March 2, 2008

Since 2002, the ACDA has had a Restricted Research Fund for ACD at NORD which allowed ACDA members and friends to make tax deductible donations for ACD research. Thanks to everyone's hard work and contributions, the ACD fund at NORD met the funding threshold of $35,000 in time for a new research grant this year. NORD will issue a Request for Proposal in March 2008 with a research grant to be awarded in Fall 2008.

NORD is a great organization and has been very helpful and responsive to the ACDA over the years. However, the near term ACD research opportunities are anticipated to be very dynamic which could be hampered by NORD's somewhat lengthy process for Request for Proposal, proposal evaluation and award. In addition, it is not possible to control what research efforts NORD chooses to fund. They could fund meaningful ACD research, but it might not be the most strategically important to finding the cause of ACD.

Since the NORD grant threshold of $35,000 has been achieved, all donations to NORD made through February 29, 2008 will be included in next RFP, effectively leaving a zero balance in the Restricted ACD Research Fund. Therefore this is the ideal time to change the method by which ACD research funds are accrued.

The ACDA has been working closely with the 3 Angels Memorial Fund for ACD Research on research initiatives since October 2007. The 3 Angels Fund is a non-profit organization started by a family affected by ACD. In an effort to provide a unified organization with a single voice on ACD, the ACDA and the 3 Angels Fund have begun working on consolidating into one organization. Consolidation is logical because the organizations have complementary strengths and are working toward a common goal.

As part of the initial steps of the consolidation, the ACDA Executive Directors have become Board Directors of the 3 Angels Fund. The 3 Angels Fund will provide more direct control of what research is funded, make more efficient use of donations and increase responsiveness to changing research needs. Therefore, the ACDA Executive Directors encourage you to make tax deductible contributions for ACD research to the 3 Angels Fund.

To make a tax-deductible contribution for ACD research using a credit card or PayPal, please visit the 3 Angels Memorial Fund for ACD Research.

For other donation options, please contact the 3 Angels Memorial Fund for ACD Research here.

Matching Gifts

If your employer has a Matching Gifts Program for charitable organizations, your contributions to ACD research can grow! Please check with your Human Resources Department.