National Association of the Deaf

Name

National Association of the Deaf

Legal name

National Association of the Deaf

Website

https://nad.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1880

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sign Language Learning Programs (ASL/BSL, etc.) (EDAMAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Assistive Hearing & Communication Access (Captioning, Hearing Support, Transcription) (EDAFAKAC), Special Education & Accessibility-Optimized Media (UDL, AAC, Captioning) (EDAGALAH)

Keywords

• Civil rights advocacy
• Deaf community services
• Accessibility advocacy
• Sign language rights
• Nonprofit membership federation

Headquarters

HQ city

Silver Spring

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. Individual Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from individual members including Regular ($40/year), Senior 50+ ($25/year), Youth 18-30 ($25/year), and International ($60/year). Membership sections available for $5/year each including DeafBlind, Deaf Culture & History, Deaf Education, Interpreter, LGBTQIA2S+, Multicultural, Senior Citizens, and Youth sections. Members receive email updates, digital magazine, event opportunities.
2. Organizational Membership Dues: Annual fees from organizational members including State Association Affiliates ($200/year), Nonprofit National ($300/year), Nonprofit State/Local ($200/year), Government Federal ($300/year), For-Profit National ($2,000/year), and For-Profit State ($1,000/year).
3. Conference Registration and Exhibitor Fees: Revenue from the biennial NAD conference through registration fees (Combo tickets $400, Workshops & Exhibits $100, Opening Ceremony $100, Cultural Extravaganza $100, College Bowl Finals $100, Conference Bash $150, CEUs $200, Certificate of Attendance $100), exhibitor booth fees, and related event charges.
4. Donations and Fundraising: One-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, and annual gifts that power NAD's daily operations and specific funds including General Operations Fund, Law and Advocacy Fund (in honor of Nancy J. Bloch, Frederick C. Schreiber, and Marc P. Charmatz), United We Stand Fund (crisis/disaster support), Youth Leadership Fund, and In Honor or Memory tributes. Workplace matching gift programs. 145th anniversary special gift campaign asking for $145 contributions.
5. Corporate Sponsorships and Conference Partnerships: Corporate partnership and sponsorship revenue from the biennial conference at multiple tiers: Canopy Circle ($100,000), Emergent Circle ($75,000), Crown Circle ($50,000), Branch Circle ($25,000), Sapling Circle ($15,000), Seedling Circle ($10,000), Root Circle ($5,000). Additional optional food & beverage and accessibility experience sponsorships. Major corporate partners include Chase, Google, Waymo, Microsoft, Disney, Meta, Sorenson, CapTel, NorCal Services, Gallaudet University, RIT/NTID, and others.
6. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Bequests in wills or trusts, retirement account or life insurance beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities providing lifetime income, and endowment gifts creating permanent support sources. These ensure NAD's work continues for generations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is a U.S. civil rights organization that preserves, protects, and promotes the civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing individuals. It delivers five interconnected service areas: Civil Rights & Legal Advocacy, Public Policy & Government Affairs, Education & Language Access, Technology & Accessibility, and Youth Leadership & Empowerment, supported by individual and organizational memberships, a biennial national conference, and a Knowledge Hub of position statements and policy briefs.

