The Les Turner Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation Ltd

What The Les Turner Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation Ltd does

The Les Turner Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation Ltd is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1977 and headquartered at 5550 W Touhy Avenue, Suite 302, Skokie, Illinois. It is one of the longest-serving ALS organizations in the United States, operating under the tagline "Care, Community, Cure." The foundation delivers a coordinated suite of free services to people living with ALS and their families, including individualized care coordination, online and in-person support groups, needs-based financial grants, equipment loans, and a portfolio of educational resources spanning 15+ topic areas (breathing, nutrition, mobility, genetics, caregiving, etc.). It also operates digital tools including the My ALS Decision Tool, which reached 7,590 users in 2025, and the ALS Learning Series webinar program, alongside signature events such as the ALS Walk for Life at Soldier Field, the Hope Through Caring Gala, Team Race for ALS, and the All in for ALS Casino Night.

The foundation sustains scientific research through its core partnership with Northwestern Medicine and Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, funding and operating the Les Turner ALS Center and the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic. In 2025, the foundation funded over $1 million in ALS research grants and clinic/endowment support — the highest level in its history — and provided a $500,000 emergency gift to the center during a federal research funding freeze. It is a participating site in the Healey ALS ACE Initiative and the Healey MyMatch early-phase research program, and it co-advocates federally with peer organizations for legislation such as ACT for ALS Reauthorization (H.R.8205).

The business model is donations and event-based fundraising: all patient services are provided free of charge, and revenue is generated from individual donors, corporate partners, legacy giving, and event fundraising. The foundation holds BBB accreditation, Candid's Platinum Seal of Transparency, and a Charity Navigator 4-star rating. It is governed by an independent Board of Directors, has no parent company, and is not venture-backed. Geographic scope is regional for clinical care (Chicago metropolitan area) and effectively global for digital and educational resources, which reached 177,000+ users across 184 countries in 2025.

Name

The Les Turner Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation Ltd

Legal name

Les Turner Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation, Ltd.

Website

https://lesturnerals.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Les Turner ALS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1977 that delivers free ALS support services, education, and equipment loans to patients and families, while funding ALS research through the Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine. It sustains operations via donations, events, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

ALS Nonprofit Patient Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• ALS support services
• ALS research funding
• Nonprofit patient care
• ALS care coordination
• ALS education resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Skokie

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, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The foundation raises funds from individual donors, corporate partners, and event participants. Revenue is generated through direct donations, event fundraising (ALS Walk for Life, Hope Through Caring Gala, Team Race for ALS, All in for ALS Casino Night), corporate partnerships, and legacy giving. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Les Turner ALS Foundation delivers free ALS support services, care coordination, support groups, needs-based grants, and equipment loans to people living with ALS and their families, and operates educational programs including the ALS Learning Series and My ALS Decision Tool. It sustains the Les Turner ALS Center and Lois Insolia ALS Clinic at Northwestern Medicine through research grants, endowment support, and operational funding, and drives awareness and fundraising through signature events such as the ALS Walk for Life.

Product overview

The Les Turner ALS Foundation is a nonprofit healthcare organization (not a technology company) offering a coordinated suite of ALS care and support services. The foundation operates as a single integrated service portfolio centered on three pillars: (1) individualized patient care through its Support Services Team and ALS Support Groups, (2) financial and equipment assistance via Grant Programs & Equipment Loans, and (3) scientific research funding through the Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine and Lois Insolia ALS Clinic. Educational resources including My ALS Decision Tool and the ALS Learning Series help patients and families navigate care decisions. Community engagement programs like the ALS Walk for Life, Team Race for ALS, and Hope Through Caring Gala drive fundraising and awareness. The foundation does not offer technology products, APIs, or AI-powered solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ALS Support Services Team
• ALS Support Groups
• Grant Programs and Equipment Loans
• My ALS Decision Tool
• ALS Learning Series
• Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine
• Lois Insolia ALS Clinic
• ALS Communication Passport
• ALS Guides and Educational Webinars

