The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 that funds and conducts research to cure debilitating headaches. It operates a research center with UTHealth and Memorial Hermann, has served over 10,000 patients, and raised more than $5M for research.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersHouston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation does
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2014 in Houston, Texas, by Pam and Jimmy Erwin following the death of their son Will, who suffered from cluster headaches. The foundation's stated mission is to fund and conduct research aimed at curing debilitating headaches, addressing a research funding gap in which less than 0.05% of NIH funds target headache research despite 12% of Americans being affected. Its operational core is the Will Erwin Headache Research Center, established in 2016 as a collaboration with UTHealth and Memorial Hermann Foundation, where Dr. Mark Burish leads clinical research, enrolls patients in clinical trials, and treats approximately 1,200 patients annually. The foundation has developed a proprietary cluster headache pain scale and conducts research into circadian rhythm connections to debilitating headaches.
The organization has served over 10,000 patients and raised more than $5M in direct funding for headache research since inception. Its revenue model is entirely donation-based, channeled through an online portal (Qgiv platform), email donor engagement, and annual fundraising events including the Women's Event launched in November 2025. The foundation does not sell products or services; its primary outputs are research outputs, clinical trial enrollment, and patient support. Distribution of clinical and research services occurs through the UTHealth and Memorial Hermann partnership, with international research collaboration via Dr. Burish's global partner network.
The foundation is governed by a board of directors and is currently in a professionalization phase, having hired its first Executive Director, Catherine Pressly Herring, in 2025 and approved a 5-Year Strategic Plan in 2026. The plan includes upgrading internal systems and technology, hiring a second physician to reduce a 9-month patient wait time, and expanding annual fundraising event programming.
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation
- Legal name
- The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation
- Website
- https://cureheadaches.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 that funds and conducts research to cure debilitating headaches. It operates a research center with UTHealth and Memorial Hermann, has served over 10,000 patients, and raised more than $5M for research.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Medical Research Nonprofit - Headache / Neurology
- NAICS
- Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Headache & Migraine Medicine (HLAKAIAE)
Keywords
Where The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Houston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds through donations. The primary fundraising mechanism is an online donation portal via qgiv platform. The foundation has raised over $5M in direct funding for headache research to date.
- Annual Women's Event Fundraiser: Annual fundraising event launched in 2025 targeting women's giving, recognizing that 85% of migraine sufferers are women.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and operates the Will Erwin Headache Research Center to find cures for debilitating headaches. It delivers direct patient clinical support (~1,200 patients per year), enrolls patients in clinical trials, and conducts headache research through a state-of-the-art laboratory led by Dr. Mark Burish. Funding is raised through charitable donations, an online Qgiv donation portal, email outreach, and annual fundraising events.
Product overview
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on curing debilitating headaches rather than offering commercial products or services. The foundation's activities include patient support, funding clinical trials, and conducting headache research through its Will Erwin Headache Research Center established in 2016. The organization serves patients through Dr. Mark Burish at the research center and raises funds for headache research, having served over 10,000 patients and raised more than $5M in direct research funding.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Patient Clinical Support at the Will Erwin Headache Research Center
- Headache Clinical Trials
- Cluster Headache Pain Scale
Quantifiable outcome
- Served over 10,000 patients
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UTHealthcoreCollaboration to establish the Will Erwin Headache Research Center in 2016. UTHealth provides institutional infrastructure and academic research capabilities for the headache research center, serving approximately 1,200 patients annually.
- Memorial Hermann FoundationcoreCollaboration to establish the Will Erwin Headache Research Center in 2016. The Memorial Hermann Foundation partnership provides healthcare system integration and support for clinical operations.
- Global Research PartnersminorDr. Mark Burish partners with experts across the globe to bring clinical support to patients, indicating international research collaboration.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- American Migraine Foundation: A nonprofit dedicated to advancing research, education, and treatment for migraine; directly comparable as a disease-specific headache health nonprofit that funds research and supports patients, much like the Will Erwin Foundation.
- Clusterbusters: A nonprofit focused on cluster headache research, education, and patient advocacy; a direct peer addressing the same specific headache subtype (cluster headaches) as the Will Erwin Foundation's lead research area.
- National Headache Foundation: A long-established nonprofit focused on headache awareness, education, research funding, and patient support — a direct peer in mission, scope, and constituency to the Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation.
- Migraine Research Foundation: A nonprofit that funds research specifically targeting migraine; comparable as a disease-focused grantmaking foundation that channels donor dollars into headache-related scientific research.
Broad incumbents
- ALS Association: A large-scale nonprofit that funds research, supports patients, and advocates for a specific neurological disease; comparable as a mature model of a disease-specific health nonprofit combining research grantmaking with patient services.
- Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research: A major disease-specific medical research foundation that has built a globally recognized fundraising and research-grantmaking model; useful as a comparable scale and operational template for a focused neurological research nonprofit.
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society: A large nonprofit that funds MS research and supports patients; a comparable institutional model for combining disease-specific research funding with patient services, though at much greater scale.
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: A disease-specific nonprofit that combines research funding, clinical care networks, and drug development partnerships; a relevant comparable for a focused headache research foundation aiming to industrialize its impact model.
- American Brain Foundation: A larger nonprofit that funds research across the full spectrum of brain and neurologic diseases; a broad incumbent operating in the same neurology research grantmaking space, though without the Will Erwin Foundation's narrow headache focus.
Others
- American Headache Society: A professional membership society for headache clinicians and researchers; an adjacent ecosystem enabler that the Will Erwin Foundation's research partners (such as Dr. Burish) interact with, though it serves professionals rather than directly funding research or patient care.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceThe Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation
What does The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation do?
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and operates the Will Erwin Headache Research Center to find cures for debilitating headaches. It delivers direct patient clinical support (~1,200 patients per year), enrolls patients in clinical trials, and conducts headache research through a state-of-the-art laboratory led by Dr. Mark Burish. Funding is raised through charitable donations, an online Qgiv donation portal, email outreach, and annual fundraising events.
Is The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation a public or private company?
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation founded?
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation based?
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation is headquartered in Houston, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are annual Women's Event Fundraiser.
Who are The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are American Migraine Foundation, Clusterbusters, National Headache Foundation and Migraine Research Foundation. Broad incumbents are ALS Association, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and American Brain Foundation. American Headache Society is listed as an others.
Does The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation.
What industry is The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation in?
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation's product category is Medical Research Nonprofit - Headache / Neurology. 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 813212 and its SIC code is 8731.