Hively

What Hively does

Hively is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Pleasanton, California, that delivers an integrated suite of family services across Alameda County. Founded in 1976 as Resources for Family Development, the organization was renamed Child Care Links in 1998 and rebranded to Hively in 2019 following a merger with Family Service Counseling and Community Resource Center. Its core service lines are subsidized child care (including CalWORKs Stage 2 administration and child care provider reimbursement), mental health counseling (individual, couples, family, and group therapy delivered in person and via Zoom), and Family Resource Centers that distribute essential items and connect families to community resources. Supporting programs include CalFresh application assistance (2025), Covered California health insurance enrollment (2024) under Certified Enrollment Entity status, the Oakland Promise Brilliant Baby college savings enrollment, the mobile Hive on Wheels outreach unit, and a Clinical Trainee Practicum Program.

Hively operates five physical offices (Pleasanton, Oakland, Fremont, San Leandro, Livermore), three Family Resource Centers (Tri-Valley, Oakland, and Dublin storefront, plus the Fremont mini-FRC), and the mobile Hive on Wheels unit. The organization employs 51-100 staff with 50% bilingual capacity spanning 24 languages, enabling culturally responsive service delivery to a client base that is 80% single-parent households and concentrated in low-income communities. Technology dependencies are modest: the CareConnect portal handles child care provider attendance submission and reimbursement, Zoom enables remote counseling, and Calendly schedules benefits enrollment appointments. No proprietary AI/ML platform or differentiated technology stack is described.

As a 501(c)(3) (EIN 94-2379571), Hively's revenue model is structurally different from a commercial enterprise. The organization is funded through government contracts (Alameda County, CDSS, First 5 Alameda County, Measure C), grants, and tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporate partners, and matching gift programs. Services are free or income-based for eligible families; mental health services are free for Medi-Cal and Alameda Alliance for Health members. The operational budget grew from $150,000 in 1976 to over $26 million by 2000, with continued but undisclosed expansion since then. Hively has no equity holders, no parent company, and no venture backing, governed instead by a Board of Directors chaired by Jonathan Fu (Director of FP&A at Pivot Bio) with CEO Mary Hekl leading day-to-day operations.

Name

Hively

Legal name

Hively

Website

https://behively.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hively is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing subsidized child care, mental health counseling, and family resource services to low-income families across Alameda County, California, operating five offices and three Family Resource Centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Pleasanton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Grants: Hively operates primarily as a government-funded nonprofit, receiving funding through Alameda County, CDSS (California Department of Social Services), First 5 Alameda County, and Measure C (Alameda County sales tax for children's health and childcare). The organization's initial budget of $150,000 in 1976 grew to over $26 million by 2000, reflecting substantial government contract expansion.
2. Donations and Contributions: Hively accepts one-time and monthly monetary donations from individuals, corporate partners, and donors. As a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN: 94-2379571), all donations are tax-deductible. The organization also runs corporate matching gift programs and in-kind donation drives for children's essentials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hively is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers subsidized child care subsidies and referrals, mental health counseling, and Family Resource Center services to families across Alameda County, California. Supplemental offerings include CalFresh application help, Covered California health insurance enrollment, Brilliant Baby college savings enrollment, and a mobile outreach unit (Hive on Wheels) distributing essential supplies at community events. All services are free or income-based, with delivery via 5 office locations, 3 resource centers, online portals, and remote video sessions.