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,684 care coordination meetings conducted in 2025
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

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

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

• Northwestern Medicine / Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation's most significant partnership is with Northwestern Medicine and Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. The foundation funds and sustains the Les Turner ALS Center and the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic at Northwestern Medicine, which serves as the primary site for ALS clinical care and research. Foundation-funded scientists and clinicians at the center conduct groundbreaking research into the causes and treatments of ALS.
• Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Massachusetts General HospitalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation partners with the Healey ALS Center on the Acceleration Centers of Enrollment (ACE) Initiative, which strengthens ALS research infrastructure and accelerates clinical trial enrollment. Since its inception in 2024, enrollment has more than doubled across three sites. The Les Turner ALS Center was also selected as one of only four sites to participate in the Healey ALS MyMatch early-phase research program.
• International Alliance of ALS/MND AssociationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation is a member of the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations, a global network of national ALS/MND organizations that collaborate on advocacy, research, and awareness efforts.
• Illinois Public Health Association and HAP FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation partners with the Illinois Public Health Association and the HAP Foundation to train community health workers across Illinois, particularly in rural and underserved communities, to help people connect to multidisciplinary ALS care and support sooner.
• ALS AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe foundation co-signed a letter with the ALS Association and other leading ALS organizations calling on Congress to swiftly pass the ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act (H.R.8205).
• ALS NetworkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe foundation co-signed a letter with the ALS Network and other leading ALS organizations calling on Congress to swiftly pass the ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act.
• ALS UnitedcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe foundation co-signed a letter with ALS United and other leading ALS organizations calling on Congress to swiftly pass the ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act.
• I AM ALScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe foundation co-signed a letter with I AM ALS and other leading ALS organizations calling on Congress to swiftly pass the ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act.
• Muscular Dystrophy AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe foundation co-signed a letter with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and other leading ALS organizations calling on Congress to swiftly pass the ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Project ALS: A nonprofit funding ALS research and treatment development, with a focus on preclinical and translational science. Comparable as a peer ALS research-funding nonprofit.
• I AM ALS: A patient-led ALS nonprofit focused on advocacy, awareness, and accelerating treatments. Comparable as a fellow ALS mission-driven organization co-signing ACT for ALS advocacy letters.
• ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI): A nonprofit biotechnology institute focused on ALS research and drug discovery. Comparable as a peer ALS organization investing in translational research and clinical-trial acceleration.
• The Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins: An academic ALS research center funded by philanthropy that brings together leading ALS scientists. Comparable as a peer ALS research organization embedded in a major U.S. academic medical institution.
• The ALS Association: The largest national ALS-focused nonprofit in the U.S., providing care services, advocacy, and research funding. Directly comparable as a fellow ALS patient-services and research-funding organization co-advocating on ACT for ALS.
• ALS United: A national federation of independent ALS organizations providing care services and funding research. Highly comparable as a peer ALS nonprofit engaged in joint advocacy and patient support.
• ALS Network: A regional ALS nonprofit (formerly the Golden West Chapter) providing care services, equipment loans, and research funding in the western U.S. Operates the same patient-support and advocacy model as Les Turner.
• Answer ALS: A research consortium and program generating the largest ALS multi-omic dataset and supporting clinical trial acceleration. Comparable as a peer ALS infrastructure initiative tied to research advancement.

Broad incumbents

• Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA): A large national neuromuscular disease nonprofit that funds ALS research among many other conditions. Comparable as a peer advocacy and research-funding partner on ACT for ALS and overlapping care services.

Others

• International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations: A global umbrella organization of which Les Turner is a member, coordinating international ALS advocacy and research collaboration. Comparable as a peer network partner rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/alsfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/LesTurnerALS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lesturnerals
• Instagraminstagram.com/lesturnerals

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Les Turner Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation Ltd