Compass to Care
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Compass to Care firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Compass to Care
- Legal name
- Compass to Care, The Mike & Sandy Ernsdorff Childhood Cancer Foundation
- Website
- https://www.compasstocare.org/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Compass to Care industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Individual and Family Services (6241)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) Providers (TLAFAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) & Wheelchair/Stretcher Transport (HLAFANAJ), Special Needs & Senior Transportation Services (TLAFAKAI)
Keywords
Where Compass to Care is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Compass to Care business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute one-time or recurring donations (weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually) through the organization's website. Donors can contribute at various levels ($50 for Uber/Lyft, $100 for gas & parking, $250 for overnight hotel, $500 for long-distance airfare) or give custom amounts. The organization also accepts dedicated gifts in honor or memory of someone.
- Planned Giving / Legacy Circle: Legacy giving through bequests in wills, retirement plan assets, bank/investment accounts (POD/TOD), life insurance, real estate, appreciated securities, charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts. Members of the Tomorrow's Journey Legacy Circle receive recognition in the annual report, special impact updates, and the option to remain anonymous.
- Foundation Grants: Compass to Care receives grants from foundations such as the SBB Research Group Foundation ($5,000 grant in 2023) and The Abra Prentice Foundation (two-year grant supporting the CARE & BACK program).
- Event Fundraising: Major annual fundraising events including the Gold Ribbon Gala (Chicago), An Evening of Hope gala (Chicago), More Precious Than Gold cocktail party (Dubuque, Iowa), and Petals & Purpose breakfast benefit. Events include ticket sales, sponsorships, and silent auctions.
- Associate Board Contributions: Associate Board members make an initial contribution of $100 and commit to raising an additional $1,000 annually, contributing to the organization's fundraising base.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free transportation assistance for eligible families — no cost to beneficiaries |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Compass to Care product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Compass to Care is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that funds and coordinates non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) for children with cancer and their families. The organization operates three integrated programs — ACCESS LIFE (gasoline and parking via a branded debit card), CARE & BACK (Uber/Lyft rideshare through Kaizen Health for families within 20 miles of treatment), and FLIGHTS OF HOPE (airfare, lodging, and ground transport for distant clinical trials) — covering 100% of travel costs for eligible families at or below 250%-300% of the Federal Poverty Line.
Product overview
Compass to Care operates as a nonprofit organization providing Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) services for children with cancer. The organization offers three integrated transportation programs: ACCESS LIFE (covering gasoline and parking via debit card for suburban/rural families), CARE & BACK (coordinating Uber/Lyft rides through Kaizen Health for families within 20 miles), and FLIGHTS OF HOPE (funding airfare, lodging, and ground transportation for distant clinical trials). These programs work together to ensure children can access life-saving cancer treatment regardless of distance or financial barriers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ACCESS LIFE
Quantifiable outcome
- SBB Research Group Foundation $5,000 grant awarded in August 2023 specifically to support transportation services for children undergoing cancer treatment, with goal of improving survival rates
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Compass to Care
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Compass to Care technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature2 records
Compass to Care partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- Chicago BlackhawkssupportingThe Chicago Blackhawks invited Compass to Care beneficiary Ricky to stand with the team during the national anthem at their annual 'Hockey Fights Cancer' night (January 2026). The Blackhawks host this event annually; Compass to Care has been invited to participate, generating visibility and community engagement. The Blackhawks previously donated to Compass to Care as noted in the April 2022 newsletter.
- Northwestern University Dance Marathon (NUDM)supportingNorthwestern University Dance Marathon selected Compass to Care as its 2021 primary beneficiary. NUDM is a major student-run philanthropy event; as beneficiary, Compass to Care receives the proceeds from a year of fundraising efforts by hundreds of Northwestern students, generating both funds and awareness among young professionals.
- Kaizen HealthcoreKaizen Health is the technology partner enabling Compass to Care's CARE & BACK rideshare program. Through this partnership, parents can request customized on-demand Uber and Lyft rides from home to the hospital and back. Kaizen Health coordinates the logistics, allowing Compass to Care to offer safe, reliable, readily-available transportation for families without vehicle access, with children receiving up to three round-trip (six one-way) rides per week.
