National Multiple Sclerosis Society, CT Chapter

What National Multiple Sclerosis Society, CT Chapter does

The Connecticut-Rhode Island Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is a regional 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving people affected by Multiple Sclerosis across Connecticut and Rhode Island, operating under the national National MS Society umbrella (EIN 13-5661935). The chapter delivers a portfolio of programs including Walk MS and Bike MS: Ride the Rhode fundraising events, the MS Navigator personalized support service, in-person and online support groups, an education programs and library, financial planning resources covering disability benefits and health insurance, clinical trial participation recruitment, an advocacy program, volunteer opportunities, and the publication Momentum Magazine. Technology infrastructure is limited to a standard nonprofit website (ctfightsms.org) and the national event registration platform, with no proprietary software, mobile app, API, or AI-driven components.

Revenue is generated through fundraising rather than commercial pricing: community fundraising events with participant registration, individual donations, corporate partnership programs (workplace giving, sponsorship, and national teams), and grants channeled through the national society. In 2024, the chapter raised more than $1.6 million. With only five listed employees, the chapter runs a lean operating model that relies heavily on national-organization infrastructure, a network of community councils and volunteers, and an academic-research partnership exemplified by the 2024 Peter B. Wade, MD Achievement Award to Dr. David A. Hafler of Yale School of Medicine. The chapter has also mobilized an advocacy response to March 2025 federal research funding cuts, with MS activists taking over 18,000 actions to defend MS-related public policy.

Name

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, CT Chapter

Legal name

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Website

https://ctfightsms.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Connecticut-Rhode Island Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides fundraising events, support services, education, and advocacy programs for people affected by Multiple Sclerosis across Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Multiple Sclerosis Patient Support Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK)

Keywords

• Multiple sclerosis support
• Nonprofit fundraising events
• Patient advocacy programs
• Health support services
• MS research funding

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Connecticut-Rhode Island Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society delivers information, connections, and support to people affected by multiple sclerosis in Connecticut and Rhode Island. It runs fundraising events such as Walk MS and Bike MS: Ride the Rhode, provides personalized support through the MS Navigator service, organizes local support groups and educational programs, recruits participants for MS clinical trials, and runs an advocacy program to influence MS-related public policy.

Product overview

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, CT Chapter is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of support programs, fundraising events, educational resources, and advocacy services for people affected by multiple sclerosis. The chapter's core programs include Walk MS and Bike MS: Ride the Rhode (fundraising events), MS Navigator (personalized support), support groups, education programs, financial planning resources, clinical trial participation opportunities, and an advocacy program. The chapter also publishes Momentum Magazine. These services work together to provide information, connections, support, and community for individuals affected by MS while raising funds for critical MS research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Walk MS

Quantifiable outcome

• Raised over $1.6 million in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

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

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Yale School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. David A. Hafler from Yale School of Medicine received the 2024 Peter B. Wade, MD, Achievement Award, indicating a collaborative relationship in MS research and medical education
• Corporate PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partnership program including Workplace Giving, Sponsorship opportunities, and National Teams for employee engagement in MS fundraising events
• Community CouncilsminorOthersPassionate volunteers joining together in community councils to make a difference for people living with MS

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Multiple Sclerosis Society (national organization): The parent organization of the CT-RI Chapter; operates the same mission at a national scale with all programs (Walk MS, Bike MS, MS Navigator, advocacy) under one umbrella, making it the most directly comparable entity from a program and brand perspective.
• American Cancer Society: The largest US voluntary health organization; runs Relay For Life and other community fundraising events, research grants, advocacy, and 24/7 patient support services (similar to MS Navigator) — comparable at the program-archetype level, but at much greater scale.
• American Heart Association: One of the largest US voluntary health nonprofits; runs Heart Walk events, research funding, advocacy, and patient support through regional affiliates — broadly comparable program portfolio and event-based fundraising model, but at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• ALS Association: A voluntary health nonprofit focused on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using a near-identical playbook: community fundraising walks/ride events, research funding, advocacy, and local chapters delivering patient support services — directly comparable operating model.
• Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA): Voluntary health nonprofit serving people with neuromuscular diseases including MS-overlapping populations; operates community events, research funding, advocacy, and direct support services through regional offices — closely mirrors the CT-RI chapter's structure.
• Parkinson's Foundation: A voluntary health organization focused on Parkinson's disease; uses fundraising events, research grants, advocacy, and direct patient support programs including care navigation — strongly comparable in disease-specific nonprofit operating model.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS): Large voluntary health nonprofit that pioneered signature athletic fundraising events (Team In Training) later copied by many disease nonprofits; runs research funding, advocacy, and patient support — directly comparable fundraising-and-support operating model.
• Alzheimer's Association: Voluntary health nonprofit for Alzheimer's and dementia using Walk to End Alzheimer's events, research funding, advocacy, and a 24/7 helpline for care navigation; operates regional chapters with comparable staffing and programs to the CT-RI MS chapter.
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: Voluntary health organization for cystic fibrosis with a strong research-funding and care-support model; uses community events, advocacy, and care center partnerships — comparable in mission structure and chapter-based delivery.
• National Kidney Foundation: Voluntary health nonprofit that runs kidney walks, research funding, advocacy, and patient support services through regional offices — comparable in event-based fundraising and chronic-disease patient support focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 National Multiple Sclerosis Society, CT Chapter