Product overview

Hively is a nonprofit organization providing a coordinated suite of family services in Alameda County, California. The core offerings include subsidized child care subsidies and referrals, mental health counseling services, and family resource centers. Supporting services include CalFresh application assistance, Covered California health insurance enrollment, and Brilliant Baby college savings enrollment. Additional programs include the mobile Hive on Wheels resource center, a clinical trainee practicum program, and child care provider training and resources. The CareConnect portal enables provider reimbursement operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accessible Child Care Subsidized child care subsidies, application support, and referrals for low-income families in Alameda County, with fees based on household income and hours of care used.
• Mental Health Services Individual, couples, family, and group counseling for all ages, delivered in-person at San Leandro, Pleasanton, and Oakland offices and remotely via Zoom, accepting most Alameda County Medi-Cal and Alameda Alliance for Health plans.
• Family Resource Centers Physical centers in Tri-Valley, Oakland, and Fremont providing families with children's clothing, books, toys, workshops, events, and connections to community resources at no cost.
• Hive on Wheels Mobile family resource center that brings essential items such as diapers, wipes, children's clothing, and books directly to neighborhoods at parks, fairs, festivals, and community events throughout Alameda County.
• CalFresh Assistance Application assistance for CalFresh (SNAP) nutrition benefits, including pre-screening, application help, and document verification support for Alameda County residents.
• Covered California Enrollment Support Free health insurance application and enrollment assistance through Covered California as a Certified Enrollment Entity (CEE), helping consumers determine eligibility for premium assistance and complete enrollment.
• Brilliant Baby Enrollment Support Enrollment assistance for Oakland families with children ages 0-4.5 in the Oakland Promise Brilliant Baby program, which seeds $500 college savings accounts (529 plans) held by my529.
• Classes and Training Workshops, training sessions, and community events covering child development, parenting skills, and provider-focused topics, designed for parents, child care providers, and supporters.
• Clinical Trainee Practicum Program Practicum program for Master's in Counseling students providing hands-on experience in mental health counseling with supervision by licensed clinicians.
• Child Care Provider Resources Training, workshops, licensing courses, and reimbursement support for licensed child care providers, including access to the CareConnect portal for attendance submission and payments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,100 hours of therapy and counseling provided to families and individuals
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• SupplyBankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupplyBank partners with Hively to support the diaper distribution program at Hive on Wheels events. This partnership provides essential diapers and wipes to families in need throughout Alameda County.
• First 5 of Alameda CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst 5 of Alameda County co-funds the diaper distribution program with Hively's Hive on Wheels mobile resource center. First 5 also administers Measure C child care and preschool funding that Hively leverages.
• Alameda County Office of Social ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alameda County Office of Social Services partners with Hively to support the diaper distribution program at Hive on Wheels events, providing social services infrastructure and funding for family support programs.
• Alameda County Family Justice CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHively participates in quarterly collaboration meetings through the Alameda County Family Justice Center, focused on supporting women and families impacted by domestic violence. Resources are shared and knowledge exchanged.
• National Charity League (Pleasanton Chapter)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe National Charity League's Pleasanton chapter partners with Hively on service projects benefiting families served. Their volunteers support outreach events, Hive on Wheels activities, and organize donations at Family Resource Centers.
• Fremont Family Resource Center (24-Organization Consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHively is one of 24 organizations housed at the Fremont Family Resource Center. Hively serves families through direct services, collaborates on events, and participates in executive council and committee meetings.
• Oakland Family Resource Center Network (Led by Lotus Bloom)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHively is an active member of the Oakland Family Resource Center Network, a collaborative of community organizations sharing resources and supporting families. Hively co-organizes events and works on local and state policy developments through this network.
• Oakland PromisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHively assists Oakland families with enrollment in the Oakland Promise Brilliant Baby program, which seeds $500 college savings accounts (529 plans) for eligible Oakland children ages 0-4.5. my529 holds the accounts.
• Tri-Valley Nonprofit Alliance (TVNPA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHively participates in the Tri-Valley Nonprofit Alliance and was recognized as finalists for TVNPA's annual awards, connecting with other nonprofits in the Tri-Valley region.
• KQEDminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKQED covered Hively and Alameda County child care providers, highlighting the organization's role in supporting child care access in the region.
• Alameda County Local Planning CouncilsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHively advocates through the Alameda County Local Planning Council on child care policy issues affecting families and providers.
• Alameda County Office of EducationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHively collaborates with Alameda County Office of Education on advocacy and early childhood education initiatives.
• Alameda Community College and County Partnership CalWORKs MeetingssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHively participates in CalWORKs meetings to coordinate child care assistance for CalWORKs Stage 2 families.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Catholic Charities of the East Bay: East Bay nonprofit offering integrated family support, counseling, immigration, and basic-needs services. Comparable in mission, multi-service delivery model, and Alameda County footprint to Hively.
• East Bay Agency for Children: Alameda County nonprofit providing mental health, family support, and early childhood services. Overlaps directly with Hively's mental health counseling and family resource center offerings for low-income children and families.
• BANANAS Inc. Child care resource and referral agency serving Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties. Directly comparable to Hively's child care subsidy and referral services for families and providers in the same Bay Area geography.
• La Familia Counseling Service: Bay Area nonprofit offering mental health, family support, and community-based services to underserved Latino and immigrant families. Comparable target population and integrated service model to Hively.

Broad incumbents

• First 5 Alameda County: County-level commission funding early childhood programs including child care and Brilliant Baby. Functions as both a core funding partner to Hively (via Measure C and diaper co-funding) and a broader umbrella funder across the County.
• Parents Anonymous: National nonprofit operating parent support groups and family strengthening programs. Comparable in family-strengthening and parent education mission to Hively's Classes & Training and Family Resource Center offerings.
• La Clínica de La Raza: Federally qualified health center network providing primary care, mental health, and benefits enrollment across Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Comparable in integrating health, mental health, and benefits navigation for low-income East Bay families.
• YMCA of the East Bay: Multi-service community organization providing child care, mental wellness, and family programming across the East Bay. Overlaps with Hively's bundled family services but operates at a larger, multi-county scale.

Regional players

• Bananas (San Mateo County 4Cs): Alternate branch of the BANANAS child care R&R network serving San Mateo County. Operates the same Child Care Resource & Referral model as Hively's child care programs but in an adjacent county.
• Community Child Care Council (4Cs) of Santa Clara County: County-level child care coordinating council providing subsidized child care, referrals, and provider support. Same Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) model as Hively but serving Santa Clara County instead of Alameda County.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@HivelyAlamedaCounty
• Facebookfacebook.com/HivelyCommunity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/behively
• Instagraminstagram.com/HivelyAlamedaCounty
• Xx.com/BeHively

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

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 Hively