FUNDELA

What FUNDELA does

FUNDELA (Fundación Española para el Fomento de la Investigación de la Esclerosis Lateral Amiotrófica) is a Spanish non-profit foundation established in December 2002 and headquartered in Madrid. It is the principal national vehicle for channeling private donations toward Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ELA/ALS) research, funding both Spanish and international research projects through a portfolio of competitive calls (Convocatorias Por un mundo sin ELA, including a dedicated track for young researchers launched in 2022) and named programs such as Project MinE (international genetic research, €1.47M raised toward a €1.49M goal), the DNA genomic sample collection project, clinical trial co-funding (masitinib, ariclomol, ravulizumab), and direct patient-support services including technical aids and the DONAR CEREBRO brain donation program with IS Carlos III. The foundation does not develop technology products itself; it operates a portfolio of research funding programs, an informational scientific bulletin (Boletín Científico FUNDELA), and awareness campaigns (#porlos45deMata, #MójateporlaELA, solidarity weddings, legacy gifts).

The organization runs on a community-led, donation-only revenue model with no government subsidies and no product pricing. It accepts contributions from individuals (website, bank transfer, credit card, PayPal, Bizum, direct debit) and corporations (El Corte Inglés, RENFE, Metro de Madrid, Banco Sabadell, Larios Dry Gin, LaLiga Press by Santander, among others), with Spanish tax deductions under Ley 49/2002 incentivizing giving. It directs over 95% of its budget to research, enabled by an all-volunteer staff with no physical offices. Its primary served segments are ALS patients and families in Spain (roughly 4,000 people), national and international ALS researchers receiving grants through peer-reviewed calls, and donor individuals and corporations. Internationally, FUNDELA is a full member of the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations and participates in TRICALS, ENCALS, NEALS, and Project MinE, integrating Spanish research with the global ALS ecosystem.

Name

FUNDELA

Legal name

FUNDACIÓN ESPAÑOLA PARA EL FOMENTO DE LA INVESTIGACIÓN DE LA ESCLEROSIS LATERAL AMIOTRÓFICA (FUNDELA)

Website

https://fundela.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

FUNDELA is a Spanish non-profit foundation established in 2002 that funds ALS (ELA) research through donation-driven competitive grants, having invested over €3.3M in 97 projects and serving ALS patients, researchers, and donors in Spain and international networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Health Research Funding

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

Keywords

• ALS research funding
• Nonprofit foundation
• Biomedical research grants
• Donation platform
• Patient support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations from individuals: Individual donors contribute funds through the website, bank transfer, credit card, PayPal, Bizum, or direct debit. Donors can direct their contribution to specific research projects or general foundation purposes. Spain's Ley 49/2002 allows individual donors to deduct 80% of the first €250 donated and 40%–45% of amounts above that.
2. Corporate donations and sponsorships: Companies such as El Corte Inglés, RENFE, Metro de Madrid, Banco Sabadell, Larios Dry Gin, LaLiga Press by Santander, and others make donations or enter collaboration agreements to support ALS research. These may include employee donation matching, event fundraising, or cause marketing campaigns.
3. Event-driven fundraising: FUNDELA organizes and coordinates specific events to raise funds, including solidarity weddings, memorial donations, legacy gifts (testamento solidario), brain donation programs (in collaboration with IS Carlos III), sporting events (Copa FUNDELA de fútbol sala, charity football matches), and gala events.
4. Project-specific funding: Donors can choose to fund specific research projects listed on the website, such as the X Convocatoria (€150,000 goal), V Convocatoria para jóvenes investigadores (€30,000 goal), Project MinE (€1,492,422 goal), and others. This provides targeted funding for defined research initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FUNDELA is a Spanish nonprofit foundation that raises donations and channels them into competitive ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / ELA) research projects through annual funding calls, clinical trial support, and patient technical aids. It operates annual 'Convocatorias de Proyectos de Investigación Por un mundo sin ELA' for general and young researchers, contributes to international genetic initiatives such as Project MinE, and provides assistance services for ALS patients. The foundation publishes a scientific bulletin and is integrated into global ALS research networks including the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations, ENCALS, NEALS, and TRICALS.

Product overview

FUNDELA is a non-governmental foundation established in December 2002 dedicated to fostering and supporting ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) research in Spain. The organization functions as a research funding entity rather than a technology product company, operating a portfolio of research project funding programs (convocatorias), patient support services, and scientific information dissemination. The core offerings include the annual 'Convocatorias de Proyectos de Investigación Por un mundo sin ELA' funding programs (both general and for young researchers), Project MinE for genetic research, DNA sample collection projects, clinical trial support, and technical assistance services for patients. The organization also maintains a donation platform for supporting these initiatives, publishes a scientific bulletin, and collaborates with international ALS research networks. FUNDELA operates with minimal organizational structure, primarily using volunteers, and directs more than 95% of its budget to research objectives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• X Convocatoria de Proyectos de Investigación 2026 Annual competitive ALS research project funding call ('Convocatoria Por un mundo sin ELA') administered by FUNDELA; 2026 edition targets €150,000 in research funding for established Spanish and international ALS research teams.
• V Convocatoria de Proyectos de Investigación para Jóvenes Investigadores Annual competitive ALS research funding call targeted at young investigators, supplementing the general convocatoria with career-development grants; 2026 edition targets €30,000.
• Project MinE FUNDELA's Spanish contribution to Project MinE, an international genetic research initiative collecting DNA profiles from ALS patients to identify disease causes across phenotyping, genomic analysis, epigenetics, and data infrastructure workgroups.
• Financiación del Proyecto de Recogida de muestras de ADN genómico de pacientes con ELA DNA sample collection project from ALS patients in Spain to study genetic susceptibility factors and environmental influences on ALS development.
• ELA Sin Fronteras: Investigación Científica Global FUNDELA's contribution to the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations' global research coordination infrastructure, connecting ALS organizations, researchers, and clinicians internationally.
• Apoyo parcial a ensayos clínicos 2025 Partial funding for ALS clinical trials in 2025, including Phase III studies on masitinib with riluzole, ariclomol, and ravulizumab (ALXN1210-ALS-308).
• Evaluación, asesoramiento y aplicación de ayudas técnicas 2025 Patient-facing service providing evaluation, advice, and application of support aids for ALS patients, including speech therapy, orthotic products, and alternative communication systems.
• Plataforma de Donaciones Online donation platform enabling supporters to contribute via credit card, PayPal, bank transfer, direct debit, or Bizum, with optional routing of funds to specific research projects or to the foundation's general purposes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 22 years of operation since 2002 with continuous research funding
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• LaLiga Press by SantanderminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025LaLiga Press by Santander donated €9,675 (two checks of €4,837.50 each) to FUNDELA and another charity, raised during the Copa de LaLiga Press by Santander football championship.
• DanceFactoryAlcorconminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022DanceFactoryAlcorcon organized the VII Gala de la Danza in homage to Carlos Matallanas, raising funds for the #porlos45deMata campaign benefiting FUNDELA's research mission.
• RCD CarabanchelminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020RCD Carabanchel football club collaborated with FUNDELA through a 2020 calendar campaign, with proceeds supporting ALS research.
• Metro de MadridflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Metro de Madrid signed a collaboration agreement with FUNDELA, providing visibility and promotional support for ALS awareness and fundraising campaigns through its transit network and customer communications.
• Banco SabadellminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Banco Sabadell included FUNDELA in its '10 years, 10 reasons, 10 causes' campaign, enabling the foundation to reach a wider audience and receive donations through the campaign's voting and fundraising platform.
• Villarreal CF (Cadete A team)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017The Villarreal CF Cadete A football team launched the #DonaContraELA campaign, raising funds for FUNDELA's research efforts through their sporting community and social networks.
• RENFEflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 June 2016RENFE (Spain's national railway company) signed a collaboration agreement with FUNDELA to facilitate travel for ALS patients. RENFE provides train tickets at a 90% discount for ALS patients traveling to reference hospitals for treatment and care. This partnership addresses the specific mobility challenges faced by ALS patients.
• El Corte InglésflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016El Corte Inglés partnered with FUNDELA for campaigns to raise funds for ALS research, including a campaign to sponsor DNA profiles in the Project MinE initiative. The retail giant promoted the campaign to its broad customer base.
• TRICALS (Treatments for ALS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRICALS is the world's largest network of specialized ALS centers. Experts from leading research centers worldwide have partnered with patient organizations, fundraisers, and pharmaceutical companies in a collaborative effort. FUNDELA supports TRICALS and its mission to accelerate ALS treatment development through shared infrastructure and harmonized research outcomes.
• Project MinEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject MinE is an international innovative genetic research initiative that collects DNA profiles to find possible causes of ALS. FUNDELA is the Spanish partner, having raised €1,471,851.99 toward Spain's contribution to the international project goal of €1,492,422.19. The project involves subprojects on phenotyping, genomic analysis, epigenetics, data infrastructure, and more.
• ENCALS (European Network for Cure ALS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerENCALS is a European network dedicated to curing ALS, organizing annual scientific meetings and sharing research data. FUNDELA participates in ENCALS activities and uses ENCALS statistical models (e.g., ENCALS survival model) to evaluate treatment outcomes in funded clinical trials.
• The International Alliance of ALS/MND AssociationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFUNDELA is a full member of the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations, a global network connecting ALS organizations, researchers, clinicians, and advocates internationally. Through this membership, FUNDELA contributes to global research coordination and benefits from shared infrastructure and knowledge exchange.
• NEALS (Northeast ALS Consortium)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEALS is a consortium of ALS clinical trial centers primarily in North America. FUNDELA maintains a partnership through its international network connections, facilitating collaboration between Spanish and North American ALS research efforts.
• ALS TDI (ALS Therapy Development Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerALS TDI is a non-profit biotechnology company focused exclusively on ALS research. FUNDELA maintains connections through the broader ALS research community and disseminates ALS TDI findings to Spanish stakeholders.
• Larios Dry GinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLarios Dry Gin donated €39,000 to FUNDELA, demonstrating the foundation's ability to attract support from the food and beverage sector for ALS research.
• IS Carlos III (Instituto de Salud Carlos III)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFUNDELA partners with the Instituto de Salud Carlos III for the 'DONAR CEREBRO' (brain donation) program, facilitating post-mortem brain tissue donation for ALS research. This is a critical program for advancing understanding of the disease.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Fundación FEDER (Enfermedades Raras): Fundación FEDER is the Spanish umbrella federation for rare diseases including ALS. It is comparable as a Spanish disease-focused nonprofit ecosystem player but operates at a broader disease-category level rather than ALS-specifically.
• TRICALS: TRICALS is the world's largest network of specialized ALS treatment centers, and FUNDELA is a core partner. It is comparable as an ALS-focused ecosystem participant and co-funder of ALS research infrastructure, though it operates as a clinical-trial consortium rather than a fundraising foundation.
• International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations: The International Alliance is the global membership organization of which FUNDELA is a full member. It is an ecosystem/peer-network participant rather than a direct competitor, providing shared infrastructure and visibility for FUNDELA's research coordination activities.

