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Organizations That Help With Cerebral Palsy: Top 10 (2026)

The Cerebral Palsy Foundation says 94 cents of each dollar goes to programs, yet its tax filing shows no grants to individual families, so families who need equipment money have to turn to UCP's Bellows Fund and small local groups instead.

  • No. 1: United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)
  • 10 places

01Final list

The leading AIs built their own top-ten lists independently. Above is one combined result that is easy to check: every place has a reason, the AIs that included it and, where the AIs gave one, a source.

Order: from most to least AI agreement.

A bright badge means this AI put the entry on its list. A dim badge means it did not.

  1. 1

    United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)

    The only national network here that both pays for families' equipment, through its Bellows Fund, and gives research grants. What a family can get depends on the local affiliate.

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta.

    In their lists: Claude: 2 · ChatGPT: 3 · DeepSeek: 1

    What each AI noted 3
    • Claudeplace 2

      Reported over $2.3M in bequests and grants after October 2021, with more than 20% earmarked for research.

      Source ↗
    • ChatGPTplace 3

      Its national reach is a directory into local services—but what a family can get depends on the affiliate nearby.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 1

      The name says cerebral palsy, but its network served about 200,000 people and still puts a system-wide average of 85 cents of every dollar into programs.

      Source ↗
    3 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  2. 2

    Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation (CPARF)

    Charity Navigator gives it four stars and 93% overall, yet only 68.65% of spending goes to programs. It funds research, not family grants.

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta.

    In their lists: Claude: 4 · ChatGPT: 4 · DeepSeek: 5

    What each AI noted 3
    • Claudeplace 4

      Its Australian parent has committed over $89 million to hundreds of CP research projects, and a New York arm funds US research.

      Source ↗
    • ChatGPTplace 4

      A U.S. research funder connected to the global CP Alliance, with a mission centered on research rather than household grants.

    • DeepSeekplace 5

      A four-star research funder whose 68.65% programme ratio shows the trade-off between grants and overhead.

      Source ↗
    3 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  3. 3

    Cerebral Palsy Foundation

    It holds Candid's Platinum seal and funds research, but gives no grants to families. Its program share is disputed: 94¢ by its own count, 9.9% on one ProPublica line.

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta.

    In their lists: Claude: 1 · ChatGPT: 1 · DeepSeek: 3

    What each AI noted 3
    • Claudeplace 1

      The only national CP group here with a 'Platinum 2024' Candid label, and it funds research and innovation as well as practical resources.

    • ChatGPTplace 1

      The foundation says 94 cents of every dollar goes to programs—and publishes its recent 990s for readers to check.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 3

      The largest non-government CP research funder in the U.S. put about 95.6% of its 2024 expenses into programs.

      Source ↗
    3 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  4. More about the top three ↓
  5. 4

    Shriners Children's

    Rated four stars by Charity Navigator, it gives care at no charge whatever a family can pay. It is a children's hospital system, not a CP-only charity.

    Included it: Claude, DeepSeek. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta.

    In their lists: Claude: 3 · DeepSeek: 2

    What each AI noted 2
    • Claudeplace 3

      Four-star Charity Navigator rating, and care is given regardless of a family's ability to pay.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 2

      Twenty-two hospitals, no charge to families, and CP care that crosses borders.

      Source ↗
    2 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  6. 5

    Cerebral Palsy Research Network (CPRN)

    A four-star charity that runs the largest U.S. CP community and clinical registries. People with CP and their families help choose the research questions.

    Included it: ChatGPT, DeepSeek. Did not include: Claude, Meta.

    In their lists: ChatGPT: 2 · DeepSeek: 4

    What each AI noted 2
    • ChatGPTplace 2

      Its hospital and community network turns patient priorities into research questions and practical education.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 4

      It runs the largest U.S. CP registries and turns them into research and community programmes.

    2 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  7. 6

    CPATH (Central Texas)

    Grants of up to $500 for equipment, seating, therapy and camps, plus a free closet of used wheelchairs and standers.

    Included it: Claude, DeepSeek. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta.

    In their lists: Claude: 9 · DeepSeek: see list

    What each AI noted 2
    • Claudeplace 9

      Grants up to $500 for equipment, seating, therapy and camps, plus a free closet of used wheelchairs and standers.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeek

      Named differently in its own list: open the full list.

      see list
    2 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  8. 7

    United Cerebral Palsy Heartland (St. Louis)

    It meets all 20 BBB accountability standards and spent $12.1M on programs in the year to June 2023, the most complete local-affiliate record found.

    Included it: Claude. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta, DeepSeek.

    In their lists: Claude: 5

    What each AI noted 1
    • Claudeplace 5

      Meets all 20 BBB accountability standards and spent about $12.1M on programs in the year to June 2023.

      Source ↗
    1 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  9. 8

    United Cerebral Palsy Association of Central California

    90.26% of its spending goes to programs on Charity Navigator, among the highest CP-affiliate ratios. Another reading puts some UCP affiliates near 96%.

    Included it: Claude. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta, DeepSeek.

    In their lists: Claude: 6

    What each AI noted 1
    • Claudeplace 6

      Spends 90.26% of its budget on programs, the highest ratio I found among CP groups.

      Source ↗
    1 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  10. 9

    United Cerebral Palsy of Nebraska

    It gives clients grants for adaptive equipment and free Go Baby Go ride-on cars for toddlers. No rating or spending figure was found.

    Included it: Claude. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta, DeepSeek.

    In their lists: Claude: 8

    What each AI noted 1
    • Claudeplace 8

      Gives client grants for adaptive equipment and home changes, and runs Go Baby Go ride-on cars free for toddlers.

      Source ↗
    1 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  11. 10

    Gillette Children's Cerebral Palsy Institute

    84.17% of spending goes to programs. It has 140+ CP specialists, and people with lived experience sit on its research teams.

    Included it: DeepSeek. Did not include: Claude, ChatGPT, Meta.

    In their lists: DeepSeek: 6

    What each AI noted 1
    • DeepSeekplace 6

      A hospital that turned CP into an institute with 140+ specialists and a family-in-research model.

    1 AIs put it here
    no source given

02More about the top three

The ranking is above. Here is more about the three places at the top: what they are, why they are here, and what is worth knowing.

The three figures are not the same measure: UCP's 85¢ is a system-wide average, CPARF's 68.65% comes from Charity Navigator, and the Foundation's 94¢ is its own count, while ProPublica shows 9.9% of revenue.

1United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)

No. 1 — United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). On the lists of 3 of 4 AIs; median place there: 2. It is the only national network here that pays for family equipment and also funds research, though local affiliates decide what help you get.

Did you know

  • UCP was co-founded by Leonard Goldenson, who later led the ABC television network, and his wife Isabelle. Their first-born daughter Cookie was born with cerebral palsy. His TV station WBKB was used for UCP's first telethon.

    Source ↗
What it is
A national network of local groups for people with cerebral palsy.
Its edge
Its Bellows Fund pays for families' equipment, which the other two do not.
Who it suits
Suits families needing equipment money; help varies by local affiliate.
  • Share spent on programs85¢ per $1 to programs

Wikipedia · Wikidata

History

  • In 1950, UCP’s founders launched the first regular telethon in the United States to raise money for the organization. It helped make telethons a regular way for charities to fund their work. — (voice only)

    Source ↗ ✓ confirmed by several AIs
Keep in mind

  • The Bellows Fund will not pay for cars, building changes such as wheelchair ramps, equipment evaluations, or plain furniture. You apply through a local UCP affiliate, so the process and the help you get can differ by place.

    Source ↗

  • Affiliates are separate organizations, and their records differ. Charity Navigator flags one Chicago-area affiliate for not posting its tax form on its website. It also shows a San Francisco affiliate with donations disabled. Check your local one.

    Source ↗
Where to go further

  • Read the Elsie S. Bellows Fund page first. It lists which equipment is covered and what is not. Then call your local UCP affiliate, because each one handles applications its own way. — (voice only)

    Source ↗
Compare the top three ↓

2Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation (CPARF)

No. 2 — Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation (CPARF). On the lists of 3 of 4 AIs; median place there: 4. It earns four stars and funds research worldwide, but it gives families no grants and spends less on programs than the others.

