A Cure For Issa

What A Cure For Issa does

A Cure for Issa is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in June 2016 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California (EIN: 81-3066003), established following the passing of Issa Nicole Ledesma from glioblastoma brain cancer in April 2014. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a technology product: Hope for Health! delivers medical aid, medicine, medical devices, and nutritional supplements to civilian populations with restricted access to healthcare; Community Health Outreach provides educational resources on integrative medical therapies; the Health Recovery Program delivers fitness-led wellness support through certified coaches; and the Research and Innovation Framework, including the EAAR Research Program and the Cold as Medicine Phase I/II study pre-registered on the Open Science Framework, conducts field-based observational research into environmental adaptation and autonomic regulation.

The organization's underlying operational infrastructure is non-technological: a WordPress website hosted on DreamHost, a PayPal-powered donation portal called The GiveShop, contact and newsletter forms, and a presence on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. Mission execution depends on logistics partnerships (DHL Express for international shipping and MedShare for humanitarian medical supply chain support) and on regulatory authorizations from the US Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control and the International Trade Commission to deliver aid to restricted jurisdictions such as Cuba, where the first Hope for Health! shipment was executed in February 2024.

A Cure for Issa's business model is donation-based: as a 501(c)(3) public charity, all revenue is generated through tax-deductible financial contributions from individual donors, sponsors, and in-kind supporters, with no commercial products, services, or pricing tiers. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, anchored by annual campaigns including World Health Day, Brain Cancer Awareness Month ("Gray May"), Giving Tuesday, 25 Days of Giving: Healing Advent, and the April Wellness Series. The organization reports 20K+ annual donors, 10+ community partnerships, and a programmatic reach targeting 20+ global communities, with governance provided by Founder and Executive Director Marie Valdes, Board CFO Erik Valdes, and Board Secretary Robin Bissett.

Name

A Cure For Issa

Legal name

A Cure for Issa

Website

https://acureforissa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

A Cure for Issa is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 in Los Angeles that delivers medical humanitarian aid to underserved global communities, provides chronic illness education, and conducts environmental health research, funded entirely through individual donations and community partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Humanitarian Health Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Social Assistance (624)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Global Public Health Aid Administration (Government Donors) (HLAJALAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Humanitarian health aid
• Community health outreach
• Integrative medicine education
• Chronic illness research
• Global health programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, A Cure for Issa generates revenue primarily through financial donations from individual donors, sponsors, and supporters. Donations are accepted via PayPal (through The GiveShop), email inquiries for in-kind donations, and direct financial contributions. All donations are tax-deductible under IRS 501c3 guidelines. The organization reported 20K+ annual donors and serves global communities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

A Cure for Issa is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers humanitarian medical aid to underserved global communities through its Hope for Health! program, provides community health outreach and integrative health education, and runs a Research and Innovation Framework that includes the EAAR Research Program and the Cold as Medicine Study. Its programs are funded exclusively through tax-deductible charitable donations and in-kind contributions processed via The GiveShop (PayPal) and direct outreach.

