After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

What After Breast Cancer Diagnosis does

ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded on June 15, 1999, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist Melodie Wilson Oldenburg. The organization provides free, customized one-to-one peer emotional support to anyone affected by breast cancer — including patients, previvors, individuals living with metastatic (Stage IV) disease, and caregivers — by matching each person with a trained volunteer Mentor who shares similar diagnosis, treatment plan, age, family dynamics, and personal circumstances. All services are delivered virtually with no time limits, and the organization has served 112,000+ people across all 50 U.S. states and 10 countries, facilitated 9,278 cumulative one-to-one matches, and trained over 1,020 volunteer Mentors since inception. Matching is performed entirely by human Match Specialists using no AI.

The core service offering centers on One-to-One Mentoring, supplemented by specialized Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Support, a Healthcare Provider Referral Program, a structured Mentor Training Program (covering confidentiality, ethics, listening, survivorship, and applied communications), Caregiver Support Services, and a curated Resource Guide. ABCD's technology footprint is intentionally low-tech — a website, phone hotline (1-800-977-4121), email, and video tools — with the proprietary asset being the human-driven matching methodology and the trained volunteer Mentor roster rather than any software platform. Recent additions include an online community built with Smart Patients (2026).

ABCD's revenue is generated entirely through donations, with individual contributors accounting for approximately 50% of revenue and the remainder derived from corporate sponsorships, cause-marketing partnerships (Harley-Davidson, Kesslers Diamonds, Vibrant Body Company, BeeCure), pharmaceutical grants (Pfizer, Genentech, Daiichi Sankyo), annual galas and Breast Cancer Awareness Month events, workplace giving, and planned/legacy gifts. The organization maintains referral partnerships with major U.S. health systems (Ascension, Aurora Cancer Care, Froedtert Health, UW Health, Lurie Cancer Center/Northwestern) and a network of breast cancer advocacy organizations (METAvivor, Breastcancer.org, Young Survival Coalition, Ellie Fund, Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance). Operationally, the organization is small — 9 paid staff members — relying on a large volunteer Mentor base and donor community to deliver services nationwide.

Name

After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Legal name

ABCD Inc.

Website

https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis is a Milwaukee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free, customized one-to-one peer mentoring to breast cancer patients, previvors, metastatic patients, and caregivers by matching them with trained volunteer Mentors who share similar diagnoses and life circumstances.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: ABCD relies on individual donors who contribute nearly 50% of the organization's revenue through one-time gifts, recurring donations, and honor/memorial donations.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support through underwriting programs, services, events, or general operations. Some companies donate a percentage of sales from specific products or shopping events.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual events including 'A Night Out for ABCD' galas and Breast Cancer Awareness Month fundraisers generate revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations.
4. Workplace Giving: Corporate workplace giving programs including payroll deduction and annual workplace fundraisers.
5. Planned Giving/Legacy Gifts: Bequests and estate plan beneficiaries provide long-term sustainable funding.
6. Cause Marketing Partnerships: Retail partners donate a portion of sales (e.g., Kesslers Diamonds Hope Pendants, Harley-Davidson Pink Label, Vibrant Body Company 50% of purchase, BeeCure 20% donation).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis provides free, customized one-to-one emotional support for anyone impacted by breast cancer by matching patients, previvors, metastatic patients, and caregivers with trained volunteer Mentors who share similar diagnoses, treatment plans, ages, and personal characteristics. Specialized services include Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Support, a Mentor Training Program, a Healthcare Provider Referral Program, Caregiver Support Services, and a curated Resource Guide, all delivered virtually at no cost.

Product overview

ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis is a nonprofit organization offering a single integrated service focused on free, customized one-to-one emotional peer support mentoring for anyone impacted by breast cancer. Founded in 1999, the organization's core offering is its signature Mentorship Matching service, where Match Specialists pair individuals with trained volunteer Mentors based on similar diagnoses, treatment plans, ages, interests, and personal characteristics. Additional services include specialized Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Support for those with advanced disease, a Healthcare Provider Referral Program, a comprehensive Mentor Training Program, Caregiver Support Services, and a Resource Guide. The organization explicitly states that all customized matching is performed exclusively by human Match Specialists with no AI involvement. All services are provided free of charge and delivered virtually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• One-to-One Mentoring ABCD's signature free service providing customized one-to-one emotional support matching individuals diagnosed with breast cancer with trained volunteer Mentors who share similar experiences, diagnoses, ages, and personal characteristics, available at diagnosis, through treatment, and in survivorship with no time limits.
• Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Support Specialized emotional support program for individuals living with metastatic or Stage IV breast cancer, featuring MBC-specific Mentors and virtual training programs designed for MBC Mentor support.
• Healthcare Provider Referral Program Service enabling healthcare professionals to refer breast cancer patients to ABCD for free emotional support, with a streamlined referral form and coordination with medical teams; top referring partners include Ascension, Aurora Cancer Care, Froedtert Health, and UW Health.
• Mentor Training Program Comprehensive training program for volunteer Mentors covering ABCD Introduction, Confidentiality & Ethics, Listening & Communications, Dealing with Emotions, Survivorship & Self-Care, Applied Communications, Roles & Responsibilities, and Breast Cancer & Sexuality.
• Caregiver Support Services Emotional support services for friends, family members, and caregivers of breast cancer patients, with trained Caregiver Mentors available to provide guidance, understanding, and shared experience.
• Resource Guide A curated collection of vetted websites and references providing additional information and resources for breast cancer patients, including MBC-specific resources for people living with metastatic breast cancer.

