Dr. John E. Upledger Foundation

What Dr. John E. Upledger Foundation does

The Dr. John E. Upledger Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1988 and headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, that delivers and promotes CranioSacral Therapy (CST) and related manual therapy modalities developed by Dr. John E. Upledger. Its core offerings are multi-disciplinary intensive therapy programs (5-day PTSD treatment for veterans, 4-day Dolphin Accompanied CST in the Bahamas, concussion programs for former NFL players, autism programs, and general intensives) that use multiple trained therapists working simultaneously on a single patient, combined with adjunct modalities including Visceral Manipulation, Neural Manipulation, and SomatoEmotional Release. The Foundation also operates the Heal It Forward voucher program (50+ participating therapists as of early 2025) to subsidize care for qualified patients.

The Foundation's revenue model is hybrid: donations and charitable contributions (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit) supplemented by program fees ($3,600 per veteran for the PTSD program, $7,545 per person for Dolphin Accompanied CST) and treatment vouchers redeemable through the Upledger Institute International. Customer segments are primarily U.S. military veterans with PTSD, former professional football players with concussions/CTE, and children with autism or developmental conditions, with secondary segments in developmental disabilities and chronic pain. The Foundation relies heavily on celebrity endorsements (notably Ricky Williams), media appearances, and partnerships with athlete foundations and the VA medical center for patient acquisition and fundraising, with no disclosed funding rounds, headcount, or financial figures.

Name

Dr. John E. Upledger Foundation

Legal name

Dr. John E. Upledger Foundation

Website

https://upledger.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Dr. John E. Upledger Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers CranioSacral Therapy-based intensive programs for U.S. military veterans with PTSD, former professional football players with concussions, and children with autism or developmental conditions, operating primarily from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Manual Therapy Services)

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Craniosacral Therapy (HSALAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Craniosacral Therapy (HSADAHAH), Pediatric Physical Therapy & Developmental Rehab (HSADAIAE)

Keywords

• Craniosacral therapy
• Manual therapy programs
• PTSD treatment services
• Concussion therapy programs
• Integrative healthcare services

Headquarters

HQ city

Palm Beach Gardens

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Foundation relies primarily on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. A $10,000 gift was received from former NFL player Ricky Williams.
2. Program Fees: Fees charged for intensive therapy programs including the Dolphin Accompanied CST program ($7,545 per person) and PTSD Veterans Therapy Program ($3,600 per individual).
3. Treatment Vouchers for Qualified Patients: The Foundation issues treatment vouchers to qualified patients who lack resources to pay for services. These vouchers may be redeemed by treating therapists for eligible classes with Upledger Institute International.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Dr. John E. Upledger Foundation delivers multi-disciplinary intensive therapy programs centered on CranioSacral Therapy (CST), a gentle hands-on treatment modality developed by founder Dr. John E. Upledger. Core offerings include the Veterans Therapy Program for PTSD, the Concussion Program for former professional football players, Dolphin Accompanied CranioSacral Therapy in the Bahamas, the Autism Program, and the broader Intensive Programs, complemented by the Heal It Forward voucher program that connects qualified patients with a network of certified therapists.

Product overview

The Dr. John E. Upledger Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports and promotes CranioSacral Therapy (CST), a manual therapy developed by Dr. John E. Upledger. The Foundation's portfolio includes therapeutic programs (Concussion Program, Veterans Therapy Program for PTSD, Dolphin Accompanied CST, Autism Program, Intensive Programs) and the Heal It Forward assistance program. These programs are offered primarily at the Upledger Institute in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, and Freeport, Grand Bahamas Island, with therapies including CST, Visceral Manipulation, Neural Manipulation, and SomatoEmotional Release.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Upledger Foundation: Common shortened name used for the Dr. John E. Upledger Foundation in communications and branding.

Products and services

• Autism Program

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 95 percent correlation between improvements and CST sessions in Vietnam veterans with PTSD
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ricky Williams FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Partnership between the Dr. John E. Upledger Foundation and the Ricky Williams Foundation for concussion programs designed for football players with a predisposition to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and post concussion syndrome. Ricky Williams, former NFL player, actively advocates for and raises funds for the Foundation through television appearances.
• West Palm Beach Veterans Administration Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Co-designed a treatment protocol with the VA Medical Center for a 1999 program that led 22 Vietnam veterans through a groundbreaking PTSD study. Independent licensed psychologist confirmed program outcomes.
• Samanelli Free Clinic (Sri Lanka)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Heal It Forward Project outside the US, developed by Barbara Dietrich, a German-born Physical Therapist and CranioSacral Therapist. Provides free therapy services to disabled children in Sri Lanka.
• The Visger Group - Traumatic Brain Injury ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorge Visger, former NFL player and TBI survivor, incorporated CranioSacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation and Neural Manipulation Therapy into 'The Visger Group Game Plan for Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery'.
• Integrative IntentionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA member of the International Alliance of Healthcare Educators (IAHE) that carries on Dr. Upledger's bioaquatic CST work. Continues dolphin therapy intensive programs and trains therapists in water-based healing and Dolphin Accompanied therapy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Integrative Intentions: Channel partner and member of IAHE that delivers the Foundation's Dolphin Accompanied CST intensives in the Bahamas. Operates the same bioaquatic CST methodology and trains therapists in the modality.
• International Alliance of Healthcare Educators (IAHE): Sister organization in the Upledger network that trains and certifies practitioners in CST, Visceral Manipulation, and Neural Manipulation — the same modalities delivered through Foundation programs.
• International Association of Healthcare Practitioners (IAHP): Affiliate network that hosts the 'Find a Therapist' directory connecting patients with CST-certified practitioners, including the 50+ therapists participating in the Foundation's Heal It Forward voucher program.
• Veterans Yoga Project: Nonprofit delivering complementary, mind-body interventions (yoga, breathwork) to veterans with PTSD — same target segment as the Foundation's Veterans Therapy Program and an alternative modality for similar trauma-related conditions.
• Upledger Institute International: Closely affiliated entity founded by Dr. John E. Upledger that runs the clinical intensive programs where the Foundation places patients. Operates the same CST methodology and shares staff/leadership, making it the most direct operational peer.

Broad incumbents

• Wounded Warrior Project: Large-scale veteran services nonprofit serving the same U.S. military veteran segment as the Foundation's PTSD program, but offering a much broader portfolio (mental health, physical rehab, career counseling) rather than specializing in a single manual therapy modality.

Regional players

• Travis Mills Foundation: Nonprofit serving post-9/11 veterans and their families through rehabilitative retreat programs, comparable as a nonprofit rehabilitation provider to the same veteran PTSD demographic targeted by the Foundation's Veterans Therapy Program.

Emerging players

• The Visger Group: TBI consulting firm founded by former NFL player George Visger that has incorporated CST, Visceral Manipulation and Neural Manipulation into its TBI recovery plan. Overlaps in target customer (NFL alumni with TBI) and incorporates Foundation-affiliated modalities.
• Ricky Williams Foundation: Strategic partner since 2014 that co-developed the Concussion Program for NFL/CFL alumni. Operates in the same concussion/CTE prevention space but focuses more broadly on cannabis advocacy and athlete wellness rather than manual therapy.

Others

• CureSearch: Adjacent nonprofit in the integrative/complementary therapy space supporting children with serious illnesses, comparable in mission structure (501(c)(3) patient assistance and program delivery) though different therapeutic area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/upledgerfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Dr. John E. Upledger Foundation