The Honeycomb Project
The Honeycomb Project is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2011, that designs and runs monthly family volunteer projects for kids ages 3-17 with 60+ nonprofit partners, free of charge, and is expanding to Washington, DC in 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Honeycomb Project does
The Honeycomb Project is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by Kristina Lowenstein and Catherine Tannen that mobilizes families with children ages 3-17 to volunteer alongside 60+ local nonprofit partners. Its core operations are in-person, hands-on monthly volunteer projects addressing food insecurity, housing instability, environmental conservation, and community health, supported by an in-house team of former educators who design site-specific curriculum and staff every event. The technology layer is modest: a Squarespace-hosted marketing site, a self-serve event registration platform (My Hive) backed by Neon CRM, and Honeycomb at Home, a free library of 50+ self-guided virtual lessons used by 2,500+ families, schools, and companies.
The business model is donation- and sponsorship-driven rather than transactional. Programs are 100% free for participating families and nonprofit partners; revenue is generated from individual donations, corporate sponsorships ($1K-$50K+ including season-of-service packages), Pollinator monthly subscriptions starting at $100/month, school memberships, branded merchandise via Bonfire, in-kind contributions, and ticketed/sponsored events such as the annual Golden Hour Gala ($250/individual ticket) and Holiday Cheer Challenge. Distribution blends self-serve family registration (top-of-funnel email and organic social), direct enterprise sales to corporate partners, and school-channel reselling. As of 2025 the organization reports 5,400+ youth and families participating annually from 70% of Chicago zip codes, with a leadership pipeline of teen volunteers (Leadership Corps) contributing 1,000+ hours per year.
In 2026 the organization is executing a geographic expansion to Washington, DC, with a first hire, a DC Advisory Board, and five signed nonprofit partners (Children's National Hospital, DC Greens, Leveling the Playing Field, Friendship Place, Calvary Women's Services), targeting 1,600+ DC youth and families in year one. The board includes executives from PwC, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, ShipBob, Obama Foundation, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, anchoring institutional fundraising capacity. Notable operating distinctions include educator-led curriculum design, physical staff presence at every project (a model the organization positions as distinct from volunteer-matching platforms), and a Candid Gold Transparency Seal (2024) plus 2025 Chicago Innovation Award nomination.
The Honeycomb Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Honeycomb Project
- Legal name
- The Honeycomb Project
- Website
- https://thehoneycombproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Honeycomb Project is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2011, that designs and runs monthly family volunteer projects for kids ages 3-17 with 60+ nonprofit partners, free of charge, and is expanding to Washington, DC in 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Honeycomb Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Volunteer Program Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAD)
Keywords
Where The Honeycomb Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Honeycomb Project 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
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals supporting family volunteering programs. Programs are free for participants; donations sustain operations.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship opportunities for companies including program sponsorships, corporate memberships, season of service sponsorships, and event sponsorships (Golden Hour Gala, Holiday Cheer Challenge). Sponsorships range from $1K to $50K+ with year-round benefits.
- Pollinator Sponsorships: Family-centered sponsorship program where families sponsor a year of programming, starting at $100/month. Pollinator sponsors inform program plans, convene with other supporters, and receive early event registration access.
- School Memberships: Memberships for schools to provide volunteer opportunities for students, parents, and staff. Includes immersive volunteer projects, custom-designed online activities, and supply drives.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including limited-edition loungewear, Honeycomb at Home apparel, and event-themed merchandise through Bonfire storefront.
- In-Kind Donations: Companies contribute goods or services, helping focus financial resources on other essential operational needs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Programs for Families |
| Subscription | Monthly | Pollinator Sponsorship |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Golden Hour Gala Tickets |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Season of Service Sponsorships |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Project Leader Freelance Rate |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Honeycomb Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Honeycomb Project designs, coordinates, and staffs family-focused volunteer projects for children ages 3 through 17 in partnership with more than 50 local nonprofits across the Chicago area and Washington, DC. Projects address food insecurity, housing instability, environmental sustainability, and community health, and are delivered through in-person service days, a virtual "Honeycomb at Home" curriculum, school-based programming, and the Honeycomb Leadership Corps teen program. All family participation is free of charge to participants.
