The Martha Olson-Fernandez Foundation
Cure ALS
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
There are two main unmet needs the Martha Olson-Fernandez Foundation (MOFF) works to address. The first is the need for a disease-modifying treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the second is the need for support of the ALS patient population living on the Central Coast of California. In the context of our outreach, the Central Coast includes Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo Counties.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
ALS Patient Care Funding on the Central Coast
The Martha Olson-Fernandez Foundation (MOFF) supports ALS patients and their families on the Central Coast of California through the MOFF Fund which was established with the ALS Association Golden West Chapter in 2014. The money put into this fund is earmarked to help alleviate the financial burden of ALS for patients living on the Central Coast. Some applications of this fund include: transportation to ALS clinics, medications, caregiver services, durable medical equipment, communication devices, and renovations to make a home handicap accessible.
MOFF Research Funding Initiative
The first $100,000 raised by the Martha Olson-Fernandez Foundation was granted to the Forbes Norris ALS/MDA Treatment and Research Center in San Fransisco. This is where Martha participated in a clinical trial for the ALS treatment NP001. Since then, MOFF has been committed to donating a minimum of $25,000 to novel ALS research projects each year. Some examples of research projects MOFF funds are: investigating the underlying pathology of C9orF72 in ALS, AT-1501 development, biomarker database collection (CSF and tissue sample library), and ALS animal model development.
Where we work
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of research studies funded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
MOFF Research Funding Initiative
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Each year MOFF funds an ALS research study. The research grants given range from $20,000- $25,000. MOFF supports biomarker studies, animal model studies, ALS therapy development and more.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
In regards to our long-term goals, MOFF aims to finance research projects that ideally lead to a disease-modifying treatment or cure for ALS. In terms of our short term, more local and patient-centric goals, we aim to support ALS patients and their families by providing them with financial assistance for their disease-associated medical costs. We also aim to provide people living with ALS in our community information about ALS so that their experience is less overwhelming and they feel adequately supported.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The current strategy we utilize to accomplish our goals is the formulation of strategic partnerships with national ALS organizations who have mission statements that align with our own. In doing this, we are able to utilize the preexisting networks and research infrastructures of these organizations to further both organizations’ ALS-centric missions. Our strategic partnership with the ALS Association Golden West Chapter allows us to earmark funds specifically for ALS patients living on the Central Coast of California. We are also able to utilize their care managers to identify immediate needs within the ALS community and allow us to finance them. In terms of funding ALS research, we have cultivated relationships with research labs across the country in order to strategically invest in specific projects we believe will further the scientific field of ALS research.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We are administratively capable of managing these relationships and are working to set more processes in place to validate and promote our continued engagements with each. On the other hand, our capability to continue our mission is dependent on our donor base. Every research project that we fund and every ALS family that we support is made possible by our donors who give on average is $100,000.00 during two main fundraising events: Our annual golf tournament and our annual hike x brunch event. These donations make our annual giving to ALS research and patient care possible.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Since 2012, MOFF has invested $215,000.00 in ALS research projects and $148,000.00 in ALS patient care efforts. MOFF has partnered with ALS Association Golden West Chapter and through this partnership funded 30 grants and 200 items that have directly assisted people living with ALS on the Central Coast. MOFF has also worked in collaboration with ClinWiki in order to make the world of ALS clinical trials more navigable for ALS patients and their families. Finally, MOFF has provided information and resources to numerous ALS patients and their families from Alabama to California.
MOFF is currently expanding our board to engage more scientific key opinion leaders in the Central Coast area in the hopes of raising awareness of ALS in the medical community. In doing so, we hope to create a think tank that can identify specific areas of improvement within the Central Coast communities that have previously prevented people who potentially have ALS from seeking neurological professionals sooner. This action item addresses the issue that it takes ALS patients an average of 12 months to receive an ALS diagnosis.
We are also establishing processes that will allow researchers to apply to MOFF for grants so that we can open up ALS research money to labs outside of our network. Our future model of granting money to researchers will emphasize the need for collaborative research projects that involve data sharing. It is our conviction that this complex disease will not be solved in a siloed laboratory but in an open, inquisitive, research environment.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
The Martha Olson-Fernandez Foundation
Board of directorsas of 12/28/2023
Ian Parkinson
The San Luis Obispo Sheriff Department
Term: 2017 - 2021
Cheri Humphrey
Madonna Inn
John Ronca
John A. Ronca A Law Corporation
Larry Fernandez
Apricus Seeds
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Not applicable -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable