9 Best Charities That Combat Parkinson’s Disease (Complete 2024 List)

9 Best Charities That Combat Parkinson’s Disease (Complete 2024 List)

By
Diana Stancu

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Parkinson’s is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease, affecting over 10 million individuals worldwide. The number of Americans with Parkinson’s is expected to increase to 1.2 million by 2030, as every 6 minutes someone in the US is diagnosed with the condition. What’s more, healthcare costs for patients, including medication, surgery, and caregiving services, can add up to more than $140,000 each year. Fortunately, charities are fighting to help patients regain their dignity and advance research to free them from the condition. So we had to ask: What are the best charities that combat Parkinson’s disease?

The best charities that combat Parkinson’s disease are the Parkinson’s Foundation and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Other charities, like the American Parkinson Disease Association and Cure Parkinson’s, work to develop improved treatments for the condition. 

Whether you want to help Parkinson’s patients live their lives to the fullest, support breakthrough research for new treatments, or aid caregivers to better cope with their loved one’s condition, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities that combat Parkinson’s disease are all about, how they work, and what would be your best way to make a contribution.

Here’s What All the Best Charities That Combat Parkinson’s Disease Have in Common

The charities on this list were chosen based on their mission, transparency ratings, and achievements.

They operate in the United States, Canada, and the UK, serving both patients and medical practitioners.

Most of the charities below run encouraging programs for patients, from educational classes to support groups and clinical advice, to help them better cope with their condition. They also organize physical exercise classes to improve patients’ neurological coordination and decrease their symptoms. 

In addition, they collaborate with researchers and clinicians to develop cutting-edge medical discoveries in order to slow, stop, or even prevent Parkinson’s disease. Moreover, they connect patients with clinical trials and surveys to accelerate understanding of the condition. 

Yet, all the charities share the same goal of combating Parkinson’s disease. 

These Are the 9 Best Charities That Combat Parkinson’s Disease in 2024

Below are our favorite charities that combat Parkinson’s disease (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

(At the end of this article we’ll also share our six-step approach on how you can select the best charity to support.)

1

Parkinson’s Foundation: Better Lives. Together.

Logo for Parkinson’s Foundation
Better Lives. Together. - Parkinson's Foundation PSA

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Their transparency & ratings:

The Parkinson’s Foundation has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar

“We make life better for people with Parkinson’s by improving care and research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience and passion of our global Parkinson’s community.”

Parkinson’s Foundation

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What they do:

The Parkinson’s Foundation provides support services for patients and caregivers to empower them along their Parkinson’s journey. For instance, they have free self-paced online courses and webinars with medical professionals to connect patients to critical information about the condition, such as new treatments and clinical studies. They also run online and in-person events to support patients to exercise, meditate, or cook in ways that improve their symptoms. Furthermore, they have a first-of-its-kind global initiative that offers free genetic testing and genetic counseling for Parkinson’s-related genes. Also, they support research efforts to find more effective treatments and seek possible cures for Parkinson’s. 

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What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, the Parkinson’s Foundation has invested nearly $450 million in research projects from 678 scientists for improved treatments and cures. In addition, they have funded $10.4 million in 787 supportive programs for patients and connected over 300,000 people with vital counseling from medical professionals. For example, in 2023, they supported 123,000 patients from 42 countries and all 50 states through 200 educational programs. In the same year, they awarded $1 million across 71 educational grants for patients from 35 states. In addition, they supported 32 researchers with $3.5 million in research grants to accelerate the development of 13 drugs to slow, stop, or even prevent Parkinson’s disease.

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to the Parkinson’s Foundation on their website. You can also contribute by fundraising or joining as a volunteer. In addition, you can support their Reach Further Campaign to accelerate research efforts. 

2

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research: The Cure Is Within Reach

Logo for Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
Faces of Parkinson's

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Their transparency & ratings:

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar

“We have one single, urgent goal: Eliminate Parkinson’s disease in our lifetime.” Research

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s

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What they do:

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research funds promising research from international scientists to improve patients’ lives. Their research initiatives strive to better understand the biology of Parkinson’s while their clinical studies fight to translate their research results into relevant therapies for patients. Furthermore, they run clinical surveys and studies with patients to advance the effectiveness of treatments and ease their daily struggles. In addition, the charity organizes free webinars to teach people about various aspects of living with the disease and runs an online community network to unite people struggling with Parkinson’s.

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What they’ve achieved:

Since their inception, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research has funded over $1 billion in innovative research initiatives to move closer to a cure. In addition, they organized the largest Parkinson’s online clinical study where they questioned 48,000 people to gain insights about the disease. Moreover, they invested over $100 million in their clinical survey to determine the progression of Parkinson’s for 4,000 at-risk individuals from 12 countries. This study has been cited in 400 scientific papers and enabled 20 novel drug trials. Furthermore, in 2023, this study helped their scientists to develop a biological test for Parkinson’s with a 93% accuracy.

