Brent Shapiro Foundation

What Brent Shapiro Foundation does

The Brent Shapiro Foundation (EIN #13-4313101) is a Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in October 2005 by Robert and Linell Shapiro following the death of their son Brent Shapiro from substance abuse. The foundation's mission is to combat youth addiction through awareness, prevention, and survivor-driven advocacy. Its flagship program, "Brent's Club," is an evidence-based drug prevention offering for youth ages 11-17 that combines weekly voluntary saliva drug testing, private counseling for those who test positive, rewards-based incentives (recreational activities, sporting events, college tours), and college scholarships (full-ride four-year awards and partial $5,000-$10,000 scholarships) for drug-free high school seniors. The scientific methodology was co-developed with Dr. Jeffrey Wilkins, Vice Chair and Medical Director of Addiction Medicine at Cedars-Sinai.

The foundation delivers Brent's Club exclusively through partnerships with selected Boys & Girls Clubs, with active chapters in California (East LA, Long Beach, Malibu, Monterey Park, Oxnard, Venice), New York (Bronx via Kips Bay), and Texas (Austin), reaching over 15,000 youth members cumulatively. Secondary offerings include free Save-A-Life Cards tied to California's 911 Good Samaritan (AB472) legislation, parental communication resources, and an annual Summer Spectacular Gala that has historically raised more than $1.2 million per event. Revenue is sourced from individual donations, stock and in-kind gifts (artwork, real estate, vehicles), and gala proceeds, with no fees charged to program beneficiaries.

Go-to-market is community-led and donor-supported: the foundation relies on Boys & Girls Club infrastructure for program delivery, celebrity-hosted galas and donor cultivation events for fundraising, and a digital presence (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Mailchimp newsletter, and the brentshapiro.org website) for awareness and donor acquisition. All programs and materials are provided free of charge to youth participants and parents.

Name

Brent Shapiro Foundation

Legal name

Brent Shapiro Foundation

Website

https://brentshapiro.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Brent Shapiro Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs Brent's Club, an evidence-based youth drug prevention program combining weekly saliva testing, counseling, and scholarships, delivered through partnered Boys & Girls Clubs in California, New York, and Texas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Substance Use Prevention & Recovery Services (EDALAFAE), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Substance Use Prevention & Student Assistance Programs (School-Based) (EDAKAMAJ)

Keywords

• Youth drug prevention
• Substance abuse education
• College scholarship programs
• Charitable fundraising events
• Youth support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

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. Charitable Donations: The foundation relies on donations from individuals and organizations worldwide who are concerned about the substance abuse epidemic. Donations include cash, stock, wire transfers, ACH payments, and in-kind donations.
2. In-Kind Donations: Accepts appreciated property including artwork, cars, real estate, boats, aircraft, collectibles, coins, stamps, sports memorabilia, and antique furniture as charitable contributions.
3. Fundraising Events: Annual Summer Spectacular Gala events raise significant funds (over $1.2 million per event) for drug awareness and prevention programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Brent Shapiro Foundation delivers free youth drug and alcohol prevention programs primarily through Brent's Club at partnered Boys & Girls Clubs, combining weekly voluntary saliva drug testing, counseling, and incentive rewards (including scholarships). It also distributes Save-A-Life Cards, awards scholarships to drug-free seniors, and raises funds via the Summer Spectacular Gala.

Product overview

Brent Shapiro Foundation operates as a drug prevention nonprofit offering a unified suite of programs centered on youth substance abuse prevention. The core offerings include Brent's Club (an evidence-based drug prevention program with weekly saliva testing and incentives), the Save-A-Life Cards initiative (supporting the 911 Good Samaritan legislation), and a Scholarship Program providing full-ride and partial scholarships to drug-free program participants. The foundation also hosts an annual Summer Spectacular Gala for fundraising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Brent's Club: An evidence-based and incentive drug prevention program for youth, focusing on promoting healthy lifestyles and rewarding positive behavior through weekly saliva drug testing, counseling, and scholarships.
• Save-A-Life Card

