Who We Are
MSAA’s Mission, Vision, and Overview
Mission: The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is the leading resource for the MS community, improving lives today by delivering vital services and compassionate support, while advancing access, research, and innovation to strengthen the MS community for tomorrow.
Vision: Our vision is to create a world where people with multiple sclerosis and their families have equitable access to care, trusted resources, and the dignity and respect they deserve – so they can live well and lead full, meaningful lives.
MSAA is a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1970. Our organization is dedicated to improving lives today through ongoing support and direct services to individuals with MS, their families, and their care partners.
Recognition for Excellence and Accountability
MSAA has an “A” rating as a Four-Star Charity from Charity Navigator, showing that supporters can give to our organization with confidence. MSAA has also achieved Platinum Level status with Candid (formerly GuideStar), a national nonprofit agency that gathers, organizes, and distributes information about charities within the United States. Platinum is the highest level of recognition offered by Candid.
In addition, MSAA is a long-standing member of America’s Charities as well as a founding member of the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition (MSC), a collaborative affiliation of independent MS organizations dedicated to the enhancement of the quality of life for all those affected by MS.
MSAA’s Programs and Services
MSAA’s free programs and services improve lives, helping tens of thousands of people affected by MS each year.*
*Figures shown below are for the 2025-2026 fiscal year
Direct Support Programs
- Helpline and online chat – MSAA’s trained specialists addressed more than 12,200 inquiries, providing reassurance and support
- Safety and mobility equipment products – more than 1,330 items were distributed to help improve activities of daily living and enhance independence for people with MS
- Cooling vests and accessories – more than 2,150 were distributed to individuals with MS to help lessen the negative effects of heat and humidity
- MRI Access Program – nearly 600 individuals received a vital MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan to help determine a diagnosis of MS or evaluate disease progression
Educational Resources
- Educational programs – led by top healthcare professionals, providing vital information and insight to 1,300 attendees in-person and online
- Award-winning educational videos, webinars, and publications – including 542,000+ cumulative views of 210 on-demand programs, as well as MSAA’s magazine, The Motivator with a circulation of 90,000 in print, and other publications, including bimonthly research updates
- Podcast episodes – covering a range of topics, downloaded more than 3,400 times
Other Online Resources
- My MSAA Community – peer-to-peer online forum of more than 10,300 members connecting with others affected by MS in a friendly, supportive, and safe space
- MS Conversations blog – featuring timely discussions and topics relevant to the MS community, resulting in nearly 60,000 sessions
- My MS Manager™ – a mobile app to help manage and track disease activity with more than 81,000+ cumulative downloads
- Ultimate MS Treatment Guide – a unique tool to help compare FDA-approved MS treatments, visited by 10,000+ users
Research
Multiple Sclerosis Implementation Network® (MSIN®) – an MSAA-led collaborative research and quality-improvement initiative that incorporates shared decision-making and patient-centered care principles.
Trusted Leadership and Expertise
Overseeing MSAA’s activities is a national Board of Directors comprised of accomplished professionals from across the country, volunteering their time for MSAA. Providing expert consultation is MSAA’s Chief Medical Officer who reviews all of MSAA’s medical information to ensure accuracy.
MSAA’s Healthcare Advisory Council (HAC) includes leading members of the MS healthcare professional community and works in collaboration with MSAA’s Board of Directors and staff to advance and promote the organization’s mission and goals.
MSAA’s African American Advisory Board and Hispanic/Latinx Advisory Board are comprised of leading MS healthcare professionals, people with MS, and care partners. The Advisory Boards identify unmet needs and focus on developing comprehensive and innovative programmatic and educational initiatives to address those needs.
Learn More
Please be sure to visit the many sections of our website to learn more about multiple sclerosis, understand how our organization serves as a leading resource for the MS community, and find out how you can be a part of our important mission of Improving Lives Today!