Product overview
The Honeycomb Project operates as a family volunteering nonprofit organization offering a multi-pronged program portfolio centered around engaging kids ages 3-17 and their families in social change through service. The core offerings consist of In-Person Volunteer Projects (hands-on monthly projects at 50+ nonprofit partner sites) and Honeycomb at Home (a free virtual curriculum with 50+ self-guided lessons). The Leadership Corps is a year-long teen leadership program. Event-based programs include the Holiday Cheer Challenge (annual citywide scavenger hunt), Golden Hour Gala (annual fundraising event), and Green Bee Challenge (Earth Month environmental initiative). Supporting services include Corporate Partnerships for workplace engagement, Family FUNdraising toolkits, Pollinator Sponsorship monthly giving, and a DC regional expansion. All programs are free for participants, supported by donations and corporate sponsorships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- In-Person Volunteer Projects Structured, supervised, family-friendly volunteer projects for children ages 3-17 hosted at 50+ partner nonprofit sites across Chicago and Washington, DC, addressing food insecurity, housing instability, environmental sustainability, and community health. Free for participating families.
- Honeycomb at Home Virtual version of the in-person curriculum that delivers family-focused civic engagement content and activities to households that cannot attend in-person projects.
- Honeycomb Leadership Corps (HLC) Teen-focused leadership and service-learning program that provides a progression track for older youth participants (within the broader 3-17 family programming model), centered on civic engagement and community service.
- Holiday Cheer Challenge Seasonal, family-friendly volunteer challenge focused on the winter holidays, designed to boost family participation and impact during a peak giving season.
- Green Bee Challenge Seasonal, family-friendly environmental volunteer challenge tied to the organization's sustainability and environmental nonprofit partnerships.
- Golden Hour Gala Annual ticketed fundraising gala that generates revenue and awareness to support the organization's family volunteer programs.
- Corporate Partnerships / Sponsorships Corporate social-responsibility and sponsorship packages that allow companies to fund family volunteer projects, employee/family engagement days, and program operations.
- School Memberships / Programs Membership-based service-learning programming for preschool, elementary, middle, and high schools that delivers curriculum-aligned community-service projects to student cohorts.
- Family FUNdraising Family-driven fundraising program that engages family participants in peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns to support the organization's free programming.
- Honeycomb Pollinator Sponsorship Named sponsorship / donor-support tier that aligns donors symbolically with the organization's pollinator-branded identity and mission.
Quantifiable outcome
- 72% of Honeycomb parents report their kids are more informed about social issues after volunteering
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Honeycomb Project
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Honeycomb Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Honeycomb Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
59 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- Alliance For The Great LakescoreEnvironmental nonprofit partner for beach restoration and conservation volunteer projects.
- Anti-Cruelty SocietycoreAnimal welfare nonprofit partner for volunteer activities supporting animal care.
- Be AlrightminorNonprofit partner for community support programs.
- Blue Star FamiliesminorMilitary family support nonprofit for volunteer engagement.
- Books4CauseminorLiteracy nonprofit for book donation and distribution projects.
- BreakthroughminorYouth development nonprofit for volunteer programs.
- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of ChicagocoreSocial services nonprofit providing volunteer opportunities in housing and food programs.
- Care for RealcoreFood pantry nonprofit for meal preparation and food distribution volunteer projects.
- Chicago Grows FoodcoreUrban agriculture nonprofit for community garden and food growing projects.
- Chicago HOPEScoreNonprofit providing wrap-around services to children and families experiencing homelessness.
- Chicago Housing AuthoritycoreHousing authority for affordable housing volunteer support programs.
- Chicago Methodist Senior ServicesminorSenior services nonprofit for volunteer programs supporting older adults.
- Chicago Park DistrictcorePark maintenance and environmental volunteer projects across Chicago parks.
- Children's Hospital University of IllinoisminorPediatric hospital for volunteer activities supporting patients and families.
- Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC)coreDomestic violence shelter providing volunteer opportunities for families.
- Cornerstone Community OutreachcoreHomeless services nonprofit for volunteer meal preparation and support programs.
- Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange (CCRX)coreReuse nonprofit for supply drive and environmental volunteer projects.
- Digs with DignitycoreHousing nonprofit furnishing homes for families experiencing poverty.
- Family RescuecoreDomestic violence services nonprofit for volunteer support programs.
- Forest Preserve of Cook CountycoreNature conservation for habitat restoration and environmental volunteer projects.
- Frieda's PlacecoreCommunity organization serving families experiencing poverty with meal programs.
- Friends of the Chicago RivercoreRiver conservation nonprofit for environmental volunteer projects.
- Friends of the ParkscorePark advocacy nonprofit for community park improvement projects.
- GardeneerscoreUrban farming nonprofit for school and community garden volunteer programs.
- Greater Chicago Food DepositorycoreFood bank nonprofit for meal preparation and food distribution volunteer projects.
- Greenhouse Community SheltercoreHomeless shelter for volunteer support and meal programs.
- Holiday HeroesminorHoliday support nonprofit for seasonal volunteer and donation programs.
- House of the Good ShepherdminorSenior care nonprofit for volunteer programs with older adults.
- IgnitecoreYouth development nonprofit for volunteer mentoring and support programs.
- IMD Guest HouseminorMedical hospitality house for volunteer support of patients and families.
- Jackson Park Advisory CouncilminorPark improvement nonprofit for community volunteer projects.
- Jesse Brown VA Medical CentercoreVeterans healthcare for volunteer programs supporting military veterans.
- La Casa NortecoreHousing and services nonprofit for youth and families experiencing homelessness.
- The Love FridgecoreCommunity fridge nonprofit for food access and distribution volunteer projects.
- Lurie Children's HospitalcorePediatric hospital for volunteer activities supporting young patients and families.
- National Veterans Art MuseumcoreVeterans art museum for volunteer programs and youth education about veterans.
- The Night MinistrycoreHomeless services nonprofit for mobile health and housing volunteer programs.
- North Branch Restoration ProjectminorNature conservation for habitat restoration volunteer projects.
- Nourishing HopecoreFood access nonprofit for meal programs and food distribution volunteer projects.
- Obama FoundationflagshipFlagship partnership for civic engagement and community service initiatives. Honeycomb featured in Mandela Day Chicago programming.
- One Tail at a TimeminorAnimal rescue nonprofit for pet adoption and care volunteer programs.
- Our Lady of AngelscoreSocial services nonprofit for community support volunteer programs.
- Ravenswood Community ServicescoreCommunity services nonprofit for food and social support volunteer projects.
- Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)minorFamily support nonprofit for volunteer programs supporting sick children and families.
- Sarah's CirclecoreWomen's services nonprofit for housing and support volunteer programs.
- Sew Crafty StudioscoreCraft studio creating items for families experiencing homelessness. Volunteer quilting and craft projects.
- Share Our SparecoreChildren's nonprofit for supply drives and essential goods distribution volunteer projects.
- Shirley Ryan Ability LabcoreRehabilitation hospital for volunteer programs supporting patients with disabilities.
- ShowerUpcoreMobile shower services nonprofit for hygiene support volunteer programs.
- St. SabinacoreCommunity parish for food pantry and social services volunteer programs.
- Suder Montessori SchoolminorMontessori school for student volunteer and educational programs.
- UCANminorYouth development nonprofit for mentoring and support volunteer programs.
- Urban RiversminorUrban ecosystem restoration nonprofit for green infrastructure volunteer projects.
- Children's National HospitalcoreDC healthcare partner for volunteer support in the Washington, DC region expansion.
- DC GreenscoreDC food access nonprofit for urban agriculture and nutrition volunteer programs.
