Beads of Courage

What Beads of Courage does

Beads of Courage, Inc. is a Tucson, Arizona-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity (EIN 20-2721500), founded in 2005 by pediatric oncology nurse Jean Gribbon after piloting the program at Phoenix Children's Hospital in 2003. The organization delivers a portfolio of arts-in-medicine, resilience-based interventions in which children and teens coping with serious illness receive colorful, symbolic beads representing specific treatment milestones, allowing them to record, tell, and own their personal stories of courage. The core Flagship Program is augmented by sibling support programs, the DREAM reflection activity program, the Bead Strong mindfulness program, the Beads at Home program for families outside partner hospitals, the Carry a Bead community engagement program, AYA (Adolescent and Young Adult) programs including Power Pendant glass wearables, and grief and hospice offerings (Life in Full Circle, Compassion & Courage).

The organization serves patients through a global network of more than 400 hospital partnerships spanning the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, supplemented by an e-commerce store and event-based fundraising. To date, Beads of Courage reports serving over 60,000 children and teens and distributing more than 14 million beads annually. Revenue is generated from a mix of individual donations, corporate sponsorships (notably Northwestern Mutual since 2017 and the Scarcelli Family Foundation since 2019), recurring hospital program membership fees, branded product sales, and fundraising events. Operations are led by CEO and Chief Program Officer Beth Moneck and founder/Chief Mission Officer Jean Gribbon, and in 2025 the organization consolidated operations into a 4,200-square-foot headquarters in Tucson. The organization has earned Candid Platinum Transparency status and a Three-Star Charity Navigator rating.

Name

Beads of Courage

Legal name

Beads of Courage, Inc.

Website

https://beadsofcourage.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Beads of Courage is a Tucson-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers arts-in-medicine, bead-based resilience programs to children and teens coping with serious illness through 400+ hospital partners across 7 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric psychosocial support / Arts-in-medicine programs

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Jewelry, Silverware & Plated Ware (3910)

akta.pro primary industry

Trauma-Informed & Resilience-Building Programs (Early Childhood) (EDACAOAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Arts-in-medicine programs
• Pediatric psychosocial support
• Resilience-based interventions
• Hospital program memberships
• Community bead programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue stream from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events such as Beads Bands and Beer Festival and Cocktails for Courage.
2. Product Sales: Direct sales through online store including Carry a Bead program (approximately $15-20) and branded merchandise.
3. Program Fees: Fees charged to hospital systems for participation in the Beads of Courage program, including membership and implementation support.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from companies like Northwestern Mutual (since 2017), Scarcelli Family Foundation, and others supporting specific programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Beads of Courage delivers resilience-based arts-in-medicine programs in which children and teens coping with cancer and other serious illnesses receive handcrafted beads as tangible symbols marking each treatment milestone. The Flagship Program is implemented through partnerships with 400+ hospital systems worldwide, supplemented by Sibling, Beads at Home, Bead Strong, DREAM, Carry a Bead, AYA, and grief support programs. Revenue is generated through hospital program memberships, donations, corporate sponsorships, and direct merchandise sales.

Product overview

Beads of Courage is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of arts-in-medicine programs centered around beads as symbols of courage for children and teens coping with serious illness. The core offering is the Flagship Program, where children receive colorful beads marking treatment milestones. This is supplemented by specialized programs including DREAM (art and reflection activities), Sibling Programs (support for brothers and sisters), Bead Strong (mindfulness through beads), Carry A Bead (community engagement), and AYA Support for adolescents and young adults. The Beads at Home Program extends access to families without hospital partnerships. Additional offerings include grief support through the Life in Full Circle program and a retail store selling beads, kits, and merchandise. The organization serves over 400 hospital partners worldwide and has helped over 60,000 children since 2005.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flagship Program A resilience-based arts-in-medicine intervention that supports children and teens coping with serious illness. Children receive colorful, handcrafted beads as symbols of courage for milestones during medical treatment, allowing them to record, tell, and own their stories of courage. Delivered through 400+ member hospitals worldwide.
• DREAM Program An art and reflection activity program featuring DREAM Activity cards with beads paired with intention cards, designed to encourage self-reflection, creativity, and connection. Includes animated virtual DREAM sessions with Courage Tiger. Sold as a kit for direct participants.
• Sibling Programs Programs designed to recognize and support siblings of children coping with serious illness, helping them record, tell, and own their own stories of courage. Includes Sibling Kits with themed bead activities and encouragement activities. Provided at no cost through Scarcelli Family Foundation funding.
• Beads at Home Program A program for children and families who do not have access to the Flagship Program at their hospital. Allows participants to receive beads by mail to honor their treatment journey at home.
• Bead Strong Program A mindfulness program using mantras, art, breathwork, and beads to help participants pause, breathe, and learn mindfulness as an important life skill. Includes 12 different activity bead cards with mantras and inspiring quotes.
• Carry A Bead Program A community engagement program where participants receive a kit with matching beads, carry one during activities, and return it with a message of encouragement for children in the program. Participants keep one bead as a reminder of their act of compassion. Priced at approximately $15-20 per kit.
• AYA (Adolescents and Young Adults) Support Program Support programs specifically designed for adolescents and young adults with cancer, including Power Pendants (handmade borosilicate glass wearable art pieces) and access to the Beads at Home program.
• Life in Full Circle Grief Program A grief support program featuring Reflection Beads and Cards designed to provide comfort, healing, and creativity for those navigating grief, including a boxed experience with reflective art activities and symbolic storytelling.
• Compassion & Courage Program A program supporting people in hospice care and honoring the legacy of courage for a loved one during grief, operated under the Center for Arts in Nursing (dba).
• Beads of Courage Online Store Online store offering beads, jewelry, gifts, Sibling Kits, Bead Strong activities, DREAM activities, Carry A Bead kits, Summer Challenge registrations, and grief support kits that help support and celebrate the courage of children facing serious illnesses.
• Dragonfly Trade Bead The National Trade Bead relaunching the Trade Bead Exchange program — a symbol of shared story of courage, honor, and hope, designed by Hall of Fame Artist Donna Conklin and sponsored by Noah's Legacy Foundation. Distributed through the Beads of Courage Trade Bead Exchange program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60,000 children and teens served with resilience-based interventions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and major.

