What Team Joseph does

Team Joseph is a tax-exempt 501c3 nonprofit organization headquartered in West Bloomfield, Michigan, founded in 2013 by Marissa Penrod after her son Joseph was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at age 5. The organization pursues a dual mission: funding research to find treatments and a cure for Duchenne, and providing direct financial and practical support to affected families. Operationally, it is a small team (1–10 employees) that runs the Duchenne Family Assistance Program (DFAP), an annual Golf Outing, and the free virtual "What Now?" Conference. To date, Team Joseph has provided more than $850,000 in financial assistance to 700 families — covering wheelchairs, accessible vans, home modifications (ramps, accessible bathrooms), travel to specialized clinics, government-program navigation, and emergency needs — and helped an additional 300 families through a COVID-19 emergency fund.

On the research side, the organization has funded two clinical trial projects (including a gene therapy trial with positive initial results) and partnered with Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) on a $1 million cardiac research initiative at the University of Florida targeting dilated heart failure in DMD patients. Fundraising is conducted through individual donations, tiered corporate sponsorships (with Sarepta Therapeutics, PTC Therapeutics, NS Pharma, ITF Therapeutics, Dyne, Edgewise, Avidity, RegenxBio, Solid Biosciences, Wave Life Sciences, and Catalyst among the pharmaceutical sponsors), event fundraising via the Golf Outing, and grants from foundations including the US LBM Foundation, Children's Foundation, JB's Keys to DMD, and the Tom Kowalski Foundation. The organization holds Candid Platinum Transparency (2023) and Charity Navigator recognition, and the founder actively advocates at FDA forums and Congressional briefings on rare-disease policy.

There is no proprietary technology product; the operational stack consists of a website (teamjoseph.org), standard social channels, an online family-assistance application portal, and donation infrastructure. Geographic footprint is national (United States). Ownership and governance are founder-led, with no parent company, no outside equity, and no public funding rounds disclosed.

Name

Team Joseph

Legal name

Team Joseph

Website

https://teamjoseph.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Team Joseph is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2013 that funds Duchenne muscular dystrophy research and operates the Duchenne Family Assistance Program, delivering financial aid for medical equipment, home modifications, and travel to specialized clinics for affected U.S. families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Disease Research & Family Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

Keywords

• Duchenne muscular dystrophy research
• Family financial assistance
• Rare disease nonprofit
• Patient advocacy services
• Charitable foundation support

Headquarters

HQ city

West Bloomfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute financial support through the organization's website donation portal. Donations fund both research initiatives and the Duchenne Family Assistance Program.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Pharmaceutical companies (Sarepta Therapeutics, PTC Therapeutics, NS Pharma, ITF Therapeutics, Dyne, Edgewise Therapeutics, Avidity Biosciences, RegenxBio, Solid Biosciences, Wave Life Sciences, Catalyst) and other corporations sponsor events and programs.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual golf outing generates sponsorship revenue from various corporate sponsors at different tiers (Champion, Eagle, Birdie, Hole sponsors). Proceeds fund research and family support.
4. Foundation Grants: Support from foundations including US LBM Foundation, Children's Foundation, JB's Keys to DMD, Tom Kowalski Foundation, and individual philanthropists like John and Stephanie Killian.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Team Joseph is a 501c3 charitable nonprofit that funds Duchenne muscular dystrophy research (including clinical trials and gene therapy initiatives) and provides direct financial and practical assistance to affected families through its Duchenne Family Assistance Program (DFAP). The DFAP covers medical equipment (wheelchairs, accessible vans), home modifications (ramps, accessible bathrooms), travel to specialized clinics, government program navigation, and emergency support. The organization has delivered over $850,000 in assistance to 700+ families.

Product overview

Team Joseph is a non-profit charitable organization (501c3 tax-exempt) dedicated to defeating Duchenne muscular dystrophy through two core pillars: funding groundbreaking research to find treatments and a cure, and providing direct support to affected families. The organization operates the Duchenne Family Assistance Program (DFAP) as its primary service offering, providing personalized guidance and financial support for equipment needs (wheelchairs, ramps, accessible vehicles), home modifications, travel assistance to specialized clinics, government program navigation, and emergency support. Additional programs include research funding for clinical trials and gene therapy development, the annual What Now? Conference (a free virtual event for young adults with Duchenne), and the Annual Golf Outing fundraising event. The organization has provided over $850,000 in support to 700 families across the country.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Duchenne Family Assistance Program (DFAP): Program providing personalized assistance, guidance and financial support to individuals and families affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Covers equipment needs, home modifications, travel assistance, accessible vehicles, government programs, and emergency support.

Products and services

• Duchenne Family Assistance Program (DFAP) A personalized assistance program providing guidance and financial support to individuals and families affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, covering equipment needs, home modifications, travel assistance, accessible vehicles, government programs navigation, and emergency support.
• Duchenne Research Funding Funding for groundbreaking Duchenne research, including clinical trials, gene therapy development, and cardiac initiatives targeting dilated heart failure in DMD patients.
• What Now? Conference An annual virtual conference for older adolescents and adults with Duchenne focusing on topics important to living in adulthood with DMD, including autonomy, careers, mental health, travel, and finances. Free and 100% virtual.
• Annual Golf Outing An annual fundraising golf event held at Edgewood Country Club in Commerce Township, MI. Proceeds fund vital research, advocacy, and direct family support.
• Family Equipment Assistance Direct financial assistance for medical equipment not covered by insurance, including wheelchairs, ramps, accessible vans, home modifications, and visits to Duchenne clinics.
• Travel Assistance Program Financial support for travel expenses to help Duchenne patients reach specialized clinics and doctor appointments for essential care.
• Government Programs Navigation Assistance navigating Medicaid waivers, SSI, Medicare, housing programs, and other government services for Duchenne families.

