Tap Cancer Out

What Tap Cancer Out does

Tap Cancer Out, legally Tap Cancer Out Inc, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by Executive Director Jon Thomas and based in Shelton, Connecticut. The organization operates a community-driven, event-centric model centered on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments hosted across multiple U.S. cities, supplemented by cause-based merchandise sales and a tax-deductible donation platform. Its primary constituents are BJJ practitioners who compete in tournaments while raising funds for cancer research, education, and family support services, alongside cause-driven consumers who purchase branded merchandise. Since 2012, the organization has raised and donated $3.5M to more than 20 cancer-fighting beneficiary organizations, including Alex's Lemonade Foundation, ABTA, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and First Descents.

The organization's core products are its regional BJJ tournament events and an annual Global Grappling Day initiative, paired with a Shopify-powered e-commerce store selling apparel and accessories. Merchandise is developed in collaboration with BJJ ecosystem partners including Meerkatsu (original artwork), Scramble, Half Sumo, and Inverted Gear (kids' Gi line). Product pricing ranges from $10 Gi patches to $109.99 backpacks, with bundle offerings such as the Roly the Red Panda collection. Underlying technology is intentionally minimal: standard SaaS infrastructure including Shopify, Klaviyo email, WePay/PayPal/Square payment processors, Google Analytics, and Google Ads/Facebook/Reddit remarketing. The company has no proprietary technology, no app, and no AI capabilities.

Revenue mechanics come from three streams: tournament registration fees, merchandise sales, and tax-deductible donations. Pricing is pay-as-you-go with no recurring contracts. Distribution combines a U.S.-focused tournament registration platform (wecan.tapcancerout.org) with a globally-shipping Shopify storefront supporting 7+ currencies. The GTM motion is event-driven and community-led, amplified through owned social channels (Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube), a podcast, email, and SMS. The organization employs 1-10 people, indicating a lean operational structure sustained by community volunteers and a board of directors.

Name

Tap Cancer Out

Legal name

Tap Cancer Out Inc

Website

https://tapcancerout.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tap Cancer Out is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments and sells cause-based merchandise to raise funds for cancer-fighting organizations, serving the U.S. grappling community and distributing proceeds to 20+ verified cancer beneficiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Fundraising Nonprofit

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK), Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs) (MPAKALAJ)

Keywords

• Cancer fundraising nonprofit
• BJJ tournament events
• Cause-based merchandise
• Grappling community fundraising
• Charitable event management

Headquarters

HQ city

Shelton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Event Registration Fees: Revenue generated from participants registering for BJJ tournaments hosted across various U.S. cities.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of cause-based clothing and accessories including t-shirts, sweatshirts, Gis, rashguards, backpacks, patches, and branded merchandise through their Shopify e-commerce store. Product line includes collaboration items with partners like Meerkatsu and Inverted Gear.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible contributions from supporters who wish to support cancer-fighting organizations through the organization's fundraising platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tap Cancer Out is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament events across multiple U.S. cities to raise awareness and funds for cancer-fighting organizations. The organization also operates a Shopify-powered e-commerce merchandise store selling cause-based apparel, Gis, rashguards, backpacks, patches, and mascot plush toys, with proceeds supporting cancer research, education, and patient/family services. Since 2012, the organization has raised and donated $3,500,000 to more than 20 beneficiary organizations.

