What The Oley Foundation does

The Oley Foundation is an independent U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit founded on February 2, 1983 by Dr. Lyn Howard and her patient Clarence "Oley" Oldenburg at Albany Medical Center, dedicated to enriching the lives of people living with home IV nutrition (parenteral/HPN/TPN) and home tube feeding (enteral/HEN). It serves a national community of 27,000+ members — predominantly patients on home nutrition support and their caregivers, with roughly one-third being clinicians and industry members — through free membership and a hybrid digital-plus-in-person engagement model that includes the Oley-Inspire online forum (via a partnership with Inspire), Community Connections virtual gatherings on Microsoft Teams, regional meetings, an annual national conference drawing 500+ attendees, and specialized programs such as Somos Oley (Spanish-speaking), Kidz Klub (ages 0-12), HUGS (hospital comfort packages), and the Enteral Donation Program (which facilitated over 9,000 emails and calls in 2025 to bridge supply gaps).

Its core technology stack is a conventional digital non-profit platform rather than a proprietary product: oley.org runs on YourMembership/MemberClicks for member management, JotForm for forms, PayPal for donations, and Inspire for the peer-support forum; outreach is amplified through social media, a quarterly LifelineLetter newsletter, webinars (live and archived on YouTube), and registered-trademark awareness weeks (Feeding Tube Awareness Week®, HPN Awareness Week, Patient Safety, Malnutrition Awareness Week). It also owns the Feeding Tube Awareness Foundation® and Feeding Tube Awareness Week® trademarks.

Oley operates a non-profit revenue model funded by individual tax-deductible donations, a tiered corporate partnership program (platinum/gold/silver sponsorships with industry players such as Fresenius Kabi, Abbott, Nestlé Health Science, Option Care Health, B. Braun, Amerita, Nutrishare, Compleat, Ironwood, Takeda, Kate Farms, and others), merchandise and publication sales through an online store, and event exhibiting/sponsorship fees. Membership and conference attendance are free for patients and caregivers (with nominal fees for healthcare professionals only when CE credits are provided), and the 2024 establishment of an endowment fund adds a longer-term capital base. Distribution relies on grassroots referrals, healthcare-provider channels, the Oley Ambassador Network of 60+ volunteers, and corporate partner channels that extend Oley's reach into product packaging and patient communications.

Name

The Oley Foundation

Legal name

The Oley Foundation

Website

https://oley.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Oley Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1983 that serves a national community of 27,000+ patients, caregivers, and clinicians in the home parenteral and enteral nutrition (HPEN) space through free membership, education, peer support, advocacy, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Advocacy Non-Profit Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Home nutrition support
• Patient advocacy services
• Enteral nutrition education
• Parenteral nutrition community
• Nonprofit caregiver support

Headquarters

HQ city

Albany

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, families, and supporters. Donations help continue advocacy efforts and keep support, education, and community programs available. Online donation portal, PayPal giving, check/money order accepted.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners (industry companies in nutrition support, medical devices, home infusion) provide financial support through sponsorships, exhibiting at conferences, co-developing educational resources, and supporting community programs. Includes platinum, gold, and silver partnership tiers.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling conference merchandise, apparel, and campaign products like 'In the WILD' campaign items. Proceeds support the foundation's programs.
4. Publications: Sale of publications including educational materials and resources through the online store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Oley Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit that enriches the lives of people living with home IV nutrition (parenteral nutrition/HPN) or tube feeding (enteral nutrition/HEN). It operates a free individual membership model and delivers its mission through advocacy, education, community, and innovation programs. Programs include an annual national conference and regional meetings, webinars, an online community forum (Oley-Inspire), peer-to-peer matching, an Enteral Donation Program, an awards program, an Ambassador network of 60+ volunteers, and bilingual (Somos Oley) support.

