World Parkinson Coalition

What World Parkinson Coalition does

The World Parkinson Coalition (WPC) is a Delaware-incorporated nonprofit organization founded in 2004 that operates the only international forum intentionally inclusive of all Parkinson's disease stakeholders — patients, researchers, clinicians, care partners, and advocates — through its flagship triennial World Parkinson Congress. Since the inaugural Congress in Washington, DC (2006), WPC has convened seven Congresses across the US, UK, Canada, Japan, and Spain, attracting between 2,600 and 4,500 delegates from up to 73 countries per event, with the 2026 Phoenix Congress drawing 3,966 delegates. The organization complements its triennial events with year-round virtual programming including an annual WPC Virtual Congress, Care Partner Talk Series, Dual Language Webinars, and Research Spotlight series, alongside the trademarked Parkinson Ready city training program — a novel initiative that prepares hospitality, transportation, and first-responder personnel in host cities to better serve people with Parkinson's.

WPC's product portfolio extends to the bi-weekly Hear! Here! Parkinson's podcast (launched 2024), creativity programs integrating dance, music, and art into the Congress experience, the Global Parkinson's Pledge (25,000+ signatures from 113 countries), an awards program, and a merchandise store featuring the Parky the Raccoon mascot. The Parkinson Ready program has been activated in Barcelona, Phoenix, Vancouver, and Philadelphia through partnerships with convention bureaus, local Parkinson's organizations (Parkinson Society British Columbia, Parkinson's Africa, Associació Catalana per al Parkinson, The Parkinson Council), and major venue and hospitality partners.

The organization operates from New York with a small staff of 1-10 employees and is governed by an academic and clinical board led by President Malú G. Tansey, PhD, and Executive Director Elizabeth Pollard. Revenue is generated through individual donations, corporate partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, planned giving (IRA rollovers and bequests), and merchandise sales — with corporate sponsorships likely tied to the triennial Congress cycle. WPC's revenue is not publicly disclosed, but its operating scale, event production capacity, and lean staffing place its annual budget in the low single-digit millions range.

Name

World Parkinson Coalition

Legal name

World Parkinson Coalition Inc.

Website

https://worldpdcoalition.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

World Parkinson Coalition is a nonprofit that convenes the global Parkinson's community through its triennial World Parkinson Congress, year-round virtual programming, and the trademarked Parkinson Ready city training program for hospitality and service workers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Medical, Scientific & Healthcare Congress Organizers (THAHACAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Life Sciences & Biotechnology Congresses (THAHAJAB)

Keywords

• Parkinson's disease research
• Neurology community events
• Movement disorder congress
• Parkinson's care education
• Nonprofit health advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: General donations support core operations; travel grant fund helps bring people with Parkinson's, junior investigators, and health professionals from underrepresented regions to attend Congresses.
2. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling WPC merchandise, Parky the Raccoon plush toys, and apparel. Proceeds from Parky sales go directly to WPC Travel Grants Fund.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for sponsorship and support of Congresses and programs.
4. Planned Giving: IRA Charitable Rollovers (QCDs up to $100,000 for donors over 70½) and bequests in wills or living trusts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

World Parkinson Coalition convenes a triennial international congress (World Parkinson Congress) that brings together the full Parkinson's community — researchers, clinicians, people with Parkinson's, care partners, and advocates — for scientific exchange, care education, and community building. Between Congresses, it delivers year-round virtual programming (WPC Virtual Congress, Care Partner Talk Series, Dual Language Webinars, Research Spotlight), runs the trademarked Parkinson's Ready™ city workforce training program, distributes a bi-weekly podcast, operates the Global Parkinson's Pledge initiative, awards community and research honors, and runs creativity programs (dance, music, art) plus a merchandise store with proceeds supporting travel grants.

Product overview

The World Parkinson Coalition is a nonprofit organization providing a triennial international forum (World Parkinson Congress) that brings together all Parkinson's stakeholders. The organization operates a platform-plus-events model comprising: the core triennial Congress events; annual virtual programs including WPC Virtual Congress, Care Partner Talk Series, Dual Language Webinars, and Research Spotlight; the Parkinson's Ready city training program offered in multiple cities (Phoenix, Vancouver, Philadelphia, Barcelona); creativity programs including dance, music, art, and video; awards programs; podcast (Hear! Here! Parkinson's); YOPD fundraiser campaigns; and a merchandise store. The organization also runs the Global Parkinson's Pledge initiative and provides Travel Grants to support attendance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Parkinson Ready: A training program that prepares cities and front-line workers (hotels, airports, transportation) to better serve people living with Parkinson's disease.
• Hear! Here! Parkinson's Podcast
• Parky the Raccoon
• Global Parkinson's Pledge

Products and services

• World Parkinson Congress (Triennial In-Person Congress) Triennial international forum bringing together all Parkinson's stakeholders — researchers, clinicians, people with Parkinson's, caregivers, and advocates — for scientific sessions, presentations, networking, and community building over four days.
• WPC Virtual Congress Annual virtual scientific program featuring forward-thinking talks on basic science, clinical science, comprehensive care, and living with Parkinson's, offered in the two years between live Congresses.
• Care Partner Talk Series Annual virtual talk series consisting of four virtual panels that bring together healthcare experts and care partners/family members to share knowledge about living well when caring for someone with Parkinson's.
• WPC Dual Language Webinar Series Bilingual webinar series presenting content in English followed by Spanish on the same Parkinson's topics, with short summaries available in both languages.
• WPC Research Spotlight Series highlighting six researchers and their work, featuring interviews with researchers and their colleagues to explain their Parkinson's research and impact.
• Parkinson Ready™ City Training Program Training program consisting of approximately 75-minute sessions covering lecture, demonstration, and Q&A, designed to prepare front-line workers in hospitality, transportation, and service industries to better support people with Parkinson's disease.
• Global Parkinson's Pledge

