Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation

What Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation does

The Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation (MDFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1958 in Carmel, Indiana, providing direct financial assistance, adaptive equipment, accessible vehicles, educational scholarships, and community programming to Indiana residents living with muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases. The organization was founded by four fathers of sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and expanded its scope in 1994 to cover all 43 neuromuscular diseases, including ALS, SMA, Charcot-Marie-Tooth, Limb-Girdle, and Myasthenia Gravis. As of 2025 MDFF serves 148 enrolled families, has provided over $1,000,000 in assistance since 2015, and has awarded 20 accessible vans through its giveaway program; in 2022 alone it disbursed $240,000 in financial assistance to 75+ families and hosts social events drawing 500+ attendees annually.

MDFF's core product suite comprises the Financial Assistance Program (funding for wheelchairs, ramps, Hoyer lifts, bathroom modifications, and van conversion costs), the Accessible Van Giveaway (annual free wheelchair-accessible vehicle awards), the AVA/Accessible Van Assistance program (partial gap-funding for accessible vehicle purchases), the $2,000 MDFF Educational Scholarship sponsored by Busey Bank, the $2,500 River & The Rock Perseverance Award funded by the Nicholoff family, the Social Events program (Zoo Day, Holiday Party, Trivia Nights), and a curated Resources Directory. All services require Indiana residency and free enrollment via the MDFF website. The underlying technology is a standard nonprofit web platform (mdff.org) with online application forms, email newsletter distribution, and donor management through Network for Good — there are no proprietary technology products or AI capabilities.

MDFF's revenue model is a diversified donation-and-grant stack operating on a 70-cents-on-the-dollar mission efficiency: individual donations with tiered monthly giving levels ($25–$200/month), multi-tier corporate sponsorships (Freedom/Journey/Mobility sponsors) tied to the annual Golf Outing and Mobility Gala, planned giving (bequests, stock gifts, donor-advised funds, charitable trusts), vehicle donations processed via CARS, the Kroger Community Rewards affiliate program, employer gift matching, and foundation grants (notably the Hamilton County Community Foundation's Timothy John Sheehan Memorial Endowment). Go-to-market is community-led: enrollment of Indiana families is driven by medical professional referrals, MDA care center relationships, social media presence, and event-based community outreach rather than paid acquisition. Following the January 2024 passing of former Board President Tim Doyle, the organization is operating under new leadership (Executive Director Hannah Oosterlinck; Board President Jacob Buehler) and has launched the Timothy J. Doyle Legacy Memorial Fund with a $500,000 fundraising goal.

Name

Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation

Legal name

Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation

Website

https://mdff.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation is a Carmel, Indiana-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1958 that provides financial assistance, adaptive equipment, accessible vans, scholarships, and community programming to Indiana residents living with muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services for Neuromuscular Disease

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGACAG

Disability Services & Independent Living Support

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGACAA

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

Keywords

• Nonprofit disability services
• Neuromuscular disease support
• Adaptive equipment funding
• Accessible vehicle assistance
• Educational scholarships

Headquarters

HQ city

Carmel

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. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting the MDFF mission. Donation tiers include $25/month for wheelchair repairs, $50/month for portable ramps, $100/month for van repairs, and $200/month for medical equipment and home modifications. 70 cents of every dollar goes directly to mission.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate giving from companies and organizations including Freedom Sponsors, Journey Sponsors, Mobility Sponsors, and various event sponsors for Golf Outing and Mobility Gala events.
3. Planned Giving: Legacy giving through stock gifts, donor-advised funds, qualified charitable contributions, bequest provisions, retirement plan beneficiary designations, life insurance beneficiary designations, and charitable remainder/lead trusts.
4. Vehicle Donations: MDFF accepts vehicle donations (cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, boats) through partner organization CARS, which handles pickup at no cost to donors.
5. Kroger Community Rewards: Kroger donates a portion of purchases when shoppers link their Kroger Rewards card to MDFF using organization code UY369 or 501c3 number 35-1040153.
6. Employer Gift Matching: Corporate employee donation matching programs where employers double the impact of charitable contributions made by their employees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation provides free direct financial assistance, adaptive equipment funding, accessible vehicle programs (giveaway and partial funding), educational scholarships, and community social events to Indiana residents diagnosed with muscular dystrophy or one of 43 neuromuscular diseases. All services are delivered at no charge to enrolled beneficiaries through committee-reviewed applications and corporate-vendor partnerships.

