The National Association of Young People Who Stutter

What The National Association of Young People Who Stutter does

Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1997 by Lee Caggiano and John Ahlbach to provide support, education, and empowerment to children, teens, and young adults who stutter, along with their families and the speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who serve them. The organization is headquartered at 278 Shady Brook Drive, Langhorne, PA, and operates as the only national nonprofit dedicated exclusively to young people who stutter. Current leadership includes Executive Director Caryn Herring, PhD, CCC-SLP, who succeeded founder Caggiano, with a board chaired by Tricia Zebrowski (University of Iowa Professor Emerita).

The organization delivers its programs through a community-led, event-driven model. The flagship is a three-day annual convention held each July (the 29th edition scheduled for July 23–25, 2026 at Embassy Suites Chicago O'Hare Rosemont), supplemented by regional one-day conferences throughout the year and monthly virtual groups for children ages 6–11, teens ages 12–17, young adults ages 18–39, and parents in both English and Spanish. A Graduate Student Training Program embeds SLP graduate students into the convention at reduced $200 registration, and a Research Program coordinates with academic researchers (e.g., Gerlach et al., 2019 study) to validate outcomes. SLPs can earn 1.2 ASHA CEUs at the full convention.

Revenue is generated through four streams: individual and corporate donations (tax-deductible under 501(c)(3)), tiered convention registration fees ($325–$355 adults, $225–$255 children, $395 SLPs, $185/$125 one-day), continuing education program fees, and a branded merchandise shop ($3 stickers to $40 hoodies). A 100% donor-funded scholarship program covers approximately 20% of attendees who could not otherwise afford convention participation. Distribution is primarily direct-to-family through events and an online merchandise storefront, with top-of-funnel referral acquisition via speech-language pathology professional networks and university partnerships. A community activation partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation extends brand visibility into sports settings.

Name

The National Association of Young People Who Stutter

Legal name

Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter

Website

https://friendswhostutter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides support, education, and community programs — including an annual convention, regional events, and monthly virtual groups — for children, teens, and young adults who stutter, their families, and speech-language pathologists across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Support Services for Stuttering

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Engagement & Caregiver Support Programs (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAK), Group Therapy and Peer-Mediated Communication Programs (School-Age) (EDAKAEAO)

Keywords

• Stuttering support services
• Nonprofit community programs
• Speech therapy education
• Youth disability advocacy
• Family support conferences

Headquarters

HQ city

Langhorne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual and corporate donations are a primary revenue source. The organization operates a scholarship fund that is 100% donor-funded to support families who cannot afford convention attendance. Donations are tax-deductible as the organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
2. Convention Registration Fees: All-inclusive registration fees for the annual 3-day convention covering access to workshops, meals, and activities. Tiered pricing for adults ($325-$355), children ($225-$255), with free admission for children 5 and under.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, accessories, drinkware, and apparel for children and adults. Products range from $3 stickers to $40 hoodies.
4. Professional Services (CEU Programs): Continuing education credits for speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Full convention registration for SLPs is $395 with 1.2 ASHA CEUs available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Friends operates a community support platform for children, teens, and young adults who stutter and their families, anchored by a 3-day Annual Convention, Regional One-Day Events nationwide, and monthly Virtual Group programs segmented by age group (Kids 6-11, Teens 12-17, Young Adults 18-39, Parents in English and Spanish). Complementary offerings include a Graduate Student Training Program for speech-language pathology students, a scholarship fund, a research participation program, and a branded merchandise shop.

Product overview

Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a unified community support platform offering programs and services centered around annual conventions, regional events, and virtual programming. The core offerings include the Annual Convention (a 3-day immersive event with workshops, keynotes, and family activities), Regional One-Day Events (regional gatherings with presentations and panels), and a suite of Virtual Groups (Kids Groups for ages 6-11, Teen Groups for ages 12-17, Adults Group for ages 18-39, and Parent Groups in English and Spanish). Additional programs include the Graduate Student Training Program (GSTP) for speech-language pathology students, a Scholarship Program for financial assistance, a Research Program for community study participation, and a Merchandise Shop for branded items. These offerings collectively provide support, education, and empowerment to young people who stutter, their families, and clinicians.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Convention A 3-day immersive convention held each July providing support, education, keynotes, workshops, family activities, and networking for kids, teens, and adults who stutter, families, and speech-language pathology professionals.
• Regional One-Day Events

Quantifiable outcome

• Children and teens who have attended a Friends convention have significantly less adverse reactions to speaking, and stuttering has significantly less negative impact on their lives (Gerlach et al., 2019)

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

One partnership is on record.

• Pittsburgh Penguins FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFriends developed a partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, coordinated by Director of Athletic Partnerships Allison Ladavat. The partnership coordinates unique experiences at each Pittsburgh Penguins home game for local children who stutter, providing community engagement and visibility opportunities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Stuttering Association (NSA): The largest US membership organization for people who stutter, running local chapters, an annual conference, and family programs across all ages. Friends board member Ryan Pollard has also volunteered with NSA, and NSA competes for the same donor pool while serving a broader age range.
• Stuttering Foundation: Established 1947 nonprofit that funds stuttering research, distributes educational materials, and sponsors the ASHA CEUs offered at Friends' convention. It is a much larger, broader incumbent operating in the same donor and clinician ecosystem as Friends.

Others

• International Stuttering Association: Umbrella organization connecting national stuttering associations worldwide. Not a direct competitor, but a complementary ecosystem partner and potential conduit for Friends' international reach beyond the US.
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): National professional association for speech-language pathologists that issues the CEUs earned at Friends' convention. ASHA is an enabling partner and a key referral channel into Friends rather than a competitor, but it shapes the professional ecosystem Friends operates within.

Direct peers

• Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY): National nonprofit that runs camps, regional programs, and a youth-focused community for children and teens who stutter. Overlaps Friends' core young-people age segments with a similar event- and community-driven support model, and competes for the same donor and family audience.
• American Institute for Stuttering (AIS): Specialty organization providing stuttering therapy, training, and support across the lifespan, including clinical services and community programs. AIS is referenced by Friends' own board members (Mark O'Malia, Ryan Pollard), and it competes with Friends for clinician referrals and donor attention in the stuttering space.

Regional players

• STAMMA (formerly British Stammering Association): UK-based charity supporting people who stutter through helplines, self-help groups, and online resources. Closest international analogue to Friends' community-support model, but operating primarily in the UK rather than North America.

Emerging players

• Sisskin Stuttering Center: Specialty clinical center (and employer of Friends' One Day Events Director Nic Brow) that provides stuttering evaluation and therapy and trains future clinicians. Comparable through its pediatric stuttering focus and SLP-training mission, even though it operates a clinical rather than community-support model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FriendsStutter
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/friendswhostutter
• Facebookfacebook.com/friendswhostutter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friendswhostutter
• Instagraminstagram.com/friendswhostutter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

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 The National Association of Young People Who Stutter