Products and services

• Brent's Club An evidence-based drug prevention program for youth ages 11-17, operating at select Boys & Girls Clubs. The program includes weekly voluntary saliva drug testing, private counseling for participants who test positive, and rewards incentives (sporting events, college tours, community service, recreational activities) for those who remain drug and alcohol-free, with college scholarships as the most significant incentive.
• Save-A-Life Cards Educational cards created by the foundation to help prevent kids from falling into drug and alcohol addiction, providing information about drug/alcohol emergencies and the 911 Good Samaritan law (AB472). The foundation played a role in getting the 911 Good Samaritan AB472 legislation passed in California with assistance from Dr. Jeffery Wilkins of Cedars-Sinai. Cards are distributed free of charge to anyone who requests them via the website.
• Scholarship Program Full-ride, all-expenses-paid four-year scholarships and partial renewable scholarships of $5,000 and $10,000 awarded annually to Brent's Club high school seniors who have remained committed to being drug and alcohol-free through random drug tests. In 2023, 19 Scholarship Winners received Full Ride and Partial scholarships.
• Summer Spectacular Gala Annual fundraising gala event benefiting the foundation's alcohol and drug prevention programs. The invitation-only event, typically held at the Beverly Hilton, has raised more than $1.2 million per event for drug awareness and prevention, featuring celebrity hosts, musical performances, and Spirit of Sobriety award presentations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 15,000 youth members served across multiple states
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Cedars-Sinai / Dr. Jeffrey WilkinscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013The foundation collaborated with Dr. Jeffrey Wilkins (Vice Chair, Department of Psychology & Medical Director of Addiction Medicine at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles) to test and develop the drug prevention program. Dr. Wilkins helped create the evidence-based methodology combining rewards with random drug and alcohol testing. The foundation also worked with Dr. Wilkins to get the 911 Good Samaritan (AB472) legislation passed in California.
• Variety Boys and Girls Club (East Los Angeles)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Selected as the pilot location for the Brent's Club program in 2013. Located in an underserved and drug-infested community, this club was chosen to test the drug prevention program combining rewards with random drug and alcohol testing. The initial class of 25 students showed positive results, proving the program's effectiveness.
• Boys & Girls Club of West San Gabriel ValleycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartners to host Brent's Club at 328 S Ramona Ave, Monterey Park, CA 91754. Director: Angel Silva. The club provides dedicated space for Brent's Club members to meet and participate in the prevention program.
• Boys & Girls Club of MalibucoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartners to host Brent's Club at 30215 Morning View Dr, Malibu, CA 90265. Directors: Tyler Hawkins & Violet Miehle.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Long BeachcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartners to host Brent's Club at 1835 W. Willard Street, Long Beach, CA 90810. Director: Phillip Redd.
• Kips Bay Boys & Girls ClubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartners to host Brent's Club at 1930 Randall Ave, Bronx, NY 10473. Director: Brittany Icaza. This is the foundation's presence in the New York area.
• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Oxnard and Port HuenemecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartners to host Brent's Club at 126 E Seventh Street, Oxnard, CA 93030. Director: Oscar Arellano.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Partnership to End Addiction: A national nonprofit dedicated to ending substance use and addiction through family support, prevention education, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable as a youth- and family-focused substance use prevention organization with national reach and similar prevention/awareness mission.
• Shatterproof: A national nonprofit focused on ending the addiction crisis through prevention, treatment access, and policy change. Comparable as a high-profile substance use prevention nonprofit leveraging evidence-based programs, donor events, and advocacy.
• Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA): A national membership organization representing community anti-drug coalitions focused on substance use prevention. Comparable as a prevention-focused nonprofit coordinating local chapter-based delivery of drug prevention programs to youth.
• SAFE Project: A national nonprofit working to end the opioid and substance use crisis through prevention, education, and recovery support. Comparable as a multi-state prevention-focused nonprofit combining community programming and policy advocacy around substance abuse.
• Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD): A youth-driven nonprofit focused on preventing underage drinking, drug use, and destructive behaviors through school and peer-based programs. Closely aligned mission of youth substance use prevention delivered through partner institutions (schools vs. Boys & Girls Clubs).

Others

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): A federal research agency advancing the science of substance use and prevention. Adjacent rather than competing; relevant because NIDA's research underpins the evidence-based claims that organizations like Brent Shapiro Foundation leverage.
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) - Youth Prevention Programs: Federal agency running drug prevention and awareness programs (e.g., Red Ribbon Week). An adjacent public-sector actor in the same youth drug prevention space that competes for mindshare and partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: The national umbrella organization for the foundation's primary delivery partners. While not a direct peer in prevention programming, it is the critical channel through which Brent's Club reaches youth and shapes the foundation's growth ceiling.
• Caron Treatment Centers: A long-established nonprofit addiction treatment and prevention organization with clinical programs, education, and research arms. Broader scope (treatment + prevention) but operates in the same substance use prevention space with similar donor-driven model.
• National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD): A national advocacy and education nonprofit working on alcoholism and drug dependence prevention. Comparable as a longstanding substance abuse prevention organization with advocacy and community-program components.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@brentshapirofoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/brentshapiroorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brent-shapiro-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/brentshapirofdn
• Xx.com/brentshapiroorg

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Brent Shapiro Foundation