Understood.org recognized on Fast Company’s “Brands That Matter 2025” list

We’re thrilled to announce that Understood.org has been named a Fast Company “Brands That Matter" 2025 honoree in the United States category. This is powerful recognition! It underscores our purpose-driven mission, meaningful connection with our community, and impact.

Understood.org is one of 111 organizations and 10 CMOs on the 2025 list. There are large international organizations, small businesses, and nonprofits. Read more here and in the Winter print edition of Fast Company. It’ll be on newsstands on December 16. 

Fast Company’s “Brands That Matter” list honors brands that go beyond “business as usual.” The program evaluates candidates on timeliness, relevance, cultural and business impact, clarity of purpose, and ingenuity. The ones they choose resonate deeply with people and communities. They contribute to culture. And they drive real change. 

Being included shows that Understood.org is a trusted, culturally relevant force. We’re making a difference in how people understand learning and thinking differences.

Understood.org has long been a leading resource for individuals, parents, and educators navigating challenges like ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia. But our work has become even more critical over the past few years.

• More people are aware of neurodivergence — but there’s still stigma.

• Misinformation around learning and thinking differences, like ADHD, is rampant. 

• Women and girls who learn and think differently are still overlooked in health care, education, and cultural dialogue.

Our “Brands That Matter” submission reflected on how Understood is tackling these challenges:

• Every year, we provide 20 million people with free, expert-backed information through our website.

• We’ve answered nearly 450,000 questions from parents, educators, and caregivers through our Understood Assistant.

• We develop content and solutions built for and by women with ADHD. Social communities. The MissUnderstood podcast channel. And digital self-guided activities to help manage emotional dysregulation and burnout. 

• We measure our impact — like our research with Torrens University Australia. This work proved that some of our podcasts support health literacy and give hope to women with ADHD.

• We’ll continue combating the stigma of learning and thinking differences through storytelling. We’ll represent the lived experiences of real people.

• We’ll scale our impact. We’ll work with, through, and alongside others to raise awareness and deliver support to people who need us.

• We’ll build more free tools and resources. Our work will support people wherever they are in their journey. 

This honor belongs to everyone who makes Understood.org what it is. That includes our dedicated team, trusted experts, and partners. And, of course, the people who share their stories. 

Being included in Fast Company’s “Brands That Matter” list is a powerful affirmation that our work matters. The world is still learning how to understand and embrace neurodiversity. So Understood will keep on building bridges, fostering understanding, and creating change. 

If you’d like to help us continue our work, consider making a donation at U.org/donate.