The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health
The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2003 after actor John Ritter's death from aortic dissection, that funds thoracic aortic research (including AI/ML projects), provides free patient and clinical education, and operates a peer-support program for patients, caregivers, and medical professionals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health does
Founded in 2003 by Amy Yasbeck weeks after actor John Ritter died from a misdiagnosed thoracic aortic dissection, The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health is a Los Angeles-headquartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 26-0073309) operating three integrated verticals: (1) research funding, anchored by the John Ritter Research Program in Aortic and Vascular Diseases at UTHealth Houston under Dr. Dianna Milewicz (1,500+ families enrolled, with data contributing to the 2022 AHA/ACC Guidelines); (2) patient and clinical education, including the Ritter Rules guidebook (refreshed in 2025), Aorta Academy virtual library, an AORTA IQ knowledge assessment, and the RITTER SCORE clinical decision rule co-developed with the American College of Emergency Physicians; and (3) community support, primarily through the Aorta Advocates peer-mentoring program launched October 2023 (750+ individuals supported). The foundation also runs a multi-channel awareness operation including Aortic Dissection Awareness Week (annually September 14–20), the Evening from the Heart LA gala, and Team Ritter's TCS New York City Marathon team.
The technology stack is research-oriented rather than commercial: JRF funds two AI/ML research projects — a thoracic aortic dissection prediction framework combining CT imaging, EHR data, and genetic variants (under Tooraj Mirshahi, PhD) and the AortaGPT facial-recognition tool for genetic aortic disease (under Siddharth Prakash, MD, PhD) — and the RITTER SCORE clinical decision rule for emergency-department diagnosis. None of these AI tools has been launched as a commercial product; all are research-stage. Educational and support offerings are distributed through the foundation website, YouTube, social channels, in-person events, and direct peer-matching. The organization has 1–10 employees based at 11901 Santa Monica Blvd #410, Los Angeles.
Revenue is raised entirely through individual donations, event fundraising, and external research grants — no commercial product sales. FY2025 reported total budget of $1,383,316 (programs 79.87%, administration 11.21%, fundraising 8.92%), with nearly $1.5M raised across the year and cumulative funded research exceeding $1.5M over 20 years. All resources, educational materials, and peer-support services are provided free of charge to patients and families. Recipients span four segments — aortic patients and survivors and caregivers/family members as primary audiences, with medical professionals and the general public/donor base as secondary audiences. The foundation is governed by an independent board (including Ritter family members Jason Ritter, Tyler Ritter, and Carly Ritter Rappold) and has been recognized with Charity Navigator four-star status (2024) and Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2025).
The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health
- Legal name
- The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health
- Website
- https://johnritterfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2003 after actor John Ritter's death from aortic dissection, that funds thoracic aortic research (including AI/ML projects), provides free patient and clinical education, and operates a peer-support program for patients, caregivers, and medical professionals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Health Advocacy
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF)
Keywords
Where The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Others, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: The foundation receives donations from individuals who support the mission to prevent aortic dissections through research, education, and advocacy.
- Event Fundraising: Revenue generated from events including galas, marathons, golf tournaments, and community fundraising activities.
- Research Grants: Funding received from external sources to support thoracic aortic research programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time/ Multi-year | Donation-based giving |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The John Ritter Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds thoracic aortic disease research, provides free educational resources such as the Ritter Rules guidebook, operates the Aorta Advocates peer support program, and runs awareness campaigns to prevent deaths from aortic dissection. Its offerings center on the John Ritter Research Program at UTHealth, peer connections for patients and families, and community fundraising events including the Evening from the Heart LA gala and Team Ritter marathon participation.
Product overview
The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of educational, advocacy, and research programs centered on thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection awareness. Core offerings include the Ritter Rules patient guidebook (recently refreshed in 2025 with AHA/ACC alignment), the Aorta Advocates peer support program, Aorta Academy virtual educational resources, and the John Ritter Research Program (JRRP) genetic study. The foundation also hosts annual events including the Evening from the Heart LA gala, Run for Aortic Health 5K/10K, and Team Ritter marathon participation. Funded research includes AI/ML projects (AortaGPT facial recognition, dissection prediction framework) though these remain in development. All resources and programs work together toward the foundation's mission of preventing unnecessary suffering from aortic dissection.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ritter Rules Educational guidebook providing actionable rules for patients and families to recognize, treat, and prevent thoracic aortic dissection, updated in 2025 to align with AHA/ACC Guidelines.
- Aorta Advocates Peer support program connecting aortic patients, caregivers, and bereaved family members with trained volunteer advocates who have personal experience with aortic disease.
- John Ritter Research Program (JRRP) Genetic research study conducted at UTHealth Houston investigating genes causing thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection; enrolls families remotely with over 1,500 families enrolled as of 2023.
- Aorta Academy Virtual library of educational resources including webinars, fact sheets, and on-demand content from aortic experts for patients and medical professionals.
- Life with Aortic Disease: Caring for Your Mental Health Free downloadable book addressing mental health challenges for aortic patients including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and resources for accessing therapy and support; over 100,000 copies distributed.
- AORTA IQ Interactive quiz tool helping users assess their aortic health knowledge and learn about risk factors and warning signs.
- Thoracic Aortic Disease in the Black Community Educational initiative addressing disproportionate impact of aortic disease on Black Americans, including resources on hypertension management and family medical history.
- Thoracic Aortic Research Impact Grants Research grant program funding projects to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of thoracic aortic disease; includes grants for AI/ML tools and clinical trials.
- Aortic Dissection Awareness Week Annual awareness campaign held September 14-20 featuring educational content, community meetups, webinars, and social media engagement to raise awareness of aortic dissection.