- Leveling the Playing FieldcoreDC nonprofit providing sports equipment access for underserved youth volunteer projects.
- Friendship PlacecoreDC homeless services nonprofit for housing and support volunteer programs.
- Calvary Women's ServicescoreDC women's shelter for volunteer support and essential services programs.
- Whole Foods MarketflagshipCorporate partner with long-standing relationship providing team volunteer opportunities and cause marketing. Featured quote partner in materials.
Scale indicators17 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Honeycomb Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- 4-H: National youth development organization with hands-on service, civic engagement, and leadership programming for kids and teens. Comparable in mission to build the next generation of community-minded youth, though anchored in club-based agriculture and STEM.
- Points of Light: Large, established nonprofit operating the HandsOn Network and mobilizing millions of volunteers through corporate and community service programs. Overlaps with Honeycomb's volunteer-matching and corporate-CSR mission but at national scale and broader audience.
- City Year: National nonprofit placing young adults in schools as near-peer mentors and tutors to support student outcomes. Comparable in its youth-service mission and corporate funding model, though focused on AmeriCorps-style structured service rather than episodic family volunteering.
- VolunteerMatch: Long-standing online platform connecting volunteers with nonprofit opportunities. Comparable in its volunteer-engagement mission and digital registration model, but operates as a marketplace rather than running its own programs.
Direct peers
- Generation On: Youth-focused service and volunteering initiative (originally part of Points of Light) targeting kids and teens in family and school settings. Directly comparable audience and mission to Honeycomb's family-and-teen programming.
- Doing Good Together: National nonprofit focused on family-based volunteering and service learning with children. Closest peer given the shared emphasis on parents and kids doing good together, curated activity ideas, and educational framing.
- Family-to-Family: Family-focused nonprofit engaging parents and children in poverty-fighting service projects. Highly comparable model centered on families volunteering together on social issues, with similar partner-nonprofit structure.
Emerging players
- Kids in Need Foundation: Nonprofit mobilizing volunteers and corporate partners around supply drives and resource distribution for underserved children. Comparable in operating volunteer-powered family- and school-engagement programs that strengthen nonprofit capacity.
- I Pour Life: Family volunteering organization engaging parents and kids in hands-on service for at-risk youth. Comparable in emphasizing family-driven volunteering as a tool for community impact and youth development.
Regional players
- Big Shoulders Fund: Chicago-based nonprofit supporting youth education through volunteer engagement, corporate partnerships, and school networks. Comparable as a Chicago-headquartered nonprofit combining family/youth programming with strong corporate fundraising.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Honeycomb Project social profiles
Digital presenceThe Honeycomb Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Honeycomb Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Honeycomb Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Honeycomb Project 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 The Honeycomb Project
What does The Honeycomb Project do?
The Honeycomb Project designs, coordinates, and staffs family-focused volunteer projects for children ages 3 through 17 in partnership with more than 50 local nonprofits across the Chicago area and Washington, DC. Projects address food insecurity, housing instability, environmental sustainability, and community health, and are delivered through in-person service days, a virtual "Honeycomb at Home" curriculum, school-based programming, and the Honeycomb Leadership Corps teen program. All family participation is free of charge to participants.
Is The Honeycomb Project a public or private company?
The Honeycomb Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Honeycomb Project founded?
The Honeycomb Project was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Honeycomb Project based?
The Honeycomb Project is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Honeycomb Project make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, pollinator Sponsorships, school Memberships, merchandise Sales and in-Kind Donations.
Who are The Honeycomb Project's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are 4-H, Points of Light, City Year and VolunteerMatch. Direct peers are Generation On, Doing Good Together and Family-to-Family. Emerging players are Kids in Need Foundation and I Pour Life. Big Shoulders Fund is listed as a regional player.
Does The Honeycomb Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Honeycomb Project.
What industry is The Honeycomb Project in?
The Honeycomb Project's product category is Volunteer Program Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAK, Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDACAHAD, Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years). Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.