Supporters of Families with Sickle Cell Disease

What Supporters of Families with Sickle Cell Disease does

Supporters of Families with Sickle Cell Disease, Inc. (SFSCD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit patient advocacy organization founded in 2004 and headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a secondary office in Oklahoma City. It is the only comprehensive sickle cell community organization in the state of Oklahoma, serving individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease through education, advocacy, care coordination, and family-centered support. Core programs include emergency assistance (utilities, housing, food, childcare), healthcare navigation, transportation support, the Transition Sickle Cell Style program for adolescents and young adults, the Support Assistance Program, the Bridge to Stability Program, the Community Connection & Engagement Program, and Sickle Cell Camp. All services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries.

SFSCD's underlying technology footprint is modest and primarily operational, with its most notable bet being an announced AI Health Navigator Training Program designed to teach patients and families to use AI tools for symptom tracking, appointment management, and clinical communication. The organization distributes and contextualizes evidence-based educational resources from federal partners (CDC, NIH/NHLBI) and professional bodies (ASH, SCDAA) for local Oklahoma audiences. Distribution is omnichannel: physical offices in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, virtual/digital programs including webinars, community events such as the annual Sickle Cell Statewide 5K Walk/Run/Jog and Women's Empowerment High Tea, and a referral pipeline through healthcare providers, schools, and faith-based organizations.

The revenue model is donation-based: operating funds are generated through individual and corporate charitable contributions, foundation grants, event sponsorships, and small-dollar donations via the website and CashApp ($SOFSCDOK). There is no fee-for-service revenue; pricing is non-applicable because services are provided at no charge to beneficiaries. The organization is led by CEO/Founder Velvet Brown-Watts and is governed as an independent nonprofit with no parent company, private equity investment, or public ownership structure.

Name

Supporters of Families with Sickle Cell Disease

Legal name

Supporters of Families with Sickle Cell Disease, Inc.

Website

https://sicklecelloklahoma.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SFSCD is a 501(c)(3) patient advocacy nonprofit serving hundreds of Oklahoma families affected by sickle cell disease through education, care coordination, emergency assistance, and community programs, with offices in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Patient Advocacy Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA), Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF), Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK)

Keywords

• Sickle cell advocacy
• Patient support services
• Community education
• Care coordination
• Family support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Tulsa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: SFSCD operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization accepts donations via their website and CashApp.
2. Event-based Fundraising: Revenue generated through event participation fees and sponsorships from signature events like the Women's Empowerment High Tea ($60-$600 seat donations) and other community events.
3. CashApp Donations: Accepts donations via CashApp at $SOFSCDOK

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Supporters of Families with Sickle Cell Disease (SFSCD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit patient advocacy organization that delivers family-centered support, education, care coordination, and crisis assistance to individuals and families living with sickle cell disease across Oklahoma. Its core offerings include the Family Support Program (emergency assistance for utilities, housing, food, and childcare), care navigation, transportation support, educational programs, and community engagement events such as the annual Sickle Cell Statewide 5K Walk/Run/Jog. Services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries and funded through donations, grants, and event-based fundraising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Support Program Free emergency assistance, transportation, healthcare navigation, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease in Oklahoma.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced hospital readmissions and improved treatment adherence through support services
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Oklahoma RareminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2026Collaboration on rare disease advocacy and awareness. Partners on the 'Hands Across Oklahoma' virtual town hall meeting to bring together individuals, families, caregivers, advocates, and professionals to share information and strategies for rare disease support.
• OU Health / Children's Hospital OklahomacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOklahoma's major healthcare system providing specialized sickle cell treatment. SFSCD works with OU Health to provide care coordination, patient referrals, and wraparound support services for families receiving treatment at their facilities.
• Oklahoma State Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState health department providing public health guidance and resources for sickle cell disease management. SFSCD collaborates on newborn screening follow-up and public health education initiatives.
• Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization founded in 1971 to galvanize awareness and coordinated action for sickle cell disease. SFSCD collaborates on advocacy efforts and shares resources, with SCDAA championing legislative priorities including the Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act.
• Langston University TulsaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorically Black university in Tulsa that hosts SFSCD events including the Back to School Bash at BS Roberts Park. Provides venue and community engagement opportunities.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal health agency providing fact sheets and educational resources on sickle cell disease, emergency care, pregnancy, and hemoglobinopathies that SFSCD distributes to Oklahoma families.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) / National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal research agency providing evidence-based resources on hydroxyurea use and healthy living with sickle cell disease that SFSCD uses for patient education.
• American Society of Hematology (ASH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional organization providing clinical guidelines and fact sheets on SCD-related pain, cardiopulmonary/kidney disease, stem cell transplantation, and hydroxyurea dosing that SFSCD shares with families and providers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD): National umbrella for the rare disease community, providing advocacy, research funding, and patient services across thousands of conditions including sickle cell disease. Operates as a broad incumbent in the rare disease nonprofit space, of which SFSCD's work is a disease-specific subset.
• Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA): National umbrella organization founded in 1971 that coordinates advocacy, research, and member services across local SCD chapters. SFSCD is a member/partner organization operating at the state level under SCDAA's national framework, making it the closest structural and mission-aligned peer.

Emerging players

• Sick Cells: National sickle cell disease advocacy organization focused on policy, awareness, and storytelling rather than direct service delivery. Comparable to SFSCD in mission (SCD community empowerment) but differs in being advocacy-led rather than service-delivery-led, providing a useful complement to SFSCD's grassroots model.
• EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases: National rare disease advocacy organization focused on policy and accelerating drug development. Comparable to SFSCD only thematically (rare disease advocacy) but does not deliver direct services, making it an adjacent player rather than a direct peer.

Direct peers

• Sickle Cell Association of Texas Marc Thomas Foundation: Texas-based nonprofit serving sickle cell patients and families with education, support services, and advocacy. Operates with a similar community-based, family-centered model and comparable funding mix (donations, events, grants), making it a regional direct peer to SFSCD.
• Children's Sickle Cell Foundation: Children's-focused sickle cell nonprofit providing support services and programming specifically for pediatric SCD patients and families. Highly comparable to SFSCD's family-centered orientation (transition programs, youth camps, school advocacy) and target demographic.
• American Sickle Cell Anemia Association (ASCAA): Ohio-based nonprofit providing patient services, education, and research support to sickle cell patients and families. Comparable to SFSCD as a multi-program community organization combining direct services, education, and advocacy for the SCD community.
• Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia: Georgia-based nonprofit providing direct services, education, and advocacy to individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease. Closely mirrors SFSCD's wraparound services model (case management, emergency assistance, community events) at a larger state scale, making it a direct operational peer.

Regional players

• Sickle Cell Foundation of California: California-based nonprofit offering education, support, and advocacy for individuals with sickle cell disease. Operates in a different geographic market but runs a comparable community-based model of family services, education, and signature events similar to SFSCD's 5K Walk, Women's Empowerment High Tea, and Back to School Bash.
• Boston Sickle Cell Foundation: New England-based nonprofit providing direct services, community education, and advocacy. Comparable in operating model (small staff, community-led, family-centered services) but geographically distinct, making it a useful regional comparable for SFSCD.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sofwscd
• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/57308973833
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/supporters-of-families-with-sickle-cell-disease

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Supporters of Families with Sickle Cell Disease