Care Camps Foundation

What Care Camps Foundation does

Care Camps Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Billings, Montana, with a regional subsidiary (Care Camps of Canada) in Barrie, Ontario. Founded in 1984 by Kampgrounds of America (KOA) campground owners, the foundation operates as a single-mission grantmaker that funds medically supervised pediatric oncology camps across the United States and Canada. Its core product is unrestricted grant funding channeled exclusively to camps that are members of the Children's Oncology Camping Association (COCA), which provides quality assurance through its Gold Ribbon Accreditation Program. In 2024 the organization awarded approximately $2M across 125 camps, serving more than 47,000 children with cancer and their family members; in 2025 it supported 16 Canadian camps serving 7,750+ beneficiaries. Care Camps is governed by a volunteer board representing KOA, RVDA, and major RV industry donors, and operates with a lean 7-8 person staff under Executive Director Gwynn B. Sullivan.

The foundation runs a diversified fundraising operation spanning individual donations (one-time and monthly, with suggested tiers from $25 to $2,000), corporate giving programs (percentage of sales, point-of-sale, round-up, employee matching), vehicle and equipment donations auctioned through licensed partners, planned/legacy giving, and product-specific campaigns including the RVDA Compete for Kids dealership competition (launched 2025) and the Glamp for Camps property partnership program (launched 2026). Revenue mechanics are deeply embedded in the outdoor hospitality and RV manufacturing ecosystem, with Diamond-tier corporate donors (Patrick Industries, $250K–$500K), Gold-tier supporters (Forest River, Lippert, Campers Inn RV, $50K+), Silver-tier donors (Thor Industries, $25K+), and 100+ KOA campgrounds contributing across giving levels. The technology stack is commodity nonprofit infrastructure: FastAction/NGPVAN for donation processing, PayPal and CanadaHelps (including crypto) for payments, Zoho Forms for program registration, and Tempest Technologies for web hosting.

The go-to-market model is community- and event-driven rather than digitally acquired. Care Camps deploys downloadable fundraising toolkits, corporate and RV-dealer giving guides, branded Grab-n-Go marketing materials, and recurring events such as KOA Big Weekend to mobilize campgrounds and dealerships as distributed fundraising nodes. Marketing channels include a monthly newsletter (Caring Connections), active social presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and earned media including a Designing Spaces of Hope feature on Lifetime TV. The organization rebranded from KOA Care Camps to Care Camps Foundation in 2024 to mark its 40th anniversary and signal independence from its founding partner, having formally separated from the KOA Owners Association as an independent 501(c)(3) in 2015.

Name

Care Camps Foundation

Legal name

Care Camps Foundation

Website

https://carecamps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Care Camps Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds medically supervised pediatric oncology camps across the United States and Canada, awarding grants to 125+ COCA-member camps serving children with cancer and their families, with revenue generated primarily through corporate, individual, and RV-industry donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Oncology Camp Funding (Nonprofit Charitable Services)

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

Keywords

• Pediatric oncology camps
• Nonprofit grant funding
• Charitable fundraising programs
• Corporate giving campaigns
• Donor engagement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Billings

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters via website donation portal. Monthly giving program available. Donors can contribute specific amounts ($25-$2,000+) or custom amounts.
2. Corporate Giving: Corporate donations, percentage of sales programs, round-up programs at checkout, point-of-sale donations, employee giving matches, and company events. Major corporate donors include Forest River, Patrick Industries, Thor Industries, Lippert, and others.
3. Vehicle/Equipment Donations: Donation program accepting cars, RVs, boats, motorcycles, trailers, farm equipment, and aircraft. Items are sold through auctions and dealers, with proceeds funding the mission.
4. Glamp for Camps: Glamping properties donate portions of bookings or run fundraising campaigns, with donations credited to specific properties.
5. Art Sales: For the Love of Kids and Camping project sells prints, postcards, and playing cards featuring outdoor-themed artwork; 100% of profits go to Care Camps.
6. RV Dealer Campaigns: RV dealerships participate in Compete for Kids fundraising competition during National Camping Month, supported by RV Dealers Association partnership.
7. Planned Giving: Legacy and planned giving through estate plans, including stocks, IRAs, mutual funds, ETFs, and securities donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Care Camps Foundation is a national non-profit organization that funds medically supervised pediatric oncology camps across the United States and Canada. It raises charitable donations from individuals, corporations, RV manufacturers and dealers, KOA campgrounds, glamping properties, and planned giving vehicles, then distributes grant funding exclusively to camps that are members of the Children's Oncology Camping Association (COCA). Its core service is providing unrestricted grant funding to these camps so that children with cancer and their families can attend camp at no cost.

