The collaboratively developed Alzheimer's Association Strategic Plan is the roadmap for the Association. It builds on our progress and includes overarching Association-wide strategic objectives.
Overview
Over 6 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia. By 2050, the number of Americans age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s dementia may grow to a projected 12.7 million. Access to earlier diagnosis and effective treatments may significantly change the experience of Alzheimer’s for millions of people, but even with these, the cost of care will likely continue to rise dramatically. These factors will provide unprecedented challenges and opportunities for the Alzheimer’s Association.
Never has the case for accelerated progress been more urgent. In 2022, Alzheimer’s and all other dementia were estimated to cost the nation $321 billion, including $206 billion in Medicare and Medicaid payments combined. Without effective and accessible treatments to slow, stop or prevent the disease from developing, in 2050, Alzheimer’s and all other dementia are projected to cost nearly $1 trillion (in 2022 dollars).
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. To enhance and strengthen this leadership position, as well as expand the depth, breadth and pace of the Alzheimer’s movement, we have committed to do more.
In 2012, the Association undertook a strategic assessment process to look at the external environment and internal capacity and potential in order to determine what is necessary to change the trajectory of Alzheimer’s and to support people living with the disease today and in the future. As a result of this collaborative, organization-wide work, a bold, 10-year vision (FY2015-FY2024) for care and support and for research was created.
Additionally, in order to achieve this vision, the Association identified increasing revenue, advancing public policy, and growing concern and awareness as key levers.
Our vision
A world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®.
Our mission
The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.
Our core values
The Alzheimer's Association's core values are forged by our commitment to the highest ethical standards and drive our priorities, commitments and organizational decisions. Our reputation is the ultimate asset, and these core values guide our behaviors, judgments and how we accomplish our mission:
Community
Inspire all people and organizations to join the cause and grow our shared passion.
Inclusivity
Seek out different and diverse viewpoints through collaboration.
Accountability
Take responsibility to achieve goals and expect results — ourselves and others.
Agility
Lead and embrace changes with courage.
Integrity
Act ethically, with honesty, transparency and compassion.
Strategic goals
Providing and Enhancing Quality Care and Support
The Alzheimer’s Association engages with communities on national, state and local levels to ensure access to quality care and support for everyone affected by Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
- Increase reach of programs and initiatives that address the unique needs of individuals living with the disease, caregivers and communities through direct service, volunteer delivery, community engagement and partnerships.
- Increase equitable access to early and accurate diagnosis, treatment, risk reduction and quality care through health systems, health care payers, and long-term care and community-based resources.
- By the conclusion of FY25, increase reach and access by 50%.
Accelerating Research
The Alzheimer’s Association leads and accelerates research worldwide to advance risk reduction, earlier detection and more effective treatments to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
- As the recognized global convener, expand accessibility, inclusion and funding opportunities throughout research and clinical communities.
- Drive engagement in all communities by increasing understanding, trust and urgency of research.
- By the conclusion of FY25, increase the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual investment in research to $110 million.
Increasing Concern and Awareness
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading global voluntary health organization advancing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia awareness in all communities. We have successfully built our brand and extended reach to increase awareness, reduce stigma and increase the public’s knowledge of our support resources and advances in Alzheimer’s and dementia research.
- Increase the level of awareness of the Alzheimer’s Association from the current baseline.
- Continue to drive concern for the disease, maintaining its strong baseline.
- By the conclusion of FY25, advance the global cause of Alzheimer’s and all other dementia by increasing the Association’s powerful public reach by more than 800 million total impressions from current baseline, supporting growth of all mission pillars.
Strengthening Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Alzheimer’s Association strives to be a leading organization in diversity, equity and inclusion. We seek to create a culture where staff, volunteers and constituents are empowered to share their voices and perspectives to create an environment of inclusion, growth, positivity, belonging and change. This culture is embraced by all parts of the Association and partnering organizations.
- Advance diversity, equity and inclusion goals across all aspects of mission delivery.
- Create an internal culture of understanding and pursuit of diversity, equity and inclusion through education, policies, procedures and practices.
- By the conclusion of FY25, increase total constituency lives impacted in disproportionately affected and underserved communities by 25% across all aspects of mission delivery through the expansion of sustainable national and local partnerships.
Advancing Public Policy
The Alzheimer’s Association and the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement will advance our mission for all communities through the pursuit of federal and state policy to provide broad, timely and equitable access to effective treatment, comprehensive education, care, services and support, and research funding to meet the growing needs of all affected.
- Develop and implement effective government relations campaigns at the federal and state levels.
- Advance the growth of the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement.
- By the conclusion of FY25, recruit, train and mobilize increasingly effective volunteer advocates, growing the number of the most active advocates by 33%.
Increasing Revenue
The Alzheimer’s Association will increase revenue through the mobilization of all communities by engaging individual constituents, corporations and organizations to accelerate progress and maximize mission impact.
- By the conclusion of FY25, increase total contributed revenue to $400 million.
- By the conclusion of FY25, secure a minimum of $107 million new annual dollars to fuel our research investment.
10-year vision
10-year vision for Care and Support
The Association will contribute to a dramatic increase in the accurate and timely diagnosis of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and a significant increase in the number of people with dementia and their caregivers who receive affordable, high-quality care and support. The priorities identified to achieve this 10-year vision are:
- Identify, create and provide a set of evidence-based signature care and support programs.
- Set standards for high-quality care and support across the “continuum of care” within the Association and across the broader field.
- Ensure standards are adopted by the field.
10-year vision for Research
The Association will contribute to research breakthroughs that are life-changing for people living with Alzheimer’s disease by driving the international research agenda. This includes developments across treatment, diagnosis/detection and prevention, and requires ongoing advances in tools, processes and systems that will facilitate breakthroughs. The priorities identified to achieve this 10-year vision are:
- Make research funding an Association-wide priority.
- Dramatically advance Association-wide fundraising for research.
- Conduct nationwide, dedicated research campaigns.
- Engage chapters in research fundraising.
- Complete the push for funding to the field by funding the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) and increasing awareness and policy efforts.
- Explore and test opportunities for international fundraising.