Here you will find answers to commonly asked questions about The Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Is the Foundation a nonprofit organization?
Yes. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization designated by the Internal Revenue Code. As of 2009, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research is also a registered Canadian charity.

Do you have chapter organizations?
No. The Foundation is located in New York City and does not have chapters. Our research and fundraising efforts, however, stretch across the country and around the world. And through our Team Fox program, supporters hold events in their local areas to help raise funds and awareness for our work to find a cure. To join Team Fox and find an event in your area, visit www.teamfox.org.

How much money has the Foundation given to research so far?
To date, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research has funded over $170 million in research, either directly or through partnerships.

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How much of the money donated actually goes to research?
To date, 85 percent of all donations to the Foundation have been allocated directly to our research programs.

How can I make a donation?
Donations are gladly accepted by mail, by telephone and online. For more information, see the Support MJFF section of our Web site.

Can I make a donation in honor or in memory of someone?
Absolutely. For more information, see the Support MJFF section of our Web site.

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What is a corporate matching gift and how can I make one?
Many large corporations have matching gift programs and will match your donation to a charitable organization. It's an easy way to double or even triple your personal contributions to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. You should talk to your human resources representative to find out if your company has such a program and how you can participate. More information is also available in the Support MJFF section of our Web site.

Can I raise money for the Foundation?
Yes. Please visit Team Fox to learn more. We are grateful for the support of Team Fox members throughout the country and the world who raise money for us through benefits, auctions, marathon sponsorships and other fun and creative events.

What kinds of fundraisers have you held?
We have been – and will likely continue to be – the beneficiary of several kinds of fundraisers. These include movie premieres, benefit dinners and many others. We also hold an annual fundraising gala event in New York City, a smaller benefit event in Los Angeles and a golf tournament on Long Island.

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Can I come to a fundraiser?
When a fundraiser is open to the general public, we make every effort possible to alert members of the Parkinson's community and others who might be interested in attending. Because the purpose of our special events is to help fund our programmatic efforts, however, we are not able to offer free admission or to otherwise subsidize attendance.

We are lucky to have hundreds of people around the country raise money for us through Team Fox events. These events are fun, family-friendly and a great way to hook up with fellow MJFF supporters in your community. Visit www.teamfox.org for more information.

Can I volunteer?
We do have volunteer and internship opportunities from time to time, which are listed on our Web site as they become available. For more information, visit the Volunteers and Interns section of our Web site.

How can I apply for a grant?
The Research Programs section of our Web site details all the policies and procedures related to applying for a grant from the Foundation.

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How is Michael J. Fox's health?
Michael is doing well and appreciates the concern of his fans and well-wishers. However, although on occasion he finds it relevant to publicly discuss life with Parkinson's disease, he considers his health a private matter.

What kind of treatments/medications has Michael J. Fox tried?
Michael considers his health a private matter and therefore rarely discloses his treatment history publicly. Besides the privacy issues, he is concerned that disclosing such information might be seen as an endorsement of a particular therapy or treatment strategy – and he believes that all health-related decisions should be made by individual patients themselves in consultation with medical professionals.

I wrote to the Foundation. When will I hear back?
As the Foundation has grown, the volume of mail we receive – both electronically and via post – has also grown tremendously. Today, the cost of responding has become overwhelming and is out of line with our mission to allocate resources to Parkinson's research, not administrative procedures. As such, we cannot promise to respond to all unsolicited mail as we have attempted to do in the past.

If you made a donation (either electronically or via post) and did not receive a response, your gift most likely did not reach us. Please call us at 1-800-708-7644.

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How can I contact Michael J. Fox?
He appreciates your good wishes as well as your ideas and suggestions. The Foundation, however, is focused on research into Parkinson's disease and raising money for research so we do not respond to Michael J. Fox's fan mail or send out his photo.

Can I get an autographed photo of Michael J. Fox from the Foundation?
Because of the huge volume of requests for photos and autographs – and the Foundation's focus on research to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease – it is impossible for the Foundation to respond to such requests.

Can Michael J. Fox speak at my event?
Michael receives hundreds of thoughtful invitations to speak at events every month. While he appreciates every inquiry he receives, he is only one person; regrettably, he therefore must decline the vast majority of invitations that are extended to him.

I've seen Michael J. Fox campaigning for political candidates during election season. Does the Foundation decide which campaigns he will participate in?
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research is not involved in any activities pertaining to any candidate for election in any political race. When Michael J. Fox becomes involved in the campaigns of specific candidates, he does so as a private individual, not in his capacity as founder of The Michael J. Fox Foundation. Mr. Fox's decisions on this front are his and his alone, and the Foundation is not in any way involved in any aspect of his advocacy for individual candidates in specific races.

As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, the Foundation is prohibited by IRS regulations to endorse, contribute to, work for or otherwise support any candidate for office. While we are permitted to use a small percentage of resources to engage in issue-related political activities, we cannot, under any circumstances, participate in political activities associated with a particular candidate.

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