Hogs For The Cause

What Hogs For The Cause does

Hogs For The Cause is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 2009 in New Orleans by Becker Hall and Rene Louapre, originally as a pig roast to support the family of a five-year-old boy battling pediatric brain cancer. The organization has since evolved into the self-described premier nationwide funding source for pediatric brain cancer outreach services, distributing over $18.5 million in grants to families and hospital programs through five core programs: the annual Hogs for the Cause Festival (a barbecue and music competition attracting 30,000+ attendees, 90+ teams, and 20+ bands that raised a record $3.6 million in 2023), the Trail of Barbecue restaurant network spanning 12 states, free on-campus family housing at built and operated Hogs Houses, unrestricted direct family grants (over 2,400 grants totaling more than $3.15 million), and direct capital and program funding to pediatric oncology units at children's hospitals.

The organization generates revenue through tax-deductible individual donations (online, check, stock, Donor-Advised Funds), corporate matching programs, point-of-sale round-up and featured menu items at Trail of Barbecue partner restaurants, annual festival ticket and sponsorship revenue, and community-led backyard BBQ and tailgate fundraisers. Distribution of funds flows to two primary segments: families of children with pediatric brain cancer (direct financial assistance for medical, travel, and lodging costs not covered by insurance) and children's hospitals and pediatric oncology programs (capital projects such as Hogs Houses, renovated oncology units, cell banks, and social services funds). Major hospital partners include Children's Hospital New Orleans, Our Lady of the Lake, Johns Hopkins All Children's, Prisma Health, East Tennessee Children's, Children's Medical Center Plano, Dell Children's, Texas Children's, Children's of Mississippi, Children's Hospital Colorado, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

The organization is governed by co-founders Becker Hall (CEO) and Rene Louapre (COO) with Zandy Rainold as CFO, operates with 1-10 employees from a New Orleans mailing address (P.O. Box 792300), and holds IRS Tax ID 32-0273586. Recent strategic activity centers on geographic expansion into Texas ($3.5 million committed across three hospital systems) and Florida (first Hogs House outside Louisiana), the May 2026 launch of the Trail of Barbecue as a year-round fundraising channel, and deepened institutional partnerships involving naming rights at pediatric oncology centers.

Name

Hogs For The Cause

Legal name

Hogs for the Cause

Website

https://hogsforthecause.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hogs For The Cause is a New Orleans-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds families of children with pediatric brain cancer through a large annual barbecue and music festival, a 12-state Trail of Barbecue restaurant network, direct family grants, on-campus Hogs Houses, and capital grants to pediatric oncology hospital programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from the general public to support pediatric brain cancer family assistance. Accepts online donations, checks, stock donations, and Donor-Advised Fund contributions.
2. Festival Revenue: Revenue from the annual Hogs for the Cause Festival featuring barbecue competitions, live music, and fundraising activities. The festival attracts over 30,000 attendees with 90+ competing barbecue teams and 20+ bands.
3. Trail of Barbecue Partnership Donations: Restaurant partners on the Trail of Barbecue collect donations through point-of-sale donation collection, round-up campaigns, featured menu items, and hosted fundraising events. Restaurants include Home Team BBQ, Pinkerton's Barbecue, The Shed, Goldee's BBQ, and others across 12 states.
4. Corporate Matching Programs: Many large companies match employee fundraising contributions dollar for dollar, amplifying individual donor impact.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hogs For The Cause is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises and distributes funds to families of children battling pediatric brain cancer and to pediatric oncology hospital programs. It operates an annual barbecue and music festival, a nationwide Trail of Barbecue restaurant network, free on-campus family housing (Hogs Houses), no-strings-attached direct family grants, and capital grants to children's hospitals. Since 2009 it has distributed over $18.5 million in grants to families and hospital programs.

Product overview

Hogs for the Cause is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates primarily as a fundraising and grant-making entity rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include: the Annual Festival (a BBQ and music competition attracting 30,000+ attendees), the Trail of Barbecue (a network of 12+ partner restaurants nationwide), Hogs Houses (free family housing at children's hospitals), Direct Family Grants (financial assistance to families), and Hospital Programs Funding (support for pediatric oncology units). The organization began in 2009 as a pig roast fundraiser and has since distributed over $18.5 million to families and hospitals nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Trail of Barbecue: A nationwide movement connecting restaurants coast to coast in support of families battling pediatric cancer, launched in May 2026. Restaurants participate through featured menu items, round-up campaigns, backyard fundraisers, events, and direct donations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $18.5M distributed to families and hospital programs since 2009
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 core, major, minor and flagship.

