About Us

Our Mission

Uniting to Care & Cure.

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to finding the cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improving the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases. It was founded in 1967 by Irwin M. and Suzanne Rosenthal, William D. and Shelby Modell, and Henry D. Janowitz, M.D. in New York City.

Our Values

Compassion. Integrity. Leadership. Collaboration. Inclusion.

Core values—defined as principles, standards, or qualities considered inherently worthwhile or desirable—are the bedrock of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s organizational culture. We are COMPASSIONATE about patients’ struggles, as we remain supportive, proactive, and hopeful. We are HONEST about how we conduct our activities and are accurate in reporting information and the outcomes of our efforts.

We have the proven strength, experience, and reputation to LEAD in inspiring vision and using that vision to create and implement mission programs. We engage and COLLABORATE with every IBD constituency because we know that we can only truly achieve our mission by working together. We strive to create an INCLUSIVE culture that welcomes, respects, and values differences while seeking out opportunities to safeguard against inequalities and disparities.

Our Focus

Research

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation has provided more than $446 million for research on the treatment and cures of IBD. We fund a set of priority research initiatives: multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary, collaborative research projects targeting areas of science with a high probability of advancing treatment. Since our founding in 1967, the Foundation has played a role in every major breakthrough in IBD research.

Education

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation provides information and education for the estimated 3.1 million IBD patients and their families through a variety of channels at the national and local level. Our webcasts, support groups, IBD Help Center, and printed materials provide accurate and up-to-date information. The Foundation also offers professional education through our two scientific journals, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Crohn’s & Colitis 360, as well as through health professional workshops, and our annual Crohn’s & Colitis Congress conference.

Advocacy

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation recruits and organizes IBD patients, as well as their family members, friends, caregivers, and doctors, to raise their voices and become actively involved in advancing our public policy goals and increased research funding. Our Crohn’s and Colitis Caucus engages active members of Congress, and our advocacy events such as Day on the Hill and special communications campaigns build awareness and support.

Support

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation support services are delivered through local chapters, which offer more than 200 support groups annually, as well as through Camp Oasis (our summer camps for children living with IBD), and a wide range of educational and training programs for communities nationwide.