National Patient Advocate Foundation

What National Patient Advocate Foundation does

National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 421 Butler Farm Road in Hampton, Virginia. It operates as the advocacy affiliate of Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF), with the two organizations sharing staff and leadership: PAF delivers direct patient services such as case management, financial aid, and co-pay relief, while NPAF focuses on grassroots organizing, policy research, storytelling, and public-policy advocacy aimed at reforming the U.S. healthcare system. The organization runs a portfolio of programmatic offerings — most prominently the quarterly Policy Consortium forum that convenes patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, and federal/state policymakers, the Needs Navigation initiative (NPAF's flagship issue area promoting navigation as a standard of care), the Patient Insight Congress annual conference at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, and Shared Decision Making workshops delivered in partnership with cancer centers and community organizations. NPAF also produces an extensive free resource library of white papers, policy explainers (e.g., No Surprises Act, Telehealth, Caregiving), guides (ACA Plan Guide, Medicare Plan Guide), tip sheets, toolkits, webinars, and issue briefs, all distributed at no cost.

The organization does not sell a technology product and has no proprietary platform; its underlying 'infrastructure' is a multi-channel engagement stack — npaf.org website, an email newsletter, five social profiles (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Bluesky), recurring Policy Consortium forums (quarterly, with corporate sponsorship from Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals), an annual Patient Insight Congress, regional Shared Decision Making workshops, and a grassroots volunteer network. Revenue is sourced from individual donations, foundation grants (the Danaher Foundation is explicitly named as a funder of the VCU Massey workshop), and corporate sponsorships of Policy Consortium events; no products or services are sold, and all resources are provided free of charge.

NPAF serves four principal constituencies: (1) patients and family caregivers facing serious or chronic illness as the primary segment; (2) professional patient advocates, navigators, case managers, and community health workers; (3) federal and state policymakers and health system leaders; and (4) family caregivers in the Sandwich Generation. External partnerships extend reach across academic institutions (VCU Massey Cancer Center, Indiana University Indianapolis, Rice University AMWA chapter), federal agencies (AHRQ's Clinical Decision Support Innovation Collaborative), advocacy certification bodies (PACB, CHCAO), community organizations (LA Alliance for Community Health and Aging, Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation, BSWH Community Care Clinics), and patient-services partners (Young Invincibles for ACA enrollment).

Name

National Patient Advocate Foundation

Legal name

National Patient Advocate Foundation

Website

https://www.npaf.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

National Patient Advocate Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy affiliate of Patient Advocate Foundation that organizes patients, caregivers, and professional advocates through its quarterly Policy Consortium, Needs Navigation programs, and grassroots network to influence U.S. healthcare policy reform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Advocacy Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Patient Advocacy, Navigation & Access to Care (BPAGACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hospitals, Clinics & Charitable Healthcare Providers (BPAGACAB), Global Health Advocacy, Policy & Rights Organizations (HLAJAKAO), Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

Keywords

• Patient advocacy services
• Healthcare policy advocacy
• Nonprofit patient support
• Grassroots healthcare organizing
• Medical debt resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Bardstown

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: NPAF operates as a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds from individual donors, foundations, and grant-making organizations to support its advocacy programs, Policy Consortium events, and resource development.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Policy Consortium events are made possible with generous support from corporate sponsors including Johnson and Johnson, Lilly, Pfizer, and Vertex. These sponsorships fund the organization's signature policy forums and community convenings.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

National Patient Advocate Foundation is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization that delivers free programs and resources to help patients, caregivers, and advocates navigate the U.S. healthcare system and influence healthcare policy. Its core offerings include the Policy Consortium quarterly forums, Needs Navigation advocacy programs, Shared Decision Making workshops, the annual Patient Insight Congress conference, webinars, and a grassroots volunteer network, all funded by donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and advocacy affiliate of Patient Advocate Foundation. NPAF offers a portfolio of advocacy programs and educational resources rather than a traditional product. The core programs include Policy Consortium (a quarterly forum for patient voices), Needs Navigation services (helping patients address financial and social needs), and Shared Decision Making workshops. Additional offerings include various resource toolkits (Needs Navigation Outreach Toolkit, Social Media Toolkit, Caregivers Count Campaign Toolkit, Be a Hero Make a Plan Campaign Toolkit), policy explainers (No Surprises Act, Telehealth, Caregiving), educational guides (ACA Plan Guide, Medicare Plan Guide, Tip Sheets), white papers (Health Needs Navigation), webinars, and a Grassroots Volunteer Network. The organization also hosts the annual Patient Insight Congress conference.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Policy Consortium: NPAF's signature policy program that brings together patients, communities, and healthcare industry partners to identify solutions for healthcare system improvement
• Needs Navigation
• Patient Insight Congress

Products and services

• Policy Consortium A quarterly forum bringing together patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, and policymakers who have been underrepresented in healthcare reform discussions to explore the impact of health policies and identify solutions. Held virtually and in-person, registration is open to all.