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research on their website. You can also contribute by advocating for the rights of Parkinson’s patients or participating in the charity’s fundraising sports events.

3

American Parkinson Disease Association: Strength in Optimism. Hope in Progress

Logo for American Parkinson Disease Association
APDA PSA "Look Closer"

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Their transparency & ratings:

The American Parkinson Disease Association has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar

“Every day, we provide the support, education, and research that will help everyone impacted by Parkinson’s disease live life to the fullest.”

American Parkinson Disease Association

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What they do:

The American Parkinson Disease Association delivers educational support to people with Parkinson’s and their families in chapters nationwide. Also, they organize online support groups and exercise events for patients while helping caregivers to cope with the challenges their loved ones face. In addition, they run specialized support programs for young Parkinson’s patients and veterans who struggle with the disease, to serve each group’s specific needs. Furthermore, they invest in research and educational opportunities for scientists to find a cure for the disease. They also run training programs for first responders and fitness trainers to interact safely with Parkinson’s patients. 

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What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, the American Parkinson Disease Association has invested over $226 million in tens of patient services and educational programs across 13 states. They have also awarded more than $60 million in research grants to fund critical treatments. For example, in 2021, they organized 1,100 support groups for 44,000 participants and ran educational programs for 23,000 Parkinson’s patients and caregivers. In the same year, they provided 1,040 sports sessions to 71,000 patients to improve their neurological functions. They also organized 20 online webinars and interviews with Parkinson’s experts that reached 41,000 patients and their families

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to the American Parkinson Disease Association on their website. You can also support them by donating your car, joining their team, or taking part in their Optimism Walk

4

Parkinson’s UK: We Can Reach a Future Without Parkinson’s

Logo for Parkinson’s UK
The gift we all want is a cure for Parkinson's

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Their transparency & ratings:

According to their financial report, Parkinson’s UK spent 77.7% on charitable programs and 22.3% on fundraising costs. 

“We’re a people-powered movement on the verge of major breakthroughs in Parkinson’s. Together, we will find a cure. We help people to live as well as possible and ensure everyone understands the real impact of Parkinson’s.”

Parkinson’s UK

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What they do:

Parkinson’s UK supports patients and caregivers to manage their daily lives with Parkinson’s while helping them increase their physical activity to manage symptoms. They also connect Parkinson’s patients with physiotherapy sessions and promising clinical trials to accelerate effective treatments for the disease. Moreover, they organize in-person support groups and online chat forums to create helping networks for patients and improve their emotional health. In addition, they fund research grants for clinical and lab-based Parkinson’s scientists at every stage of their careers. Also, their helpline connects patients with specialized advisers for financial support and medical emergencies. 

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, Parkinson’s UK has invested almost $130 million in vital research for groundbreaking discoveries, new medications, and better care. For example, in 2017, they founded Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech, a global program for groundbreaking drug discovery against the disease. In this program, they have funded over $27 million for early-stage research and clinical trials. Furthermore, in 2022, they reached 760,000 people through their online health resources and connected 36,000 patients with their specialized advisors. In the same year, they awarded 116 financial grants worth $150,000 in total to Parkinson’s families and organized 229 in-person support groups

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Parkinson’s UK on their website. You can also get involved by joining their fundraising events or volunteering. Moreover, you can become a campaigner to raise public awareness of Parkinson’s patients. 

5

Cure Parkinson’s: We’re Here to End Parkinson’s for Good

Logo for Cure Parkinson’s
Cure Parkinson's Our Story

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Their transparency & ratings:

According to their financial report, Cure Parkinson’s spent 67.5% of their total income on charitable activities and 32.5% on fundraising costs. 

“Our key to success is world-class collaborative science involving researchers, clinicians, the pharmaceutical industry and, most importantly, people who are living with Parkinson’s.”

Cure Parkinson’s

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What they do:

Cure Parkinson’s funds research to develop disease-modifying therapies. In this way, they do not focus solely on symptoms but aim to stop or reverse Parkinson’s progression. For instance, they promote lab-based research to accelerate new medicine and develop regenerative therapies. They also run clinical trials to repurpose existing drugs used for other ailments, such as diabetes or respiratory issues, to become treatments for Parkison’s. In addition, their International Linked Clinical Trials (iLCT) program gathers experts worldwide to evaluate and prioritize existing drugs to be tested against Parkinson’s. Also, the charity involves patients in clinical trials and research surveys to accelerate cures. 

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What they’ve achieved:

Since their inception, Cure Parkinson’s has funded over $77 million in 70 preclinical and clinical trials by working with other charities and governments. Furthermore, they usually support research projects ranging from $70,000 to $3 million each, ranging from one to three years. In addition, their iLCT committee has evaluated 160 potential drugs to help cure the disease and tested 32 of them across 41 clinical trials spanning 17 countries worldwide. For example, in 2023, 40% of all disease-modifying clinical trials were assessed by their committee. In the same year, they invested in 25 new research and clinical initiatives worth over $2.5 million in total.

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Cure Parkinson’s on their website. You can also contribute by starting a corporate partnership, shopping through their online store, or joining their fundraising events

6

Parkinson Canada: We Will Not Stop Until There Is a Cure

Logo for Parkinson Canada
Live well with Parkinson Canada

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Their transparency & ratings:

According to their financial report, Parkinson Canada spent 80.7% of their total income on charitable activities and 19.3% on administrative expenses. 

“We will do what it takes to offer hope, help, and support for every life touched by Parkinson’s. No matter what.”

Parkinson Canada

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What they do:

Parkinson Canada supports promising researchers to discover new treatments and ways to diagnose Parkinson’s. For this, they fund pilot projects from scientists at the beginning of their careers to foster the next generation of medical investigators. In addition, they organize advocacy campaigns for better policies for patients in order to improve their healthcare outcomes. Moreover, they provide online supportive resources for people dealing with this condition, like educational publications and webinars to better navigate their lives. They also offer online and in-person exercise resources for patients to improve their physical coordination and run support groups nationwide. 

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, Parkinson Canada has invested more than $31 million in funding for over 600 research projects and awards from 6 scientific institutions to better diagnose and treat Parkinson’s disease. For example, in 2022, they supported over 8,000 patients across their support groups and reached 9,000 people through their webinars to live better with their condition. In the same year, they invested $1.8 million in their supportive services for patients and helped 2,700 people improve their neurological wellness and coordination while battling Parkinson’s. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Parkinson Canada through their website. In addition, you can join their fundraising and educational events, or listen to their When Life Gives You Parkinson’s Podcast.

7

Parkinson’s Care and Support UK: Helping People Affected by Parkinson’s

Logo for Parkinson's Care and Support UK
Parkinson’s Care and Support UK- Improving Life With Parkinson’s

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Their transparency & ratings:

According to their financial report, Parkinson’s Care and Support UK spent 65.4% of their total income on charitable activities, 30% on administrative costs, and 4.6% on fundraising expenses. 

“We are proactive about health and driven by positivity and understanding. Our work directly improves the quality of life of people affected by Parkinson’s today, not tomorrow.”

Parkinson’s Care and Support UK

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What they do:

Parkinson’s Care and Support UK offers informational services for patients to serve their needs and daily lives. They also fund non-pharmaceutical research to manage, reverse, or cure Parkinson’s disease. Moreover, they provide respite care for Parkinson’s caregivers and run befriending services for patients who do not have a loved one to care for them. In addition, they organize in-person support groups and trips to attractions to stimulate the senses, like botanical gardens and music concerts. Furthermore, they offer online exercise classes and at-home Neurological Physiotherapy to improve patients’ physical coordination. 

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, Parkinson’s Care and Support UK has continued to improve patients’ holistic well-being. For example, they have launched an 8-week Mindfulness Course and a Group Singing Therapy for Parkinson’s patients to support their emotional health. Furthermore, in 2020, they invested over $25,000 to launch 30 types of exercise classes, such as Gentle Fitness, Mindfulness Yoga, Qigong, and Beat Box, which help over 300 people with Parkinson’s each month. In the same year, they connected 400 patients through their support groups and provided 388 hours of befriending services to 22 lonely people with Parkinson’s.

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Parkinson’s Care and Support UK on their website. In addition, you can join their fundraising sports competitions, volunteer, or buy their merchandise.

8

Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s: Live Well with Parkinson’s Today

Logo for Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s
Every Victory Counts Trailer - Davis Phinney Foundation

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Their transparency & ratings:

The Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and holds the Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar

“We all want a cure for Parkinson’s. However, until that happens, we know that people are going to live a very long time with it; therefore, the most important work we can do is to help them live well Today.”

Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s

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What they do:

The Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s has a nationwide self-development program for Parkinson’s patients to instill the confidence and skills to be more self-sufficient. Furthermore, they support Parkinson’s caregivers with trainings and online hubs to manage advanced symptoms and medications or tackle acute episodes. They also teach them to improve not just Parkinson’s symptoms, but other health concerns of their patients. Also, they advocate to make communities and workplaces more inclusive and supportive for those living with the disease. In addition, their Pedaling for Parkinson’s program motivates patients to ride stationary bikes to significantly improve their symptoms. 

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What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s has continued to serve patients along their health journey. For example, their Pedaling for Parkinson’s program has offered weekly classes of three-day activities for up to 90 participants each week across local YMCAs, gyms, or other community spaces nationwide. Furthermore, in 2022, they helped 87 Parkinson’s ambassadors to serve in 38 states and Canada as mentors for Parkinson’s-inclusive communities. In the same year, they invested $400,000 in 5 community grants to improve healthcare for people struggling with the condition. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s on their website. In addition, you can start a fundraiser, volunteer, or subscribe to their newsletter

9

Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon: Bridging the Gap Between Medical Care and Wellness

Logo for Parkinson's Resources of Oregon
Parkinson's Resources

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Their transparency & ratings:

Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon has a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator and holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar

“We empower individuals to meet the challenges of living with Parkinson’s Disease through information, education, personal support and advocacy for a cure.”

Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon

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What they do:

Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon provides free counseling for patients, their families, and caregivers. They also run helplines to help them better cope with the mental and emotional toll of the disease, or with the physical flare-ups. In addition, they organize peer-led support groups to help patients share critical information and provide mutual support to improve their coping skills. Furthermore, they offer online educational programs and workshops from professionals to improve patients’ health outcomes. They also run exercise classes both online and in-person, to help patients enhance their mobility and neurological coordination. 

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What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon has continued to offer critical support to people suffering from Parkinson’s. For example, in 2022, they invested nearly $900,000 in their services for patients, from fitness classes to educational events. In the same year, they provided over 8,000 hours of support to 2,200 people struggling with Parkinson’s. In addition, their helpline counselors answered 421 patient calls to improve coping skills and emotional wellness. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon on their website. You can also get involved through corporate sponsorships, or by participating in their fundraising events and volunteering activities

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities that combat Parkinson’s disease. However, you may have a particular charity you want to support. Let’s look at what you can do to ensure your contribution has the most significant impact.

  • Check out the charity website. Charities that are worthy of your donations are transparent in their mission and their figures. Familiarize yourself with their history, mission, and values. Their website usually is the best place to start.
  • Identify the charity’s mission. Without a goal, the charity is likely to fail. If the charity’s mission isn’t clear, it’s probably worth looking for a charity that does have a clear mission. 
  • Check if the charity has measurable goals. An effective charity has clear goals. You want to know your donation will help the charity reach its goals. But if it doesn’t have targets, it’s likely to fail or squander your gift. The charity should be able to account for its spending and supply evidence of the work they do.
  • Assess the successes or goals the charity has achieved. You wouldn’t invest in a business if it kept missing its targets. In the same way, charities are like this too. If no one is assessing a charity’s progress in reaching its targets, the chances are they’re not making a substantial positive change.
  • Check the charity’s financials and stats. Trustworthy organizations will publish financial statements and reports each year. Some might be exempt from having to do so, but they should be able to provide them to public members who are interested in donating.
  • Locate sources who work with or benefit from the charity. Word of mouth and first-hand experience of a charity’s work lets you know the charity’s quality. If you’re able to do so, check out the charity for yourself or speak to someone familiar with it. This way, your donation will go to the right place. 

How Can You Best Support These Charities?

After you’ve made your decision, it’s time for you to decide on how you’d like to help the charities you’ve chosen. Check how you can help – each charity runs specific programs that have unique aims. Find out what the aim of such programs is and whether they are right for you. 

Here are a few ways you can help your chosen charity:

  • Donate money. You can find donation pages on the website of most charities. Your donation can be a one-time payment, or you can set it to be deducted regularly at different intervals. You can mostly pay via credit card, but some charities also take PayPal or Bitcoin payments.
  • Buy their official merchandise. Charities can also raise money by selling merchandise. So, you can support them by buying the mugs, shirts, caps, pens, pencils, and any other such items they may be selling. Ideally, you should buy as much as you can to share and spread the word about the charity’s activities.
  • Engage in volunteer work. As you’ve seen from our descriptions above, some charities engage in a lot of local and grassroots programs. You can help by taking on and organizing the program in your local area.
  • Help their fundraising efforts. You can spread the word about the charity in your workplace, school, church, etc., and hold creative fundraising drives on social media or offline within your small circles.
  • Share their stories. Most charities have compelling stories that you can share with your audience to attract more people to the cause.

Final Thoughts

Now it is up to you to select the charity that resonates most with you. And whichever charity you end up choosing and contributing to, we are sure that they will immensely appreciate your support. Hopefully, the information within this article has made this selection process a bit easier for you to support charities dedicated to combatting Parkinson’s disease—based on the causes that matter most to you.

Stay impactful,

Illustration of a signature for Diana

PS: Finally, I want to leave you with a thought-provoking TED talk from Dan Pallotta, a leading philanthropic activist and fundraiser, about what is wrong with the way we think about charities – and what we can do about it:

The way we think about charity is dead wrong | Dan Pallotta

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