Product overview

Care Camps Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that operates as a single-focus charitable entity (not a software platform) dedicated exclusively to funding medically supervised pediatric oncology camps across the United States and Canada. The organization connects donors with pediatric oncology camps through multiple engagement pathways: direct donation portals for US and Canadian donors (including cryptocurrency options), vehicle and equipment donation programs, and specialized fundraising programs including the Glamp for Camps initiative, Compete for Kids campaign for RV dealerships, and downloadable fundraising toolkits and marketing materials. Additional offerings include commemorative art merchandise, monthly giving programs, legacy/planned giving options, and the We Care Awards recognition program. The core product is the pediatric oncology camp grant program, which distributes funds to COCA-member camps enabling children with cancer and their families to attend at no cost.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pediatric Oncology Camp Funding Core grant program that provides funding to COCA-member pediatric oncology camps across the U.S. and Canada, enabling children with cancer and their families to attend medically supervised camp at no cost.
• Donation Processing (US) Online donation portal for U.S. donors supporting one-time or monthly gifts, with options to cover transaction fees and make honorary or memorial donations.
• Donation Processing (Canada) Dedicated donation portal for Canadian donors including cryptocurrency donation options through the CanadaHelps platform.
• Monthly Giving Program Recurring monthly donation option allowing donors to make ongoing commitments supporting children with cancer at camp.
• Legacy and Planned Giving Estate planning option for donors to include Care Camps Foundation in wills, trusts, and via stocks, IRAs, mutual funds, ETFs, and other securities donations.
• Vehicle Donation Program Program accepting cars, RVs, boats, watercraft, motorcycles, trailers, farm equipment, and aircraft donations with free pickup and tax deduction benefits; items are auctioned or sold through dealers with proceeds funding the mission.
• RVDA Compete for Kids Campaign Month-long fundraising competition for RV dealerships during National Camping Month (June), run in partnership with the RV Dealers Association.
• Glamp for Camps Program inviting glamping properties to participate in fundraising by donating a portion of bookings or running campaigns, with Impact Partner recognition tiers at $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 levels.
• Fundraising Toolkits Step-by-step instructions for campground and business fundraisers including weekly 50/50 raffles, ducky derbies, front desk donation asks, and event materials.
• Corporate Giving Guide Guide outlining corporate partnership options including point-of-sale donations, percentage of sales, round-up programs, employee giving, and company events.
• RV Dealer Giving Guide Partnership guide for RV dealerships to support Care Camps Foundation through social media and fundraising campaigns.
• Campground Giving Guides Fundraising guides for U.S. and Canadian campgrounds with ready-to-use materials and partnership frameworks.
• Grab-n-Go Marketing Materials Ready-to-print editable PDFs including posters, flyers, volunteer sign-up sheets, fundraising thermometers, and QR code donation stickers for campground and business fundraisers.
• For the Love of Kids and Camping Art Commemorative prints, postcards, playing cards, and stickers featuring outdoor-inspired artwork, with 100% of profits supporting camp experiences.
• We Care Awards Annual awards program recognizing individuals and groups who elevate the Care Camps mission, with categories including KOA, Volunteer, Corporate, and the Peter Warrick / Wayne Morris Award.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 47,000 children and family members served annually across 125 camps in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor, core and flagship.