Product overview

The Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation operates as a nonprofit organization providing a coordinated suite of support programs for Indiana residents living with muscular dystrophy and neuromuscular diseases. The core offerings include: Financial Assistance Program for equipment and home modifications; Accessible Van Giveaway Program for free accessible vehicles; AVA (Accessible Van Assistance) Program for partial van funding; MDFF Educational Scholarship ($2,000 award for students); The River & The Rock Perseverance Award ($2,500 for resilience); Social Events Program for community building; and a Resources Directory connecting families to external support services. All programs require Indiana residency and enrollment with MDFF.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MDFF Educational Scholarship: A $2,000 scholarship sponsored by Busey Bank for Indiana residents diagnosed with muscular dystrophy or a neuromuscular disease in pursuit of their education goals. Originally founded and named after Andrew 'Sparky' Seever.
• The River & The Rock Award
• AVA = Accessible Van Assistance
• Accessible Van Giveaway

Products and services

• Financial Assistance Program Direct financial assistance covering floor modifications, wheelchair adaptations, wheelchairs, standers, bathroom remodifications, ramps, Hoyer lifts, van conversion costs, and other needed equipment items for enrolled Indiana residents living with muscular dystrophy or other neuromuscular diseases.
• Accessible Van Giveaway Program Annual program that awards wheelchair-accessible vans to Indiana families needing reliable transportation. Applications open December through February and recipients are chosen through a committee review process.
• AVA = Accessible Van Assistance Program Partial van assistance program that provides funding to help families close the financial gap when purchasing a wheelchair-accessible van, executed through vehicle partners Superior Van & Mobility and MobilityWorks.
• MDFF Educational Scholarship $2,000 scholarship sponsored by Busey Bank for Indiana residents diagnosed with muscular dystrophy or neuromuscular diseases who are pursuing education goals at two-year, four-year, trade school, or accredited certificate programs.
• The River & The Rock Perseverance Award Annual $2,500 award funded by the Nicholoff family in honor of Phillip James 'PJ' Nicholoff, given to Indiana individuals who display resilience, courage, and perseverance in pursuit of a dream or goal.
• Social Events Program Free, family-friendly social events including Zoo Day, Holiday Party, Trivia Nights, and other gatherings throughout the year to strengthen community connections for families coping with muscular dystrophy.
• MDFF Enrollment Free enrollment program required of Indiana residents diagnosed with muscular dystrophy or any neuromuscular disease on the MDA list. Upon enrollment, families become eligible for financial assistance, adaptive equipment, van programs, awards, scholarships, and social event invitations.
• Resources Directory Curated directory of external resources including assistance with mobility needs, support for social and educational activities, medical care connections, and financial planning resources for individuals and families living with neuromuscular diseases.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 accessible vans given away to date
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Superior Van & MobilitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMDFF's primary vehicle partner for accessible van purchases. Families are directed to Superior Van & Mobility for vehicle assessments and purchases when applying for van assistance or giveaway programs. MDFF purchases vans from Superior and coordinates van giveaways through their Fort Wayne and Fishers, Indiana locations.
• MobilityWorksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlternative accessible vehicle provider mentioned in AVA program application process as a resource for families seeking accessible vehicles.
• National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA)minorOthersReferral resource for families outside Indiana seeking accessible vehicle programs. NMEDA dealer locator and consumer resources are recommended for those needing assistance outside MDFF's service area.
• Busey BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPrimary sponsor of the MDFF Educational Scholarship. The $2,000 Andrew 'Sparky' Seever Scholarship is officially titled 'MDFF Educational Scholarship Sponsored by Busey Bank.' Busey Bank provides scholarship funding as part of corporate giving.
• The Jett FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization offering accessible vehicle assistance specifically for those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Referenced as alternative resource for Duchenne patients outside Indiana.
• Bridge to MobilityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational nonprofit providing last-dollar funding assistance for wheelchair accessible vehicles. Families can ask NMEDA dealers to apply for Bridge to Mobility funding to bridge gaps in accessible vehicle financing.
• The Best Day Ever FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation that supports families with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Connected Rodriguez family to MDFF and provided Make-A-Wish trip for the family.
• Indianapolis Fire DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership (65+ years) for MDFF Holiday Party. Firefighters participate by handing out presents to families, creating memorable holiday experiences for MDFF families.
• CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVehicle donation partner that handles pickup of donated vehicles (cars, trucks, RVs, boats) at no cost to donors. CARS processes vehicle donations on behalf of MDFF.
• KrogermoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerKroger Community Rewards program allows shoppers to link their Kroger Rewards card to MDFF. Kroger donates a portion of eligible purchases to MDFF at no extra cost to shoppers.
• TBH CreativemoderateTechnology or IntegrationWebsite design and maintenance partner for MDFF. Listed as Freedom Sponsor providing ongoing website creation and maintenance services.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Jett Foundation: National nonprofit offering accessible vehicle assistance specifically for Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients. Directly comparable because it competes for donor dollars and provides overlapping van assistance — MDFF cites Jett as an alternative resource for Duchenne families outside Indiana.
• The Best Day Ever Foundation: Foundation supporting families with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, connected the Rodriguez family to MDFF and provides complementary Wish-trip support. Directly comparable on Duchenne family services and donor overlap in the neuromuscular space.
• Bridge to Mobility: National nonprofit providing last-dollar funding for wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Directly comparable on the Accessible Van Assistance program mechanic — MDFF's AVA program mirrors Bridge to Mobility's last-dollar funding model.
• Variety the Children's Charity: Children's charity providing adaptive equipment, mobility aids, and accessibility programs to children with disabilities. Comparable on adaptive equipment funding mechanics and family support programming, though broader in scope than MDFF's neuromuscular focus.

