Sponsor and Conflict of Interest Policy
The Celiac Disease Foundation (“the Foundation”) is funded through a diverse mix of individual donors, foundations, corporate partners, grants, programs, and other sources. This diversified model protects our independence and ensures that no single company has outsized influence over our work.
Commerical Sponsorships
The Foundation accepts sponsorships from companies that provide products and services for people with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten/wheat sensitivity, or who follow a gluten-free lifestyle. Sponsorships are a form of advertising that allows us to provide content at no cost to you. Each individual sponsor’s contribution accounts for less than 1% of the Foundation’s annual budget, and all sponsorship contributions together account for approximately 4%.
Sponsor content is always labeled “Proud Sponsor of Celiac Disease Foundation” or “Advertisement,” and sponsor links go only to the sponsor’s website or a labeled sponsored area of our site. Accepting a sponsorship is not an endorsement of any product, service, or company. The Foundation has sole discretion over which sponsors it accepts.
Pharmaceutical, Device, and Biotechnology Funding
The Foundation accepts funding from pharmaceutical, device, and biotechnology (“life sciences”) companies only for research, patient education, and advocacy programs, and does not accept or solicit general operating support from them. This program funding accounts for approximately 4% of the Foundation’s annual budget.
Life sciences partners have no role in selecting research projects, designing programs, or setting the Foundation’s policy positions. Their funds are not used for lobbying, to influence specific legislation, or to pay honoraria, meals, lodging, or travel for their employees. Partners receive only the recognition specified in their written agreements, and the Foundation does not endorse any product, device, or treatment.
The Foundation also provides fee-based clinical trial recruitment services to life sciences companies through iRecruitCeliac. These are fair-market-value service agreements, not sponsorships or contributions.
The Foundation may update this policy at any time by posting a revised version on its website. Questions may be directed to the Office of the CEO at info@celiac.org.