The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is a U.S. nonprofit organization that promotes public understanding of sleep and sleep disorders. It engages in various activities to advance its purpose and goals, including the operation of several websites and the sponsorship of research. Though the foundation denies endorsing commercial products, some sellers have claimed that their products have some sort of "official" status with it.
Founded in 1990, the nonprofit National Sleep Foundation promotes public understanding of sleep and sleep disorders. It seeks to improve public health and safety by supporting sleep-related education, research, and advocacy.
The foundation's goals are increased understanding of the importance of sleep to good health and productivity; prevention and/or remediation of health and safety problems related to insufficient sleep and untreated sleep disorders; expanded scientific research in sleep and sleep medicine; and implementation of public policy that promotes sleep education, research and treatment. The foundation is based in Arlington, Virginia.
The foundation engages in various activities to advance its purpose and goals. Many of these are described on its website. To help reduce the incidence and consequences of sleep-deprived driving, it sponsors Drowsy Driving Prevention Week and maintains a "Drowsy Driving" website. To inform the public about the positive benefits of sleep health, it operates a sleep health website, covering sleep science, bedroom design, lifestyle, and the effect of age on sleep requirements. Its promotional activities have been occasionally covered by national news media.
Research sponsored by the National Sleep Foundation has been published in journal of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and its educational conferences have been provisionally accredited for Continuing Medical Education credits by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.
The foundation's programs are funded by corporate and individual contributions, and through its partnerships with corporations and government entities. Its recent revenues are in the $3.5 million range, and its recent assets are about $5 million. Contributions are tax-deductible.
Though the foundation claims that it does not make commercial endorsements, some merchants and products have claimed to be "endorsed by the National Sleep Foundation" or have implied such endorsement in their literature. Notable among these is My Pillow, which makes such claims in its very-frequently-run television ads. In 2016, My Pillow agreed to stop making this claim in California, and paid a large fine for this and other claims.