The Children's Heart Foundation

What The Children's Heart Foundation does

The Children's Heart Foundation (CHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1996 in Northbrook, Illinois, and incorporated in Illinois in June 1996. Established by Betsy and Steve Peterson following the death of their 8-year-old son Sam from complications of congenital heart defects (CHDs), CHF is the country's leading nonprofit solely dedicated to funding congenital heart defect research. Over a 30-year operating history, the foundation has deployed nearly $21 million in research and scientific collaborations across 178 funded projects, with reported impact including a 37.5% decline in CHD death rates over the past two decades.

CHF's core offering is research grantmaking. Programs include Independent Research Awards, the joint AHA/CHF Congenital Heart Defect Research Awards (over $1.3M in joint grants with the American Heart Association), the Pediatric Cardiology Research Fellowship Award with the American Academy of Pediatrics, and a new Scholarship for Researchers in Underrepresented Communities (two $10,000 awards in 2026). The foundation's annual research disbursement cycle has scaled from approximately $1.0M (late 2021/early 2022) to $1.9M (January 2026). CHF also serves as a community-anchoring organization through the Congenital Heart Walk — the nation's largest walk series dedicated to CHD research, held in markets including Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cleveland, Austin, Tampa, Long Island, Milwaukee, Jacksonville, and Orange Park.

CHF's revenue model is donation-driven. It accepts individual contributions across tiers from $30 to $5,000+ on one-time, monthly, quarterly, and annual cadences, plus tribute gifts, cryptocurrency donations, employer matching gifts, peer-to-peer fundraising through Qgiv and Facebook, endurance-event fundraisers, the "Change My Heart" collection campaign, and corporate sponsorships (U.S. Steel, Bojangles Foundation, FlexWork Sports, Big Dot of Happiness). The foundation serves three primary constituencies: Heart Warriors (children and adults living with CHDs) and their families; CHD researchers and healthcare professionals; and volunteers, donors, and corporate partners. CHF also engages in policy advocacy alongside the Adult Congenital Heart Association and Mended Little Hearts, supporting the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act and equal access to telemedicine for CHD patients. Current leadership is CEO Terry Morrow (appointed May 2025) and Board Chairwoman Kathryn Osteen (appointed January 2025).

Name

The Children's Heart Foundation

Legal name

The Children's Heart Foundation

Website

https://childrensheartfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Children's Heart Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 and based in Northbrook, Illinois, that funds congenital heart defect research. It has deployed nearly $21 million across 178 projects in 30 years and serves Heart Warriors, families, researchers, and donors through grants, the national Congenital Heart Walk series, and CHD advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Congenital Heart Defect Research Funding

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Congenital heart defect research
• Medical research funding
• Nonprofit health foundation
• Pediatric cardiology grants
• Charitable research organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Northbrook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The Children's Heart Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization that funds congenital heart defect (CHD) research through grants and award programs, and engages in community-based fundraising events (such as the Congenital Heart Walk series) to support that research. Over 30 years, the foundation has funded nearly $21 million across 178 research projects, providing seed funding that has helped CHD death rates drop by 37.5% over the past two decades. It also offers educational programming, advocacy initiatives, and multiple giving vehicles including one-time, recurring, tribute, and cryptocurrency donations.

