Children's Inn At NIH

Name

Children's Inn At NIH

Legal name

The Children's Inn at NIH

Website

https://childrensinn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Pediatric Residential Hospitality Services

NAICS

Bed-and-Breakfast Inns (721191), Other Residential Care Facilities (62399)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Family-Oriented Full-Service Hotels (THAGAAAF)

Keywords

• Pediatric family lodging
• Clinical research hospitality
• Nonprofit residential services
• Rare disease family support
• Charitable family housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through the website, mail, and various giving programs including monthly giving (Leadership Circle), tribute gifts, and planned giving.
2. Foundation Grants: Major foundation grants provide significant funding. Notable grants include $14 million from Merck Foundation (October 2023) for renovation and expansion, and $1 million from Gilead Sciences Inc. (November 2024). The Merck Foundation's total support exceeds $35 million.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsors provide event sponsorships (gala ranges from $10,000 to $100,000), programmatic support, and capital campaign contributions. Platinum sponsors include Deloitte and Leidos.
4. Special Events Fundraising: Annual gala (An Evening for Hope) raised over $1.7 million in 2026, up from $307,000 in Fern Stone's first year to $1.9 million in 2025. Golf INNvitational and other events also generate revenue.
5. Capital Campaign: The Building Extraordinary capital campaign aims to raise $55 million for the Inn of Tomorrow expansion and renovation project. Over $41 million had been raised as of 2026.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Children's Inn at NIH operates a free residential hospitality house on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, providing lodging, meals, and comprehensive support programs to children, teens, and young adults (ages 0-30) with rare and serious diseases who are enrolled in NIH clinical research studies, along with their families. All services—including private family suites, communal dining, tutoring, recreational and therapeutic activities, sibling support, and family wellness programs—are provided at no cost to families and funded through donations, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Product overview

The Children's Inn at NIH is a nonprofit residential hospitality organization that operates as a single, unified service offering free lodging, meals, and comprehensive support programs to children, teens, and young adults with rare and serious diseases participating in NIH clinical research studies. The portfolio includes core lodging and meal services, complemented by educational programs (Educational Services, Tutoring, INNrichment Fund scholarships), recreational activities (Camp INNcredible summer camp, therapy dog visits, Sibling Day), family wellness support, volunteer and youth leadership opportunities (Teen Ambassador Program), annual fundraising events (An Evening for Hope Gala), and a major expansion initiative (Inn of Tomorrow). All services are provided at no cost to families and are funded through individual donations, corporate partnerships, and foundation grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Lodging Services Free residential lodging in private family suites with kitchens, play areas, and family spaces for children, teens, and young adults with rare and serious diseases participating in NIH clinical research studies.
• Family Meal Program Provides free meals, grocery gift cards, and access to communal dining areas and community kitchens where families can prepare meals adhering to dietary guidelines during their stay.
• Educational Services and Tutoring Provides one-on-one tutoring, STEM activities, homework help, English/Spanish instruction, SAT preparation, college application assistance, and the INNrichment Fund scholarship program offering up to $1,500 per child for educational and therapeutic experiences.
• Camp INNcredible Summer camp program offering recreational activities including dance, zumba, arts and crafts, sailing, therapeutic horseback riding, and outings to local attractions for children and teens staying at The Inn.
• Therapy Dog Program (Zilly) Animal-assisted therapy program featuring Zilly, a multigenerational Australian Labradoodle therapy dog, providing comfort and emotional support to children and participating in recreational therapy sessions at NIH Clinical Center.
• Family Wellness Program Provides wellness support for parents and caregivers including massages, cooking classes, and other wellness activities to help families cope with the stress of having a child in medical treatment.
• Inn of Tomorrow Expansion Project Major renovation and expansion project funded by the Building Extraordinary capital campaign, increasing capacity, adding a new respiratory isolation wing, and modernizing family facilities.
• Young Adult Residence Dedicated residence for young adult clinical trial participants (ages 18-30) located on the NIH campus across from the main Inn.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 1,500+ families annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, minor and major.

• NIH (National Institutes of Health)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership with NIH provides The Children's Inn's unique positioning on the NIH campus. The Inn is a critical partner not only for NCI but for every NIH institute that sees patients. NIH Clinical Center CEO Dr. Jonathan Green participated in the Inn of Tomorrow open house. NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya served as keynote speaker at the 2026 gala.
• National Cancer Institute (NCI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong partnership with NCI's Pediatric Oncology Branch. Dr. Anthony Letai (NCI Director), Dr. Brigitte Widemann (Chief, Pediatric Oncology Branch), and Dr. Jack Shern (Physician Scientist) participated in an Advancing Hope panel event. Children and young adults living with rare diseases participate in research studies at the NIH through this partnership.
• DeloittecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor for An Evening for Hope gala. Eric Cole, Managing Director at Deloitte, led the organizing committee for the 2026 gala.
• LeidoscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor for An Evening for Hope gala. Leidos has a long history of support including donating significant funds and hundreds of volunteer hours to build the new park and playground in 2013.
• MerckcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor for An Evening for Hope gala. Merck has been a longtime supporter with over $35 million in total contributions.
• GDIT (General Dynamics Information Technology)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor for An Evening for Hope gala.
• AccenturecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor for An Evening for Hope gala.
• Booz Allen HamiltoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor for An Evening for Hope gala.
• GuidehouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor for An Evening for Hope gala.
• SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor for An Evening for Hope gala.
• Dell TechnologiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvocate-level sponsor for An Evening for Hope gala.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvocate-level sponsor for An Evening for Hope gala.
• Oracle Health & Life SciencesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvocate-level sponsor for An Evening for Hope gala.
• RTI InternationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvocate-level sponsor for An Evening for Hope gala.
• WestatminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvocate-level sponsor for An Evening for Hope gala.
• iHeartMediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor for An Evening for Hope gala.
• U.S. News & World ReportminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFriend-level sponsor for An Evening for Hope gala. Brian Kelly, Editor at Large and EVP, served as event moderator and is immediate past Chair of The Children's Inn Board of Directors.
• Washington NationalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing VIP experiences at games as auction items at gala.
• Washington SpiritminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing VIP experiences as auction items at gala.
• Philadelphia EaglesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing VIP experiences as auction items at gala.
• Kennedy Krieger InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Neurodiversity at Work program. Volunteers from CORE Foundations program (including Timaron) provide weekly support at The Inn. Recognized as 2024 Business of the Year by Kennedy Krieger.
• First Lady Melania TrumpmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Lady Melania Trump visited The Children's Inn for Valentine's Day in 2018 and 2019, starting a three-year tradition. She invited Inn families to the White House Easter Egg Roll and 2018 Christmas decorations viewing, and launched her Be Best campaign at the Inn.
• Charity NavigatorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity Navigator charity rating organization. The Inn maintains their seal on the website indicating ongoing accountability and transparency.
• Better Business Bureau (BBB)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBBB Accredited Charity seal displayed on website, indicating the organization meets BBB standards for charity accountability.
• Candid (GuideStar)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCandid Platinum Seal of Transparency displayed on website.
• Washington Area Toyota DealersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorship of summer trip to Washington Nationals ballpark, including opportunity for an Inn child to throw the first pitch.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Joe's House: Nonprofit that helps cancer patients and families find lodging near treatment centers nationwide. Comparable free/subsidized lodging aggregator model for medical patients, though operates as a referral platform rather than owned properties.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Global nonprofit providing free lodging and support to families with sick children receiving medical care near hospitals. Closest direct peer given pediatric medical lodging mission, free service model, and global scale.
• American Cancer Society Hope Lodge: Offers free, temporary lodging for cancer patients and caregivers far from home. Comparable free residential hospitality model for medical patients, multi-location footprint, and large-scale nonprofit fundraising operation.
• Hackerman-Patz House: Affordable lodging for cancer patients and families at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. Comparable nonprofit residential hospitality house attached to a major medical center, similar patient-family lodging mission.
• Believe in Tomorrow Children's Foundation: Provides hospital and resort housing for critically ill children and their families. Comparable pediatric medical hospitality mission and free family lodging model, though more distributed across locations.
• Brent's Place: Provides safe, clean housing for immunocompromised children and their families near pediatric hospitals in Colorado. Directly comparable in providing free, infection-controlled residential lodging for pediatric patients and family support services.
• Fisher House Foundation: Provides free lodging to military and veteran families near VA medical centers. Comparable as a single-mission nonprofit hospitality house serving families undergoing treatment at a federal medical institution, with similar fundraising and corporate sponsorship model.
• Hospitality Homes of Boston: Provides free short-term housing in volunteer hosts' homes and donated apartments for families traveling to Boston for medical care. Comparable free residential lodging mission for medical families, though smaller scale and home-share model.

Others

• National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses: Industry association supporting hospital hospitality houses across the U.S. Comparable ecosystem organization; relevant as a peer-network/peer-best-practice reference rather than a direct operator competitor.

Regional players

• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Family Housing): Provides free housing for St. Jude pediatric patients and families in Memphis. Comparable pediatric medical lodging program for seriously ill children, but vertically integrated within a single research hospital rather than an independent nonprofit hospitality partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheChildrensInn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/thechildrensinnnih
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheChildrensInn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-children%27s-inn-at-nih
• Instagraminstagram.com/thechildrensinn

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Children's Inn At NIH