The Compassionate Friends

What The Compassionate Friends does

The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is the world's largest self-help bereavement organization, providing peer-to-peer friendship, understanding, and hope to families who have experienced the death of a child at any age from any cause. Founded in 1969 in Coventry, England by Anglican chaplain Simon Stephens, the U.S. national organization was formed in 1978 when representatives of 40 independent American branches convened in Hinsdale, Illinois, and serves parents, siblings, and grandparents through a network of more than 500 local chapters across all 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. Chapter support groups are led by trained volunteers who are themselves bereaved family members, lending authenticity to the peer-support model.

The organization's core products are in-person local chapter meetings, 24/7 private Facebook groups and online support communities, live and recorded webinars, an extensive article and blog library, the quarterly "We Need Not Walk Alone" magazine, and the annual National Conference. The underlying technology is a web-based platform (compassionatefriends.org) featuring a chapter locator tool, donation processing, and content publication, with calendar integrations (Google Calendar, Outlook, iCalendar) and Cvent-based event registration; no native mobile app or public API is offered. Auxiliary offerings include the Worldwide Candle Lighting memorial event, an online shop for books and memorial items, and curated crisis/funeral-service provider resources.

TCF is a privately held non-profit (EIN 36-2968329) governed by a Board of Directors and led by CEO Andy McNiel. Revenue is generated from individual and memorial donations, conference registration fees (Adult $320, Active Military/Student $245, Child $200), the iGive.com shopping-mall affiliate channel (up to 26% of purchases at more than 700 participating retailers), and a long-duration endowment administered through the wholly-owned TCF Foundation (EIN 36-4373348), which distributes approximately 5% of assets annually. The Legacy Circle planned-giving program accepts bequests, securities, retirement-plan assets, life insurance proceeds, and real property. Core bereavement support services are provided free of charge; TCF is BBB Wise Giving Alliance accredited and listed by Independent Charities of America.

Name

The Compassionate Friends

Legal name

The Compassionate Friends

Website

https://compassionatefriends.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Compassionate Friends is a U.S. non-profit providing free peer-to-peer bereavement support to families after the death of a child, serving parents, siblings, and grandparents through 500+ local chapters across all 50 states, plus 24/7 online communities and an annual national conference.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bereavement Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL), Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Family Aftercare) (HSABAFAI)

Keywords

• Bereavement support services
• Peer grief counseling
• Nonprofit community organization
• Child loss support
• Support group network

Headquarters

HQ city

Oak Brook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Memorial Gifts: The primary revenue source comes from donations from individuals, families, and supporters. Donations support the mission of assisting families in their natural grief journey following the death of a child. The organization also receives memorial gifts in memory of deceased children.
2. iGive.com Shopping Program: Through the iGive.com shopping mall partnership, TCF receives up to 26% of purchases made by registered supporters at participating stores. This includes major retailers such as Apple iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Target, and others.
3. Conference Registration Fees: Revenue from national conference registrations including Adult Registration ($320), Active Military/Student Registration ($245), and Child Registration (6-17 years old, $200).
4. TCF Foundation Endowment: TCF Foundation manages an endowment fund with gifts of $5,000 or more. The foundation distributes approximately 5% of its total assets to TCF for operations annually. Accepts contributions of stock, insurance, IRA's, bequests, and property.
5. Planned Giving - Legacy Circle: Planned giving program allowing supporters to include TCF in their estate planning through bequests, with gifts from cash, securities, retirement plans, life insurance proceeds, or real property.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The Compassionate Friends is a non-profit peer-support organization providing grief support services to families who have experienced the death of a child at any age from any cause. Through a network of 500+ local chapters and 24/7 online communities, it offers in-person and virtual peer support groups, educational webinars, annual national conferences, and a quarterly magazine. The organization is funded primarily through donations, memorial gifts, and planned giving programs.

Product overview

The Compassionate Friends is a non-profit peer support organization providing a comprehensive suite of grief support services for families who have experienced the death of a child. The organization operates through a network of over 500 local chapters offering in-person support groups, supplemented by 24/7 online communities via private Facebook groups, live webinars, and an extensive library of articles and blog content. The flagship offering is the annual National Conference featuring workshops, sharing sessions, and memorial activities. Additional resources include the quarterly 'We Need Not Walk Alone' magazine, the Worldwide Candle Lighting memorial event, curated grief support literature, and planned giving programs through the TCF Foundation and Legacy Circle. The organization connects bereaved families through multiple channels including a chapter locator tool and online shop, serving parents, siblings, and grandparents across all 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TCF National Conference: Annual national conference for bereaved families featuring workshops, keynote speakers, and peer support sessions
• Worldwide Candle Lighting
• We Need Not Walk Alone
• TCF Legacy Circle