Product overview

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is a nonprofit advocacy organization offering a unified suite of civil rights and accessibility services rather than a traditional product portfolio. The organization's core offerings include five interconnected service areas: Civil Rights & Legal Advocacy, Public Policy & Government Affairs, Education & Language Access, Technology & Accessibility, and Youth Leadership & Empowerment. These are supplemented by flagship programs such as the Biennial NAD Conference, individual and organizational membership programs, NAD Sections for specialized community focus areas, and a Knowledge Hub providing resources and policy materials. The organization does not offer a software product but provides advocacy services, educational resources, community programs, and networking opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Civil Rights & Legal Advocacy Legal advocacy and protection of civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing individuals through litigation support, know-your-rights resources, complaint filing guidance, and systemic reform across education, employment, healthcare, and public life.
• Public Policy & Government Affairs Policy advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels covering communication access, education, employment, healthcare, and technology, delivered through position statements, policy briefs, and grassroots campaigns.
• Education & Language Access Advocacy Advocacy for bilingual (ASL/English) language development, family and educator support, and full educational access for deaf children, including support for LEAD-K legislation in 23 states.
• Technology & Accessibility Advocacy Advocacy for communication access standards in technology, including media captioning, emergency communications, telecommunications relay services, and accessible design across digital platforms.
• Youth Leadership & Empowerment Programs Leadership development, mentorship, scholarship, and community-building programs for deaf and hard of hearing youth through Jr. NAD chapters, Youth Leadership Camp, and College Bowl Competition.
• Biennial NAD Conference National flagship biennial conference bringing together deaf and hard of hearing advocates, leaders, professionals, students, and families for workshops, exhibits, business meetings, alumni gatherings, and cultural celebrations such as the Opening Ceremony, Cultural Extravaganza, College Bowl Competition, and ASL Slam.
• Individual Membership Annual membership for individuals at $40/year (regular), $25/year (seniors 50+ and youth 18-30), and $60/year (international), providing email updates, digital magazine, event opportunities, and advocacy representation.
• Organizational Membership Annual organizational membership tiers including State Association Affiliates ($200/year), Nonprofit Affiliates ($200-$300/year), Government Federal Affiliates ($300/year), and For-Profit Affiliates ($1,000-$2,000/year), with federation benefits and advocacy coordination.
• NAD Knowledge Hub Free online repository of position statements, policy briefs, advocacy toolkits, and educational materials covering Civil Rights, Public Policy, Education, Technology, and Youth Leadership, accessible to members and the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45 million+ deaf and hard of hearing people represented through advocacy and policy work
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• ChasecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026Chase is a major corporate sponsor of the 58th Biennial NAD Conference (#NAD2026) in San Francisco. As a Canopy Circle or similar top-tier sponsor, Chase receives customized President's Reception access, welcome recognition video at Night of Unity events and Conference Bash, exhibit hall visibility, digital program recognition, website logo placement, and social media posts. Chase's financial sector presence supports NAD's advocacy and community programming.
• GooglecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026Google is a major corporate sponsor of #NAD2026, providing financial support and receiving recognition at the conference. Google's technology and accessibility initiatives align with NAD's technology and accessibility advocacy work, creating strategic alignment beyond branding.
• WaymocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026Waymo (autonomous driving company) sponsors #NAD2026, supporting NAD's conference and community programming. Waymo's accessibility-focused mobility technology aligns with NAD's advocacy for accessible transportation and communication.
• NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of HearingflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing is a core organizational partner for #NAD2026, with CEO Sheri Ann Farinha serving as featured keynote speaker at the Opening Ceremony presenting 'The Way Forward' alongside Andrew Imparato. NorCal led passage of California's LEAD-K law (first state legislation emphasizing ASL and English) and has helped expand LEAD-K to 23 states. This is a strategic partnership between two leading deaf organizations.
• Gallaudet UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026Gallaudet University is a key educational partner sponsoring #NAD2026. As the premier university for deaf and hard of hearing students, Gallaudet shares NAD's mission for deaf education and language access. Gallaudet alumni gather during the conference, strengthening ties between the national advocacy organization and higher education institution.
• RIT/National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026RIT/NTID co-sponsors #NAD2026 alongside Gallaudet University in the educational partnership tier. NTID alumni gather during the conference, and NTID student teams compete in the College Bowl competition. The partnership supports deaf education advocacy and leadership development.
• MicrosoftcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026Microsoft is a major corporate sponsor of #NAD2026, supporting NAD's advocacy work and conference programming. Microsoft's accessibility initiatives and assistive technology products align with NAD's technology and accessibility advocacy priorities.
• DisneycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026Disney sponsors #NAD2026 as part of its corporate partnership with NAD, supporting the deaf community and accessibility initiatives. Disney's entertainment and media presence provides significant visibility for accessibility awareness.
• MetacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026Meta (parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) sponsors #NAD2026, supporting NAD's conference and advocacy programming. Meta's social media platforms serve as communication channels for the deaf community, creating alignment with NAD's accessibility mission.
• SorensoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026Sorenson (communications access company providing VRS and video interpreting) sponsors #NAD2026. Sorenson's core business aligns directly with NAD's telecommunications relay services advocacy and communication access priorities.
• CapTel Captioned TelephonecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026CapTel (captioned telephone services for hard of hearing individuals) sponsors #NAD2026. CapTel's assistive technology for captioning aligns with NAD's accessibility advocacy and serves members who are hard of hearing.
• Interpreter-NowcoreTechnology or Integration · 30 June 2026Interpreter-Now (remote interpreting services) sponsors #NAD2026, supporting NAD's conference accessibility. Interpreter-Now's video remote interpreting (VRI) technology supports NAD's communication access advocacy.
• ZP Better Together/ZVRS & Purple CommunicationscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026ZP Better Together (parent of ZVRS and Purple Communications, video relay service providers) sponsors #NAD2026. ZVRS and Purple provide telecommunications relay services directly aligned with NAD's accessibility advocacy.
• NCTA (National Cable Television Association)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026NCTA sponsors #NAD2026, supporting NAD's conference programming. NCTA represents cable television providers who must comply with accessibility requirements under the CVAA.
• Deaf in GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026Deaf in Government (organization supporting deaf employees in federal and state government) co-sponsors #NAD2026 and collaborates on the ASL Slam/Post-College Bowl Social event. This partnership strengthens NAD's employment advocacy and government workforce accessibility efforts.
• RID Region V (Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026RID Region V (Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Region V chapter) partners with NAD on #NAD2026 workshop programming. Sacramento Valley Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (SaVRID) serves as the approved CMP sponsor for CEUs at the conference, enabling continuing education for interpreters.
• NAD Education Section/NDECcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026NAD Education Section/NDEC (Deaf Education National Clearinghouse) collaborates with NAD on #NAD2026 workshop programming, supporting deaf education advocacy and professional development for educators of deaf students.
• Morgan Stanley | The Rooney Swanson GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026Morgan Stanley's Rooney Swanson Group (financial advisory) sponsors #NAD2026, providing financial services sponsorship and supporting NAD's community programming.
• City and County of San Francisco Office on Disability and AccessibilitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026The City and County of San Francisco, through its Office on Disability and Accessibility, supports city accessibility efforts for #NAD2026, ensuring the conference venue and local environment are accessible for attendees with disabilities. This partnership enables NAD's national conference in San Francisco.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell): National nonprofit focused on listening, spoken language, and auditory access for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Comparable in membership model and conference programming but philosophically distinct from NAD (oral/spoken language vs. ASL/Deaf culture), making it both a peer and a foil in the advocacy landscape.
• National Federation of the Blind: The preeminent U.S. civil rights organization for blind individuals, structurally analogous to NAD as a 100+ year-old membership-based federation with state affiliates, advocacy, and biennial conventions. Directly comparable in mission (disability civil rights), structure (federated state associations), and revenue model (memberships, donations, conference).
• Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD): Nonprofit social enterprise providing communication access services (VRS, interpreting, advocacy) for the deaf community. Comparable to NAD in mission scope and target population, though CSD operates service programs while NAD operates a pure advocacy and membership model.
• Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA): National nonprofit advocacy organization for people with hearing loss, with state chapters and a national convention. Directly comparable to NAD in target population (hard of hearing), advocacy scope, and chapter-based federation model, though HLAA emphasizes hearing loss assistive technology over Deaf cultural/linguistic identity.
• Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID): National professional membership association for ASL interpreters. Comparable to NAD as a membership-based organization serving the broader deaf ecosystem, with similar advocacy, certification, and conference programming. RID Region V directly co-sponsors NAD's biennial conference.
• American Association of the Deaf-Blind (AADB): National consumer organization for people who are deafblind. Comparable to NAD in membership model and advocacy approach; NAD actually operates a dedicated DeafBlind Section, making AADB a closely adjacent peer in the deaf ecosystem.
• Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TDI): National advocacy organization focused on telecommunications and media access for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Directly comparable to NAD's technology and accessibility pillar and overlapping with NAD's FCC and emergency communications advocacy work.

Broad incumbents

• National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): National membership network of federally funded disability rights protection and advocacy organizations. Comparable to NAD in advocacy and legal services mission, though NDRN operates across all disability categories with public funding rather than private membership revenue.
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Larger national civil rights organization engaged in broad-based constitutional and disability rights litigation. Comparable to NAD in legal advocacy approach and federal litigation posture (notably NAD's White House ASL interpretation case), though ACLU operates across all civil rights areas rather than specializing in the deaf community.

Regional players

• Gallaudet University: Premier U.S. university for deaf and hard of hearing students and a Flagship partner of NAD. Comparable to NAD in mission (deaf education and language access) and directly collaborative at #NAD2026, though Gallaudet is an institution of higher education rather than a membership advocacy organization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NAD1880
• Instagraminstagram.com/nadsocial
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NationalAssociationoftheDeaf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-association-of-the-deaf
• Xx.com/nad1880

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Association of the Deaf