Quantifiable outcome

• NPAF's white paper cites Patient Advocate Foundation data showing over 20% of adults have experienced significant unexpected medical bills and 37% have unpaid medical debt, underscoring the scope of financial hardship NPAF works to address.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatient Advocate Foundation is NPAF's sister organization and the provider of direct patient services. NPAF is the advocacy affiliate of PAF, organizing and mobilizing the grassroots network for research and public policy activities. PAF provides direct case management, financial aid, and co-pay relief while NPAF focuses on policy advocacy and grassroots organizing. The two organizations share staff, leadership, and mission alignment.
• Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPAF partnered with the Massey Cancer Center at VCU to conduct Shared Decision Making workshops funded by a grant from the Danaher Foundation. The workshop engaged 35 cancer patients and caregivers in storytelling and self-advocacy skills, with participation from center director Dr. Robert Winn and clinical staff.
• Los Angeles Alliance for Community Health and AgingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPAF partnered with the Los Angeles Alliance for Community Health and Aging to co-host a Shared Decision Making workshop in Watts, Los Angeles, engaging older Black patients living with cancer, their caregivers, health professionals, and medical residents.
• Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with NPAF at the Policy Consortium in Mississippi Delta, contributing to discussions on healthcare access and equity for underserved communities facing cancer and chronic illness.
• American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) Rice University ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPAF collaborated with Kayla Grimes and the AMWA Rice University chapter to develop 'The Healthcare Navigator,' a website providing health literacy resources for college students transitioning to independent healthcare management. NPAF's grassroots team provided guidance on feasibility and brainstorming.
• Young InvinciblesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPAF partnered with Young Invincibles for the webinar 'Everything You Need to Know About ACA Marketplace Enrollment,' where Mina Shultz from Young Invincibles co-presented with Erin Bradshaw from PAF on subsidies, deadlines, and enrollment navigation.
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) / Clinical Decision Support Innovation CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPAF collaborated on the AHRQ-funded Clinical Decision Support Innovation Collaborative (CDSiC) project focused on patient-centered clinical decision support. NPAF patient advocates co-authored blog posts on trust, co-design, and alignment of decision tools with patient lives.
• BSWH Community Care ClinicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSWH Community Care Clinics, led by Community Health Manager Karla Alvarado, participates in NPAF's Policy Consortium Navigators' Roundtable. Karla's team addresses social determinants of health including food insecurity in underserved communities and provides frontline perspectives on Needs Navigation.
• Patient Advocate Certification Board (PACB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeidi Kummer, Co-Founder/CEO of 3C Patient Advocacy and President of PACB since 2021, participates in NPAF Policy Consortium forums. PACB is working with the Coalition of Health Care Advocacy Organizations on a national core curriculum in patient and health care advocacy.
• Coalition of Health Care Advocacy Organizations (CHCAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHCAO is referenced by NPAF as the organization providing resources on getting started as a board certified patient advocate. NPAF's FAQ directs aspiring patient advocates to CHCAO (chcao.org) for career information. Heidi Kummer of NPAF Policy Consortium is championing CHCAO's national core curriculum initiative.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Susan G. Komen: National nonprofit focused on breast cancer research, patient support, and policy advocacy. Comparable to NPAF in its patient advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and federal policy engagement on cancer-related issues, though disease-specific in focus.
• AARP: Large membership organization advocating for older Americans on healthcare, insurance, and economic issues. Comparable to NPAF in its policy advocacy on healthcare access and costs, but operates at significantly larger scale with a broader social and economic advocacy mandate.
• March of Dimes: National nonprofit advocating for maternal and infant health through research, education, and policy advocacy. Comparable to NPAF in its health-focused advocacy, grassroots engagement model, and federal/state lobbying on health policy priorities.
• Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF): Major health policy research and journalism organization focused on healthcare affordability, access, and reform. Comparable to NPAF in focus areas (healthcare costs, ACA, Medicaid), though KFF operates primarily as a research/policy analysis organization rather than a grassroots advocacy network.
• American Heart Association: Major national health-focused nonprofit combining research funding, patient support, and policy advocacy. Comparable to NPAF in its health advocacy work and grassroots network, though focused specifically on cardiovascular disease and operating at substantially larger scale.

Direct peers

• National Health Council: Nonprofit membership organization that brings together patient advocacy groups, healthcare providers, and policymakers to drive patient-centered health policy. Comparable to NPAF in its convening function, policy advocacy focus, and role connecting patient voices to federal policy.
• Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF): Sister organization of NPAF focused on direct patient services including case management, financial aid, and co-pay relief. Highly comparable as both organizations share mission, leadership, and a stated division between direct services (PAF) and policy advocacy (NPAF).
• American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN): The advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, focused on federal and state policy advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and lobbying on cancer-related health policy. Directly comparable to NPAF in mission, structure (advocacy nonprofit with sister service organization), and policy engagement model.
• Families USA: National nonprofit advocacy organization focused on healthcare consumer issues, including coverage, affordability, and health equity. Directly comparable to NPAF in its emphasis on grassroots mobilization, policy advocacy, and addressing healthcare cost burden for patients and families.
• Cancer Support Community: National nonprofit providing social and emotional support for people impacted by cancer, including financial navigation services. Comparable to NPAF in its focus on patient navigation, psychosocial support, and policy advocacy for cancer patients, with partner Aimee Hoch also consulting for CSC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NPAForg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbctmiopzYxL9J-QummL8bw
• Facebookfacebook.com/NPAForg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-patient-advocate-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/patient_advocates

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Patient Advocate Foundation