Products and services

• Local Chapter Support Groups In-person peer support groups for bereaved families facilitated by trained volunteers, with over 500 chapters in all 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico.
• Online Support Communities 24/7 private Facebook groups and online support communities providing round-the-clock peer-to-peer grief support for parents, siblings, and grandparents.
• TCF National Conference Annual multi-day conference featuring workshops, sharing sessions, keynote speakers, candle lighting ceremony, and Walk to Remember for bereaved families. Registration: Adult $320, Active Military/Student $245, Child (6-17) $200.
• We Need Not Walk Alone Magazine Quarterly digital and print magazine featuring articles, personal stories, and resources for the bereaved family community.
• Worldwide Candle Lighting Annual memorial event held each December where participants light candles simultaneously to remember deceased children worldwide.
• Webinars Live and recorded online educational sessions on grief topics led by grief experts and bereaved family members.
• TCF Foundation Endowment Endowment fund accepting gifts of $5,000 or more (stock, insurance, IRAs, bequests, and property), distributing approximately 5% of total assets annually to TCF for operations.
• TCF Legacy Circle (Planned Giving)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 chapters providing local support across all 50 states
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Open to Hope FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Open to Hope Foundation donated the website for The Compassionate Friends in loving memory of Scott Preston Horsley. This partnership provides the digital infrastructure that enables TCF to serve bereaved families online.
• iGive.comminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributoriGive.com shopping mall partnership allows supporters to designate The Compassionate Friends as their charity of choice. TCF receives up to 26% of purchases from registered supporters shopping at 700+ participating stores including major retailers like Apple, Barnes & Noble, Target, and others.
• HSN CaresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHSN Cares selected The Compassionate Friends as their Charity of the Day, providing a generous donation to support the organization's mission of helping bereaved families.
• Hilton Baltimore Inner HarborminorOthersConference venue partner for the 49th National Conference in Baltimore, MD. TCF has secured a discounted room rate of $189/night (reg. $334+/night) for attendees.
• Nationwide (Conference Sponsor)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNationwide insurance company served as a conference sponsor for the 41st National Conference in St. Louis. A Nationwide representative shared his family's personal experience with tragedy during the conference, connecting deeply with attendees.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SHARE Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support: A nonprofit offering support to families who have experienced pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or infant death through support groups, helplines, and education. Comparable to TCF in serving bereaved families after the death of a child, though narrower in scope to pregnancy/infant loss.
• Bereaved Parents of the USA: A nationwide nonprofit self-help organization offering support to bereaved parents, siblings, and grandparents through local chapters and gatherings. Directly comparable to TCF's mission and chapter-based delivery model for families after the death of a child.
• The Dougy Center: The first center in the US dedicated to grieving children and families, providing peer-support groups, training, and education. Comparable to TCF as a pioneer peer-support bereavement organization with direct program overlap in family grief support.
• Compassionate Friends UK: The original UK chapter founded by Simon Stephens in 1969 that subsequently spawned the US organization. Directly comparable as the sister organization with the same mission, peer-support model, and chapter-based delivery for bereaved parents.
• MISS Foundation: A nonprofit providing crisis support, long-term bereavement counseling, and advocacy for families after the death of a child. Comparable to TCF in addressing bereaved families post-child-loss with peer and counseling support.
• TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors): A national nonprofit providing peer-based emotional support, resources, and programs to those grieving the death of a military loved one. Comparable to TCF as a peer-support bereavement nonprofit with a defined bereaved-family segment, 24/7 resources, and annual conferences.
• National Alliance for Grieving Children: A national nonprofit network providing resources and programs for children and families grieving a death. Closely comparable to TCF as both serve bereaved families through peer-support and education, though NAGC focuses specifically on grieving children rather than bereaved parents/siblings/grandparents.

Emerging players

• Centering Corporation: A nonprofit publisher and resource center for grief and bereavement books and materials, including resources for bereaved parents. Comparable to TCF in serving grieving families through education and resources, with a narrower focus on published content rather than peer-support groups.
• What's Your Grief: An online grief education community run by mental health professionals, offering articles, podcasts, and resources. Comparable to TCF in providing grief education and support, though digital-only and clinically-led rather than peer-led chapter-based.

Broad incumbents

• Hospice Foundation of America: A nonprofit providing leadership in end-of-life care and bereavement education, including programs for families coping with loss. Comparable to TCF in bereavement education focus, though broader in scope (hospice, end-of-life) and not specifically child-loss focused.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tcfofusa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/compassionatefriends
• Facebookfacebook.com/TCFUSA
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecompassionatefriends
• Pinterestpinterest.com/compfriends

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 The Compassionate Friends