Emerging players

• Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association: Disease-specific nonprofit serving patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease — one of the 43 neuromuscular diseases explicitly covered by MDFF. Comparable as a vertically specialized nonprofit, though it focuses on a single condition versus MDFF's broad neuromuscular scope.

Broad incumbents

• ALS Association: National disease-specific nonprofit for ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), which is one of the 43 neuromuscular conditions MDFF covers. Comparable as a large-scale, donor-funded disease nonprofit with overlapping patient population but vastly greater scale.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services, accessible equipment, and community programs including the Easter Seals vehicle assistance program. Comparable as a broad disability services nonprofit that overlaps with MDFF's adaptive equipment and home modification offerings.
• Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA): The national incumbent serving people with muscular dystrophy and 43+ neuromuscular diseases across the U.S. MDFF explicitly references MDA's care center list and disease definitions, making MDA the closest disease-aligned incumbent — though MDA operates nationally and MDFF competes on local Indiana depth.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): National nonprofit serving people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities through advocacy, equipment assistance, and community programs. Comparable in mission scope and service model, though UCP's disease focus differs from MDFF's neuromuscular-specific lens.

Others

• National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA): Industry association MDFF references as a referral resource for accessible vehicle programs and dealer locator services outside Indiana. Comparable as an ecosystem partner enabling MDFF's van programs rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/MDFamilyFund
• Facebookfacebook.com/MDFamilyFund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/muscular-dystrophy-family-foundation-mdff-
• Instagraminstagram.com/mdff_indiana
• TikToktiktok.com/@mdfamilyfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation