National Foster Parent Association

What National Foster Parent Association does

The National Foster Parent Association (NFPA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Hagerstown, Maryland, established around 1970 to support foster, kinship, and adoptive families across the United States. NFPA operates a community-led model delivering three primary services: education through the NFPATI online training platform (50+ free courses available 24/7 with certificates of completion, sponsored by Centene Corporation), advocacy via an online dashboard tracking federal legislation, and networking through the monthly ConnectU newsletter and the 55th annual Education Conference ('Together for Impact', scheduled for September 27-30, 2026 in Crystal City, VA). The organization also runs the Council of State Affiliates (CoSA), a collaborative network of state-level resource parent associations, and offers adjunct programs including tax guides ($35 for non-members, free to members), youth scholarships, parent peer support, and the UnitedHealthcare 'On My Way' life skills program for foster youth.

NFPA's revenue model is diversified across three streams: recurring membership dues (Regular Member, Agency & Affiliate, and Friends of the NFPA tiers), one-time conference registration fees, and grants and charitable donations (including tax-deductible contributions routed through its 501(c)(3) status and select corporate sponsorships). Its core technology stack is lightweight: a WordPress-hosted website, a separate LMS-style training platform at nfpati.org, and ActiveCampaign for email marketing of the ConnectU newsletter. NFPA serves a horizontally segmented customer base spanning individual caregivers (foster, kinship, adoptive), state affiliate organizations, and child welfare professionals, with no public API, mobile app, or developer-facing integrations disclosed. The organization is led by Executive Director Arnie Eby and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.

Name

National Foster Parent Association

Legal name

National Foster Parent Association

Website

https://nfpaonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

National Foster Parent Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports U.S. foster, kinship, and adoptive families through free online caregiver training (NFPATI), monthly advocacy newsletters, an annual Education Conference, and a network of state affiliates coordinated through CoSA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foster Care Advocacy & Education

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)

Keywords

• Foster parent advocacy
• Child welfare support
• Caregiver training programs
• Kinship family services
• Nonprofit membership organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Pflugerville, TX

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: NFPA generates revenue through membership fees from Regular Members, Agency & Affiliate members, and Friends of the NFPA. Tax guides are free to members and available for $35 for non-members.
2. Conference Fees: Revenue generated from annual Education Conference registrations. The 55th Education Conference features a special $250 rate for the country's 250th Anniversary celebration.
3. Grants and Donations: NFPA operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, receiving grants (such as $20M grant to C.A.S.E. with NFPA as collaborator) and charitable donations. Donations are tax-deductible.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The National Foster Parent Association is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers education, advocacy, and community-building programs for foster, adoptive, and kinship families across the United States. Its principal sellable offerings include tiered annual memberships, registration for an annual Education Conference, and access to the NFPATI online training institute, complemented by the ConnectU newsletter and federal/state legislative advocacy programs.

Product overview

The National Foster Parent Association offers a unified suite of services supporting foster, kinship, and adoptive families through education, advocacy, and community connection. The core offerings include NFPATI (free online training with 50+ courses), the ConnectU Newsletter (monthly advocacy and resource updates), and the annual Education Conference. Additional services include an Advocacy Dashboard for tracking legislation, a Resource Library, Tax Guides for members, Youth Scholarships, and Parent Peer Support. The organization also partners with companies like Centene Corporation (NFPATI sponsor), UnitedHealthcare (On My Way program), and LegalShield (member benefits) to extend resources. The Council of State Affiliates (CoSA) provides regional coordination through state-level associations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NFPATI: NFPA Training Institute - free online learning platform with 50+ courses for foster, adoptive and kinship parents, available 24/7 with certificates for completed courses
• ConnectU
• CoSA

Products and services

• NFPA Membership Annual subscription membership offered in three tiers: Regular Member ($60/year) for foster, adoptive, and kinship parents and child welfare workers; Agency & Affiliate ($300/year) for state-level resource parent associations and child welfare agencies; and Friends of NFPA ($120/year) for supporters not directly involved as caregivers. Includes member benefits such as access to the ConnectU newsletter, discounted/published tax guides, and conference registration discounts.
• NFPATI Online Training Institute NFPA's online training institute hosted at nfpati.org providing 50+ free, self-paced courses on topics relevant to foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers, available 24/7. Training is delivered by subject-matter experts and is intended to support caregiver licensing requirements and professional development.
• Annual NFPA Education Conference NFPA's signature annual educational event featuring workshops, keynote speakers, and networking for foster, adoptive, and kinship families and child welfare professionals. The 55th annual conference was held in 2025 in the Washington, D.C. area. Registration fees apply, with member and non-member pricing tiers.
• Foster Parent Tax Guide An annual tax guide publication tailored to the unique tax situations faced by foster, adoptive, and kinship parents, covering the Qualified Foster Care Tax Credit, claiming foster children as dependents, and reimbursement-related tax treatment. Available free to NFPA members and for $35 to non-members.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ free training courses available 24/7 through NFPATI
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• C.A.S.E. (Center for Adoption Support and Education)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2023NFPA is honored to be one of five partners selected with CASE to develop the first-ever National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services. This $20 million initiative, funded through ACF (Administration for Children and Families) grants, aims to build bridges between child welfare and mental health systems to improve availability and accessibility of adoption-competent mental health services. NFPA contributes expertise and resources to this national initiative.
• Centene CorporationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNFPA & Centene present the NFPA Training Institute (NFPATI) - a free online training platform with 50+ courses for foster and adoptive parents. NFPATI is sponsored by Centene Corporation and provides 24/7 access to caregiver training with certificates of completion. This is a flagship partnership enabling free professional development for caregivers nationwide.
• Council of State Affiliates (CoSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoSA is a collaborative team of state resource parent associations working together to advocate for foster, kinship, and adoptive families. NFPA coordinates with CoSA members who conduct Capitol Hill visits and participate in legislative advocacy. CoSA has its own website (nfpacosa.org) with affiliate lookup functionality.
• LegalShieldminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing NFPA members with access to affordable legal coverage and identity theft protection services. LegalShield offers exclusive member discounts on various brands and services.
• UnitedHealthcareflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership spanning multiple years including: development of Trauma-Informed Care training course; 11 training sessions conducted for UnitedHealthcare staff who interact with children in foster care; collaboration on the 'On My Way' program helping teens in foster care develop life skills for transitioning to adulthood. UnitedHealthcare provides funding and resources supporting NFPA's training initiatives.
• FosterUSKidscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFosterUSKids is recommended as the primary resource for finding local foster care agencies and getting started as a foster parent in each state. NFPA directs members to FosterUSKids website for state-specific resources, acknowledging that states vary greatly in fostering guidelines and local agencies are the best source for getting started.
• ATTACh (Association of Treatement and Therapeutic Communities)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNFPA collaborates with ATTACh for their annual conference (Healing Connections: Fostering Collaboration, Fueling Change), including NFPA collaboration for ATTACh's April 2026 Conference in San Antonio, TX and request for presenters.
• NCMEC (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNFPA works with NCMEC on resources for foster parents, including know2protect initiatives for child exploitation awareness and prevention, and SSA Go Digital programs supporting youth in foster care.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Child Welfare League of America (CWLA): Long-established national membership organization of child welfare agencies and professionals. Shares NFPA's advocacy and training remit but operates at the agency/professional tier rather than caregiver tier; Marcus Stallworth (NFPA consultant) is also a national consultant for CWLA.
• Children's Defense Fund: Large national child advocacy organization with policy, research, and program arms focused on child poverty and welfare — overlaps NFPA on federal child-welfare advocacy, though CDF operates at significantly broader scale and scope.
• Casey Family Programs: One of the largest private foundations focused on child welfare and foster care, operating nationwide with significantly larger resources than NFPA. Comparable mission space (reducing foster-care need) but operates as a philanthropic funder rather than membership body.

Direct peers

• Generations United: National membership organization focused on intergenerational programs including kinship care, with federal advocacy, conferences, and policy reports — directly comparable to NFPA's kinship-caregiver focus and national advocacy structure.
• AdoptUsKids: Federal government-supported national adoption and foster-care recruitment project; operates the By-State resource directory that NFPA directs members to via FosterUSKids. Comparable mission (connecting families to foster/adoption resources) and national reach, though federally funded.
• FosterClub: National nonprofit led by and for foster care alumni, providing peer support, leadership training, and advocacy. Comparable in youth-focused advocacy, training delivery, and federal grant participation within the foster-care ecosystem.
• North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC): Membership-based nonprofit supporting adoptive, foster, and kinship families with training, advocacy, and state-affiliate coordination — a structural and mission peer to NFPA, including conferences, training programs, and constituency-based advocacy.
• Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption: National nonprofit focused on adoption from foster care, particularly the Wendy Wonderful Kids recruiter program. Directly comparable to NFPA in mission (foster/adoption outcomes), federal advocacy posture, and corporate-sponsor funding model.
• Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.): National nonprofit providing adoption-competent mental health services and training; NFPA's primary partner on the $20M National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services. Directly comparable in mission overlap and joint federal-grant execution.
• National CASA/GAL Association: National nonprofit supporting Court Appointed Special Advocates for foster children; shares NFPA's national-membership, advocacy-driven model serving the U.S. foster-care ecosystem, and overlaps heavily on volunteer engagement and federal policy work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NFPAOnline
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3402pc6t_GvmBuEDvdNNhQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/NFPAOnline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nfpaonline

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Foster Parent Association