Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources

What Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources does

Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cancer support organization founded in 2006 and operating across seven counties in the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. It is part of the Northwestern Medicine health system and provides more than 100 free programs and services to cancer patients and their families from diagnosis through treatment and up to three years into survivorship. The center runs three physical sites — Geneva (headquarters at 442 Williamsburg Avenue), Warrenville (4525 Weaver Parkway), and Orland Park (at the Northwestern Medicine St. George Cancer Institute) — and is staffed by licensed clinical social workers, licensed counselors, registered dietitians, certified exercise physiologists, and credentialed art instructors, with bilingual English/Spanish clinical capacity.

The service catalog spans counseling and 15+ disease- or population-specific support groups, social work navigation, medical presentations, survivorship programming, touch therapy (massage, reiki, reflexology, facials), nutrition classes, mindful movement (yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, modified fitness), healing-through-art courses, Beautiful You wig and skin workshops, stress management workshops, and an annual Steps for Survivorship walk. Programs are delivered in-person, virtually via Microsoft Teams, and in hybrid formats; recordings are hosted on the @NorthwesternMedicineLivingWell YouTube channel. The technology stack is commodity SaaS (Microsoft Teams, YouTube, WordPress, an NM-hosted registration portal at livingwell.nm.org) — there is no API, no proprietary platform, no AI/ML components, and no patents.

The business model is donation-funded: all services are provided at no charge to participants, with revenue sourced entirely from individual, business, and foundation donations supplemented by an annual walk fundraiser and minor cause-marketing partnerships (PRIDE Stores Spirit Pump, Pink Patch Project). Marketing and patient acquisition are primarily referral-based via Northwestern Medicine cancer center social workers and physicians, supplemented by community outreach, the program guide distribution, the website, an e-newsletter, and Facebook.

Name

Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources

Legal name

Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resource Center

Website

https://livingwellcrc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing 100+ free cancer support programs (counseling, social work, fitness, nutrition, art, touch therapy, wigs) to patients and families across seven western Chicago suburban counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

Keywords

• Cancer support services
• Psychosocial oncology programs
• Cancer survivorship resources
• Oncology wellness programs
• Cancer patient counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Community Donations: Living Well Cancer Resources is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies entirely on charitable donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations to fund all programs and services. All offerings are provided free of charge to participants.
2. Annual Walk Event: The annual Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources Walk: Steps for Survivorship generates fundraising proceeds that support educational and clinical support programs and services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Living Well Cancer Resources is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cancer support organization providing over 100 free programs and services to cancer patients and their families across seven counties in the western suburbs of Chicago. Offerings include medical education presentations, licensed counseling and support groups, social work services, touch therapy, art classes, nutrition education, mindful movement/fitness classes, wig boutique services, and survivorship programs, delivered in-person at three Illinois locations and virtually via Microsoft Teams.

Product overview

Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources is a nonprofit cancer resource center providing over 100 free programs and services to cancer patients and their families across seven counties in the western suburbs of Chicago. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of support services organized into distinct programs: Medical Presentations (virtual medical discussions via Microsoft Teams), Social Work Services, Survivorship Programs (including Back-On-Track series), Counseling and Support Groups (with over 15 different groups for specific cancer types and needs), Stress Management Workshops, Touch Therapy Services (massage, reiki, reflexology, facials), Healing Through Art Classes, Nutrition Classes, Mindful Movements (yoga and fitness), Beautiful You Workshops (for hair and skin care), Wig Boutique (free wigs), and Spanish Language Services. All programs are provided at no cost to participants thanks to community donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medical Presentations Virtual medical updates and special discussions supporting patients during their cancer journey, from initial diagnosis through treatment and into early survivorship. Presented via Microsoft Teams.
• Social Work Services Licensed social workers connect patients to resources and education to help reduce stress and remove barriers to care, including assistance with transportation, lodging, household finances, and employment challenges.
• Survivorship Programs Comprehensive survivorship support including the Back-On-Track Surviving Survivorship Series (7-week program), Being Well Nutrition Series, exercise and mindful movement programs, and Scanxiety Drop-In Group.
• Counseling and Support Groups Individual and family counseling services available in-person and virtual, plus multiple support groups including Scanxiety Drop-In, Good Grief, Caregiver Support, Facing Cancer Together (FACT), Men's Networking, Prostate Support, Head and Neck, Breast (General, Mastectomy, Metastatic), Gynecological, Young Adult, Brain Tumor, Colorectal Cancer, and Spanish-Speaking Support Groups.
• Stress Management Workshops Classes and workshops promoting self-care, staying present, and healthy coping strategies for patients in treatment and early survivorship, as well as caregivers. Includes Sound Bath, Book Club, Group Sound Healing, and Self-Care workshops.
• Touch Therapy Services Therapeutic services including massage, facials, reflexology, reiki, and vibrational sound therapy to relieve muscle tension, assist in pain relief, and provide overall well-being and relaxation. Up to five touch therapy appointments available for patients in active treatment or early survivorship.
• Healing Through Art Classes Four-week art courses led by art instructors, covering various mediums including watercolor, clay, jewelry making, mosaics, macramé, woodburning, and more. No previous art experience required. Available at Geneva, Warrenville, Orland Park locations, and virtually.
• Nutrition Classes Nutrition education classes led by Living Well Dietitians for patients and caregivers. Eating Well series supports patients in active treatment; Being Well series guides patients in early survivorship. Includes Ask a Dietitian sessions and Spanish-language Healthy Hispanic Cooking presentations.
• Mindful Movements (Yoga and Fitness) Fitness and yoga classes modified for cancer patients in treatment or early survivorship. Offerings include Pilates, Bone Health Light, Tai Chi, Groove (cardio dance), Chair Yoga, Chair Fitness for Lymphedema and Neuropathy, Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Pelvic Strength for Men. Exercise consultations available with Wellness Coordinator.
• Wig Boutique Virtual or in-person wig consultations for patients experiencing hair loss from cancer treatment. Wigs are provided at no cost to patients thanks to community donations. Consultations available at Geneva, Warrenville, and Northwestern Medicine St. George Cancer Institute locations.
• Beautiful You Workshops Workshops helping patients experiencing hair loss from cancer treatment, offering scalp and hair regrowth care, wig selection assistance, and instruction on accessorizing with scarves and hats, plus eyebrow recreation techniques. Beautiful You Skin Workshop addresses skin changes from treatment.
• Steps for Survivorship Walk Event Annual fundraising walk event featuring a 1-mile walk and family-friendly festival to celebrate cancer survivors and support Living Well programs.
• Spanish Language Services Full Spanish-language programming including counseling services, Spanish Support Group, Yoga en Espanol, and bilingual staff support. All services provided at no cost to Spanish-speaking patients and caregivers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of patients and families supported annually with free programs and services