- University of Chicago Global Health AlliancesupportingCompass to Care partnered with the University of Chicago Global Health Alliance to focus on health equity for children with cancer. The collaboration includes educational components aimed at addressing disparities in childhood cancer outcomes.
- Lurie Children's HospitalcoreLurie Children's Hospital (Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago) is a key referral partner. Multiple Compass to Care families receive treatment at Lurie, and the hospital's social workers serve as referral gatekeepers. The hospital hosts community events (e.g., oncology picnic) that include Compass to Care families.
- Advocate Lutheran General OncologysupportingAdvocate Lutheran General Oncology hosts community events including a picnic for child cancer patients and families, where Compass to Care families are invited. Serves as a community connection point.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Compass to Care competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Modivcare: Largest commercial NEMT broker and provider in the US, serving Medicaid managed care plans and health systems. Comparable as a scaled NEMT operator but operates as a for-profit incumbent serving broader populations.
- Make-A-Wish Foundation: Major nonprofit granting wishes to children with critical illnesses, including cancer. Comparable as a high-visibility pediatric illness nonprofit with strong donor base and hospital referral networks, though operating a different core service.
- American Cancer Society: Largest US cancer nonprofit offering patient navigation, transportation assistance (Road to Recovery), and lodging programs. Overlaps with Compass to Care's mission but operates at much greater scale across all cancer types and ages.
Direct peers
- Chai Lifeline: Nonprofit providing non-medical services to families facing pediatric illness, including transportation coordination and case management. Comparable in service model, beneficiary focus, and healthcare-embedded delivery.
- CureSearch for Children's Cancer: Pediatric cancer-focused nonprofit funding research and supporting families, with some overlap in mission to improve outcomes for children with cancer. Comparable donor and beneficiary base, though heavier emphasis on research.
- Patient AirLift Services (PALS): Nonprofit providing free air transportation for medical patients, including children, who cannot afford or access commercial travel. Comparable as a charity-funded medical transport provider serving patients facing financial hardship.
- Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: Pediatric cancer-focused nonprofit funding research, treatment, and family support. Comparable as a childhood cancer mission-driven organization with fundraising events, donor cultivation, and family-services programs.
- National Children's Cancer Society: Direct peer providing financial and emotional support to children with cancer and their families, including transportation-related assistance. Operates as a 501(c)(3) with a similar mission to remove non-medical barriers to pediatric cancer care.
- Ronald McDonald House Charities: Major nonprofit addressing the lodging and travel burden for families of seriously ill children receiving treatment away from home. Highly comparable in mission, beneficiary population, and hospital-embedded referral model, though larger in scale.
- Kaizen Health: Technology platform and Compass to Care's rideshare integration partner, providing NEMT logistics coordination to health systems, payers, and nonprofits. Comparable as a healthcare transportation platform serving pediatric and adult patient populations.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Compass to Care social profiles
Digital presenceCompass to Care compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Compass to Care financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Compass to Care leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Compass to Care funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Compass to Care M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Compass to Care
What does Compass to Care do?
Compass to Care is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that funds and coordinates non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) for children with cancer and their families. The organization operates three integrated programs — ACCESS LIFE (gasoline and parking via a branded debit card), CARE & BACK (Uber/Lyft rideshare through Kaizen Health for families within 20 miles of treatment), and FLIGHTS OF HOPE (airfare, lodging, and ground transport for distant clinical trials) — covering 100% of travel costs for eligible families at or below 250%-300% of the Federal Poverty Line.
Is Compass to Care a public or private company?
Compass to Care is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Compass to Care founded?
Compass to Care was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Compass to Care based?
Compass to Care is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Compass to Care make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are planned Giving / Legacy Circle, foundation Grants, event Fundraising and associate Board Contributions.
Who are Compass to Care's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Modivcare, Make-A-Wish Foundation and American Cancer Society. Direct peers are Chai Lifeline, CureSearch for Children's Cancer, Patient AirLift Services (PALS), Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, National Children's Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald House Charities and Kaizen Health.
Does Compass to Care have an API?
No public API is recorded for Compass to Care.
What industry is Compass to Care in?
Compass to Care's product category is Non-Emergency Medical Transportation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFAKAB, Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) Providers, with a secondary code of HLAFANAJ, Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) & Wheelchair/Stretcher Transport. Its NAICS code is 624120 and its SIC code is 8000.