Did you know

  • Its Australian parent began in 1945 as The Spastic Centre. It opened with only £32 and a small group of parent volunteers, founded by Neil and Audrie McLeod in suburban Sydney.

    Source ↗
What it is
A research funder tied to the Cerebral Palsy Alliance in Australia.
Its edge
Its parent has committed over $89 million to hundreds of CP research projects.
Who it suits
Suits those who want to back research; not families needing grants.
  • Share spent on programs68.65% to programs

Wikidata

Did you know

  • Audrie McLeod ran the Centre as Chief Executive Officer from 1945 until 1982. The Research Foundation and Research Institute came much later, founded in 2005.

    Source ↗
History

  • In 2005, the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation was set up with one goal: fund research into preventing and treating cerebral palsy, and possible cures. That focus made it a research funder rather than a direct source of family grants. — (voice only)

    Source ↗
Where to go further

  • Open the research page and look at the claim of over $89 million committed to research. Then check the annual reports to see how the total grew over the years.

    Source ↗
Compare the top three ↓

3Cerebral Palsy Foundation

No. 3 — Cerebral Palsy Foundation. On the lists of 3 of 4 AIs; median place there: 1. It has a top transparency seal and funds research, but it gives families no grants, and its program share is disputed.

Did you know

  • The Cerebral Palsy Foundation began as the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Educational Foundation in 1955. It is therefore a research offshoot of the older UCP, and it celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2025.

    Source ↗
What it is
A U.S. research and innovation group that began as a UCP offshoot.
Its edge
It holds Candid's Platinum seal, which neither of the other two has.
Who it suits
Suits donors who like research; not families seeking equipment money.
  • Share spent on programs94¢ by its own count

Wikidata

Did you know

  • The foundation's history names Dr. Sidney Farber among the pioneering scientists it partnered with. Its roots go back to Isabelle and Leonard Goldenson, whose daughter had cerebral palsy.

    Source ↗
History

  • In 2019, the foundation merged with Reaching for the Stars, a parent-led group. Its founder, Cynthia Frisina, brought experience in advocacy for cerebral palsy research funding. — (voice only)

    Source ↗
Keep in mind

  • ProPublica's 'Program Services' line for this foundation is revenue, not spending. It shows 9.9% of revenue for FY2025 and 10.7% for FY2022. That is a different measure from the foundation's own 94¢ claim, so the two don't contradict each other.

    Source ↗

  • Its focus is research and innovation. Charity Navigator lists a 4/4 star rating and 100% on financial statements. It scores 0% on one item: posting its tax form on its own website.

    Source ↗
Where to go further

  • Open the foundation's ProPublica filing list and compare its tax forms with its claim of 94 cents of each dollar going to programs. Check the program expense line and the year it covers.

    Source ↗
Claude, ChatGPT put it first. What they saw in it

  • Claude: The only national CP group here with a 'Platinum 2024' Candid label, and it funds research and innovation as well as practical resources.

  • ChatGPT: The foundation says 94 cents of every dollar goes to programs—and publishes its recent 990s for readers to check.

Compare the top three ↓

The top three side by side

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation (CPARF)Cerebral Palsy Foundation
In the AIs' lists3 / 43 / 43 / 4
Share spent on programs85¢ per $1 to programs68.65% to programs94¢ by its own count
Put first byDeepSeek—Claude, ChatGPT

Places with the same number of AIs are ordered by their average place in the AIs' own lists.

More ratings

03Worth knowing

What the AIs noticed while building the list.

CDC's current page gives about 2.4 per 1,000 U.S. 8-year-olds with CP. The often-repeated 1 in 345 (3 per 1,000) comes from 2010 data in four communities.

Noticed by:
Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta.
Source ↗

The Cerebral Palsy Foundation's program share is 94¢ by its own count, about 95.6% when calculated from its 2024 Form 990, and 9.9% on a ProPublica FY2022 line.

Noticed by:
Included it: ChatGPT, DeepSeek. Did not include: Claude, Meta.
Source ↗

A high Charity Navigator score is not a high program ratio: CPARF scores 93% overall but spends 68.65% on programs.

