About
Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, headquartered in Hampton, Virginia, that provides case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life-threatening, and debilitating illnesses (EIN 54-1806317, IRS tax exemption issued October 1996). In 2026 it merged with the PAN Foundation to create what the combined organization describes as the most comprehensive nonprofit in the United States dedicated to helping patients navigate, access, and afford care.
What they do
- PAF Case Management — professional case managers who help patients resolve insurance, medical debt, and access-to-care problems.
- Co-Pay Relief Program — copay assistance for eligible patients.
- Financial Aid Funds — direct financial aid across disease areas.
- Scholarships and a Non-Profit Patient Partner Portal.
- National Financial Resource Directory and patient education resources, including the Breast Cancer Resource Directory, an insurance glossary, "Matters of the Heart" for cardiovascular disease, and "Migraine Matters" for people with headache disease.
History
PAF traces its origins to founder Nancy Davenport-Ennis, who became involved in legislative reform on behalf of cancer patients while her friend Cheryl Grimmel battled both breast cancer and her insurance company. Nancy volunteered with the Virginia Task Force for Insurance Reform, which won passage of Virginia House Bill 240 in 1994. After Cheryl died in December 1994, Nancy and Jack Ennis wrote business plans that night for two complementary nonprofits — Patient Advocate Foundation and its advocacy affiliate, the National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF) — which became a reality shortly thereafter.
Scale and impact
In 2023, PAF served a population of patients with over 958 distinct diagnoses. Following the March 2026 merger with the PAN Foundation, the combined organization reports 3.8 million patients served, $7 billion provided in financial assistance, and 350,000 individuals supported through personalized case management. On July 1, 2026, the unified organization launched TotalAssist, a charitable patient assistance portfolio of nearly 150 disease-specific and health equity funds. The merged organization holds a Charity Navigator four-star rating and Candid Platinum Transparency status.
Financials
According to its IRS Form 990 as reported by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, for the fiscal year ending June 2025 Patient Advocate Foundation reported total revenue of $133,773,940, total expenses of $205,845,065, and total assets of $234,459,658.
Governance
PAF is a national 501(c)(3) organization led by a dedicated leadership team, with the National Patient Advocate Foundation serving as its policy and advocacy affiliate. It publishes its Form 990s, audited financial statements, and annual impact reports.