Centering Grief Resources
Centering Grief Resources is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1977 that publishes and sells grief support books, journals, and care packages to bereaved individuals and professional caregivers across all loss types via a direct-to-consumer BigCommerce storefront.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersOmaha, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Centering Grief Resources does
Centering Grief Resources is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1977 by Joy and Dr. Marvin Johnson in Omaha, Nebraska, that publishes and sells grief support books, workbooks, journals, care packages, sympathy cards, and memorial items. The organization serves bereaved individuals across all age groups (children, teens, adults, seniors) and loss types — including suicide, homicide, drug overdose, perinatal loss, military/TAPS loss, and general bereavement — alongside professional educators, counselors, and healthcare providers who prescribe its materials. Its core technology is a BigCommerce-powered direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at centering.org with Constant Contact email marketing, no public-facing API, and no AI or machine-learning capabilities.
The organization operates four revenue streams: (1) one-time product sales across 373+ SKUs priced between $2 and $85+ with bulk-order discounts (10% off at 50-99 items, 15% off at 100+); (2) Grief Digest digital magazine subscriptions/access; (3) charitable donations to the 501(c)(3); and (4) the Barney's Book Box fundraising/reseller program through which partner nonprofits resell grief resources. Geographic reach is currently the United States and Canada, with stated intent to expand internationally. Distribution is exclusively through owned e-commerce plus the Barney's Book Box partner channel; there are no third-party retailer, wholesale, or marketplace partnerships disclosed.
Operationally, the company is a sub-10-employee nonprofit with continuous catalog refresh (revised editions released in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2026) and a long-tenured content library accumulated over nearly five decades. Brand reputation is anchored in legacy (1977 founding) and a Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Award Honorable Mention for 'The Forgotten Mourners.' The organization is independently operated with no parent company, no institutional investors, and no disclosed funding rounds; its growth is funded by product sales, donations, and partner fundraising.
Centering Grief Resources firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Centering Grief Resources
- Legal name
- Centering Grief Resources
- Website
- https://centering.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Centering Grief Resources is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1977 that publishes and sells grief support books, journals, and care packages to bereaved individuals and professional caregivers across all loss types via a direct-to-consumer BigCommerce storefront.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Centering Grief Resources industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bereavement and Grief Support Publishing
- NAICS
- Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)
- SIC
- Blankbooks, Looseleaf Binders & Bookbindg & Relatd Work (2780), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Humor, Gift & Specialty Format Books (Journals, Coloring, etc.) (MPAJAAAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK), Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL)
Keywords
Where Centering Grief Resources is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Omaha
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Centering Grief Resources business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales: One-time purchase revenue from selling grief support books, educational materials, care packages, memorial items, and sympathy cards through e-commerce platform. 373 products across multiple categories including books, handbooks, workbooks, journals, ornaments, and gift items.
- Digital Magazine Subscriptions: Grief Digest digital magazine available as past issues. Online platform where people share stories and insights about grief and loss.
- Donations: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization accepting donations. 100% of donations go toward providing grief resources to those affected by tragedy.
- Barney's Book Box Fundraising: Donation program allowing other non-profits and caring organizations to raise money for grief resources. 100% of donations go directly to the organization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual grief support books |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Care packages with bundled products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bag of Books for Bereaved Parents |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Family Journals bundle |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sympathy cards bulk packs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Memorial/marketplace items |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Centering Grief Resources product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Centering Grief Resources is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that publishes and sells grief support books, workbooks, journals, care packages, sympathy cards, and memorial items through its BigCommerce e-commerce storefront. The catalog spans specialized categories covering all types of loss (adult general grief, children and teens, bereaved parents, prenatal/infant loss, suicide/homicide/trauma, military grief, and professional resources) and includes digital Grief Digest magazine content. The organization accepts donations and operates the Barney's Book Box fundraising program to distribute resources through partner non-profits.