Emerging players

• AFM-Téléthon: AFM-Téléthon is the leading French rare-disease research foundation, using an annual televised telethon model to fund neuromuscular disease research. It is comparable to FUNDELA in disease-research funding mission but is much larger and structurally different.

Direct peers

• Project ALS: Project ALS is a US nonprofit that funds translational ALS research at leading academic and biotech labs. It shares FUNDELA's research-grantmaking model focused on ALS, with similar disease-specific scope and donor-driven funding approach.
• ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI): ALS TDI is a US nonprofit biotech that runs its own in-house drug-discovery lab for ALS. FUNDELA already lists it as a partnership contact and shares the ALS research-funding mission, though ALS TDI differs by operating internal laboratory science rather than purely grantmaking.
• Fundación Luzón: Fundación Luzón is the other major Spanish ALS-focused foundation, founded by ALS patient Francisco Luzón. It shares FUNDELA's mission of funding ALS research and raising awareness in Spain, but operates with a larger institutional profile and broader corporate partnerships, making it the most direct Spanish peer.

Broad incumbents

• ALS Association (ALSA): The ALS Association is the largest US-based ALS nonprofit, funding research, care services, and advocacy globally. It is a broad incumbent in the same disease space as FUNDELA and shares research-funding and patient-support activities but operates at much larger scale.
• Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC): AECC is the largest Spanish disease-research foundation, funding oncology research via a competitive grant program. It shares FUNDELA's disease-specific research grantmaking model in Spain but operates in a different therapeutic area at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA): MNDA is the UK's leading motor neurone disease (ALS) charity, funding research and providing care support. It is comparable to FUNDELA in mission and operating model but is UK-focused, making it a regional peer rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fundela1
• Facebookfacebook.com/fundelaoficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/fundelaoficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fundela

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about FUNDELA