Cornerstone of Hope

What Cornerstone of Hope does

Cornerstone of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit bereavement support center founded in 2003 by Mark and Christi Tripodi in Independence, Ohio, following the death of their son Bobby in 2000. The organization delivers grief counseling (individual, couples, and family), closed peer support groups segmented by loss type (child loss, suicide loss, homicide loss, substance-related loss, perinatal loss, spousal loss, etc.), four bereavement camp programs for children and teens (Camp Cornerstone, Camp Memory, Camp Cornerstone for Teens, and Camp Lighthouse), K-12 in-school grief support, community crisis response, spiritual care, memorial events (Butterfly Release, Christmas Candle Lighting, Wave of Light), and CEU-eligible professional training anchored by an annual National Symposium on Traumatic Loss & Grief Support. Service delivery is provided by licensed clinicians and supervised Master's-level interns across three Ohio locations (Cleveland/Independence, Columbus/Westerville, Lima) plus statewide telehealth.

The underlying technology stack is composed of commodity SaaS rather than proprietary systems: HIPAA-compliant browser-based video conferencing for telehealth (no app download required), CampDoc by DocNetwork for camp registration and health profiles, the Advanced MD patient portal for Cleveland/Columbus intake, JotForm for general client interest forms, and Constant Contact for the Hope's Messenger newsletter. The Cleveland facility features themed rooms and dedicated age-group spaces for creative therapies.

The business model is hybrid nonprofit: charitable donations (annual fund, legacy giving, Hope Hero peer-to-peer fundraising, corporate gifts) constitute the primary revenue stream and are tax-deductible; service-related fees represent a secondary stream — counseling (rates vary by insurance vs. self-pay in Cleveland/Columbus; $75/hour flat in Lima), one-time $75 support group intake fees (with grant-funded group exemptions), $50 per-camper camp fees with financial assistance, $250 retreats with partial scholarships, CEU training pre-paid by credit card, and gift shop sales of memorial items and merchandise at the Cleveland Mel Kurtz Gift Shop. The organization accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and is in-network with Aetna, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medical Mutual, United Health Care, Caresource, and Cigna; uninsured or out-of-network clients qualify for reduced rates under the Gift of Hope program. Marketing is community-led and event-driven: word-of-mouth referrals, Stories of Hope testimonials, school partnerships, peer-to-peer fundraising, an annual report, and a calendar of community events drive both client acquisition and donor development.

Name

Cornerstone of Hope

Legal name

Cornerstone of Hope, Inc.

Website

https://cornerstoneofhope.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cornerstone of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit bereavement support center operating three Ohio locations and statewide telehealth, delivering individual and group grief counseling, support groups, bereavement camps for children and teens, school programs, spiritual care, memorial events, and CEU training to grieving individuals, families, schools, and community professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bereavement Counseling and Mental Health Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Bereavement, Grief & Family Support Services (Hospice-Linked) (HLAFAEAO), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)

Keywords

• Grief counseling services
• Bereavement support
• Support groups
• Mental health counseling
• Nonprofit counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Independence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Cornerstone of Hope relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and community members. The annual fund, legacy giving, peer-to-peer fundraising (Hope Hero program), and general donations are primary revenue sources. The organization states that donations are crucial to continuing counseling, support, and memorial programs.
2. Counseling Session Fees: Fees for individual, couples, and family grief counseling sessions. Rates vary by location, age, number of participants, and payment method (insurance vs self-pay). Lima office charges $75/hour for all clients. Fees are reduced through the 'Gift of Hope' program for uninsured or out-of-network clients based on financial need.
3. Gift Shop Sales: The Mel Kurtz Gift Shop at the Cleveland location sells memorial candles ($20), wind chimes ($50-$135), Cornerstone of Hope merchandise (apparel, mugs, water bottles, bags), grief support books, cards, and keepsakes. All proceeds directly benefit bereavement support programs.
4. Support Group Intake Fees: One-time $75 intake fee for joining a support group. Grant-funded support groups are exempt from the intake fee.
5. Camp Registration Fees: Each of the four bereavement camps charges a $50 registration fee per camper. Financial assistance is available and requested during the application process.
6. Continuing Education and Training: Professional educational courses and CEU programs for community professionals (social workers, counselors, nurses, funeral directors, school staff, church leaders). Pre-payment via credit card required. Approved by the Counselor and Social Worker Board (provider #RCS070701).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Cornerstone of Hope is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) bereavement support center that provides grief counseling, peer support groups, bereavement camps, and spiritual care for grieving children, teens, adults, and families. The organization operates three Ohio locations (Cleveland/Independence, Columbus/Westerville, and Lima) and also delivers school-based grief programs, community crisis response, telehealth counseling, and continuing education for community professionals.

