Compeer

What Compeer does

Compeer International is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization founded in 1973 by Bernice Skirboll in Rochester, New York, and now headquartered in Buffalo, NY following the 2016 merger of Compeer International and Compeer Buffalo. The organization's core product is the Compeer Model, an evidence-based, nonclinical social engagement program that recruits, screens, and matches trained volunteers in one-to-one supportive friendship relationships with children, adults, military veterans, and seniors living with mental health challenges. Friends commit to meeting four hours per month for one year through in-person, phone, or virtual visits. Compeer's technology footprint is minimal: delivery is human-mediated, supported by a WordPress-based website (compeer.org), an affiliate portal, and standard social media channels.

Compeer's product portfolio extends beyond the core 1:1 matching program to include school-based mentoring, community-based group mentoring, Mental Health First Aid training (Adult, Youth, and Teen variants), social engagement activities, and niche group support programs for postpartum individuals, higher education students, and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. The CompeerCORPS program, launched in 2010, specifically serves military veterans, and the Compeer for Seniors program won the 2012 Eli Lilly Reintegration Award for Social Support. The Compeer Model was included in the SAMHSA National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP) in 2013 and designated a national model by the National Institute of Mental Health in 1982.

Compeer generates no revenue from clients; all services are provided at no cost. Funding comes from individual donations, foundation and corporate giving (including employer matching gift programs), and government grants. Documented grants include $1.8M from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in 2019 (supporting 12 affiliates), $1.2M from the same source in 2021 (supporting 10 affiliates), and $500,000 from AmeriCorps VISTA in 2020. The organization operates through an affiliate/franchise model with approximately 40 locations across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, mobilized by approximately 2,000 active volunteers serving roughly 2,000 individuals annually.

Name

Compeer

Legal name

Compeer International

Website

https://compeer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Compeer International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1973 that delivers evidence-based, nonclinical mental health programs through one-to-one friendship matching between trained volunteers and individuals with mental health challenges. It operates ~40 affiliate locations across 4 countries, funded entirely by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Peer 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), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health Counseling & Psychotherapy Services (EDALAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL)

Keywords

• Nonclinical mental health programs
• Volunteer friendship matching
• Peer support services
• Community mental wellness
• Social engagement programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Buffalo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Compeer International is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN: 16-1454202). Donations from individuals support developing new program initiatives, providing mental health education, supporting friendships between clients and volunteers, creating social engagement activities, and recruiting/engaging volunteers. The organization accepts online donations, checks, stocks, securities, and IRA charitable rollovers.
2. Government Grants: Compeer receives government funding including grants from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention ($1.8M in 2019 supporting 12 affiliates; $1.2M in 2021 supporting 10 affiliates) and AmeriCorps VISTA ($500,000 in 2020 supporting 12 locations).
3. Foundation and Corporate Giving: Compeer works with foundations and corporations to receive financial support. Matching gifts programs allow donors to double their impact through employer matching programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Compeer develops and delivers evidence-based, nonclinical social engagement programs that recruit, screen, and match trained volunteers in one-to-one supportive friendship relationships with children, adults, military veterans, and seniors striving for good mental health. Its core service is the One-to-One Friendship Matching Program (four hours per month for one year, in-person/phone/virtual), extended through affiliated locations with school-based mentoring, community-based group mentoring, mental health education including Mental Health First Aid, niche group support, and the CompeerCORPS veterans program. All services are provided free of charge to clients, funded by donations, government grants, and foundation/corporate giving.

Product overview

Compeer International offers a portfolio of non-clinical mental health programs centered on peer friendship and social support. The core offering is the One-to-One Friendship Matching Program, which pairs trained volunteers with individuals experiencing mental health challenges. This is supported by complementary programs including School-Based Mentoring, Community-Based Group Mentoring, Mental Health Education (with Adult, Youth, and Teen Mental Health First Aid certifications), Social Engagement Activities, Niche Group Support Programs (Veterans, Postpartum, Higher Education, Deaf & Hard of Hearing), and CompeerCORPS for veterans. Programs operate through a network of approximately 40 affiliates across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CompeerCORPS: Program to serve veterans living with mental illness, launched in 2010.
• Compeer for Seniors