- Team Ritter Running team program participating in TCS NYC Marathon and other races to raise awareness and funds for thoracic aortic disease research; has raised $175K.
- Evening from the Heart LA Annual gala event in Los Angeles raising funds for aortic health research and celebrating the aortic disease community.
- Run for Aortic Health Annual 5K/10K walk/run event in Fort Worth, TX building awareness and funding vital research for aortic aneurysm and dissection.
Companies that use The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature3 records
The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and minor.
- The Marfan FoundationcoreCollaborative partnership during Aortic Dissection Awareness Week 2025 to share educational information and the STAT acronym (Suspect, know the signs; Time is critical; Aortic imaging saves lives; Talk about it). Both organizations share resources and educational content about aortic disease.
- Think AortacorePartner during Aortic Dissection Awareness Week 2025 to spread awareness about aortic dissection signs and prevention through shared educational content.
- Aortic HopecoreCollaborative partner during Aortic Dissection Awareness Week 2025, sharing the STAT acronym and educational resources about aortic dissection awareness.
- GADA CanadacoreInternational partner during Aortic Dissection Awareness Week 2025, collaborating to share aortic health education across borders.
- Rock from the HeartcorePartner during Aortic Dissection Awareness Week 2025 to amplify aortic health awareness message through shared educational content.
- Loeys Dietz Syndrome FoundationcorePartner during Aortic Dissection Awareness Week 2025 to raise awareness about aortic disease and share educational resources.
- Pluto TV and DLT EntertainmentnotableCollaborated for live staged reading of Three's Company episode at Evening from the Heart LA gala, featuring celebrities including Kaley Cuoco, Adam Devine, and original stars.
- American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)corePartnership on a two-year research project to derive the RITTER SCORE, a clinical decision rule for diagnosing Acute Aortic Dissection in emergency departments. The goal is to reduce the current 1 in 4 missed cases rate.
- Montalcino Aortic ConsortiumcoreInternational registry of individuals with pathogenic variants in hereditary thoracic aortic disease genes. JRF's Chief Science Officer presents at biennial scientific meetings and leads discussions on translating research into clinical care.
- University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustoncoreHome of the John Ritter Research Program in Aortic and Vascular Diseases under Dr. Dianna Milewicz's direction. Over 1,500 families enrolled in genetic research study.
- Johnson & SekinminorWebsite donated by Johnson & Sekin to support the foundation's mission.
- Mended Hearts, Inc.corePartnered with The Mended Hearts, Inc. on Aortic Dissection: Early Detection Saves Lives initiative to improve early diagnosis and save lives through shared education.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Organization for Rare Disorders: US umbrella advocacy organization for rare diseases, including certain aortic and connective tissue conditions. Comparable patient-advocacy and education remit at a broader scale.
- American Heart Association: Largest US cardiovascular nonprofit, funding broad heart and stroke research including aortic disease. Not a niche competitor but a benchmark incumbent shaping the guidelines (e.g., 2022 AHA/ACC aortic disease guidelines) that JRF aligns to.
- Mended Hearts: Larger national nonprofit providing peer-to-peer support for heart disease patients and families. Broader cardiovascular focus but overlaps on patient advocacy and peer support; also a JRF partner.
Regional players
- British Heart Foundation: Major UK cardiovascular research and awareness charity. Comparable nonprofit model combining research funding, public education, and patient support, but operating primarily in a different geography.
- GADA Canada: Canadian nonprofit focused on genetic aortic disease awareness and education. Comparable mission with a primarily Canada-focused footprint; confirmed JRF international partner.
Direct peers
- The Marfan Foundation: Nonprofit dedicated to Marfan syndrome and related connective tissue disorders, many of which involve aortic complications. Closely aligned mission around genetic aortic disease awareness, research funding, and patient support, and an explicit JRF partner.
- Rock from the Heart: Nonprofit raising awareness of aortic disease through music and community events. Closely comparable awareness-and-fundraising model and a confirmed JRF partner.
- Think Aorta: Campaign focused on raising awareness of aortic dissection among patients and clinicians. Highly comparable awareness-and-education remit and confirmed JRF partner during Aortic Dissection Awareness Week.
- Aortic Hope: Patient- and family-focused nonprofit providing support, education, and community for those affected by aortic disease. Direct overlap with JRF's Aorta Advocates program and awareness mission; also a confirmed JRF partner.
- Loeys Dietz Syndrome Foundation: Foundation supporting patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome, a genetic connective tissue disorder with high aortic dissection risk. Comparable research-funding, patient-support, and awareness model; also a JRF partner.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health social profiles
Digital presenceThe John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health
What does The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health do?
The John Ritter Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds thoracic aortic disease research, provides free educational resources such as the Ritter Rules guidebook, operates the Aorta Advocates peer support program, and runs awareness campaigns to prevent deaths from aortic dissection. Its offerings center on the John Ritter Research Program at UTHealth, peer connections for patients and families, and community fundraising events including the Evening from the Heart LA gala and Team Ritter marathon participation.
Is The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health a public or private company?
The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health founded?
The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health based?
The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are event Fundraising and research Grants.
Who are The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are National Organization for Rare Disorders, American Heart Association and Mended Hearts. Regional players are British Heart Foundation and GADA Canada. Direct peers are The Marfan Foundation, Rock from the Heart, Think Aorta, Aortic Hope and Loeys Dietz Syndrome Foundation.
Does The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health have an API?
No public API is recorded for The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health.
What industry is The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health in?
The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic Health's product category is Nonprofit Health Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAA, Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS), with a secondary code of BPAGAKAL, Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211.