Product overview

The Children's Heart Foundation operates as a unified platform of connected programs centered on funding congenital heart defect (CHD) research. The core offerings include the Congenital Heart Walk (the nation's largest walk series dedicated to CHD research), Change My Heart (school and community fundraising), and various digital engagement tools. Research funding programs include Independent Research Awards, the AHA/CHF Congenital Heart Defect Research Awards partnership, and the Scholarship for Researchers in Underrepresented Communities. Education and engagement programs include Hearts that Hope Virtual Research Receptions, At the Heart of Research Chats, and a CHD Advocacy Program. The organization also provides multiple giving vehicles including an Online Donation Portal, Cryptocurrency Donation options, and DIY Peer-to-Peer Fundraising. Together, these programs form an integrated ecosystem supporting the foundation's mission to advance CHD diagnosis, treatment, and prevention through funding the most promising research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Congenital Heart Walk
• Change My Heart A change collection fundraising campaign enabling supporters (schools, workplaces, stores, restaurants) to raise funds for CHD research through collected spare change and donations.
• Online DIY Fundraising Peer-to-peer fundraising platform allowing supporters to create personal fundraising pages for athletic events, birthdays, or milestones to support CHD research.
• AHA/CHF Congenital Heart Defect Research Awards Collaborative research award program co-funded with the American Heart Association that supports investigators conducting research to advance the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of congenital heart defects.
• Independent Research Awards Grant awards funding research directly impacting patients living with congenital heart disease, supporting clinical cardiology, surgical techniques, translational research, and population science.
• Scholarship for Researchers in Underrepresented Communities Scholarship program supporting graduate students from underrepresented backgrounds pursuing research training in congenital heart defects and health disparities, with two $10,000 awards in 2026.
• Online Donation Portal Online donation platform enabling one-time and recurring donations with options for tribute gifts in honor or memory of loved ones.
• Cryptocurrency Donation Cryptocurrency donation option allowing donors to contribute digital assets to support congenital heart defect research.
• Endurance Events Athletic and competition-based fundraising program allowing participants to support CHD research through races, obstacle courses, and other athletic events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Death rates from congenital heart defects have dropped by 37.5 percent in the past two decades due to continued research
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• FlexWork SportsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 June 2026FlexWork Sports partnered with CHF to host the Trevor Goosby Youth Football Camp benefiting The Children's Heart Foundation. Trevor Goosby, a CHD survivor and Texas football standout, matched donations up to $20,000. The free camp for children ages 6-16 combined football instruction with fundraising for CHF.
• U. S. SteelmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026U. S. Steel returned as Presenting Sponsor of The Children's Heart Foundation's Pittsburgh Congenital Heart Walk for the third consecutive year. The partnership supports CHF's mission to improve survival, longevity, and quality of life for all CHD patients through the nation's largest walk series dedicated to CHD research.
• The Bojangles FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 May 2026The Bojangles Foundation partnered with The Children's Heart Foundation as part of the 'Bojangles Gives from the Heart' campaign, donating $100,000 to CHF to fund congenital heart defect research. The campaign raised over $659,000 through heart-shaped Bo-Berry Biscuit sales and guest round-up donations, with proceeds supporting pediatric heart care and CHD research.
• The HEARTest Yard Foundation (Greg Olsen)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026NFL legend Greg Olsen's HEARTest Yard Foundation partnered with Bojangles and The Children's Heart Foundation to support pediatric heart care and CHD research. The HEARTest Yard provides healthcare support and services to ease the transition from hospital to home for babies born with congenital heart disease, including in-home nursing care, physical therapy, and speech therapy at no charge to families.
• American Heart AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHF partners with the American Heart Association to co-fund Congenital Heart Defect Research Awards. This collaborative investment supports investigators conducting research directly related to advancing the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of CHDs. Multiple rounds of funding have been awarded totaling over $1.3M in joint grants.
• Children's Memorial Hospital / Lurie Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHF has funded research at Children's Memorial Hospital (now Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago), including early research by Dr. Constantine Mavroudis that developed new surgical procedures for complex CHDs. The foundation has provided funding for pilot studies that led to life-saving procedures.
• Big Dot of HappinessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBig Dot of Happiness donates 10% of sales from their Happy Heartiversary party collection to The Children's Heart Foundation. The partnership provides an ongoing revenue stream through cause marketing while raising awareness for CHD research.
• Adult Congenital Heart AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Adult Congenital Heart Association partnered with CHF and Mended Little Hearts to host a Virtual CHD Advocacy Event focused on raising awareness of CHD across the lifespan, advocating for the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act, and ensuring equal access to telemedicine for CHD patients.
• Mended Little HeartscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMended Little Hearts co-hosted the Virtual CHD Advocacy Event with CHF and Adult Congenital Heart Association, focusing on advocacy for CHD patients and families, policy initiatives, and support for the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act.
• Cardiac Networks UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Children’s Heart Foundation and Cardiac Networks United continue their partnership to accelerate improvements in care for children with congenital heart defects. The collaboration focuses on quality improvement, data sharing, and advancing CHD care standards.
• American Academy of PediatricscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHF partners with the American Academy of Pediatrics for the Pediatric Cardiology Research Fellowship Award, funding research training for individuals demonstrating aptitude for pediatric cardiology research during their fellowship.
• Bryan Herta AutosportminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBryan Herta Autosport and the #76 racecar united in support of The Children's Heart Foundation, raising awareness and funds through motorsports sponsorship.
• Mend a Heart FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHF teamed up with Mend a Heart Foundation to fund research specifically focused on Adult Congenital Heart Disease, expanding research scope to address the growing population of adults living with CHDs.

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thechf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CHFnational
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheCHF
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thechf
• Instagraminstagram.com/thechf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Children's Heart Foundation