Quantifiable outcome

• Patients using nonclinical support like ABCD are more likely to finish treatment, have improved survival rates, show reduced risk of recurrence, experience less distress, healthier social relationships, and improved quality of life

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ellie FundminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 September 2025Partnership to expand access to peer support and essential services for breast cancer patients throughout Massachusetts.
• Young Survival Coalition (YSC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 July 2025Collaboration to expand access to peer support for young adults impacted by breast cancer.
• Kesslers DiamondscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRetail partner selling Hope Pendants with 100% of profits donated to ABCD. Long-standing partnership featured in impact videos.
• Harley-DavidsoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner selling Pink Label merchandise with portion of proceeds donated to ABCD. Major Breast Cancer Awareness Month supporter.
• Vibrant Body CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIntimate apparel company that donates 50% of purchase amounts to ABCD when using special referral link.
• BeeCureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCompany offering 20% discount to ABCD supporters with 20% of purchase donated back to ABCD.
• AscensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare system and top referring institution for ABCD's patient services.
• Aurora Cancer CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare system and top referring institution. Partnered with ABCD on Team Phoenix triathlon program.
• Froedtert HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare system and top referring institution. Referrals and breast cancer support group hosting.
• UW HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor academic health system and top referring institution.
• Breastcancer.orgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBreast cancer organization partner providing resources and referrals for metastatic breast cancer patients.
• Metastatic Breast Cancer AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner providing MBC-specific resources and support information for ABCD participants.
• METAvivorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMBC advocacy organization partner providing research and support resources.
• Metastatic Breast Cancer NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMBC-specific organization partner for resources and referrals.
• BreastCancerTrials.orgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical trial matching service partner for MBC participants.
• Project LifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMBC support organization partner.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Susan G. Komen: The largest breast cancer nonprofit in the US, focused primarily on research funding and awareness but also operating a patient support helpline. Broadly comparable mission and breast cancer focus, but operates at vastly greater scale and with a research-funding orientation.
• National Breast Cancer Foundation: Provides breast cancer education, early detection, and patient support programs including a national mammography program. Comparable breast cancer patient support orientation to ABCD, but with broader geographic program delivery and a stronger emphasis on screening.
• Breastcancer.org: Large-scale digital breast cancer information and community platform serving millions of users globally. Operates in a similar patient support space as ABCD but through online content and forums rather than 1-to-1 mentor matching; ABCD has a referral partnership with the organization.

Emerging players

• Young Survival Coalition: Focused specifically on young adults affected by breast cancer. ABCD has an active partnership with YSC; both serve a similar patient population but YSC concentrates on the under-40 demographic through peer support, advocacy, and education programs.
• METAvivor: Dedicated to metastatic breast cancer research and support. ABCD partners with METAvivor to provide MBC-specific resources; METAvivor complements ABCD's mentor program with research funding and advocacy for the metastatic community.

Direct peers

• Living Beyond Breast Cancer: National nonprofit offering education, support groups, and peer connections specifically for breast cancer patients. Directly comparable mission and patient segment to ABCD, with overlapping programs (mentor matching, metastatic support) but a broader focus on education and community.
• SHARE Cancer Support: Offers peer-led support for breast and ovarian cancer patients, including one-to-one telephone support and survivor-mentor matching. Comparable to ABCD in mission, free service model, and emphasis on peer emotional support across the treatment journey.
• CancerCare: Provides free professional support services including counseling, support groups, and financial assistance to cancer patients. Comparable free-of-charge, psychosocial-support model with a broader scope across all cancer types and addition of licensed oncology social workers.
• Cancer Hope Network: Matches cancer patients with trained volunteer supporters who have similar diagnoses and treatment experiences. Operates a near-identical customized mentor-matching model to ABCD, though serving all cancer types rather than breast cancer specifically.
• Imerman Angels: Provides free, personalized one-to-one peer mentor matching for cancer patients and caregivers. Closest operational analog to ABCD's model, with a similar human-driven matching approach and disease-specific mentors, though covering all cancers rather than just breast cancer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ABCD_mentor
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCY4VHSTPyU1IYyT1fNesmAg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ABCDAfterBreastCancerDiagnosis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/abcd-after-breast-cancer-diagnosis
• Instagraminstagram.com/abcdafterbreastcancerdiagnosis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 After Breast Cancer Diagnosis