Considered as the largest charitable supporter of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), JDRF, formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, raises money to fund research about this disease. This charitable organization was reported to have generated $205 million last year, making it the 53rd Largest Charitable Group in the United States as listed by Forbes. 

This charitable organization has their goal set as: “ to progressively remove the impact of T1D from people’s lives until we achieve a world without T1D.” JDRF spends 80% of its fundings to support research and education related to the illness. As of late, it is spending over $530 million in scientific research done in 17 countries. For last year alone, it has sponsored $110 million in the research and development of a cure for type 1 diabetes.

With several affiliates in various countries and chapters in most of the states in the country, the organization which was started in 1970 was founded by a group of local parents led by Lee Ducat. These individuals have children afflicted with this disease and their main objective was to raise funds for the research of this illness. Their first chapter was created in Philadelphia and was named Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.  

Their first chapter was soon followed by their second unit in Florida, and then in New Jersey and Washington D.C. Currently being led by Jeffrey Brewer, the organization’s president and CEO, JDRF reaches out to a broad audience affected by T1D through outreach resources and social networking (Facebook and Twitter). They also have their publication which is being released on a regular basis. 

There are currently three categories that they use to distinguish their research fundings: Cure Research, Treat Research, and Prevention Therapies Research. The largest of their fundings go to their Cure Research arm where they have already spent a total of $65.1 million out of their expenditures.