Compeer Rochester

What Compeer Rochester does

Compeer Rochester is a 501(c)(3) non-profit mental health organization founded in 1973 and headquartered at 259 Monroe Avenue in Rochester, NY, serving Monroe, Ontario, and Wayne Counties in the greater Rochester region. The organization operates a portfolio of volunteer-based companionship programs matching trained volunteer mentors with three primary beneficiary populations: youth facing mental health challenges (Youth Program), adults living with mental illness (Adult Program), and veterans (CompeerCORPS, including Vets Driving Vets transportation). Additional programs include virtual connection services (Compeer Calling for phone-based friendship, E-Buddies for email-based pen-pal connections), the Family Peer Mentor Program, and Medicaid-billable clinical services — CORE (Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment for HARP-enrolled adults 21+) and CFTSS (Children and Family Treatment and Support Services for Medicaid-covered children under 21). The cost model is reported at approximately $1,273 per year per Compeer friendship match, contrasted against roughly $80,000 per year for institutional mental health facility care.

The organization functions on a community-led go-to-market motion with revenue derived from individual and corporate donations, planned giving, signature fundraising events (notably the annual Compeer Mile walk which raised over $90,000 in 2025 with more than 200 participants), and a merchandise store selling branded apparel and accessories ($5-$50 price range). The distribution model is direct program delivery through volunteer matching, with a supplementary e-commerce channel for merchandise and online donation platform. Strategic partnerships extend the value proposition: cultural institutions including George Eastman Museum, Memorial Art Gallery, YMCA, Strong National Museum of Play, and others provide free or discounted enrichment activities for Compeer matches, while government partnerships with Monroe County Veterans Service Agency (PFC Dwyer Initiative), Monroe County Office of Mental Health, and the Veterans Outreach Center anchor the veteran services portfolio. The technology stack is minimal — built on Squarespace with manual web-based forms for volunteer enrollment and program intake, with no public API, no AI/ML capabilities, and no proprietary digital platform.

Management is led by program-level directors with notable veteran representation (the CompeerCORPS team includes US Navy and US Army veterans). The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status under EIN 22-2482872. It has received regional recognition including a Level Up Champion designation from the Rochester Monroe Alcohol Policy Enforcement & Community coalition for fair-wage employment practices. The stated core value proposition is the cost-efficient prevention of institutionalization for individuals with mental health conditions through community-based friendship matching — a service model the organization indicates is supply-constrained, with professional referrals exceeding current service capacity.

Name

Compeer Rochester

Legal name

Compeer Rochester

Website

https://compeerrochester.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Peer Support, Mentoring & Student Leadership (SEL) (EDAKAMAO)

Keywords

• Mental health support
• Volunteer mentorship
• Peer companionship
• Veteran services
• Community mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

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 and Corporate Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals and corporations supporting mental health programs and services
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, pullovers) and reusable bags through the organization's online store
3. Planned Giving: Planned gift arrangements for long-term donor support
4. Event Fundraising: Revenue from signature events including Compeer Mile walk, Toast to Friendship events, and sponsorship opportunities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Compeer Rochester operates volunteer-based one-to-one friendship and mentoring programs matching community volunteers with youth, adults, and veterans living with mental health challenges. The organization also delivers Medicaid-funded behavioral health support services (CORE and CFTSS), family peer mentoring, virtual phone/email connection programs, and veteran transportation services. Branded merchandise and fundraising events generate supplementary revenue to support the charitable mission.

Product overview

Compeer Rochester operates as a mental health non-profit organization offering a portfolio of volunteer-based friendship and support programs. The core offerings consist of one-to-one matching programs across three populations: Youth Program (mentoring for youth facing mental health challenges), Adult Program (companionship for adults with mental illness), and CompeerCORPS (veteran peer-to-peer services including the Vets Driving Vets transportation initiative). Additional programs include virtual connection services (Compeer Calling for phone-based friendship and E-Buddies for email-based connections), family support (Family Peer Mentor Program), and Medicaid-funded clinical support services (CORE and CFTSS for psychosocial rehabilitation, peer support, and family training). The organization also sells branded merchandise including apparel and bags featuring the 'Make the World Less Lonely' messaging as a fundraising mechanism.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CompeerCORPS: Veteran-specific program providing vet-to-vet connections through transportation, sports, and recreation activities, including the PFC Dwyer program and Vets Driving Vets transportation services.
• Compeer Mile
• Compeer Calling
• E-Buddies
• Children and Family Treatment and Support Services (CFTSS)
• CORE (Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment Services)

