American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association

What American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association does

The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1943 and headquartered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, that supports patients and families affected by cleft lip, cleft palate, and other craniofacial conditions. Its central product is the ACPA Approved Team Care Program, a verification and directory service that recognizes interdisciplinary cleft and craniofacial care teams meeting defined standards of comprehensive care. Through this program, ACPA's approved teams serve approximately 76,000 patients annually, against an annual US incidence of 6,000 to 8,000 children born with cleft lip and/or palate.

ACPA's product portfolio extends beyond team accreditation to include a Resource Center of educational booklets and fact sheets, online events and a self-advocacy webinar series, discussion forums, community storytelling, an advocacy program, a college scholarship program for individuals with cleft conditions, and the Cleft Courage Bear Program (a plush companion for affected children). The organization does not develop software; its digital surface consists of acpacares.org for resource distribution, team directory lookup, donations, and event registration, supported by a NeonCRM donation form. There is no proprietary technology stack or AI/ML component.

Revenue is generated through individual, corporate, and foundation donations, supplemented by partnership and sponsorship support for named programs such as the 100 Cleft Portraits Tour. ACPA runs community-led go-to-market through social channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Linktree), earned media during Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month, online events, and a national traveling art exhibition across 12 US cities. Customers are patients and families (primary) and healthcare professionals on approved care teams (secondary). Recognition includes a Four-Star Charity Navigator rating and a 2025 Platinum Candid Seal.

Name

American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association

Legal name

American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association

Website

https://acpa-cpf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1943

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) is a nonprofit founded in 1943 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, that accredits interdisciplinary cleft and craniofacial care teams and serves patients and families through education, resources, advocacy, and community programs across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chapel Hill

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: ACPA generates revenue through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization operates fundraising campaigns and accepts gifts through various giving platforms on its website.
2. Partnership and Sponsorship Revenue: The organization receives support from healthcare institutions, nonprofit partners, and foundations for specific programs and initiatives such as the 100 Cleft Portraits Tour.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ACPA is a nonprofit healthcare association that supports patients and families affected by cleft lip, cleft palate, and craniofacial conditions. It maintains the ACPA Approved Team Care Program, a verification system for interdisciplinary care teams; operates a Resource Center with educational materials; runs a Find A Care Team directory; hosts online events, webinars, and discussion forums; provides college scholarships; distributes Cleft Courage Bears; shares community stories; and conducts advocacy initiatives.

Product overview

The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association offers a portfolio of patient and family support services centered on its ACPA Approved Team Care Program, which verifies and promotes comprehensive interdisciplinary cleft and craniofacial care teams across the US and internationally. The organization's service ecosystem includes a Resource Center with educational materials, a Care Team finder directory, online events with discussion forums, college scholarships, the Cleft Courage Bear Program (a plush companion for affected children), Community Stories sharing platform, and advocacy initiatives. The organization does not offer a software product but rather serves as a coordinating body connecting patients with approved care teams and providing supportive resources throughout the cleft and craniofacial journey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cleft Courage Bear Program: ACPA is home to bears waiting to touch the lives of those affected by cleft lip and palate. The ACPA Cleft Courage Bear – made with stitches across the upper lip – is infant-friendly, washable, and made from plush fabric.