Noticed by:
Included it: DeepSeek. Did not include: Claude, ChatGPT, Meta.
Source ↗

UCP is a network of separate local affiliates with different program ratios, for example Stanislaus 79.07%, Nassau 89.38% and Central California 90.26%.

Noticed by:
Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta.
Source ↗

RJ Mitte (1992–2026) was an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children's and founded The Mitte Foundation, which gave grants and scholarships.

Noticed by:
Included it: Claude. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta, DeepSeek.
Source ↗

04How we counted

In plain words, no formulas.

1The question

Top 10 Cerebral Palsy Organizations That Help Families and Fund Research

2Why this topic

The reader sees which groups have strong finances and also give families real help, and where the two charity ratings disagree.

3Where it applies

United States, with international reach

4What we looked at

  • Share of spending that goes to programs
  • Independent rating for financial health and transparency
  • Direct help to families, such as grants, equipment and scholarships
  • Money put into research
  • Charity Navigator — Star ratings and 0–100 scores for financial health, accountability and transparency, plus each charity's program expense ratio. A high overall score is not the same as a high progr
  • Candid (GuideStar) — Transparency seals based on what organizations themselves disclose, plus Form 990 data. Seals do not rate how well programs work.
  • BBB Wise Giving Alliance (Give.org) — Pass or fail against 20 accountability standards.
  • IRS Form 990 via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer — Revenue, expenses, program services and grants from public filings. These lines do not separate CP research from direct family aid.

5Who ranked

The leading AIs, each building its own list of ten independently and naming a source for every place: Claude, ChatGPT, Meta, DeepSeek.

6How the places were set

The same entry written differently by different AIs was counted as one. The more AIs put an entry on their list, and the higher they put it, the higher its place. "AI agreement" shows how many of the AIs had it on their own list. Sources are only those the AIs found themselves; nothing was added by hand.

05Each AI's own list

🇺🇸 Claude10 places · 3 notes

The same question, answered by Claude alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.

  1. 1
    Cerebral Palsy Foundation (New York)

    The only national CP group here with a 'Platinum 2024' Candid label, and it funds research and innovation as well as practical resources.

  2. 2
    United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) national network

    Reported over $2.3M in bequests and grants after October 2021, with more than 20% earmarked for research.

    Source ↗
  3. 3
    Shriners Children's

    Four-star Charity Navigator rating, and care is given regardless of a family's ability to pay.

    Source ↗
  4. 4
    Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation

    Its Australian parent has committed over $89 million to hundreds of CP research projects, and a New York arm funds US research.

    Source ↗
  5. 5
    United Cerebral Palsy Heartland (St. Louis)

    Meets all 20 BBB accountability standards and spent about $12.1M on programs in the year to June 2023.

    Source ↗
  6. 6
    United Cerebral Palsy Association of Central California

    Spends 90.26% of its budget on programs, the highest ratio I found among CP groups.

    Source ↗
  7. 7
    United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County (NY)

    89.38% of spending goes to programs, close to the Central California leader.

    Source ↗
  8. 8
    United Cerebral Palsy of Nebraska

    Gives client grants for adaptive equipment and home changes, and runs Go Baby Go ride-on cars free for toddlers.

    Source ↗
  9. 9
    CPATH (Cerebral Palsy Awareness Transition Hope, Central Texas)

    Grants up to $500 for equipment, seating, therapy and camps, plus a free closet of used wheelchairs and standers.

    Source ↗
  10. 10
    Cure CP

    Founded by two families to fund research on new therapies for cerebral palsy.

    Source ↗

What Claude noticed

CDC's figure of about 1 in 345 children (3 per 1,000 8-year-olds) comes from 2010 data in four communities; I found no newer national CDC estimate.

Source ↗

Almost every 'cerebral palsy charity' on Charity Navigator is a local affiliate, with program ratios from about 79% to 90%, so a national comparison is hard.

Source ↗

RJ Mitte (1992–2026) was an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children and founded The Mitte Foundation, which gave grants and scholarships.

Source ↗
🇺🇸 ChatGPT10 places · 4 notes

The same question, answered by ChatGPT alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.

  1. 1
    Cerebral Palsy Foundation (United States)

    The foundation says 94 cents of every dollar goes to programs—and publishes its recent 990s for readers to check.

    Source ↗
  2. 2
    Cerebral Palsy Research Network (United States)

    Its hospital and community network turns patient priorities into research questions and practical education.

    Source ↗
  3. 3
    United Cerebral Palsy (United States network)

    Its national reach is a directory into local services—but what a family can get depends on the affiliate nearby.

    Source ↗
  4. 4
    Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation (United States)

    A U.S. research funder connected to the global CP Alliance, with a mission centered on research rather than household grants.

  5. 5
    Reaching for the Stars (United States)

    A parent-founded group pairs family support with advocacy and research funding.

  6. 6
    Alyssa V. Phillips Foundation (United States)

    Its grants target equipment and independence needs that can be difficult for families to meet out of pocket.

  7. 7
    United Cerebral Palsy of Central Pennsylvania (United States)

    A regional affiliate publishes audited statements and a Form 990, making local service spending easier to inspect.

  8. 8
    United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland (United States)

    Its 2024 report shows more than $12 million in expenses for children’s, adult and residential services.

    Source ↗
  9. 9
    Cerebral Palsy Association of British Columbia (Canada)

    An international option for families seeking information and community support across the border.

  10. 10
    Cerebral Palsy Alliance (Australia)

    A major international service and research organization, though its direct family help is centered in Australia.

What ChatGPT noticed

CDC’s current estimate is about 2.4 in every 1,000 U.S. children aged 8 have CP; an older estimate often repeated online was 1 in 345, so the year and population matter.

Source ↗

The Cerebral Palsy Foundation reports 94¢ per dollar for programs, while its Form 990 filings are available for readers to examine the underlying figures.

Source ↗

UCP’s national reach is an affiliate network, not a uniform nationwide service package; local offerings differ.

Source ↗

A group can be strong in research but offer few direct family grants; CPRN prioritizes patient-centered research, education and community programming.

Source ↗
🇨🇳 DeepSeek10 places · 4 notes

The same question, answered by DeepSeek alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.

  1. 1
    United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)

    The name says cerebral palsy, but its network served about 200,000 people and still puts a system-wide average of 85 cents of every dollar into programs.

    Source ↗
  2. 2
    Shriners Children's

    Twenty-two hospitals, no charge to families, and CP care that crosses borders.

    Source ↗
  3. 3
    Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF)

    The largest non-government CP research funder in the U.S. put about 95.6% of its 2024 expenses into programs.

    Source ↗
  4. 4
    CP Research Network (CPRN)

    It runs the largest U.S. CP registries and turns them into research and community programmes.

  5. 5
    Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation (CPARF)

    A four-star research funder whose 68.65% programme ratio shows the trade-off between grants and overhead.

    Source ↗
  6. 6
    Gillette Children's — Cerebral Palsy Institute

    A hospital that turned CP into an institute with 140+ specialists and a family-in-research model.

  7. 7
    Kennedy Krieger Institute — Phelps Center for Cerebral Palsy

    Its Phelps Center treats CP across the lifespan, not just childhood.

  8. 8
    Easterseals

    The broadest disability network here, but only 63 cents of every dollar goes to programmes.

    Source ↗
  9. 9
    Nationwide Children's Hospital — Comprehensive Cerebral Palsy Program

    A lifespan CP programme and one of the few selective dorsal rhizotomy centres in the country.

    Source ↗
  10. 10
    Kyle Pease Foundation

    It has moved 100+ athletes and turned race entries into equipment grants and scholarships.

What DeepSeek noticed

Cerebral palsy is the most common lifelong motor disability in the world, yet CPARF describes it as one of the most underfunded; about 17 million people live with it worldwide.

Source ↗

UCP's Bellows Fund distributed $381,000 in 2024 alone and has awarded more than $7 million since it was created, mostly for wheelchairs, ramps and communication devices.

Source ↗

CPF awarded $1.3 million across 26 grantees in 2024, but its grants are invitation-only and its 990 reports no grants to individuals.

Source ↗

A high Charity Navigator score and a high programme ratio measure different things: CPARF scores 93% overall but spends 68.65% on programmes; CPF spends about 95.6% on programmes but is not rated by Charity Navigator.

Source ↗