Products and services

• Youth Program

Quantifiable outcome

• The 2025 Compeer Mile raised over $90,000 with more than 200 participants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• George Eastman MuseumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides free admission to Compeer volunteers with ID card for cultural enrichment activities supporting program participants
• Rochester Museum & Science CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides free/discounted admission for Compeer matches to support educational and community engagement activities
• Memorial Art GalleryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides free admission for Compeer volunteers - coordinator must arrange 3 days in advance
• YMCA (Rochester Area)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides day passes for Compeer matches at any branch - coordinator must arrange 3 days in advance
• Strasenburgh PlanetariumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides access for Compeer program participants as part of community enrichment offerings
• Cumming Nature CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides outdoor education and nature experiences for Compeer matches
• Strong National Museum of PlayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOffers discounted admission ($12.50 per person) for Compeer matches
• Stokoe FarmsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOffers discounted admission ($13.00 per person) for Compeer matches with volunteer ID card at VIP booth
• Monroe County Veterans Service AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership through the PFC Dwyer Initiative providing veteran engagement programs, networking, and friendship-building opportunities for veterans transitioning from military to civilian life
• Monroe County Office of Mental HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting mental health services and community-based mental wellness programs
• Veterans Outreach Center of RochestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for veteran services providing additional support resources for CompeerCORPS participants
• Adaptive Sports Program PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVarious organizations supporting CompeerCORPS Adaptive Sports program offering instruction, equipment and support to disabled veterans in sports activities including skiing, sailing, kayaking, and more

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Best Buddies International: National nonprofit creating one-to-one friendship opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Closely matches Compeer Rochester's companionship model applied to a different disability population.
• Compeer International: National umbrella organization for the Compeer model of volunteer-based mental-health companionship. Compeer Rochester is affiliated with this network and uses the same one-to-one friendship matching framework, making it the most direct operational and conceptual peer.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Rochester: Youth mentoring nonprofit using one-to-one volunteer matching in the Rochester region. Highly comparable volunteer-based mentorship model and operational structure, with overlapping youth and family segments.
• Catholic Charities Family and Community Services: Rochester-area social services nonprofit offering behavioral health, family support, and community programs with Medicaid-contracted services. Closely comparable service mix, target population, and Medicaid-funded program overlap with Compeer Rochester's CORE/CFTSS work.
• Veterans Outreach Center of Rochester: Regional nonprofit serving veterans with mental health, housing, and employment needs; named partner of Compeer Rochester in the CompeerCORPS program. Directly comparable veteran-services mission in the same geography.
• NAMI Rochester: Affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness serving the Rochester region with peer-led support groups, education, and advocacy for individuals with mental illness and their families. Overlapping target population and community-based support model.
• Mental Health Association of Rochester / Monroe County: Local peer mental-health nonprofit serving the same Rochester/Monroe County geography with education, advocacy, and direct services. Directly comparable target market, geography, and funding model (donations, grants, Medicaid contracts).

Regional players

• Make-A-Wish Western New York: Regional chapter of a national nonprofit using volunteer-driven, community-engagement model in the same New York geography. Similar non-profit operating model and donor/event fundraising infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals New York: Established disability services nonprofit operating statewide with mental health, behavioral health, and community-based support services. Overlaps with Compeer Rochester's disability/mental health focus at significantly larger scale.
• Volunteers of America (Western New York): Large national social services nonprofit operating behavioral health, housing, and veteran programs across New York state. Broader portfolio than Compeer Rochester but overlapping services in mental health and veteran reinvention support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/compeerrochester
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/compeer-rochester-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Compeer Rochester