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of trainees found knowledge gained useful in their personal life (Parkinson's Ready Barcelona)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Parkinson's Foundation (formerly Parkinson's Disease Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobin Elliott, then President of the US-based Parkinson's Disease Foundation (now Parkinson's Foundation), approached Dr. Stanley Fahn with the idea for the WPC and helped with initial legwork to get the organization off the ground in 2004.
• AbbVieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported the Parkinson's Ready Barcelona program leading up to the 6th World Parkinson Congress.
• Visit PhoenixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for Parkinson's Ready Phoenix program to prepare the city for WPC 2026, including training for convention center staff, hotel staff, and airport personnel.
• Muhammad Ali Parkinson CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal healthcare partner in Phoenix steering committee for Parkinson's Ready Phoenix program.
• Phoenix Convention CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for WPC 2026; staff receiving Parkinson's Ready training.
• The Parkinson CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for Parkinson's Ready Philadelphia program launching in 2024.
• Pennsylvania Convention CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Parkinson's Ready Philadelphia training sessions.
• Discover PhiladelphiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism partner for Parkinson's Ready Philadelphia program.
• Parkinson Society British ColumbiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for Parkinson's Ready Vancouver program - first time program offered to a city not hosting the World Parkinson Congress.
• PD AvengerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal advocacy organization co-founded by Larry Gifford; partnered on Parkinson's Ready Vancouver program as trainer and collaborator.
• Vancouver Convention CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Parkinson's Ready Vancouver training.
• JW Marriott and Douglass HotelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotel partner for Parkinson's Ready Vancouver program launch.
• Vancouver Airport AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirport partner receiving Parkinson's Ready training for staff.
• Fairmont Hotel VancouverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotel partner for Parkinson's Ready Vancouver training.
• Associació Catalana per al Parkinson (Catalan Parkinson's Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for Parkinson's Ready Barcelona program; worked with WPC on training over 300 individuals across 16 collectives.
• Barcelona Turisme Convention BureaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConvention bureau partner for Parkinson's Ready Barcelona; helped coordinate training across hotels, transportation, and police.
• Davis Phinney FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation whose ambassadors (like Laura Olmos, Kristi LaMonica) participate in WPC YOPD Fundraiser campaign for travel grants.
• Parkinson's AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization founded by WPC Board Member Omotola Thomas; focused on improving access to information, education, research, and healthcare for Africans affected by Parkinson's.
• BestCities AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal meetings industry alliance that produced a video highlight of the WPC and case study documenting its work and community impact.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Brian Grant Foundation: U.S. Parkinson's nonprofit emphasizing exercise, nutrition, and wellness for PwP. Shares WPC's patient-empowerment orientation and serves an overlapping North American PwP and care-partner audience.
• Parkinson Canada: Canadian national Parkinson organization providing research funding, education, and support services. Comparable mission and audience; also a host-continent partner given that WPC 2013 (Montreal) and WPC 2029 (Quebec City) were/will be held in Canada.
• Parkinson's Foundation: A major U.S.-based Parkinson's patient-advocacy and research funder. Co-founding relationship with WPC and serves a near-identical audience of people with Parkinson's, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers, with overlapping programs in research funding, education, and community events.
• Cure Parkinson's: U.K.-based research-driven Parkinson's charity focused on disease-modifying therapies. Overlaps with WPC's researcher constituency and clinical-trial community, especially given WPC's Glasgow Congress history.
• Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research: The largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research globally. Comparable mission of accelerating Parkinson's research and supporting patients, with overlapping constituency of researchers, clinicians, and PwP and a similar donor- and event-driven funding model.
• American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA): U.S.-wide Parkinson's advocacy and research funder with information & referral, support groups, and educational programs. Directly comparable in mission and stakeholder mix (patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers).
• Davis Phinney Foundation: U.S. Parkinson's nonprofit focused on living well with Parkinson's. Partners with WPC on YOPD fundraising and serves a highly overlapping audience of people with Parkinson's, care partners, and clinicians.

Emerging players

• PMD Alliance: Nonprofit providing education and support programs for people living with movement disorders including Parkinson's. Comparable audience and educational-event approach, though smaller in scale and not solely focused on Parkinson's.

Broad incumbents

• International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS): Global professional society for movement disorder clinicians that runs a large annual International Congress. Overlaps with WPC on the researcher/clinician audience and on Parkinson's content but is a broader medical-society incumbent rather than an inclusive patient-researcher forum.

Regional players

• European Parkinson's Disease Association (EPDA): Europe-wide Parkinson's umbrella organization representing national Parkinson's associations. Closely comparable in mission and constituency but primarily focused on European policy, advocacy, and association coordination rather than the triennial Congress format.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLdCkg2pEp_OW5oN9IOuHbysvMJz1Pr16f
• Facebookfacebook.com/WorldPDCongress
• Instagraminstagram.com/worldpdcongress/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading
• Xx.com/worldpdcongress
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/world-parkinson-coalition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about World Parkinson Coalition