Diabetes Education and Camping Association

What Diabetes Education and Camping Association does

The Diabetes Education and Camping Association (DECA) is a 501c3 nonprofit membership association founded in 1997 and headquartered in Meridian, Idaho, with a secondary office in Fort Myers, Florida. It serves as the global convening body for diabetes camps — organizations that run residential, day, and weekend programs for children and adults living with diabetes — by providing a searchable Find a Camp directory, an annual international Program Conference, a virtual Healthcare Conference accredited for continuing medical education, and a password-protected Resource Library of staff training videos, operational templates, nutrition manuals, and conference recordings hosted on Vimeo and organized through Basecamp. Its core product surface is community infrastructure rather than software: members join through tiered annual dues ($200-$1,250 based on organizational budget) and gain access to peer networking, best-practice content, and visibility in the directory.

DECA's business model blends three revenue streams: membership dues, conference registrations (in-person plus virtual), and charitable donations. Corporate sustaining partners — including Abbott, Eli Lilly, Medtronic, Insulet (Omnipod), Dexcom, Tandem, Mannkind, and Embecta — co-fund conferences, supply product training content for insulin pump and CGM systems, and provide diabetes supplies to camps. Distribution is community-led: word-of-mouth within the diabetes-camp ecosystem, healthcare professional referrals from endocrinologists and school nurses, and the Find a Camp directory drive inbound. The organization is governed by a volunteer board of camp directors, endocrinologists, and corporate executives, and operated by a small staff of approximately 12 led by Executive Director Lisa Gier. Strategic emphasis in 2025-2027 is on geographic rotation of the in-person conference, scaling the virtual Healthcare Conference, and integrating grant funding opportunities through a partnership with the New Venture Fund.

Name

Diabetes Education and Camping Association

Legal name

Diabetes Education and Camping Association

Website

https://diabetescamps.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Diabetes Education and Camping Association (DECA) is a 501c3 nonprofit membership association that unites diabetes camps worldwide through a searchable Find a Camp directory, tiered annual memberships, annual international conferences, and a shared resource library of training content.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type) (BPAGAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Health Financing, Budgeting & Grants Management (HLAJAMAC), Advancement Services & Donor Operations (CRM, Gift Processing, Stewardship) (EDALAOAD)

Keywords

• Diabetes camping education
• Nonprofit membership association
• Camp staff training
• Annual diabetes conference
• Camp resource library

Headquarters

HQ city

Meridian

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees charged to diabetes camps and organizations based on their annual budget size, ranging from $200 to $1,250 per year.
2. Conference Registrations: Revenue from annual international conferences including Program Conference and Healthcare Conference, with both in-person and virtual attendance options.
3. Donations: Charitable donations from corporations, foundations, and individuals supporting DECA's mission and training programs for diabetes camps.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DECA is a membership-based nonprofit association that supports diabetes camps globally through tiered annual memberships ($200-$1,250), a member-only online Resource Library with training videos and operational templates, and two annual international conferences (Program Conference and Healthcare Conference). It also operates the public Find a Camp directory connecting families with diabetes camps and produces diabetes-specific staff training videos covering insulin pump systems from partner manufacturers.

Product overview

The Diabetes Education and Camping Association (DECA) operates as a membership-based organization that supports diabetes camps through a platform of interconnected services. The core offerings include the Find A Camp searchable directory for families, DECA Membership with tiered pricing and benefits, and the Resource Library containing training materials. Annual conferences (Program Conference and Healthcare Conference) provide professional development, while staff training videos and conference recordings offer ongoing education. The organization also provides partner programs like ADA Imagine Camp and specialized resources including the Nutrition Manual and diabetes camp outreach materials for healthcare professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DECA Membership Annual membership program for diabetes camps and organizations with tiered pricing based on annual budget. Provides access to the Resource Library, conference discounts, Find a Camp directory listing, and visibility to families, staff, and funders.
• Find A Camp

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of kids who went to camp were able to independently achieve at least one diabetes management skill after camp
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The Diabetes LinkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Diabetes Link is a resource partner providing peer support and resources for young adults with diabetes.
• AbbottcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbbott is a sustaining partner supporting DECA's mission through training programs, education resources, and diabetes camp support. Abbott provides product training for their diabetes technology (including FreeStyle Libre CGM systems) and supports DECA conferences.
• Eli Lilly and CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLilly is a sustaining partner providing support for DECA's training programs, education resources, and conference sponsorship. Lilly has been a long-time supporter of diabetes camps, providing insulin and diabetes supplies.
• Medtronic MiniMedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedtronic is a sustaining partner supporting DECA with training resources, conference sponsorship, and product education for insulin pump systems (670G and 770G). DECA provides staff training videos featuring Medtronic technology.
• Insulet (Omnipod)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsulet is a sustaining partner providing support for DECA conferences and training resources. DECA has produced staff training videos featuring Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System for camp healthcare staff.
• DexcomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDexcom is a sustaining partner supporting DECA through conference sponsorship and training resources for continuous glucose monitoring technology at diabetes camps.
• Tandem Diabetes CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTandem is a sustaining partner providing conference sponsorship and training resources for Control-IQ technology insulin pump systems. DECA produces staff training videos on Tandem pumps.
• MannkindminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMannkind is a mission partner supporting DECA through conference sponsorship and diabetes education initiatives.
• EmbectaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmbecta is a mission partner supporting DECA through conference sponsorship and diabetes camp programs.
• SanofiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSanofi is a conference supporter for DECA's 2026 conferences, providing sponsorship for the Program and Healthcare conferences.
• Xeris Pharmaceuticals (Gvoke)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerXeris is a silver sponsor for DECA conferences and supporter of diabetes camp education programs, focusing on glucagon products for diabetes camp settings.
• Redwoods GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRedwoods Group is a silver conference sponsor and provides insurance services and risk management resources for camps.
• American Camp Association (ACA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACA partners with DECA for joint conference events. The 2026 DECA Program Conference will be held at the same venue as the ACA National Conference in San Diego, allowing for shared programming and networking.
• New Venture Fund (NVF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNVF partners with DECA for a joint session during the Program Conference focused on grant funding utilization in the 2025-2027 grant cycle. All DECA member camps are welcome to participate in the NVF session.
• Children's Mercy HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChildren's Mercy Hospital provides continuing medical education accreditation for DECA Healthcare Conference through the Missouri State Medical Association. They are the joint provident of the conference.
• American Diabetes Association (ADA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADA is a resource partner providing diabetes camp information and support. ADA operates multiple diabetes camps and partners with DECA for the ADA Imagine Camp virtual programming available to partner camps.
• JDRF (now Breakthrough T1D)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerJDRF is a resource partner providing Type 1 diabetes resources to share with families. DECA links to JDRF's T1D resources on their website.
• Life for a Child (IDF)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLife for a Child is a resource partner of DECA providing international diabetes support resources and advocacy information.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Camp Association (ACA): National membership association for camps in the US. Directly comparable as a membership body serving camp operators; DECA already partners with ACA for joint conferences (2026 San Diego).

Broad incumbents

• American Diabetes Association (ADA): Largest US diabetes nonprofit, operating multiple diabetes camps. Overlaps with DECA's mission and offers ADA Imagine Camp through DECA partnership; serves a much broader diabetes audience.
• Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF): Major T1D research and advocacy organization. Resource partner of DECA; comparable as a national T1D-focused nonprofit with overlapping family/community outreach goals.
• International Diabetes Federation (IDF): Global umbrella organization for diabetes; parent of Life for a Child (a DECA resource partner). Comparable as a global membership/coordination body for diabetes stakeholders.
• Diabetes Research Institute Foundation: Major diabetes research fundraising nonprofit. Comparable as a US-based diabetes nonprofit with overlapping donor and corporate sponsor base.

Emerging players

• Beyond Type 1: Digital-first T1D nonprofit providing programs, resources, and community for people with diabetes. Comparable as a diabetes-focused nonprofit serving overlapping community/education needs.
• Children with Diabetes: Online community and education resource for families of children with diabetes, hosts Friends for Life conferences. Overlaps with DECA on family education and events.
• T1D Exchange: T1D-focused nonprofit driving research, data, and clinical quality improvement. Adjacent mission with overlapping stakeholder base (endocrinologists, families).
• diaTribe Foundation: Diabetes education and advocacy nonprofit producing content for patients and clinicians. Comparable as a diabetes-focused education/community organization with similar stakeholder overlap.
• College Diabetes Network: Nonprofit supporting young adults with diabetes through campus chapters and resources. Adjacent life-stage focus to DECA's youth-camp programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/diabetescamps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about
• Instagraminstagram.com/diabetes.camping

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Diabetes Education and Camping Association