• Home Team BBQ (South Carolina)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 March 2026Trail of Barbecue partner hosting annual Rock the Block fundraiser. Has collectively raised over $650,000 for Hogs for the Cause. Located in Charleston, SC.
• Children's Medical Center PlanomajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026$2M commitment to expand Pauline Allen Gill Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Part of $3.5M Texas expansion including Dell Children's Medical Center ($500K) and Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center ($1M).
• Dell Children's Medical Center, AustincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026$500K donation to support addition of first PET scanner, expanding access to critical child-centered cancer care in Central Texas.
• Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center, HoustoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026$1M commitment as part of $3.5M Texas expansion to support pediatric cancer and hematology care.
• East Tennessee Children's HospitalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2025$1M gift for Hematology Oncology Center renovation and expansion. Includes larger infusion area, new procedure rooms, and redesigned family spaces. Center renamed 'Hogs for the Cause Hematology Oncology Center.'
• Prisma Health Children's Hospital-UpstatemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 August 2025$1M donation funded new Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit. 7,500 sq ft state-of-the-art facility provides critical care to nearly 12,000 pediatric patients annually across North Georgia, Western North Carolina, and Upstate South Carolina.
• Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St. PetersburgmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2025$1M donation to renovate existing apartments into new Patient Housing. Creates 4 apartments with 6 total bedrooms, children's wellness garden. First Hogs House outside Louisiana, marking $12.5M in total grants.
• Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital, Baton RougecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Second Hogs House opened in 2024 at Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital. $2.3M investment for on-campus housing. Both Louisiana Hogs Houses at full capacity since opening.
• Children's Hospital New Orleans (Manning Family Children's)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018First Hogs House built at Children's Hospital New Orleans in 2018. $2.55M total investment including on-campus housing providing free accommodation for families traveling for pediatric treatment. Both Hogs Houses in Louisiana at full capacity since opening.
• Children's of MississippimajorStrategic or Co-development Partner$1.5M donation for complete renovation of 22,500 sq ft Hematology & Oncology Unit in Jackson, MS.
• Children's Hospital ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$1.1M donation for creation of centralized cell bank for Pediatric Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders research.
• Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner$800K for pediatric oncology patient care. Celebration Area established in Team Foxeria del Sol's name. Additional $75K for Scottish Rite campus and $50K for AFLAC Cancer Center patient room.
• Medical University of South Carolina Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$200K for Hogs for the Cause Family and Patient Fund providing oncology patient families assistance for needs not covered by insurance.
• Ochsner Hospital For ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$165K for Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Program supporting construction of Stem Cell Recovery rooms and Pediatric Piggy Bank.
• The Cure Starts NowminorStrategic or Co-development Partner$100K donation for Pediatric Brain Cancer Research Grants.
• Duke Children's HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner$10K donation to Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Fund.
• Pinkerton's Barbecue (Texas)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerEarly flagship Trail of Barbecue partner. Founded 2016 by Grant Pinkerton. Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ Joints every year 2017-2024. Michelin Bib Gourmand 2024-2025. During May BBQ Month, every Glazed and Confused cocktail sold benefits Hogs. Three locations in Houston and San Antonio.
• The Shed Barbecue & Blues Joint (Mississippi)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerTrail of Barbecue partner. 3x Grand Champion at Memphis in May World Championship (2015, 2018, 2024), including Whole Hog category 2024. Family-run joint in Ocean Springs, MS. Guests can round up bills at register.
• Goldee's BBQ (Texas)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerTrail of Barbecue partner. Michelin Bib Gourmand, Texas Monthly #1 barbecue joint. Family-run pitmaster operation in Fort Worth. Guests can round up bills to support Hogs.
• Blood Brothers BBQ (Texas)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerTrail of Barbecue partner in Bellaire, TX. Guests can round up bills to support Hogs for the Cause and families battling pediatric brain cancer.
• Cochon King BBQ (Louisiana)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerTrail of Barbecue partner. Family-run joint on Franklin Avenue in Gentilly, New Orleans. Only BBQ spot in New Orleans cooking whole hogs. Guests can round up bills for Hogs.
• Gonzo's Smokehouse (Louisiana)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrail of Barbecue partner in Luling, LA. Family-run pit shop. Top Taco NOLA champion. Special events include Smoked Pork Cheek Taco Thursday with 100% of sales going to Hogs.
• Blue Oak BBQ (Louisiana/Alabama)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerTrail of Barbecue partner across Louisiana and Alabama.
• Wright's Barbecue (Arkansas)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerTrail of Barbecue partner in Arkansas.
• Das BBQ (Georgia)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerTrail of Barbecue partner in Georgia.
• Sugarfire Smokehouse (Missouri)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerTrail of Barbecue partner in Missouri.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: A pediatric cancer nonprofit focused on research funding and family support. Comparable as a peer organization in the same pediatric cancer fundraising space with overlapping hospital and family support programs.
• The Cure Starts Now: A pediatric brain cancer research charity that Hogs for the Cause has actively funded. Comparable as a mission-aligned peer organization focused on the same disease and beneficiary population.
• CureSearch for Children's Cancer: A children's cancer nonprofit that funds research and supports families. Comparable to Hogs for the Cause as a similarly positioned childhood cancer charity competing for the same donor and corporate partnership pools.
• Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research: A childhood cancer research and awareness nonprofit with a strong community-fundraising model. Comparable to Hogs for the Cause in the way it leverages grassroots fundraising events and community engagement to drive donations.
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: A leading childhood cancer nonprofit that funds research and provides family support. Directly comparable to Hogs for the Cause as a pediatric cancer-focused charity that raises funds through community-driven events and direct family grants.
• Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation: The largest patient-founded nonprofit dedicated to pediatric brain tumors. Directly comparable to Hogs for the Cause given the matching focus on pediatric brain cancer and family support services.

Broad incumbents

• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: The largest and most established pediatric cancer research and treatment institution in the US. Relevant peer because it absorbs a major share of corporate giving and donor mindshare in the same pediatric cancer space Hogs for the Cause competes in.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: A large-scale nonprofit providing free housing for families with sick children near hospitals. Comparable to Hogs for the Cause's Hogs Houses program as the dominant player in the family-lodging category that Hogs for the Cause is expanding into.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation: A well-known nonprofit supporting children with critical illnesses, including pediatric cancer. Comparable as a peer in the broader landscape of pediatric disease-related nonprofits competing for corporate partnerships and donor attention.

Emerging players

• Children's Oncology Group: A cooperative research organization that supports pediatric cancer research and clinical trials across children's hospitals. Comparable as a peer to Hogs for the Cause given overlapping hospital partners and shared mission focus on pediatric cancer outcomes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Hogs4TheCause
• Facebookfacebook.com/hogs4thecause

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Hogs For The Cause