Haymakers for Hope
Haymakers for Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2011 that raises money for cancer research and care by staging amateur charity boxing events, running races, and endurance challenges across six U.S. cities, engaging everyday participants, corporate sponsors, and individual donors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Haymakers for Hope does
Haymakers for Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by Julie Kelly, a Hodgkin lymphoma survivor and two-time NYC Golden Gloves boxing champion, and Andrew Myerson. The organization raises money for cancer research, awareness, survivorship, and care by running amateur charity boxing events in which first-time participants train for approximately four months at certified gyms before competing in sanctioned matches. Participants commit to fundraising minimums and drive donations through their personal networks, with all proceeds directed to cancer-related organizations chosen by the fighters. The organization has grown to host events across six U.S. cities (including Boston, NYC, Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Denver), with a portfolio of event brands such as Rock 'N Rumble, Belles of the Brawl, Hope NYC, The Beltway Brawl, Liberty Bell Brawl, and Rumble in the Rockies, and has produced 1,400+ alumni boxers while distributing nearly $40 million to 200+ cancer organizations since inception.
The product portfolio extends beyond boxing into running events (charity bibs for major international marathons), golf outings, and polar plunges, supplemented by the 'Not Every Fight Ends At The Bell' podcast, the Fight Continued alumni program, and branded merchandise sold through a partnership with Streaker Sports. The organization operates a hybrid go-to-market model combining community-led participant fundraising with event-driven high-profile galas attended by approximately 2,000 supporters per event. Corporate sponsorships are sold through multi-tiered packages ranging from $2,500 to $50,000 offering brand visibility, VIP seating, and recognition benefits, while individual donors contribute through fighters' personalized fundraising pages. The technology stack is intentionally lightweight: no proprietary platform has been developed, and the organization relies on standard charity fundraising software and social media tools to coordinate events, donations, and community engagement.
Revenue mechanics rest on four streams: individual participant fundraising, corporate sponsorships, event ticket sales, and merchandise. Operational partners include USA Boxing as the official sanctioning body, multiple certified training gyms (Mendez Boxing, Back Bay Boxing, EverybodyFights), and brand partners including YORK Athletics, Oofos, TB12, Bully Boy Distillers, and American Giant. The organization is governed as a nonprofit under board oversight with active co-founder leadership and minimal disclosed headcount beyond the co-founders and a lead trainer, signaling a lean operational structure scaled primarily through event production rather than headcount expansion.
Haymakers for Hope firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Haymakers for Hope
- Legal name
- Haymakers for Hope
- Website
- https://haymakersforhope.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Haymakers for Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2011 that raises money for cancer research and care by staging amateur charity boxing events, running races, and endurance challenges across six U.S. cities, engaging everyday participants, corporate sponsors, and individual donors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Haymakers for Hope industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charity Event Fundraising
- NAICS
- Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)
Keywords
Where Haymakers for Hope is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Haymakers for Hope business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Participant Fundraising: Individual participants commit to fundraising minimums and raise money through personal networks. Funds support cancer research organizations chosen by participants.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Multi-tiered sponsorship packages ranging from $2,500 to $50,000 offering brand visibility at events, table seating, recognition, and marketing benefits.
- Event Ticket Sales: Ticket sales to high-end gala boxing events attended by approximately 2,000 supporters per event.
- Merchandise Sales: Partnership with Streaker Sports for branded merchandise including apparel and accessories.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Presenting Sponsor - Belles of the Brawl |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Diamond Sponsor - Belles of the Brawl |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Platinum Sponsor - Belles of the Brawl |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Gold Sponsor - Belles of the Brawl |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Silver Sponsor - Belles of the Brawl |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Bronze Sponsor - Belles of the Brawl |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Presenting Sponsor - Hope NYC |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Opera Box Sponsor - Hope NYC |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Haymakers for Hope product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Haymakers for Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that produces charity boxing events in which everyday people with no prior boxing experience train for four months under certified trainers and compete in USA Boxing-sanctioned amateur matches to raise money for cancer research, awareness, survivorship, and care. The organization supplements its boxing program with endurance fundraising events (charity marathon bibs, golf outings, polar plunges), a branded podcast, an alumni community, and branded merchandise sold through a partnership with Streaker Sports.
Product overview
Haymakers for Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises money for cancer research, awareness, survivorship, and care through a portfolio of fundraising experiences centered around amateur boxing and endurance events. The organization operates as a unified platform offering: charity boxing events (Rock 'N Rumble, Belles of the Brawl, Hope NYC, The Beltway Brawl, Liberty Bell Brawl, Rumble in the Rockies) where participants train for 4 months and compete in sanctioned amateur boxing matches; running events including charity bibs for major world marathons; golf outings and polar plunges; the 'Not Every Fight Ends At The Bell' podcast; the Fight Continued program; and an alumni community. The core product is the charity boxing event model, which pairs participants with similar opponents, matches them with certified boxing gyms and trainers, and organizes high-end gala events where fighters compete in front of approximately 2,000 supporters. Shop functionality is provided through partnership with Streaker Sports.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Charity Boxing Events
- Rock 'N Rumble
- Belles of the Brawl
- Hope NYC
- The Beltway Brawl
- Rumble in the Rockies
- Liberty Bell Brawl
- Running Events (Charity Bibs)
- Golf Outings
- Polar Plunges
- Fight Continued
- Alumni Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $35 million raised for cancer research, care, awareness, and survivorship since 2011
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Haymakers for Hope
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Haymakers for Hope technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Haymakers for Hope partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Dana-Farber Cancer InstitutecorePrimary beneficiary of early Haymakers events. First event in 2011 raised nearly $200,000 for Dana-Farber's cancer research, care, and awareness programs. Established the proof of concept for Haymakers' fundraising model.