Product overview

Cornerstone of Hope is a nonprofit comprehensive bereavement support center offering a coordinated portfolio of grief counseling and support services across Ohio. The organization operates as a unified service delivery model combining individual and group counseling, specialty support groups, grief camps for children and teens, school-based programs, community response services, spiritual care, memorial events, and professional training. Core services include grief counseling (individual, couples, family), grief support groups organized by loss type, four grief camp programs (Camp Cornerstone, Camp Memory, Camp Cornerstone for Teens, Camp Lighthouse), school programs, community response, spiritual care, memorial events, and continuing education. The organization also operates a gift shop and offers telehealth services alongside its physical locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grief Counseling Individual, couples, and family grief counseling services for children, teens, and adults provided by licensed clinicians in trauma-informed settings at three Ohio locations and via telehealth.
• Grief Support Groups Structured grief support groups offered quarterly, organized by loss type (adult grief, child loss, children's grief, spouse loss, suicide loss, substance-related loss, sibling loss, parent loss, teen grief, young adult grief), led by professional facilitators over 8-10 weeks.
• Camp Cornerstone Day grief camp for children ages 6-12 featuring age-appropriate grief activities, field trips, and peer support, held in Independence, Ohio.
• Camp Memory Day grief camp for children ages 6-12 hosted at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Westerville, Ohio, featuring age-appropriate grief activities and peer support.
• Camp Cornerstone for Teens Day grief camp for adolescents ages 13-17 featuring grief activities, field trips, and peer support in a safe environment.
• Camp Lighthouse Overnight weekend bereavement camp for children and teens ages 8-17 at Hiram House Camp in Moreland Hills, Ohio, featuring grief activities and nature experiences.
• School Programs In-school grief support services for students grades K-12 including grief support groups, staff training, crisis support, and parent education programs delivered at partner schools.
• Community Response Grief support and education services for businesses and organizations including grief resources, on-site education, and consultation following workplace or community loss.
• Specialty Groups Specialized ongoing support groups including Child Loss, Survivors of Suicide Loss, Homicide Loss, Substance-Related Loss, Peer Connections for Widows/Widowers, Men Grieve Too, Moms Supporting Moms After Suicide Loss, and other loss-specific groups.
• Spiritual Care Spiritual grief accompaniment, Bible studies, prayer meetings, book clubs, and spiritually-led retreats for those seeking deeper peace and spiritual growth during bereavement.
• Memorial Events Annual memorial services including Mother's Day Tea, Annual Memorial Butterfly Release, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Wave of Light Ceremony, and Christmas Candle Lighting and Remembrance Ceremony.
• Grieve With Hope Retreat Weekend spiritual retreat for grievers seeking comfort and renewal, featuring inspirational speakers, music ministry, resources, and fellowship, with locations in Ohio and Colorado.
• Continuing Education and Training Professional educational courses on grief and loss, CEU training, supervision, and ethics for community professionals including social workers, counselors, nurses, funeral directors, school staff, and church leaders.
• Telehealth Counseling Virtual counseling services via HIPAA-compliant browser-based video or telephone, offering remote grief and mental health support for individuals ages 5 and up within the State of Ohio.
• Graduate Internship Program Clinical internship program for graduate students pursuing Master's in Social Work or Mental Health Counseling, offering supervised caseloads and support group facilitation.
• Hope Missionary Program Paid summer program for college students to serve at grief camps, work with licensed counselors, and grow spiritually while supporting grieving children, teens, and families.
• Mel Kurtz Gift Shop On-site gift shop at the Cleveland location offering memorial candles, wind chimes, grief support books, cards, and Cornerstone of Hope merchandise, with all proceeds supporting bereavement programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 65,000 grieving children, teens, adults, and families served since 2003 through counseling, support groups, memorials, camps, educational programs, and community outreach.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered notable and core.

