EUROPA DONNA - The European Breast Cancer Coalition

What EUROPA DONNA - The European Breast Cancer Coalition does

EUROPA DONNA - The European Breast Cancer Coalition is an independent non-profit advocacy organization founded in 1993 in Milan, Italy, following a proposal by Professor Umberto Veronesi at the EUSOMA Congress in Paris. Operating as a coalition of 47 national member forums across Europe, the organization mobilizes women, patients, healthcare professionals, and policy makers around breast cancer education, screening, treatment access, and research funding. Its primary beneficiaries are European women at risk of or affected by breast cancer, including those living with metastatic breast cancer, alongside secondary stakeholders in clinical and policy communities.

The coalition delivers a recurring program of biennial and annual events — the Pan-European Conference (since 1994), Advocacy Training Course (since 2001), European Breast Cancer Conference co-organized with EUSOMA and EORTC (since 1998), Advocacy Leader Conference (since 2008), MBC Conference (since 2017), and the annual Breast Health Day campaign (since 2008). It produces publications, newsletters, and educational materials, maintains a multilingual web presence and active social channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube), and operates a small head office staff of 13 in Milan. Underlying infrastructure is conventional web/social tooling (WordPress, CookieYes) with no proprietary technology products.

Europa Donna's business model is a diversified non-profit funding stack rather than a commercial revenue model. Income is drawn from annual member forum dues (€500–€750 per country), conference and training fees, project-based grants from European Commission and EU entities (including under Europe's Beating Cancer Plan), non-governmental foundation funding, and unrestricted industry sponsorship subject to a strict editorial-independence policy. Distribution and advocacy reach are delivered through the 47 autonomous national forums and through direct institutional engagement with the European Parliament, European Commission, European Council, ECIBC, BIG, and OECD PaRIS.

Name

EUROPA DONNA - The European Breast Cancer Coalition

Legal name

EUROPA DONNA - The European Breast Cancer Coalition

Website

https://europadonna.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EUROPA DONNA is an independent non-profit coalition of 47 national breast cancer advocacy forums across Europe, headquartered in Milan, that delivers education, screening advocacy, and policy engagement to women, patients, and EU institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-Profit Health Advocacy

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Partnerships (HLAJAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) (BPADAIAE)

Keywords

• Breast cancer advocacy
• Patient advocacy coalition
• Cancer awareness campaigns
• Breast health education
• Non-profit health coalition

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Member Fees: Each national forum pays annual dues, currently between 500 and 750 euros depending on annual income. This provides baseline operational funding from the 47 member country organizations.
2. Conference Fees: Revenue generated from educational conferences, training courses, and events including the Pan-European Conference, Advocacy Training Course, and other educational programs.
3. Non-Governmental Organization Funding: Funds from non-profit foundations supporting breast cancer advocacy and education projects.
4. European Commission and EU Entity Funding: Funds from European Commission and other European Union entities for advocacy programs and initiatives.
5. Industry Sponsorship: Accepts unrestricted grants from industry sponsors for specific projects, with strict independence policies ensuring no sponsor input on content or methodology. All sponsors acknowledged in newsletters, website, and conference materials.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

EUROPA DONNA is an independent non-profit pan-European coalition that advocates for improved breast cancer education, appropriate screening, optimal treatment, and increased research funding. It delivers its mission through a network of 47 national member forums, recurring advocacy training courses and conferences, annual breast health awareness campaigns, and direct policy engagement with EU institutions such as the European Parliament, European Commission, and ECIBC.

