Hearts of Hope

What Hearts of Hope does

Hearts of Hope Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 20-3666775) founded in 2001 by hospice social worker and thanatologist Judy Pedersen (MSW, FT) in response to the September 11 attacks. The organization's flagship is Paint with a Purpose, a therapeutic art model in which community volunteers paint ceramic hearts that are then delivered to grievers, with cumulative volume cited at over 250,000 hearts across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Its product stack centers on three program pillars: grief support (GRIT Youth Support Group, Moving Forward Adult Support Group, Counseling Resources), education (the licensed GRIT school curriculum for middle and high school students, adult workshops including the trademarked Caring for Them...Caring for You), and community service (Paint with a Purpose chapters, HOPE Kit distribution, the Hope Scholarship, and the Grief to GRIT podcast).

The underlying technology stack is non-software, centered on an evidence-based, licensed curriculum (GRIT, four pillars: Grief, Resilience, Inspiration, Triumph), a trademarked corporate workshop (Caring for Them...Caring for You), and a content library including blog content and a podcast series. GRIT, the core differentiated asset, is positioned as developed by experts in mental health, education, and healthcare and is being scaled nationally to U.S. middle and high schools through direct facilitation or train-the-trainer models.

The revenue model is hybrid for a nonprofit: tax-deductible donations and corporate sponsorships (Withum, GSK, New York Life, Ogilvy, Cigna, NBCUniversal, NCAA and others); direct e-commerce sales of tiered HOPE Kits ($12 1-heart through $275 25-heart) and commemorative merchandise (e.g., the $25 2026 Anniversary Heart); corporate Paint with a Purpose and workshop fees; and funding-channel diversification via student-led Hope Scholarship service projects. Distribution is delivered through three active regional chapters (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut), a growing set of community organization partnerships (veterans groups, libraries, disability services, cancer care ministries), and an e-commerce storefront, with international delivery occurring ad hoc through volunteer logistics.

Name

Hearts of Hope

Legal name

Hearts of Hope Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://ourheartsofhope.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hearts of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers grief support, education, and community service programs — including the GRIT youth curriculum, Moving Forward adult bereavement groups, Paint with a Purpose therapeutic art events, and HOPE Kits — for children, teens, families, schools, and corporate partners across U.S. chapters in PA, NJ, and CT.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Grief Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

Keywords

• Grief support services
• Youth bereavement programs
• Therapeutic art programs
• Grief education curriculum
• Community service nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting the mission of hope and healing.
2. HOPE Kit Sales: Sale of ceramic heart painting kits with all supplies included (paints, brushes, place mats, message cards, glaze, ribbons, gift bags, sample hearts, and instructions). Kits range from 1-heart to 25-heart packs.
3. Commemorative Merchandise: Sale of commemorative items such as the 25th Anniversary ornament designed by volunteer artist Kathie Grassi.
4. Corporate Partnership Sponsorships: Support from corporate sponsors including Withum, GSK, New York Life, Ogilvy, Cigna, and others who support events and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hearts of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers grief support, education, and community service through programs such as the GRIT youth support group, Moving Forward adult bereavement program, Paint with a Purpose therapeutic art events, and licensed grief curricula for schools. The organization also sells HOPE Kits containing ceramic hearts and supplies so individuals and groups can host their own heart-painting events that deliver comfort to grieving communities.

Product overview

Hearts of Hope is a grief support nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of programs and products centered on compassionate support, education, and community service. The core offerings include GRIT™ (a youth support group and school curriculum for middle/high schoolers), Moving Forward (adult bereavement support), and Paint with a Purpose (flagship therapeutic art program). Educational services include Adult Workshops and the trademarked 'Caring for Them... Caring for You' program. The organization sells HOPE Kits in various quantities (1, 5, 10, 25 hearts) containing all supplies for DIY heart painting events, along with commemorative products like the 2026 25th Anniversary Heart. Additional offerings include the Hope Scholarship for students, a Grief to GRIT Podcast, and counseling resource referrals. All products and programs work together to create a continuum of grief support from youth to adults through direct services, education, and community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GRIT (Grief Resilience Inspires Triumph): An innovative educational curriculum for middle and high school students that teaches evidence-based skills to help young people improve their mental health and cope with grief challenges including loneliness, social media pressure, and losing loved ones.
• GRIT Youth Support Group
• Moving Forward
• Paint with a Purpose
• Hope Scholarship
• Caring for Them...Caring for You