- Mendez BoxingcoreElite NYC boxing gym where co-founder Julie Kelly trained under Francisco Mendez to become a two-time Golden Gloves champion. Serves as a key training facility for Haymakers NYC fighters.
- YORK AthleticsminorLong-term partner providing athletic footwear. During COVID-19, partnered on initiatives to donate footwear to frontline workers.
- OofosminorRecovery footwear brand founded by a cancer survivor. Every purchase on oofos.com contributes to breast cancer research. Donated 1,200+ pairs to hospitals during COVID-19.
- TB12 (Tom Brady brand)minorWellness brand supporting Haymakers mission. During COVID-19, TB12 community supported national and local charities with virtual coaching sessions for healthcare workers.
- Bully Boy DistillersminorSpirits brand co-founded by Boston H4H alumnus Will Willis. Pivoted during COVID-19 to produce and distribute hand sanitizer to those in need.
- American GiantminorPremium apparel brand that partnered with Haymakers for fighter hoodies. During COVID-19, retooled North Carolina facilities to produce HHS-certified medical masks for frontline personnel.
- USA BoxingcoreOfficial sanctioning body for Haymakers events. All Haymakers boxing matches are sanctioned by USA Boxing, and trainers must be certified by USA Boxing to corner fighters on fight night.
- Back Bay BoxingcoreBoston-based boxing gym training Haymakers fighters. Partner gym for Boston-based events including Rock 'N Rumble and Belles of the Brawl.
- EverybodyFightscoreMulti-location boxing gym in Boston (FiDi and South Boston locations) where numerous Haymakers fighters train including George Foreman III's gym locations.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Haymakers for Hope competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Livestrong: Cancer survivorship nonprofit historically known for cause-marketed endurance events. Overlaps with Haymakers in the survivor-led, sport-anchored cancer fundraising category and competes for similar cause-marketing mindshare.
- Cancer Research UK: UK's largest cancer charity running mass-participation fundraising events (Race for Life, Shine Night Walk). Directly comparable as a cancer-cause fundraising platform with event-led participant and corporate engagement, though much larger and UK-centric.
- American Cancer Society: Largest US cancer nonprofit, running Relay For Life and Making Strides events. Competes for charitable dollars in the same cancer-cause fundraising market where Hayraisers operates, with broader programmatic scope but less event-specific intensity.
- Susan G. Komen (Race for the Cure): Massive cancer nonprofit with an event-based fundraising arm (Race for the Cure). Overlaps with Haymakers in mobilizing grassroots donors through physical fundraising events in support of cancer research, but at vastly larger scale and broader cause mandate.
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (Team In Training): Major cancer nonprofit with Team In Training endurance fundraising program (marathons, cycling). A documented early partner of Haymakers, sharing the charity endurance/boxing fundraising model but with broader geographic reach and institutional scale.
Direct peers
- Pelotonia: Cancer-charity cycling event operator raising 100% of funds for cancer research. Highly comparable as a sport-anchored fundraising platform with tiered sponsorship and participant-driven donation model, though focused on cycling rather than combat sports.
- Right To Play: International charity using sport and play as a development tool, with athlete ambassadors and corporate sponsors. Shares the sport-as-fundraising-platform DNA with Haymakers, though focused on youth development rather than cancer research.
- Empire State Ride: Long-distance charity cycling event benefiting cancer research with tiered sponsorship and participant fundraising. Closely mirrors Haymakers' sport-anchored, multi-tier sponsorship, participant-funded cancer research model.
Emerging players
- Tough Mudder: Obstacle-course event operator with significant charitable fundraising components. Operates in the same cause-marketed fitness-event category as Haymakers' boxing and endurance events, competing for the same participant and corporate-sponsor dollars.
Regional players
- Charity Boxing Events (generic regional operators): Numerous regional charity boxing events (e.g., Long Island Fight for Charity, Brawl for a Cause, Gloves for a Cure) operate in single markets with similar white-collar amateur boxing formats. They are direct format competitors but operate at smaller scale and without Haymakers' multi-city brand and sanctioning infrastructure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Haymakers for Hope social profiles
Digital presenceHaymakers for Hope financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Haymakers for Hope leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Haymakers for Hope funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Haymakers for Hope 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 Haymakers for Hope
What does Haymakers for Hope do?
Haymakers for Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that produces charity boxing events in which everyday people with no prior boxing experience train for four months under certified trainers and compete in USA Boxing-sanctioned amateur matches to raise money for cancer research, awareness, survivorship, and care. The organization supplements its boxing program with endurance fundraising events (charity marathon bibs, golf outings, polar plunges), a branded podcast, an alumni community, and branded merchandise sold through a partnership with Streaker Sports.
Is Haymakers for Hope a public or private company?
Haymakers for Hope is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Haymakers for Hope founded?
Haymakers for Hope was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Haymakers for Hope based?
Haymakers for Hope is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Haymakers for Hope make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Participant Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, event Ticket Sales and merchandise Sales.
Who are Haymakers for Hope's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Livestrong, Cancer Research UK, American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen (Race for the Cure) and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (Team In Training). Direct peers are Pelotonia, Right To Play and Empire State Ride. Tough Mudder is listed as an emerging player. Charity Boxing Events (generic regional operators) is listed as a regional player.
Does Haymakers for Hope have an API?
No public API is recorded for Haymakers for Hope.
What industry is Haymakers for Hope in?
Haymakers for Hope's product category is Charity Event Fundraising. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAKAK, Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support). Its NAICS code is 711211 and its SIC code is 7997.