Where Your Dollars Go

The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation is the only IBD research and support organization. We focus our spending on four key areas: research, patient services, advocacy and professional education and couldn't fund our mission without the generous support of our volunteers and donors. We do not receive any government funding and truly appreciate your support.

Research

We pride ourselves on funding only the highest quality research. We have a rigorous review process and have worked tirelessly to build a diverse portfolio of individual and collaborative research projects in high-priority areas. With an investment of more than $350 million, the Foundation has played a role in every major scientific breakthrough in IBD. Research Initiatives are developed to fill important unmet needs in Crohn's & colitis research.  They are idea-driven projects that bring together multiple centers and investigators from across the country. The goal is to discover and support emerging areas of research that could impact the scientific community’s understanding of the causes of and potential cures/treatments for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Our current initiatives include the Microbiome, Genetics, Pediatric Risk Stratification, IBD Partners, IBD Qorus, and IBD Plexus. 

Our research is unprecedented and has significant potential to directly transform IBD patients' well-being. We are incredibly proud of the work our researchers do each and every day.

Patient Services

Our national and local programs and services are designed to provide patients of all ages and their loved ones with helpful information to better manage their disease while providing a supportive forum to share experiences and concerns, and connect with others.

Serving more than half a million patients and caregivers a year, our programs are designed to suit different learning styles. From in-person and online support groups to webinars and twitter chats, we deliver information in the ways patients tell us they want to be educated. Our IBD Help Center is staffed by trained, compassionate professionals who are available to answer questions by phone, email or instant messenger. We also have a number of satellite websites such as "Just Like Me" for teens and "Campus Connection" for college students. Our "I'll Be Determined" website focuses on patient empowerment, and the "IBD Community" website which provides an anonymous IBD community.

Advocacy

The Foundation's co-founder Suzanne Rosenthal was passionate about advocacy and we continue with that same passion today.  Our advocates are not only patients, but family members, friends, caregivers, and doctors who want to make their voices heard and see a future free from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

We advocate on both the local and national level and lobby on the Hill annually. There are 71 active members of Congress in the Crohn's and Colitis Caucus. Our current areas of focus include increased federal funding for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis research, awareness programs designed to improve the lives of patients and legislation to limit cost of care.

Professional Education

Caring for patients with IBD requires highly trained experts who require ongoing training. We provide a comprehensive series of education programs and resources for healthcare professionals who work with IBD patients, including doctors, nurses, physician assistants and other allied healthcare professionals. We update professionals on the latest developments in diagnosis, treatment, and management of IBD and help develop and cultivate the next generation of experts all with the goal of improving quality of care for all patients.