Quantifiable outcome

• $850,000 in financial assistance provided to 700 families
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to fund a $1 million research project at the University of Florida exploring development of therapies to address dilated heart failure in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
• Sarepta TherapeuticscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor for What Now? Virtual Conference and Golf Outing (Champion Sponsor). Sarepta is a pharmaceutical company developing Duchenne treatments.
• ITF TherapeuticscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor for What Now? Virtual Conference and Golf Outing. ITF Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical company focused on Duchenne treatments.
• NS PharmacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor for What Now? Virtual Conference and Golf Outing (Mulligan Sponsor). NS Pharma develops treatments for rare diseases including Duchenne.
• PTC TherapeuticscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor and Golf Outing Eagle Sponsor. PTC Therapeutics develops therapies for Duchenne and other rare diseases.
• Dyne TherapeuticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor for What Now? Virtual Conference. Dyne develops therapies for rare muscle diseases.
• Edgewise TherapeuticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor for What Now? Virtual Conference. Edgewise develops muscle-targeted therapies.
• Avidity BiosciencesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor for What Now? Virtual Conference. Avidity develops RNA therapeutics for rare diseases.
• RegenxBiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor for What Now? Virtual Conference. RegenxBio develops gene therapy treatments.
• Solid BiosciencesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor for What Now? Virtual Conference. Solid Biosciences focuses on Duchenne therapies.
• Wave Life SciencesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor for What Now? Virtual Conference. Wave develops stereopure oligonucleotides for rare diseases.
• Catalyst PharmaceuticalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor for What Now? Virtual Conference. Catalyst focuses on rare disease therapeutics.
• Ryan Turner SpecialtyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGolf Outing Cocktail Hour Sponsor. Ryan Turner Specialty is an insurance provider.
• Trion SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGolf Outing Golfer Swag Bag Sponsor. Trion Solutions is a professional employer organization.
• Atlas TubeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGolf Outing Bloody Mary Bar Sponsor and Birdie & Hole Sponsor. Atlas Tube manufactures steel hollow structural sections.
• Howard & HowardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGolf Outing Golf Cart Sponsor. Howard & Howard is a law firm.
• SkyOak WealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGolf Outing Birdie Sponsor. SkyOak Wealth is a wealth management firm.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of MichiganminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGolf Outing Driving Range Sponsor. BCBS Michigan is a health insurance provider.
• Walking StrongcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to provide wheelchair-accessible vans to families. Example: The Ritter Family received a van through Team Joseph and Walking Strong partnership.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Global Genes: Global Genes is a rare disease advocacy organization providing education, resources, and community connections to patients and families. Overlaps with Team Joseph's advocacy and community-building functions at a broader rare disease scale.
• National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD): NORD is a broad rare disease umbrella organization providing advocacy, research support, and patient assistance programs. Overlaps with Team Joseph's advocacy and family support functions but operates at a larger, more general scale.
• Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA): MDA is the largest U.S. nonprofit serving all neuromuscular diseases including Duchenne, funding research, care centers, and advocacy. It is a broader incumbent with overlapping capabilities (research funding, family support, advocacy) but covers a wider disease portfolio than Team Joseph's Duchenne-only focus.
• EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases: EveryLife Foundation is a rare disease policy advocacy organization that engages with FDA and Congress on rare disease issues. Comparable to Team Joseph's advocacy work, particularly founder Marissa Penrod's FDA/Congressional engagement.

Emerging players

• Walking Strong: Walking Strong is a nonprofit focused on providing mobility equipment like wheelchair-accessible vans to families affected by muscular dystrophy. Direct collaborator with Team Joseph on accessible van programs, making it a niche peer in the equipment assistance segment.

Direct peers

• Jett Foundation: Jett Foundation funds Duchenne research and provides direct family support including equipment and accessible vehicle programs. Highly comparable to Team Joseph's Duchenne Family Assistance Program in mission and service mix.
• Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD): Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy is the largest U.S. nonprofit focused exclusively on Duchenne muscular dystrophy, funding research and providing family support. Team Joseph is an active partner with PPMD on the $1M cardiac research initiative at University of Florida, making it the most direct and comparable organization.
• Cure Duchenne: Cure Duchenne is a nonprofit focused on finding a cure for Duchenne through research funding and education. It directly competes with Team Joseph in the DMD-specific research and family engagement space, with overlapping corporate sponsor overlap.
• Charley's Fund: Charley's Fund is a family-founded Duchenne nonprofit funding translational research and supporting affected families. Comparable to Team Joseph as a smaller, founder-driven DMD organization with research funding and family assistance.
• Little Hercules Foundation: Little Hercules Foundation is a Duchenne-specific nonprofit funding research and family support programs. Directly comparable to Team Joseph in disease focus, mission, and family service model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/teamjosephinfo?lang=en
• Facebookfacebook.com/teamjosephinfo
• Instagraminstagram.com/team_joseph
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/team-joseph

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Team Joseph