Product overview
Centering Grief Resources is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1977 that operates an e-commerce platform offering grief support resources and materials. The product portfolio consists primarily of published books, workbooks, and journals covering various types of grief and loss, organized into distinct product categories: core grief resource books (Adult and General, Children & Teens, For Bereaved Parents, Prenatal and Infant Loss, Suicide/Homicide/Trauma, Military Grief/TAPS, For The Professional, Spanish Resources); pre-assembled Care Packages for specific grief situations; Grief Digest Magazine (digital); Sympathy Cards; Marketplace items (memorial tokens, ornaments, weighted pillows, bracelets); Barney's Book Box fundraiser program; Gift Certificates; and Special Sale items. The company sells 373+ products total across these categories. The platform is powered by BigCommerce with email marketing via Constant Contact.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Grief Digest: An online platform where people can share their stories and insights about grief and loss
Products and services
- Adult and General Grief Resources
Companies that use Centering Grief Resources
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
Centering Grief Resources technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Centering Grief Resources partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Centering Grief Resources competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Open to Hope Foundation: Open to Hope is an online media platform offering articles, podcasts, and community resources for people coping with loss. It is a digital-first competitor that addresses the same bereaved audience as Centering's Grief Digest platform.
- What's Your Grief: What's Your Grief is a digital grief education platform offering articles, e-books, and online courses for the bereaved and the professionals who serve them. It competes with Centering on educational grief content and is digital-native rather than print-based.
Direct peers
- Bereaved Parents of the USA: Bereaved Parents of the USA is a national nonprofit offering support and resources to parents who have lost children. It serves the same bereaved parent audience as Centering's largest product line.
- Judi's House: Judi's House is a nonprofit providing grief support services and resources specifically for children and families coping with the death of a parent or sibling. It directly overlaps with Centering's Children & Teens and bereaved family product categories.
- Hospice Foundation of America: Hospice Foundation of America provides bereavement programs, publications, and teleconference education for both consumers and professionals coping with grief and loss. It competes in the same educational grief-publishing space and overlaps on professional resources for healthcare workers.
- Grief Recovery Institute: Grief Recovery Institute produces books, training programs, and a structured grief recovery method used by both consumers and certified practitioners. It directly competes in the bereavement self-help publishing and professional training market.
- TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors): TAPS is a nonprofit providing grief support resources specifically for military families who have lost loved ones. Centering already partners with TAPS and operates a Military Grief/TAPS product category, making it a directly comparable peer in bereavement support publishing for the military segment.
- The Compassionate Friends: The Compassionate Friends is a nonprofit supporting families after the death of a child, offering resources, literature, and peer support. It directly overlaps with Centering's 'For Bereaved Parents' and 'Children & Teens' product categories.
Broad incumbents
- National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO): NHPCO is the largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care providers in the US, producing grief-related educational materials and consumer resources. It is a broader incumbent in end-of-life and bereavement support, overlapping with Centering on bereavement educational content.
Regional players
- Newborns in Need: Newborns in Need is a nonprofit providing care items, support, and resources to families experiencing pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and infant death. It directly overlaps with Centering's Prenatal and Infant Loss product line and competes for donations and family reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Centering Grief Resources social profiles
Digital presenceCentering Grief Resources financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Centering Grief Resources leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Centering Grief Resources funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Centering Grief Resources M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Centering Grief Resources
What does Centering Grief Resources do?
Centering Grief Resources is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that publishes and sells grief support books, workbooks, journals, care packages, sympathy cards, and memorial items through its BigCommerce e-commerce storefront. The catalog spans specialized categories covering all types of loss (adult general grief, children and teens, bereaved parents, prenatal/infant loss, suicide/homicide/trauma, military grief, and professional resources) and includes digital Grief Digest magazine content. The organization accepts donations and operates the Barney's Book Box fundraising program to distribute resources through partner non-profits.
Is Centering Grief Resources a public or private company?
Centering Grief Resources is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Centering Grief Resources founded?
Centering Grief Resources was founded in 1977. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Centering Grief Resources based?
Centering Grief Resources is headquartered in Omaha, United States, in the North America region.
How does Centering Grief Resources make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are digital Magazine Subscriptions, donations and barney's Book Box Fundraising.
Who are Centering Grief Resources's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Open to Hope Foundation and What's Your Grief. Direct peers are Bereaved Parents of the USA, Judi's House, Hospice Foundation of America, Grief Recovery Institute, TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) and The Compassionate Friends. National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is listed as a broad incumbent. Newborns in Need is listed as a regional player.
Does Centering Grief Resources have an API?
No public API is recorded for Centering Grief Resources.
What industry is Centering Grief Resources in?
Centering Grief Resources's product category is Bereavement and Grief Support Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAAAN, Humor, Gift & Specialty Format Books (Journals, Coloring, etc.), with a secondary code of BPAGACAK, Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support. Its NAICS code is 813212 and its SIC code is 2780.