Product overview

A Cure for Issa is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the community in health and wellness since 2016. Rather than a traditional product company, it operates as a unified charitable organization offering multiple interconnected programs and services. Its flagship humanitarian program Hope for Health! delivers medical aid to underserved global communities. The Community Health Outreach and Health Recovery Program provide educational resources and integrative health support to individuals and families. The Research and Innovation Framework, including the EAAR Research Program, conducts environmental health research. Annual campaigns like the 25 Days of Giving: Healing Advent and wellness series events round out the organization's portfolio of compassionate programs and services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hope for Health! International humanitarian relief program that directly supports civilian populations in communities around the world with limited to restricted access to medical care and health services, delivering medicine, medical devices, and nutritional supplements through logistics partnerships.
• Community Health Outreach Program providing individuals and families with educational resources and options for integrative medical therapies and modalities, supporting informed choices and sustainable well-being.
• Health Recovery Program Community health outreach program facilitated by certified health fitness coaches to support health recovery through fitness and movement as a key element for wellness.
• 25 Days of Giving: Healing Advent Annual December giving campaign where contributions support community programs through the gift of wellness.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20+ global communities targeted for outreach and health support
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• DHL ExpresscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024DHL Express serves as the primary logistics partner for A Cure for Issa's Hope for Health! humanitarian relief program. In February 2024, DHL Express successfully delivered the organization's first shipment of humanitarian aid to Cuba following 8 months of planning. DHL provides global courier and logistics services enabling medical aid delivery to communities with restricted access. The partnership is central to Hope for Health!'s mission to deliver lifesaving resources across borders.
• US Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)coreOthers · 1 December 2023A Cure for Issa received formal authorization from the US Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control to deliver humanitarian relief to Cuba. This regulatory authorization is a prerequisite for the Hope for Health! program's international medical aid shipments, creating a unique government-authorized pathway for humanitarian logistics.
• International Trade CommissioncoreOthers · 1 December 2023In coordination with OFAC authorization, the International Trade Commission authorized A Cure for Issa to deliver humanitarian relief to Cuba. This regulatory approval enables the organization to navigate trade restrictions and deliver medical aid to restricted regions under its Hope for Health! program.
• MedSharecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedShare is listed as a community partner on the organization's programs page with the tagline 'strengthening vulnerable health systems worldwide.' MedShare provides humanitarian medical supply chain support, aligning with A Cure for Issa's mission to deliver medical aid and health services to underserved global communities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Americares: Americares is a nonprofit focused on delivering medicine, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid to communities in crisis globally. Its mission and operational model of medical aid distribution closely parallel A Cure for Issa's humanitarian relief and health access focus.
• Direct Relief: Direct Relief is a humanitarian medical aid organization that delivers medicine and medical supplies to underserved communities worldwide, including sanctioned regions. It is directly comparable to A Cure for Issa's Hope for Health! program and its model of in-kind medical aid delivery.
• Project HOPE: Project HOPE is a global health and humanitarian organization that delivers medicines, supplies, and health worker training. It is comparable to A Cure for Issa in its integrated approach to medical aid delivery and community health education.
• Partners in Health: Partners in Health provides direct health care services, medical supplies, and community health programs to impoverished communities worldwide. It is comparable as a global health nonprofit addressing chronic illness and access to care in underserved populations.
• MAP International: MAP International is a global health nonprofit that provides medicine and medical supplies to people in poverty. It is comparable to A Cure for Issa in delivering medical aid, nutritional supplements, and community health support to underserved regions.
• International Medical Corps: International Medical Corps delivers emergency relief and medical care to communities affected by disaster, conflict, and poverty worldwide. It parallels A Cure for Issa's mission of providing medical aid and health services to populations with limited access to care.

Broad incumbents

• MedShare: MedShare is a larger humanitarian medical supply chain nonprofit that collects surplus medical supplies and redistributes them globally. It is a current partner of A Cure for Issa and comparable in its mission to strengthen vulnerable health systems through medical supply distribution.
• International Rescue Committee: The IRC responds to humanitarian crises worldwide, delivering health care, education, and economic support. It is a relevant broad incumbent peer in international humanitarian relief and community health programming.
• Doctors Without Borders (MSF): Médecins Sans Frontières is the largest independent global medical humanitarian organization, providing emergency medical care in crisis settings. It is relevant as a broad incumbent in the medical humanitarian aid space where A Cure for Issa operates.

Regional players

• National Brain Tumor Society: National Brain Tumor Society funds brain tumor research and advocates for patient support, paralleling the chronic illness research and education mission that originated A Cure for Issa. It is comparable as a US-based nonprofit focused on brain cancer awareness and alternative therapy research funding.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/acureforissa
• Facebookfacebook.com/acureforissa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a-cure-for-issa
• Instagraminstagram.com/acureforissa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about A Cure For Issa