• Palermo Heart-to-Heart FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Cocktails for Courage Pittsburgh fundraising event, supporting awareness and fundraising efforts.
• Heritage DistillingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial cocktail partner providing support for fundraising events and programs.
• Dragoon BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost partner for Beads Bands and Beer Festival, combining craft beer event with fundraising for Beads of Courage programs.
• Beads of Courage CanadaflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive international affiliate distributing Beads of Courage programs throughout Canada, implementing hospital partnerships and program support.
• Beads of Courage UKflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive international affiliate distributing Beads of Courage programs throughout the United Kingdom.
• Camp Quality AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian partner organization supporting children with cancer, collaborating on program delivery.
• Child Cancer Foundation NZmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand-based foundation partnering to deliver Beads of Courage programs to children with cancer.
• Childhood Cancer IrelandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrish partner organization supporting children and families affected by childhood cancer through Beads of Courage programs.
• Shine On! Kids JapanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese partner organization bringing Beads of Courage programs to children and families in Japan.
• Jesse James BeadsminorOthersBead supplier providing in-kind donations for Beads of Courage programs and bead ceremonies.
• Dakota StonesminorOthersBead supplier providing in-kind donations of specialty beads for program collections.
• Ronald McDonald HousesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities to support families of children undergoing medical treatment, providing Beads of Courage programs at RMH locations.
• 300+ Hospital SystemsflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 400 hospital systems globally serve as distribution channels, implementing Beads of Courage programs directly with pediatric patients and their families.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Make-A-Wish Foundation: Largest US nonprofit granting wishes to children with critical illnesses; directly comparable in mission to bring psychosocial relief to seriously ill children, and a potential hospital-channel partner or competitor for donor mindshare.
• Starlight Children's Foundation: Delivers programs (including hospital-based distraction and psychosocial support) for seriously ill children; comparable in deploying pediatric-focused interventions through hospital partnerships.
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: Pediatric cancer nonprofit funding research and family support; comparable in audience (children with cancer) and reliance on donations, sponsorships, and community fundraising.
• National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: Pediatric cancer nonprofit combining research funding with family support; comparable in target population and nonprofit funding model.
• CureSearch for Children's Cancer: Children's cancer nonprofit funding research and supporting families; directly comparable in mission and hospital-channel orientation.

Broad incumbents

• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Incumbent nonprofit supporting families of hospitalized children; already a listed Beads of Courage partner and broader in scope (lodging, family services), competing for hospital relationships and corporate sponsorships.
• Children's Miracle Network Hospitals: Large-scale hospital fundraising nonprofit with deep corporate sponsorship infrastructure (Panda Express, Walmart, etc.); broader in scope but competes for the same hospital and sponsor pipeline.
• Muscular Dystrophy Association: Established nonprofit serving patients (including children) with serious illnesses and disabilities; comparable in clinical-community model and event-driven fundraising (e.g., MDA Shamrocks).

Emerging players

• Pablove Foundation: Pediatric cancer nonprofit combining research grants with arts-in-medicine programming; closest functional analog to Beads of Courage's arts-in-medicine intervention approach.
• Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research: Childhood cancer nonprofit funding research and family programs; comparable in pediatric cancer focus, donor base, and event-driven community fundraising.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/beadsofcourage
• Facebookfacebook.com/beadsofcourage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/beadsofcourage

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Beads of Courage