Product overview

The Oley Foundation operates a comprehensive membership-based nonprofit platform focused on enriching the lives of those living with home IV nutrition (parenteral nutrition/HPN) or tube feeding (enteral nutrition/HEN). The core offerings include the main website with member resources, Community Connections virtual gatherings, the ONE Program (Oley Network Engagement) with tracks for youth, caregivers, clinicians, and corporate partners, the Oley-Inspire Forum online community, Peer-to-Peer Connections, and Share Your Story programs. Educational offerings include an Annual Conference (500+ attendees, 3 days), Regional Conferences, Webinars, and the Lifeline Newsletter. Specialized programs include the Enteral Donation Program (supply sharing platform), HUGS comfort program, Oley Ambassador Network (60+ volunteers), Kidz Klub (youth program), and Somos Oley (Spanish-speaking community support). Awareness campaigns include HPN Awareness Week, Feeding Tube Awareness Week (registered trademark), and Patient Safety initiatives. The organization also operates an Online Store for merchandise. All individual memberships are free, with programs funded through donations and corporate partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Feeding Tube Awareness Week: Annual awareness campaign to build understanding around feeding tubes and their essential role in supporting health
• Somos Oley
• ONE (Oley Network Engagement)
• HUGS Program
• Oley-Inspire Forum
• Kidz Klub
• LifelineLetter
• In the WILD
• Enteral Donation Program (EDP)