Product overview

Europa Donna is an independent non-profit advocacy coalition focused on breast cancer awareness and policy advocacy across Europe. The organization operates as a platform of educational and advocacy programs rather than a traditional technology product. Its core offerings include biennial and annual conferences (Pan-European Conference, Advocacy Training Course, Advocacy Leader Conference, MBC Conference), the annual Breast Health Day campaign, and information/publication services. The coalition does not offer a software product or digital platform but provides educational programs, advocacy training, and awareness campaigns to its 47 member country organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Europa Donna Pan-European Conference Biennial conference held since 1994 dedicated primarily to breast cancer advocates and survivors, featuring presentations by scientists and experts, workshops, and networking opportunities.
• Europa Donna Advocacy Training Course Annual comprehensive course for new advocates covering basic science and epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment, screening and specialist breast units, advocacy techniques, and communication skills training.
• European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC) Biennial multidisciplinary European conference co-organised with EUSOMA and EORTC since 1998, bringing together patient advocates, physicians, scientists, and researchers.
• Europa Donna Advocacy Leader Conference Biennial training conference since 2008 for country leaders focusing on organisational management, capacity building, fund-raising, and current topics including clinical trials, ECIBC, EBCP, and Health Technology Assessment.
• MBC (Metastatic Breast Cancer) Conference Annual conference since 2017 focusing on metastatic breast cancer, covering latest research and treatment advancements and issues specific to the unmet needs of women living with MBC.
• Breast Health Day Campaign Annual breast cancer prevention campaign held on 15 October since 2008, promoting healthy lifestyles and early detection through leaflets, posters, videos and other educational materials distributed across 47 member countries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Influenced European Parliament Written Declarations on Fight Against Breast Cancer in 2010 and 2015
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EUSOMA (European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998EUSOMA co-organises the European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC) with Europa Donna and EORTC since 1998. This is the only multidisciplinary European conference co-organised by patient advocates together with physicians, scientists and researchers.
• EORTC (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998EORTC co-organises the European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC) with Europa Donna and EUSOMA since 1998, bringing together researchers and patient advocates in breast cancer research and treatment discussions.
• European School of Oncology (ESO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993ESO provided on-going support throughout Europa Donna's history since founding in 1993. ESO Director Alberto Costa provided guidance and support to the founding board of Europa Donna, helping establish the coalition's initial structure and operations.
• European Commission Initiative on Breast Cancer (ECIBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropa Donna is an official stakeholder in ECIBC, the European Commission initiative that has launched European guidelines on breast cancer screening and diagnosis, international guidelines on breast cancer care, and a European quality assurance scheme for breast cancer services.
• BIG (Breast International Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropa Donna representatives serve on the scientific committee of BIG, collaborating on international breast cancer research initiatives and clinical trials from the patient advocate perspective.
• OECD Patient-Reported Indicator Surveys (PaRIS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropa Donna representatives are part of the OECD PaRIS work group on breast cancer, contributing the patient perspective to international indicator surveys on breast cancer outcomes and patient-reported experiences.
• European ParliamentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropa Donna has obtained European Parliament Written Declarations on Fight Against Breast Cancer in 2010 and 2015, and influenced European Parliament Resolutions on Breast Cancer in 2003 and 2006. Continues to work with MEPs through webinars and awareness events.
• Europe's Beating Cancer PlancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropa Donna collaborates with the European Commission on Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, a major EU initiative addressing prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life in cancer care. ED works to ensure implementation in all member states.
• European CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropa Donna works with the European Council to ensure breast cancer remains high on the policy agenda of the EU and national member states through advocacy and policy engagement.
• European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropa Donna Turkey has a joint project with EONS on breast care nurses training and curriculum for MBC patients, collaborating on nurse education initiatives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Union for International Cancer Control (UICC): Geneva-based international membership organization uniting cancer societies globally. Comparable to Europa Donna as a coalition/membership model with member organizations across countries, engaging in advocacy, education, and convening conferences in cancer control.
• World Cancer Research Fund International: International nonprofit focused on cancer prevention research and policy, with operations across Europe. Comparable to Europa Donna's prevention advocacy, evidence-based education, and engagement with EU institutions on cancer policy.
• European Cancer Patient Coalition: Brussels-based pan-European umbrella for cancer patient organizations across all tumor types. Directly comparable as a peer European advocacy coalition engaging EU institutions, though operating across cancer types rather than breast cancer specifically.
• National Breast Cancer Coalition: US-based grassroots advocacy coalition focused on breast cancer policy and research funding. Comparable to Europa Donna in coalition structure, advocacy training, and emphasis on legislative/policy engagement to advance breast cancer priorities.
• Breast Cancer Now: UK-based breast cancer charity combining research funding, advocacy, and patient support. Directly comparable to Europa Donna in mission (breast cancer advocacy, research, and education) and stakeholder positioning with UK and EU policymakers.

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: Largest US cancer-focused nonprofit with global health programs and policy advocacy. Comparable to Europa Donna as a major cancer advocacy organization engaging in public education, research funding, and policy advocacy, though operating at vastly larger scale across all cancers.
• Susan G. Komen: Global leader in breast cancer advocacy and research funding headquartered in the US. Comparable to Europa Donna as a large-scale breast cancer advocacy organization with extensive national affiliate networks, policy influence, and community education programs.
• Cancer Research UK: UK-based major cancer research and awareness charity with significant policy engagement. Comparable to Europa Donna in combining cancer education, research funding advocacy, and government relations at a national/European level.

Emerging players

• METAvivor: US-based nonprofit dedicated exclusively to metastatic breast cancer research and advocacy. Comparable to Europa Donna's MBC Conference and MBC-focused programming as a specialist in the metastatic segment of the breast cancer community.
• Young Survival Coalition: US-based nonprofit focused specifically on young women with breast cancer. Comparable to Europa Donna as a breast-cancer-specific advocacy organization with strong educational programming and peer-support focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/EuropaDonnaChannel
• Facebookfacebook.com/EuropaDonna
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/europa-donna-the-european-breast-cancer-coalition
• Instagraminstagram.com/europa_donna

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about EUROPA DONNA - The European Breast Cancer Coalition