Profile:

The Mission of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, Inc.(CCFA) is to cure and prevent Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis through research, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases through education and support. Known collectively as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), these painful, chronic illnesses affect up to one and a half million Americans, including approximately 100,000 children under the age of 18. CCFA was founded in 1967.

The Diseases:

Crohn's disease is a painful, incurable illness that may inflame the small and large intestines and cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, weight loss, and numerous complications, such as bowel obstruction and abscesses.

Ulcerative colitis attacks the large intestine (colon), causing painful diarrhea, bleeding and numerous complications, including colon cancer. While medications control most symptoms, the only cure is surgical removal of the colon.

Most of those affected are young adults, teenagers and young children. Approximately 20% of patients have another family member affected by the disease, and families frequently share a similar pattern of disease.

Funding:

CCFA is supported solely by indisvidual, foundation and corporate contributions. 82 cents of every dollar CCFA spends goes directly to research and educational programs.
CCFA consistently meets the standards set by such organizations as the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance (www.give.org). The National Institute of Philanthropy gave CCFA one of only six "A" ratings (out of 52 charities) in its most recent Watchdog Report.

Research:

Since CCFA's inception, more than $125 million has been provided for researchers attempting to find the causes of, and cures for, IBD. Each year, more than 140 current and ongoing research grants are funded. In 2006 10.4 million dollars was allocated to research and in 2006 CCFA will allocate over 14 million towards critical research. The 2005 total revenue was 35.3 million dollars with 35 million dollars allocated to mission critical initiatives.

More than 60% of the CCFA sponsored researchers have obtained subsequent funding from the National Institutes of Health for further IBD research. Of the current 24 NIH funded IBD research projects, 21 were initially funded as CCFA research projects.

October 2006 the interleukin-23 (IL-23) receptor was identified as a gene that affects the risk for both Crohn's and Colitis and should lead to improved therapies and diagnosis. The discovery of this gene was made possible by the early groundwork of CCFA's research initiatives. In 2001, NOD2, the first gene linked to Crohn's disease, was discovered. This breakthrough was funded in part by a CCFA research grant.

CCFA continues to accelerate the pace of IBD research by collaborating with top researchers and clinicians and with CCFA-sponsored initiatives such as the DNA and Cell Line Bank, the Clinical Alliance, and the Pediatric Initiatives. CCFA is at the forefront of forging new collaborations and providing vital resources for investigators nationwide.

Education and Supportive Services:

CCFA provides educational programs for patients, physicians, and the public, including nearly 20 symposia for patients annually; 300 active support groups; chapter newsletters; a national magazine; informational brochures and books; a web site (www.ccfa.org); a scientific journal; professional medical forums; and research publications. The foundation distributes more than one million pieces of literature every year.

Membership:

CCFA has 55 chapters, comprising lay and physician volunteers, across the country.

Web Site:
Every month, CCFA's web site receives more than 100,000 visitors from around the world, and 400,000 page views.

Affiliations:

CCFA is a member of the National Health Coalition and a founding member of the Digestive Disease National Coalition.