National Psoriasis Foundation: Planning for a Future Free of Psoriatic Disease and Its Burdens

For greater than 50 years, the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) has served the more than 8 million individuals in the United States living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Founded from a tiny classified ad in a Portland, Oregon, newspaper, the NPF mission is to drive efforts to cure psoriatic disease and improve the lives of those affected. As recent research advances have improved our collective understanding of the chronic, inflammatory nature of both diseases and demonstrated their connection to other comorbid diseases, NPF made finding a cure our highest priority. From July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2019, NPF was driven by a strategic plan that sought to push the organization beyond previous milestones. During this 5-year period, NPF allocated more than US$15 million to research and research-related expenditures including funding 158 grants and fellowships. National Psoriasis Foundation partnered with the American Academy of Dermatology and American College of Rheumatology to release new treatment guidelines for the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (respectively). The NPF medical board published first ever treatment target recommendations for the management of patients with psoriasis. The NPF also earned continuing medical education (CME) accreditation in 2016 enabling the foundation to offer professional education programming to professionals at all career stages. Complimenting accomplishments were new programs to support the community today. The Patient Navigation Center, a free case management call center, launched in 2016 and served 14 264 patients in fiscal year 2019 via 24 993 interactions. Twenty-six states passed legislation on step therapy adding transparency and improving medical exception processes. New educational programs (Psound Bytes podcast series, new webinars, and Know What’s Possible events), new community activities (Team NPF), and the NPF’s first major marketing campaign also launched. None of these successes would have been possible had NPF not reached new revenue highs. By comparison, during the prior 5-year plan period, the NPF totaled US$39 101 044 in revenue compared to an estimated US$61 551 137 during this period. This support from major donors, individuals, advertisers, and partners enabled the NPF to fund 5 million more in research from FY 2015 to 2019 compared to the 5 years prior. As NPF looked ahead to the FY 2020 to 2024 plan period, the goal was to build upon these successes and push beyond what is thought to be possible.