• Forest River Inc. / DynamaxmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026Forest River manufactures RVs and makes donations with every unit sold. Hosted tour of Dynamax facility with KOA and Care Camps leadership. Part of bi-national fundraising ecosystem supporting pediatric oncology camps.
• Unique Camping + MarineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Partnership for ongoing corporate contributions and customer engagement through co-branded materials and donation opportunities. Exploring volunteer opportunities at pediatric oncology camps.
• Glamping Properties (Glamp for Camps)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Glamping properties collect donations from guests through various methods. Properties recognized as Impact Partners at $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 levels.
• Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association (CRVA)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2025Raised over $80,000 through 50th Anniversary RV Giveaway campaign. Coast-to-coast CRVA 50th Anniversary RV Tour attended festivals and RV shows to raise awareness and funds.
• RV Dealers Association (RVDA)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership for Compete for Kids campaign - month-long fundraising competition for RV dealerships during National Camping Month (June). Phil Ingrassia, RVDA President, serves on Care Camps Board.
• BrandStar / Designing SpacesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Produced Designing Spaces of Hope episode featuring Care Camps Foundation on Lifetime TV. BrandStar is a media production company.
• For the Love of Kids and Camping / Joe HeinsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Art project selling prints, postcards, and playing cards featuring outdoor-themed artwork. 100% of profits donated to Care Camps Foundation.
• Children's Oncology Camping Association (COCA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Strategic alliance formed in 2014 where Care Camps Foundation raises funds and COCA provides quality assurance for member camps. Care Camps funds COCA's Gold Ribbon Accreditation Program and annual conference. All supported camps must be COCA members.
• Kampgrounds of America (KOA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1984Founding partner - KOA campground owners began fundraising for pediatric oncology camps in 1984. KOA Inc. and campgrounds raise funds annually through events and the KOA Big Weekend. Toby O'Rourke serves as KOA CEO and supporter. Over 100 KOA campgrounds listed as donors across various giving levels.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SeriousFun Children's Network: Founded by Paul Newman, SeriousFun is a global network of medically supervised camps for children with serious illnesses. It is the closest direct peer to Care Camps, also funding and supporting free medically supervised camp experiences for children with serious medical conditions.
• Sunshine Kids Foundation: Sunshine Kids provides free group activities, events, and camp-style programs for children with cancer. It directly overlaps with Care Camps' mission of serving pediatric oncology patients through recreational and camp experiences.
• Children's Oncology Camping Association (COCA): COCA is the international association of pediatric oncology camps and Care Camps' primary strategic partner. While COCA focuses on camp quality assurance and accreditation, both organizations serve the same camp network and camper population.

Broad incumbents

• Make-A-Wish Foundation: Make-A-Wish is a much larger national nonprofit granting wishes to children with critical illnesses, including cancer. It shares Care Camps' mission of delivering experiences to seriously ill children but operates at far greater scale and brand recognition.
• St. Baldrick's Foundation: St. Baldrick's is a major pediatric cancer nonprofit funding research and supporting patients/families. While primarily research-focused, it overlaps with Care Camps in the pediatric oncology donor universe.
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation is a leading childhood cancer nonprofit funding research and family support programs. It competes with Care Camps for the same pediatric cancer donor audience at a larger scale.
• National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation funds pediatric cancer research and treatment. It is comparable to Care Camps in targeting pediatric cancer giving dollars but with a research rather than camp experience focus.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Ronald McDonald House Charities supports families of seriously ill children through housing and services. It serves the same pediatric illness family demographic as Care Camps but with a different service model (housing vs. camp experiences).
• CureSearch for Children's Cancer: CureSearch funds pediatric cancer research and treatment innovations. Like other cancer-focused nonprofits, it draws from the same donor pool as Care Camps despite a research-driven programmatic focus.

Others

• KOA (Kampgrounds of America): KOA is Care Camps' founding partner and primary fundraising ecosystem. While not a peer in mission, KOA's corporate, owner, and guest networks form the backbone of Care Camps' donor acquisition and brand distribution strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/care_camps
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CareCamps
• Facebookfacebook.com/CareCampsFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carecamps
• Instagraminstagram.com/carecamps

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Care Camps Foundation