Products and services

• GRIT Youth Support Group

Quantifiable outcome

• 250,000+ ceramic hearts created and distributed worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cornerstone (Chandler, AZ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2023Community partnership for day of service to help underserved community members. Families and children painted 100 hearts and wrote notes of gratitude. Hearts delivered to nearby outpatient cancer center and Cancer Care Ministry.
• Port 5 National Association of Naval VeteranscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2023Veterans organization in Bridgeport, CT hosting Paint with a Purpose event. Painted hearts available for veterans to pick up on Veterans Day as reminder of community gratitude.
• Ability BeyondcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 October 2023Disability services organization serving 3,000+ individuals in CT and NY. Paint with a Purpose event held to honor Russell Stiles. Hearts painted for delivery to Ability Beyond participants.
• Boothbay Harbor Memorial LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 September 2023Maine library hosting Hearts of Hope Chapter painting night. Hearts gifted to Maine veterans returning from Honor Flight to Washington DC.
• Montville Animal HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterinary hospital in Towaco, NJ where Hearts of Hope conducted interviews with veterinary professionals about occupational grief and pet loss support.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Moyer Foundation (Camp Erin / Eluna Network): Operator of Camp Erin, the largest nationwide network of free bereavement camps for children and teens, plus Eluna's school- and community-based support resources. Closely comparable in scale ambitions for youth grief programming.
• Comfort Zone Camp: Virginia-based nonprofit running free grief camps and programs for children who have lost a parent or sibling. Direct peer in delivering youth bereavement services through community-driven events similar to Paint with a Purpose.
• GriefShare: A national faith-based grief support program with church-hosted groups and seminars. Direct overlap with Hearts of Hope's Moving Forward adult bereavement support model and its educational curriculum approach.
• Experience Camps: Free, overnight summer camps for grieving children combined with year-round programs. Directly comparable to Hearts of Hope's community-based youth grief programming and adult Moving Forward support concept.
• Judi's House: Denver-based grief support center specifically serving children, teens, and families after the death of a parent or sibling. Directly comparable program model to Hearts of Hope's pediatric bereavement focus.
• Rainbows for All Children: Illinois-based nonprofit offering peer-support programs for children grieving loss, used in schools and agencies nationwide. Direct competitor in the school-licensed grief curriculum space alongside GRIT.
• Dougy Center (National Center for Grieving Children): Portland-based pioneer in peer grief support for children, teens, and families, including the development of evidence-informed curricula. Direct comparable to Hearts of Hope's GRIT youth support model with broader geographic reach.

Broad incumbents

• Hospice Foundation of America: National nonprofit focused on hospice and grief education through programs like the Living with Grief series. Overlaps with Hearts of Hope's bereavement education and corporate workshop mission but operates at a broader industry scope.
• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization: The largest US membership organization for hospice and palliative care providers, offering workforce grief resources. Adjacent incumbent in serious-illness bereavement that Frames Hearts of Hope's hospice-origin narrative.

Others

• Kids Grief Support (New York Life Foundation): Program of New York Life Foundation providing free grief-support resources for schools and parents. Comparable in school-channel grief education distribution — and notably, New York Life is itself a Hearts of Hope corporate sponsor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@heartsofhope4036
• Facebookfacebook.com/OurHeartsofHope
• Instagraminstagram.com/heartsofhope
• Xx.com/heartsofhopect
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hearts-of-hope-foundation-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Hearts of Hope