Products and services

• ACPA Approved Team Care Program A team-based care verification and approval program that identifies cleft and craniofacial care teams meeting ACPA's standards for comprehensive, interdisciplinary care. The approved team network serves 76,000 patients annually across the United States and internationally.
• Resource Center Educational resource library providing downloadable booklets, fact sheets, and online materials covering cleft lip and palate topics including introduction to conditions, feeding guidance, and surgical preparation for patients and families.
• Find A Care Team A directory service allowing patients and families to locate ACPA Approved Teams domestically and internationally for cleft and craniofacial care.
• Online Events and Discussion Forums Virtual event programming including self-advocacy webinar series and community discussion forums enabling peer support and professional guidance for patients and families throughout their cleft and craniofacial journeys.
• Cleft Courage Bear Program A plush bear product designed for infants and children affected by cleft lip and palate, featuring stitched details across the upper lip for emotional support and normalization. The bears are infant-friendly, washable, and made from plush fabric.
• College Scholarships Scholarship program supporting individuals born with cleft lip and/or palate in pursuing higher education.
• Advocacy Program Programs supporting policy advocacy and awareness initiatives for individuals with cleft and craniofacial conditions, including Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month activities.
• Community Stories A storytelling platform enabling individuals and families affected by cleft conditions to share their experiences and connect with others in the community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 76,000 patients served annually by ACPA Approved Teams
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Children's Mercy Hospital-Kansas CitycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 July 2026Children's Mercy Hospital-Kansas City is supporting the 100 Cleft Portraits Tour as a key partner. The hospital is one of the leading pediatric healthcare institutions and is hosting/supports this awareness initiative as part of Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month.
• Smile TraincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2026Smile Train, a global nonprofit focused on providing cleft surgery and comprehensive care, is supporting the 100 Cleft Portraits Tour. This partnership aligns with Smile Train's mission to transform the lives of patients with cleft conditions through supporting local medical professionals.
• myFacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2026myFace, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of patients with craniofacial differences, is supporting the 100 Cleft Portraits Tour as part of their commitment to raising awareness and supporting the community.
• Katie ManningcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2026UK-based artist and cleft advocate who created the 100 Cleft Portraits exhibition featuring 100 portraits with personal stories that aim to challenge societal perceptions of cleft conditions. The exhibition debuted in London in July 2025.
• ACPA Approved Cleft and Craniofacial Care TeamscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 July 2026Each stop of the 100 Cleft Portraits Tour is hosted in partnership with local ACPA Approved cleft and craniofacial care teams. These teams provide local hosting, expertise, and community engagement for the traveling exhibition.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Smile Train: Global nonprofit focused on cleft lip and palate surgery and comprehensive care. Directly comparable as a cleft-focused nonprofit partnering with ACPA on the 100 Cleft Portraits Tour and serving an overlapping patient community.
• Children's Craniofacial Association: Nonprofit supporting children with craniofacial conditions and their families through resources, networking, and advocacy. Directly comparable patient population and family-support mission.
• AmeriFace: Nonprofit supporting individuals with facial differences and their families through information, networking, and advocacy. Directly comparable mission and patient population to ACPA's craniofacial support work.
• myFace: Nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals with craniofacial differences and their families. Directly comparable mission, patient population, and partner role alongside ACPA on the 2026 Cleft Portraits Tour.
• Operation Smile: Global nonprofit providing cleft lip and palate surgeries and comprehensive care. Comparable as a cleft-focused nonprofit that supports patient/family services, awareness, and care coordination overlapping with ACPA's mission.
• AboutFace USA: Organization supporting individuals with facial differences and their families. Comparable as a peer nonprofit focused on craniofacial community support, awareness, and advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• March of Dimes: Large nonprofit addressing maternal and infant health, including birth defects. Comparable as a broader incumbent that overlaps with ACPA's congenital-condition patient base and competes for birth-defect charitable dollars.
• American Academy of Pediatrics: Professional membership organization for pediatricians. Comparable as a broad medical professional association that engages with pediatric specialty conditions including cleft and craniofacial care.

Emerging players

• National Organization for Rare Disorders: Advocacy organization supporting patients with rare diseases including craniofacial conditions. Comparable as a peer that aggregates awareness and policy support for niche medical communities, with partial mission overlap.

Regional players

• Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA): UK-based charity supporting people affected by cleft lip and palate. Comparable as a regional peer serving the same patient community in the UK, complementing ACPA's US-focused operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/americancleftpalate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-cleft-palate-craniofacial-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/americancleftpalate
• Xx.com/amercleftpalate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association