Product overview

Tap Cancer Out is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a BJJ-focused fundraising platform. The core offering consists of organized Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament events held across multiple U.S. cities, supplemented by an e-commerce merchandise store selling branded apparel and accessories. The product portfolio includes tournament participation, official merchandise (sweatshirts, rashguards, backpacks, t-shirts), Gi patches and accessories, and the Roly the Red Panda mascot merchandise line. Collaboration products include partnerships with Meerkatsu (artwork), Scramble, Half Sumo, and Inverted Gear. Since 2012, the organization has raised and donated $3,500,000 to 20+ cancer-fighting beneficiary organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BJJ Tournament Events Organized Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament events held across multiple U.S. cities providing a platform for grapplers of all skill levels to compete while raising awareness and funds for cancer-fighting organizations.
• Global Grappling Day Annual global event mobilizing the grappling community worldwide to raise awareness and funds for cancer-fighting organizations.
• TCO Meerkatsu 'Omoplata' Sweatshirt Heavyweight oversized sweatshirt featuring original Meerkatsu artwork in collaboration with Scramble, made from premium heavyweight cotton blend, with proceeds supporting cancer-fighting organizations.
• Half Sumo 'Fight Back' Pearl Weave Backpack Premium pearl weave backpack in collaboration with Half Sumo, designed for the grappling community with cause-based branding.
• Half Sumo 'Fight Back' Rashguard Rashguard in collaboration with Half Sumo, part of the 'Fight Back' collection of grappling gear.
• Roly the Red Panda Plush Toy 9-inch mascot plush toy representing Roly the Red Panda, the organization's branded mascot, available for purchase to support the cancer-fighting mission.
• 6-inch Circular FIST Gi Patches Circular fist patches for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gis, available in Black with Red Fist and Red with Black Fist colorways.
• 6-inch Circular Logo Patches Circular logo patches for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gis, available in Light Grey, Dark Grey, and Black & White colorways.
• 9-inch x 3-inch Rectangular Logo Patches Horizontal rectangular logo patches for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gis, available in Light Grey, Dark Grey, and Black & White colorways.
• Roly Collection Bundle Bundle featuring Roly the Red Panda merchandise including stickers, rashguard, and plush toy, offered at a savings versus individual item pricing.
• KIDS TCO x Inverted Gear Lightweight 'CUB' Gi Kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gi collaboration with Inverted Gear, lightweight 'CUB' design available in Black and White, with multiple size options (M00-M3).
• Logo T-Shirt Basic logo t-shirt featuring the Tap Cancer Out branding, sold to support the cancer-fighting mission.
• Tax-Deductible Donations Tax-deductible donation program accepting contributions from supporters to fund cancer research, education, and patient/family services through verified cancer-fighting organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• $3,500,000 raised and donated to 20+ cancer-fighting organizations since 2012

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MeerkatsucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeerkatsu is an artist who creates original artwork for Tap Cancer Out merchandise. The collaboration produces distinctive jiu-jitsu-themed designs, including the popular 'Omoplata' sweatshirt featuring a Japanese princess submitting an Oni demon—a powerful jiu-jitsu metaphor for the fight against cancer. The artwork collaboration is central to the organization's brand identity.
• ScramblecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScramble is a collaboration partner for merchandise designs, working alongside Meerkatsu on Tap Cancer Out branded products. The partnership produces high-quality, cause-based clothing featuring original artwork.
• Inverted GearcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInverted Gear is a BJJ equipment manufacturer collaborating with Tap Cancer Out on kids' Gis. The 'CUB' line of lightweight kids' Gis features Tap Cancer Out branding and supports the cancer-fighting mission. Available in multiple sizes and colors for children.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• St. Baldrick's Foundation: Event-driven pediatric cancer nonprofit that raises funds through community-organized head-shaving events. Shares Tap Cancer Out's model of converting grassroots participation into donations to research beneficiaries.
• The V Foundation for Cancer Research: Sports-tied cancer research nonprofit founded in memory of Jim Valvano. Directly comparable in mission overlap (cancer research funding) and in leveraging a sports-community brand to drive donations.
• Pan-Massachusetts Challenge: Annual cycling event raising funds for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Highly comparable event-driven, sport-participant-funded cancer nonprofit model with established beneficiary distribution discipline.
• Project Purple: Cause-based nonprofit funding pancreatic cancer research through running, cycling, and other athletic event participation. Mirrors Tap Cancer Out's 'compete-to-fundraise' community model in a different sport vertical.
• Athletes for Hope: Nonprofit that mobilizes professional and amateur athletes to support charitable causes. Closely parallels Tap Cancer Out's model of channeling athletic communities toward philanthropy and cause-driven fundraising.

Broad incumbents

• Susan G. Komen: Breast cancer-focused nonprofit with national event-driven fundraising (Race for the Cure). Direct competitor for cancer-cause donations but with much greater scale and brand recognition.
• American Cancer Society: Largest US cancer nonprofit, funding research, patient services, and advocacy. Competes for the same donor dollar pool but at vastly larger scale and brand recognition.
• Livestrong Foundation: Large, established cancer-focused nonprofit with broader scope (patient support, advocacy, survivorship). Operates at materially greater scale than Tap Cancer Out but shares the cancer-fundraising mission.

Others

• Team Rubicon: Veteran-led disaster response nonprofit combining community identity with operational service delivery. Comparable in combining niche-community mobilization with measurable programmatic outputs.
• Wounded Warrior Project: Large nonprofit built around a defined community (wounded veterans). Not a cancer nonprofit but shares the model of mobilizing a tight-knit identity community to drive donations and programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tapcancerout
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/tapcancerouttv
• Facebookfacebook.com/tapcancerout
• Instagraminstagram.com/tapcancerout
• TikToktiktok.com/@tapcancerout
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tap-cancer-out

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Tap Cancer Out