Products and services

• One-to-One Friendship Matching Program The core program that recruits, screens, and matches trained volunteers with individuals living with mental health challenges in 1:1 supportive friendship relationships, committed to four hours per month for one year through in-person, phone, or virtual visits; serves children, adults, veterans, and seniors; provided free of charge to clients.
• School-Based Mentoring Program Youth mentoring program delivered through schools to provide one-to-one supportive friendships and role modeling for students experiencing mental health challenges or social risk factors.
• Community-Based Group Mentoring Program Group mentoring initiative offering social engagement activities, peer support, and structured educational/recreational experiences for community members with mental health challenges.
• Mental Health Education Program (Mental Health First Aid) Community education initiative offering Adult Mental Health First Aid, Youth Mental Health First Aid, and Teen Mental Health First Aid training to help communities recognize and respond to mental health challenges.
• CompeerCORPS Specialized Compeer program for military veterans living with mental health challenges, providing one-to-one volunteer friendship matching and support tailored to veteran-specific needs.
• Compeer for Seniors One-to-one friendship matching program specifically designed for older adults striving for mental wellness, offering companionship and social engagement activities for seniors.
• Niche Group Support Programs Population-specific support programs serving postpartum individuals, deaf and hard of hearing communities, higher education students, and other niche populations with tailored matching and program design.
• Social Engagement Activities Recreational and social activities organized by Compeer affiliates to foster community connections, reduce isolation, and provide peer support opportunities for clients and volunteers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of Compeer youth clients strongly agree or agree that they like their Compeer friend
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Jewish Alliance on Mental IllnessflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Compeer International established its first affiliate in England through a partnership with Jewish Alliance on Mental Illness in 2018. This partnership marked Compeer's expansion into the United Kingdom, enabling the replication of the evidence-based friendship model for mental health support in a new geographic region.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• MENTOR (National Mentoring Partnership): National umbrella organization for the youth mentoring field, working with affiliates and corporate partners to expand quality mentoring. Comparable to Compeer's role as a model-provider and convener within the broader nonprofit mentoring ecosystem.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large youth development nonprofit operating a national affiliate network of club-based programs. While broader in mission than Compeer's mental wellness focus, comparable in scale, multi-state affiliate model, and federal/foundation grant funding approach.

Emerging players

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): Leading mental health nonprofit funding research, education programs, and survivor support. Comparable to Compeer in mission, federal-grant access, and chapter-based structure, with more concentrated focus on suicide prevention.
• Bring Change to Mind: Mental health nonprofit focused on stigma reduction through education and storytelling programs in schools and communities. Comparable to Compeer in non-clinical mental wellness orientation and school-based program delivery, though smaller in scale.

Others

• Points of Light: Global nonprofit focused on volunteer service and civic engagement. Indirectly comparable as the broader ecosystem organization that supports volunteer-driven nonprofits like Compeer and shapes corporate volunteer partnerships.

Direct peers

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring nonprofit operating a 1:1 volunteer-to-youth matching model similar to Compeer's school-based mentoring. Both recruit, screen, and match community volunteers with young people facing adversity, with comparable affiliate/branch structures across the U.S.
• Mental Health America (MHA): Community-based nonprofit operating peer support, education, and advocacy programs for mental health. Comparable to Compeer in affiliate/network structure, evidence-based program positioning, and focus on non-clinical social support.
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): National nonprofit providing peer-run support groups and educational resources for individuals living with mood disorders. Directly comparable to Compeer's model of non-clinical peer social support for adults with diagnosed mental health conditions.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): National mental health nonprofit providing peer-led support groups, education programs, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by mental illness. Shares Compeer's peer-support orientation, multi-state affiliate footprint, and grant/donation funding model.

Regional players

• Wounded Warrior Project: Major veterans-services nonprofit offering peer support, mental health programs, and community engagement for post-9/11 veterans. Comparable to Compeer's CompeerCORPS program in serving veterans living with mental illness through peer-based support.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CompeerInternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/compeer-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/compeerinternational?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ==
• Xx.com/compeerfriends

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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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 Compeer