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Rochelle Police DepartmentminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2021The Rochelle Police Department partnered with the Pink Patch Project to sell pink patches and apparel, raising over $5,000 for Living Well Cancer Resources in honor of breast cancer awareness month.
• Northwestern MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiving Well Cancer Resources is part of the Northwestern Medicine network. The organization is aligned with Northwestern Medicine in establishing and implementing strategic direction. Staff work with Northwestern Medicine cancer centers including Delnor Hospital, Warrenville Cancer Center, Kishwaukee Hospital Cancer Center, Valley West Hospital Cancer Center, McHenry Hospital Cancer Center, and others to provide integrated cancer support services.
• American Cancer SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeautiful You workshops are led by Jamie Ott, an American Cancer Society-trained and experienced wig fitter who has been fitting wigs for more than 15 years.
• PRIDE Stores / Parent PetroleumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPRIDE of St. Charles – BP gas station features a Spirit Pump with Living Well graphics. A portion of proceeds from all PRIDE Store fuel sales supports Living Well Cancer Resources.
• Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center WarrenvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial workers from Living Well work directly with individuals and families impacted by cancer in Infusion, Medical Oncology, and Radiation Oncology settings at the Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center in Warrenville.
• The Conservation FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Conservation Foundation partners with Living Well to present programs on unlocking health and wellness benefits of nature, including Forest Therapy Guide certification activities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: Largest U.S. cancer-focused nonprofit, offering patient support (including Hope Lodge lodging), information, and research funding - overlapping with Living Well's patient-support mission at much greater scale.
• Susan G. Komen: Major breast-cancer-focused nonprofit funding patient navigation, treatment assistance, and support programs - adjacent to Living Well's breast cancer support groups and survivorship offerings.
• Northwestern Memorial HealthCare: Parent health system that operates the cancer centers where Living Well is embedded; comparable in mission to deliver oncology care in the Chicago region and the source of all clinical referrals.
• Livestrong Foundation: National nonprofit supporting cancer survivors through navigation, fertility preservation, and survivorship programs - directly analogous to Living Well's survivorship programming.

Direct peers

• Imerman Angels: Chicago-based nonprofit providing free one-on-one peer mentor matching for cancer patients and caregivers - closely comparable psychosocial support mission to Living Well's counseling and support groups.
• Wellness House: Hinsdale, IL-based nonprofit offering free psychosocial and wellness programs to cancer patients, mirroring Living Well's model, services, and geographic focus in the same Chicago western suburbs.
• Cancer Support Community: National nonprofit network providing free psychosocial support, counseling, and educational programs to cancer patients; the closest national analog to Living Well's service model.
• Gilda's Club Chicago: Free cancer-support community providing counseling, support groups, education, and wellness programming to cancer patients and families - directly comparable service mix to Living Well's.

Others

• Hope Lodge (American Cancer Society): Free lodging program for cancer patients receiving treatment; comparable in mission of removing financial and logistical barriers to cancer care, even though the service (lodging vs. psychosocial support) differs.

Regional players

• Rush University Cancer Center: Chicago-area academic cancer center running its own patient support and survivorship programs - a regional incumbent offering overlapping psychosocial services to a similar patient base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NorthwesternMedicineLivingWell
• Facebookfacebook.com/livingwellcrc
• Xx.com/livingwellcrc

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 Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources