About
The American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered at 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1973, it was the first national advocacy organization dedicated solely to brain tumors, and for more than 50 years it has funded brain tumor research and provided free education, information and support services to patients and caregivers nationwide.
Mission
The mission of the American Brain Tumor Association is to advance the understanding and treatment of brain tumors with the goals of improving, extending and, ultimately, saving the lives of those impacted by a brain tumor diagnosis. It pursues this through direct engagement with patients and families, collaborations with allied organizations, and the funding of brain tumor research.
What they do
All of the ABTA's support services are free for patients and caregivers:
- CareLine (800-886-2282) providing information on treatment, care, treatment centers, clinical trials and financial assistance resources
- Virtual and in-person support groups, a Patient and Caregiver Mentor Support Program, and the Connections online support community
- Educational webinars, patient and family meetings, a national conference, and publications such as A Primer of Brain Tumors and the Caregiver Handbook
- A Clinical Trial Finder and a Brain Tumor Treatment Center Guide
- A research grants program including Discovery Grants, Basic Research Fellowships, Medical Student Summer Fellowships and Research Collaboration Grants
History
The ABTA was established in 1973 by founder Susan Netchin Kramer and co-founder Linda Gene Goldstein, two mothers whose young daughters had brain tumors. Early milestones include national attention through columnist Ann Landers in 1974, Mickey Rooney serving as first national spokesperson in 1976, publication of its first patient education booklet in 1978, launch of the Basic Research Fellowship grant in 1981, and the hiring of its first full-time Executive Director, Naomi Berkowitz, in 1989. The organization also established the nation's first brain tumor registry and launched an early-career investigator program to help build the field of neuro-oncology.
Scale and impact
According to the ABTA, it has invested more than 35 million dollars toward clinical discovery, its education resources and support services are used by nearly 200,000 patients and caregivers annually, and 80 percent of every dollar raised goes to its mission. In 2025 the organization announced a 1.3 million dollar investment in new brain tumor research.
Financials
Per its IRS filings summarized by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (EIN 23-7286648), for its most recent fiscal year (ending in 2025) the ABTA reported total revenue of approximately 7.4 million dollars, total expenses of approximately 7.8 million dollars, and net assets of approximately 7.9 million dollars. The organization has held tax-exempt status since August 1975.