funding for the holiday gift card program, swim program, iPad program, and equine therapy.
• ASDF Camp Scholarships

Products and services

• Autism Awareness Project Distributes autism awareness bookmarks and early detection information to new parents through hospitals in all 50 states, including a downloadable Autism Early Detection Kit. Designed to increase early detection awareness among new parents and healthcare providers.
• iPad For Kids Program
• Holiday Gift Card Program Partners with autism organizations nationwide to identify families with the greatest financial need and distribute e-gift cards during the holiday season. Recipients randomly selected from applicants during a November application window.
• Summer Scholarship Program Provides partial and full scholarships to autistic children to attend social skills summer camps as well as equine and aquatic therapy programs. Operates through partner organizations across the United States.
• Aquatic Therapy
• Equine Therapy

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 children with autism supported through ASDF programs in the past 10 years
• +5 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Camp KaleidoscopecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerListed as a partner organization on ASDF's homepage logo wall. As a camp partner, it supports ASDF's Summer Scholarship Program by providing social-skills / therapeutic camp experiences to autistic children whose families receive ASDF scholarships.
• Aaron's AcrescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFeatured partner on the ASDF homepage. Provides camp/therapeutic programming that ASDF families access via the Summer Scholarship Program.
• Camp Yakety YakcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerListed partner on ASDF homepage, providing social-skills/communication camp services for autistic children funded through ASDF scholarships.
• Team Guts (Michigan)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHomepage partner organization supporting ASDF's mission; helps reach families and provide athletic/community programming for autistic children.
• Central Texas Behavioral SolutionscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHomepage partner organization providing behavioral health services in central Texas; helps identify and support ASDF-served families.
• Stone AcademyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHomepage partner organization supporting ASDF's summer scholarship recipients.
• Stars Global PrepminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHomepage partner organization providing educational programming; listed among ASDF's community partners.
• True KnightminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHomepage partner organization supporting ASDF's community outreach and program delivery for autistic children.
• Heart & SoulminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHomepage partner (heartandsoulmt.com) - likely equine therapy program supporting ASDF scholarship recipients.
• True FriendscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHomepage partner organization (truefriends.org) providing year-round recreational, camping, and respite programs; serves as a destination for ASDF scholarship-funded children.
• Saddle Up! (Nashville)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHomepage partner organization providing equine therapy programs; directly aligns with ASDF's equine-assisted therapy scholarship offerings.
• Camp EncouragecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHomepage partner camp serving autistic youth; a destination for ASDF Summer Scholarship Program recipients.
• Camp AldersgatecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHomepage partner (campaldersgate.net) providing camp programs for individuals with disabilities; supports ASDF's summer camp scholarship program.
• We Rock The Spectrum Gym (Atlanta)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHomepage partner organization (werockthespectrumatlanta.com) - sensory-friendly gym that serves autistic children and families in ASDF's network.
• Sparks Day CampminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHomepage partner (sparksny.org) - day camp program serving as a scholarship destination for ASDF-funded children.
• Abilities FirstcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHomepage partner (abilitiesfirst.org) providing programs for individuals with developmental disabilities; supports ASDF scholarship-funded participation.
• Camp BarnabascoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHomepage partner (campbarnabas.org) - well-known summer camp serving individuals with disabilities; serves as a destination for ASDF scholarship-funded children.
• Wildflower WondersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHomepage partner organization (wildflowerwonders.com) supporting ASDF's outreach to families of autistic children.
• Camp StarfishcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHomepage partner (campstarfish.org) - 1:1 summer camp for children with social, emotional, learning, and developmental needs; destination for ASDF scholarships.
• Katapult MarketingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThird-party digital marketing agency credited in the ASDF website footer for 'Digital Marketing by Katapult Marketing'. Provides digital marketing execution for the foundation's donor acquisition and awareness efforts.
• Great NonprofitscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExternal peer-review platform (greatnonprofits.org/org/autism-spectrum-disorder-foundation-inc) that hosts ASDF's 'Stories of Hope', enables donor reviews, and confers the Top-Rated Nonprofit recognition referenced on the homepage.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Autism Association: Autism nonprofit focused on family support, safety (including wandering prevention and first-responder training), and awareness. Closely comparable to ASDF given overlapping first-responder training content and direct family aid programs.
• Autism Research Institute: Long-standing autism organization that disseminates research-based information to families and professionals. Comparable to ASDF in its educational content publishing and parent-facing awareness materials, though more research-translation focused.
• Organization for Autism Research (OAR): Autism nonprofit that funds applied research and provides direct educational resources to families, educators, and individuals. Comparable to ASDF as a similarly-sized US autism nonprofit with both research-adjacent and direct family-resource missions.
• Autism Society of America: National autism nonprofit providing information, advocacy, and support services to autistic individuals and families. Direct peer because it overlaps with ASDF in family education, awareness materials, and direct support programming, though it operates a broader affiliate-network model.
• Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism: Family-founded autism nonprofit funding direct services, education, and recreational opportunities (including camp scholarships) for autistic individuals and their families. Highly comparable to ASDF's Summer Scholarship Program and family-aid model.
• The Autism Community in Action (TACA): Autism nonprofit focused on education, support, and resources for families affected by autism, with an emphasis on medical and therapeutic navigation. Comparable to ASDF in its direct-to-family educational and resource delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Autism Speaks: The largest US autism advocacy organization, historically focused on research and awareness. Comparable as a nationally recognized autism nonprofit fundraising from individual donors, but significantly larger and more research-oriented than ASDF's direct-family-aid model.
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital / ALSAC: Major US nonprofit operating programs for children with serious medical conditions, funded primarily by individual donations. Comparable in fund-raising model, multi-program portfolio, and emphasis on direct family support, though vastly larger in scale.
• Easterseals: Large national disability-services nonprofit providing direct services (therapy, camps, employment support) to individuals with autism and other disabilities. Comparable as a similarly mission-aligned organization that delivers direct services through a national affiliate network.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation: Large national nonprofit granting wishes to children with critical illnesses including autism-related conditions. Comparable to ASDF as a similarly structured 501(c)(3) using individual donations to deliver tangible, item-based experiences to children with specific needs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MyASDF
• Facebookfacebook.com/myasdf

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation