What Valerie's House does

Valerie's House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in January 2016 by Angela Melvin Churchill in Fort Myers, Florida, in honor of her mother Valerie Melvin, who died in a 1987 car accident. It operates as the first and only children's bereavement center in Southwest Florida, delivering grief support services at no cost to children, teens, young adults, and caregivers across four physical locations: Fort Myers (headquarters, the 7,000-square-foot Family is Forever Home opened March 2024), Naples, Punta Gorda, and Pensacola (opened 2021).

The organization's core products are age-segmented peer grief support groups (developmental bands 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 13+) supplemented by an age-appropriate curriculum and creative expression programming including Grief Activity Videos, Family Memory Boxes, Camp Connection summer camp, a School Support Program, and the Grieve Love Heal podcast. Leadership development is delivered through Teen Ambassador and Young Adult Ambassador programs, alongside a Scholarship Program ($1,000-$2,500, renewable up to three years) for grieving students. Educational resources such as the Grief Toolkit and Grief Tips Sheet extend reach to schools and community organizations.

Valerie's House is funded entirely through charitable donations, foundation and corporate grants (Naples Children & Education Foundation, Shadow Wood Charitable Foundation, Wildcat Run Charitable Foundation, Calusa Sportsman Foundation), community sponsorships, and annual fundraising events — notably the Sunset Soirée, which raised approximately $600,000 in 2024 and $630,000-$641,000 in 2025. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on school counselor and healthcare provider referrals, word-of-mouth, and earned media (CNBC's The American Dream TV, ESPN, WINK News). The organization reports having served 7,500+ children and families since founding, holds Candid Platinum Transparency 2026 status, and is led by founder-CEO Angela Melvin Churchill with a team of 11-50 employees.

Name

Valerie's House

Legal name

Valerie's House

Website

https://valerieshouse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Valerie's House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 that provides free, age-tailored peer grief support groups, counseling, and creative programming to grieving children, teens, and families across four Florida locations (Fort Myers, Naples, Punta Gorda, Pensacola).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Bereavement and Grief Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bereavement, Grief & Family Support Services (Hospice-Linked) (HLAFAEAO), Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL)

Keywords

• Children's grief support
• Bereavement counseling services
• Family peer support groups
• Nonprofit social services
• Community mental health programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Myers

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: Valerie's House relies primarily on charitable donations from individuals, families, and corporate sponsors. Donations support program operations, facility maintenance, and expansion efforts.
2. Fundraising Events: Annual events including the Sunset Soirée generate significant revenue through sponsorships, silent and live auctions, and direct contributions. The 2024 inaugural event raised over $600,000, the 2025 second annual raised $630,000, and the 2026 event aims to continue this momentum.
3. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Support from charitable foundations including Shadow Wood Charitable Foundation, Wildcat Run Charitable Foundation, Naples Children & Education Foundation, and United Way partner agencies provide grant funding for operations and programs.
4. Community Sponsorships: Local businesses and organizations sponsor programs, events, and specific initiatives. Victory Lane Chevrolet served as presenting sponsor for the inaugural Sunset Soirée.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Valerie's House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free, age-appropriate peer support groups, grief counseling, and creative activities for grieving children, teens, young adults, and caregivers across four Florida locations. The organization also runs leadership programs for graduates, a scholarship program, and produces digital grief resources including a podcast and activity videos.

Product overview

Valerie's House is a nonprofit grief support organization offering a unified portfolio of services for grieving children and families. The core offering centers on peer support groups for children, teens, young adults, and caregivers, supplemented by creative grief activity programs including activity videos, Family Memory Boxes, and Camp Connection. The organization provides educational resources such as the Grief Toolkit and Grief Tips Sheet, along with the Grieve Love Heal podcast as a content resource. Leadership development programs including Teen Ambassador and Young Adult Ambassador programs allow program graduates to give back, while a Scholarship Program supports academic achievement. The flagship Family is Forever Home in Fort Myers serves as the central facility with specialized therapeutic spaces.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grieve Love Heal: A podcast by Valerie's House exploring how to grieve, love, and heal together.

Products and services

• Peer Grief Support Groups Age-specific peer support groups for children, teens, young adults, and caregivers to share experiences and heal together following the loss of a loved one. Provided at no cost to families.
• Grief Activity Videos Creative guided video activities including mask-making, blackout poetry, wrapped-in-support activities, memory boxes, and grief and gratitude exercises to help grieving children express emotions.
• School Support Program Grief support services delivered in school settings to help students cope with loss within their educational environment.
• Family Memory Boxes Family activity where participants create and decorate keepsake boxes to store memories of their loved ones, with locations personalizing the experience differently.
• Camp Connection Summer camp program at the Fort Myers Family is Forever Home providing grieving children opportunities for connection and lasting memories.
• Teen Ambassador Program Leadership program for teens who have experienced grief to support and mentor younger children in the program.
• Young Adult Ambassador Program Program for young adults who have graduated from the grief support program to continue giving back and supporting current members.
• Scholarship Program Financial scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $2,500, renewable for up to three years, awarded to students who are part of grief support programs.
• Grieve Love Heal Podcast Podcast series exploring how to grieve, love, and heal together, featuring episodes on grief journeys, social work impact, and memorial tattoos. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms.
• Family is Forever Home The organization's flagship facility in Fort Myers, a 7,000-square-foot home-like space with specialized rooms including the Butterfly Room, Farmhouse Room, Art Room, and volcano room for emotional expression.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,500+ children and families helped since 2016
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CandidcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCandid (formerly GuideStar) provides the Platinum Transparency seal for Valerie's House, indicating the organization meets the highest standards for nonprofit accountability, transparency, and public charity information.
• United Way of Southwest FloridacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUnited Way partner agency providing community support, resources, and collaborative opportunities for Valerie's House programs in Lee, Hendry, and Glades counties.
• United Way Collier CountycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUnited Way partner agency supporting Valerie's House programs in Collier County, helping extend services to the Naples area.
• Paul Sands Memorial Slaw Dog InvitationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual charity golf tournament that raised $59,000 in 2025 to support Valerie's House and other Southwest Florida nonprofits.
• SWFL Gator ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUniversity of Florida alumni club that hosts community service events including 'Baking with Gators' at Valerie's House for International Gator Day.
• Champions 4 ChildrenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAthletes organization that visits Valerie's House, spending time with grieving children and participating in activities together. Athletes include former NFL and MLB players.
• ESPN Captain James Marko / Goliath FishingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerESPN fishing host who organized a fishing day for Valerie's House families and featured the organization on his television series, bringing national attention to the cause.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/valerieshousefl
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQLw9Y8M7lxGHuXqIETWxaQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/ValeriesHouseSWFL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/valerie-s-house
• Instagraminstagram.com/valerieshouseswfl
• TikToktiktok.com/@valeries.house?lang=en

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Valerie's House