Products and services

• Oley Foundation Membership and Website Platform Free individual membership serving patients, caregivers, and clinicians in the home parenteral (HPN) and enteral (HEN) nutrition community. Provides member-only resources, advocacy, education, community support, and innovation programs through oley.org. Open to any patient on home nutrition therapy, caregiver, clinician, or industry member.
• Oley Annual National Conference A three-day in-person national conference typically held in summer with 500+ attendees, bringing together patients, caregivers, clinicians, and industry partners for education, networking, community building, and exhibits. Includes patient and caregiver panels, expert-led sessions, workshops, and CE opportunities for professionals.
• Oley Regional Conferences / Regional Meetings Smaller half-day to full-day regional meetings providing practical education, community building, and in-person connection closer to home. Includes patient and caregiver panels, expert-led sessions, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities with 50-100 attendees per event.
• Oley Webinar Series Virtual educational sessions covering topics related to nutrition support, patient safety, caregiver support, and clinical best practices. Both upcoming live and archived recordings are available, with sponsor-supported content from corporate partners.
• Oley-Inspire Online Community Forum Free online community platform, created in partnership with Inspire, connecting patients on tube or IV feeding with their families, friends, and caregivers for mutual support, story sharing, and network building.
• Community Connections Virtual Gatherings Recurring virtual gatherings (second Thursday 8PM ET and last Tuesday 6PM ET) plus Moms Connections and specialized topic sessions where patients, caregivers, and family members connect via Microsoft Teams to share experiences, tips, and encouragement related to life on nutrition support.
• Enteral Donation Program (EDP) Platform connecting individuals who have extra enteral nutrition (tube feeding) formula and supplies with those in need. Oley provides the listing platform while donors and recipients handle transactions directly; facilitated over 9,000 emails and calls in 2025.
• ONE Program (Oley Network Engagement) Multi-track engagement program uniting patients, caregivers, clinicians, corporate partners, and associations under the Power of ONE philosophy, with NEXT Gen (youth and young adults), ONE Caregivers, ONE Golden Agers, ONE Clinicians, ONE Corporate, and ONE Associations tracks.
• Somos Oley (Spanish-language program) Program specifically supporting the Spanish-speaking community within Oley, providing bilingual resources, peer support, community events, and culturally responsive educational content for Hispanic patients, caregivers, and clinicians on nutrition support.
• Oley Ambassador Network National grassroots network of 60+ patient and caregiver volunteers providing outreach, education, and running support groups in their local communities across the country.
• HUGS Program Comfort-initiative sending cheerful cards and stuffed animals to patients in hospitals, coordinated by volunteers to bring hope and encouragement to HPEN consumers during hospital stays.
• Kidz Klub Youth program for children ages 0-12 on nutrition support, providing age-appropriate activities, resources, and community connection, including Story Time and Craft activities sponsored by MIC-KEY (Avanos).
• Oley Awards Program Annual recognition program honoring HPEN consumers and caregivers who demonstrate courage, perseverance, and positive attitudes through the HPN Hero, HEN Hero, Rising Star, Caregiver Extraordinaire, and Joan Bishop Lifetime Achievement awards, sponsored by named corporate partners.
• LifelineLetter Newsletter Quarterly newsletter written for consumers available in digital and print formats, providing updates on Oley programs, community stories, educational content, and advocacy news for the home nutrition support community.
• Oley Online Store E-commerce platform selling conference merchandise, apparel, and campaign products such as the In the WILD visibility and empowerment campaign items, with proceeds supporting Oley's programs.
• Peer-to-Peer Connections Program that matches individuals with community members who have personal experience living with nutrition support for private conversations, questions, and encouragement.
• Feeding Tube Awareness Week Registered trademark awareness campaign (Feeding Tube Awareness Week®) owned by Oley Foundation, building understanding around feeding tubes and their essential role in supporting health, growth, and daily life for people of all ages.
• HPN Awareness Week Annual awareness week (typically held in October) celebrating and raising awareness for home parenteral nutrition consumers, including webinars, resources, and social media engagement.
• Patient Safety Program Annual National Patient Safety Awareness Week activities and year-round patient safety priority focus areas including safer communities, patient-centered research, education, and advocacy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 27,000+ members served through advocacy, education, and community programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Albany Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOley Foundation is headquartered at Albany Medical Center where it was founded. The organization maintains close ties with the medical center's Clinical Nutrition Department where co-founder Dr. Lyn Howard led the department starting in 1973. Staff contact information and mailing address are at Albany Medical Center.
• InspirecoreTechnology or IntegrationOley Foundation partnered with Inspire to create a free online community forum for patients on tube or IV feeding, families, friends, and caregivers. The Oley-Inspire Forum provides a space for peer support, story sharing, and network building.
• Angels for Change (A4C)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization dedicated to ending drug shortages through advocacy, awareness, and resilient supply chain. Oley refers patients experiencing drug shortages to A4C. Mission aligned to address supply disruptions affecting HPEN patients.
• End Drug Shortages Alliance (EDSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of health system, supply chain, industry and other stakeholders dedicated to solving pharmaceutical supply challenges. Oley is a member, collaborating on transparency, quality, redundancy, and production efforts to end drug shortages.
• National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOley is a member actively collaborating on projects. NTOCC mission is to raise awareness about transitions of care among health professionals, government leaders, patients, and caregivers to reduce medication errors and enhance clinical outcomes.
• ASPEN (American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOley is an official Ambassador of ASPEN's Malnutrition Awareness Week. Collaborates on educational resources, clinical guidelines, and practice tools for home nutrition support. ASPEN provides shortage recommendations and clinical guidance that Oley shares with its community.
• ZealandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting patient empowerment and quality of life innovations for those facing complex nutritional needs. Shares Oley's goal to support, empower, and positively impact patients and families.
• Protara TherapeuticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with focus on TPN community. Oley's leadership in patient education and advocacy ensures their work remains aligned with community needs and focused on advancing research for lasting, meaningful impact.
• Alcresta TherapeuticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner proud to support Oley's mission and the people who inspire their work every day in the nutrition support field.
• Amerita Specialty InfusionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Oley Foundation because they connect HPEN clinicians back to purpose. Collaborate to bring greater access to superior care and higher quality of life. Share stories, laughter, grief, and joy at Annual Conference.
• AvevoRxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner honored to support the Oley community united by commitment to improving lives of those on home nutrition support. Oley brings together patients, caregivers, and clinicians through trusted network offering understanding and encouragement.
• Fresenius KabiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner proud to support Oley Foundation due to commitment to consumers living with parenteral and enteral nutrition support. Supports consumer advocacy, building communities, and educating consumers and healthcare professionals.
• Nestlé Health ScienceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner enhancing education, advocacy, and resources for individuals relying on enteral nutrition and tube feeding. Partnership aligned with mission to empower healthier lives through nutrition.
• Option Care HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner sharing Oley's commitment to empowering and supporting those who rely on home nutrition support. Partnership reflects shared mission to help patients live fuller, healthier lives at home.
• Rockfield Medical DevicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner where Annual Conference is highlight to meet patients, learn from experiences, and stay connected with community. User research through Oley has been invaluable in guiding development and supporting FDA clearances.
• NutrishareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of HPN Hero Award at Oley Awards. Partner in home parenteral nutrition advocacy, supporting recognition of consumers demonstrating courage and perseverance.
• CompleatminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of HEN Hero Award at Oley Awards. Partner in home enteral nutrition, supporting recognition of consumers demonstrating courage and perseverance on tube feeding.
• AbbottminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Rising Star Award at Oley Awards. Partner in nutrition support, supporting recognition of young consumers demonstrating positive attitude and inspiring others.
• IronwoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Caregiver Extraordinaire Award at Oley Awards. Partner supporting recognition of caregivers who demonstrate patience, compassion, and dependability.
• B. BraunminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner sponsor of 'Thriving on HPN' video creating behind-the-scenes look at life with home parenteral nutrition.
• Coram ( Option Care Health)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of webinars on nutrition support routine, family life, school/work/travel, and holiday navigation. Supports education for consumers and caregivers.
• Cardinal HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of webinars on holiday navigation and coping with chronic illness while caring for children. Supports education for consumers and caregivers.
• Kate FarmsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle Sponsor of Feeding Tube Awareness Week 2026. Partner supporting awareness building around feeding tubes and their essential role in supporting health.
• MIC-KEY (Avanos)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of empowering webinars for those living with or caring for feeding tubes. Supports Kidz Klub Story Time & Craft activities. Partner in enteral nutrition community.
• TakedaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of webinar on mental health and nutrition support. Supports education on balancing mental health and nutrition support for patients and caregivers.
• Real Food BlendsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of webinar on incorporating real food to feeding tubes. Partner supporting education on real food approaches for tube feeding.
• NutriciaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner supporting education on real food for tube feeding journey towards enhanced nutrition outcomes. Associated with Nutricia Navigator resource.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Direct peers