• Hiram House CampnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerHiram House Camp in Moreland Hills, Ohio serves as the venue for Camp Lighthouse, Cornerstone of Hope's overnight bereavement camp for children and teens ages 8-17. The partnership provides cabin lodging, nature activities, sports facilities, and outdoor programming space that complements Cornerstone's grief-specific programming.
• St. Paul the Apostle ChurchnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Paul the Apostle Church in Westerville, Ohio (Columbus area) serves as the host venue for Camp Memory, Cornerstone of Hope's day camp for children ages 6-12. The church provides the physical space for the camp's grief activities, field trips, and programming.
• DocNetwork (CampDoc)coreTechnology or IntegrationCornerstone of Hope uses CampDoc, an online platform by DocNetwork, for all camp registrations, health profiles, and camper communications. This platform is central to the organization's camp operations, managing applications, health forms, and registration for Camp Cornerstone, Camp Memory, Camp Cornerstone for Teens, and Camp Lighthouse.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bo's Place: Bo's Place in Houston, Texas provides peer-based grief support groups for adults, children, and families, plus community education. Its mission, peer-group model, and education focus closely parallel Cornerstone of Hope's core service delivery.
• The Dougy Center: The Dougy Center in Portland, Oregon is a national pioneer in grief support for children, teens, and families, operating peer support groups, training programs, and camps. It is one of the most direct comparables to Cornerstone of Hope in mission, multi-format model, and national influence in the grief support field.
• Camp Erin: Camp Erin, supported by the Eluna Network, is a national network of bereavement camps for children and teens who have experienced the death of someone close. It is directly comparable to Cornerstone of Hope's youth grief-camp offerings and training infrastructure.
• Children's Bereavement Center: The Children's Bereavement Center in South Florida provides peer support groups, counseling, and community programs for grieving children, teens, and families. It is comparable to Cornerstone of Hope's mission and youth-and-family focused peer support model.
• Comfort Zone Camp: Comfort Zone Camp runs bereavement camps for children and teens who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or caregiver, with a national footprint. It is directly comparable to Cornerstone of Hope's four bereavement camp programs (Camp Cornerstone, Camp Memory, Camp Lighthouse, Camp Cornerstone for Teens).
• Rainbows for All Children: Rainbows for All Children provides peer-support programs for children, adolescents, and adults grieving a loss, used in schools, agencies, and communities. It is comparable to Cornerstone of Hope's school-based grief support groups and youth peer-support model.
• Experience Camps: Experience Camps provides free, week-long summer camps for grieving children and teens, plus year-round programs. It is comparable to Cornerstone of Hope's camp portfolio as a specialized grief-camp operator serving youth bereavement.
• Kara: Kara in Palo Alto, California provides grief support groups, counseling, and community education for bereaved children, teens, adults, and families. It mirrors Cornerstone of Hope's combination of counseling, peer groups, and education across age groups.

Broad incumbents

• Hospice of the Western Reserve: Hospice of the Western Reserve is a large Northeast Ohio hospice provider offering bereavement counseling, support groups, and community grief programs. It operates in Cornerstone of Hope's home geography and overlaps on grief services, but as part of a broader hospice continuum rather than a dedicated bereavement center.

Others

• National Alliance for Grieving Children: The National Alliance for Grieving Children is a membership and advocacy organization for professionals serving bereaved youth, offering resources, training, and a national conference. It is comparable as an ecosystem enabler that influences standards and referral patterns for organizations like Cornerstone of Hope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ClevelandCOH
• Facebookfacebook.com/cornerstoneofhope
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cornerstone-of-hope

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Cornerstone of Hope