• Feeding Matters: National nonprofit focused on pediatric feeding disorders, providing family support, education, and advocacy. Highly comparable to Oley in mission (supporting families navigating complex feeding/nutrition challenges), community-led model, and reliance on awareness campaigns and corporate partnerships with medical nutrition companies.
• Patient Services, Inc. (PSI): Nonprofit that helps chronically ill patients navigate insurance, copay assistance, and access to nutrition and specialty therapies. Directly comparable because Oley members frequently face the same coverage barriers PSI addresses, and both serve as patient-facing intermediaries between industry and chronic care populations.
• Crohn's & Colitis Foundation: Major nonprofit serving IBD patients, a population with significant overlap to HPEN (many Crohn's patients require tube feeding or parenteral nutrition). Comparable operating model: patient education, advocacy, research funding, awareness walks, and corporate partnerships with pharma/medtech serving GI patients.
• American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN): Professional society for clinicians in the same HPEN therapy area. Comparable because Oley is an active partner/ambassador for ASPEN's Malnutrition Awareness Week and shares overlapping content, audience (clinicians and patients), and policy interests in nutrition support practice and standards.

Emerging players

• Beyond Celiac: National nonprofit driving celiac disease diagnosis, treatment, and patient support through education, advocacy, and research funding. Comparable to Oley in nutrition-focused patient community model, awareness campaigns, and corporate partnership revenue model, though focused on a different condition with a much larger patient population.
• Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA): Nonprofit helping families of children needing transplants navigate fundraising and care logistics. Comparable in serving families managing rare/complex medical conditions through community support and education, though focused on transplant rather than nutrition support specifically.

Others

• National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC): Coalition where Oley is an active member, focused on transitions of care to reduce medication errors and improve clinical outcomes. Comparable as a partner organization in the same advocacy ecosystem; not a direct competitor but a peer-level nonprofit working adjacent to Oley's discharge planning and home nutrition support mission.

Broad incumbents

• American College of Gastroenterology: Professional society for gastroenterologists, the clinician specialty most directly managing HPEN patients. Comparable to Oley because they share the GI patient population, clinical guidelines, and CME/education infrastructure, though ACG serves a broader clinical remit while Oley focuses on the patient/community side.
• National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD): Large umbrella advocacy organization representing ~300 million rare disease patients, including short bowel syndrome (a key HPEN indication). Comparable because NORD operates the same FDA listening-session, policy advocacy, and patient registry model — but at significantly broader scale across many conditions.

Regional players

• Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Group (PENG): UK-based clinical interest group for dietitians working in parenteral and enteral nutrition. Directly comparable to Oley in therapy area and audience (HPEN patients and clinicians) but operates primarily in the UK rather than North America, making it a regional rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/oleyfoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@OleyFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/theoleyfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-oley-foundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 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 The Oley Foundation