Children's Heart Surgery Fund

What Children's Heart Surgery Fund does

Children's Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) is a registered charity in England and Wales (Charity No. 1148359, Company No. 8152970) founded in 1988 by surgeon Duncan Walker at Killingbeck Hospital, Leeds, with the stated mission of enabling children, adults and families affected by congenital heart disease (CHD) to live empowered lives. CHSF is the sole dedicated charity supporting the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit (LCHU) and the surrounding Yorkshire, Humber, North Lincolnshire and North Derbyshire region, and has awarded over £10 million in grants since inception. The organization delivers wraparound services spanning fetal diagnosis through adulthood, including dedicated Family Support Workers, a 5,300+ member private Facebook community, the 2024-launched Youth Hub for ages 13-25, monthly Cardiac Cafes across five cities, the Katie Bear mascot gifted to every surgical child, and a nearly £400k capital pledge to Eckersley House parent accommodation.

Revenue is generated entirely through philanthropic means via a community-led, event-driven go-to-market. Streams include unrestricted public donations, flagship corporate partnerships (Caddick Group, PwC Leeds, Barratt Homes having raised £64k+, Hilton Leeds City, The Alchemist, Priority Space, Welcome Break Charitable Fund, Morrisons Foundation), trust and foundation grants, mass-participation events (Wear Red Day, STEPtember, Yorkshire Marathon, Great North Run, skydiving, Superhero Walk), a Small Society Lottery-licensed weekly draw (£26/6 months or £50/year for a £100 weekly prize), Heart Family Tree dedications at £30/year, branded merchandise including Katie Bear books, legacy giving in partnership with Octopus Legacy, and clothing recycling via Nathan's Wastesavers and affiliate fundraising via JustGiving, EasyFundraising and eBay for Charity.

Operations are run by approximately 12 staff led by CEO Ruth Davany (appointed December 2024) and overseen by an interim Chair of Trustees (Claire Daniels, CEO of Trio Media), from headquarters at B5 Joseph's Well, Hanover Walk, Leeds (LS3 1AB). The trustee board intentionally embeds the LCHU leadership — including a Consultant Congenital Cardiac Surgeon and the Clinical Director and General Manager of the Yorkshire & Humber Congenital Cardiac Network — locking in institutional alignment with the sole NHS beneficiary unit. CHSF publishes annual Impact Reports dating back to 2017 demonstrating outcomes such as more than 17,000 CHD patients supported annually, 350+ open heart surgeries per year, and LCHU recognition as a 'World Class Centre of Excellence'.

Name

Children's Heart Surgery Fund

Legal name

Children's Heart Surgery Fund

Website

https://chsf.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Children's Heart Surgery Fund is a UK registered charity founded in 1988 that funds equipment, staff training, research, and family support for the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit and CHD patients across Yorkshire, the Humber, North Lincolnshire and North Derbyshire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Congenital Heart Disease Charity Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Maternal, Child & Family Health Program Funding (HLAJALAG)

Keywords

• Congenital heart disease support
• Charitable fundraising services
• Family support services
• Medical equipment funding
• Community event fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Donations: CHSF is wholly funded by public donations. Individuals can donate one-time or set up regular giving through the website, phone, post, or bank transfer.
2. Events and Challenges: Revenue from participants in running events (Yorkshire Marathon, Great North Run), adrenaline challenges (skydiving, bungee jumping), and community events (Superhero Walk, Wear Red Day).
3. CHSF Lottery: Weekly lottery with £100 prize. Players pay £26 for 6 months or £50 for a year (effectively 2 weeks free). Smaller lottery means better odds of winning.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including Katie Bear items, clothing, accessories, and event-specific items like Wear Red Day merchandise.
5. Legacy Giving: Gifts left in wills by supporters. Partnership with Octopus Legacy provides free will writing service to encourage legacy donations.
6. Heart Family Tree Dedications: Heart dedications on the tree at Leeds Children's Hospital for £30 per year. Dedication period is one year with option to renew.
7. Clothing Recycling: Partnership with Nathan's Wastesavers places clothing recycling bins across the region. Donated items generate funds for the charity.
8. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with businesses including Charity of the Year programs, event sponsorship, and matched giving. Corporate partners include Caddick Group, PwC Leeds, Barratt Homes, Hilton Leeds City, and The Alchemist.
9. Trusts and Foundations Grants: Grant funding from trusts and foundations for specific projects including equipment, research, family support, and staff training.
10. EasyFundraising and eBay for Charity: Percentage of online purchases through easyfundraising (over 7,000 brands) and eBay sales donated to the charity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Children's Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) is a registered charity wholly funded by donations that supports the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit and families affected by congenital heart disease across Yorkshire, the Humber, North Lincolnshire, and North Derbyshire. The charity provides wraparound family support services (Family Support Workers, Cardiac Cafes, Youth Hub), funds life-saving medical equipment, staff training, and research, and runs a portfolio of fundraising products including a weekly lottery, Heart Family Tree dedications, clothing recycling, events, merchandise, and corporate partnerships.

Product overview

Children's Heart Surgery Fund operates as a unified charity platform providing family support services and fundraising products to support the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit. The core offering centers on Family Support Services including dedicated Family Support Workers, a private Facebook community group, Cardiac Cafes, and the Youth Hub for young people aged 13-25. The fundraising product portfolio includes a weekly lottery, Heart Family Tree dedications, clothing recycling bins, an online merchandise shop, and diverse events (running, adrenaline, family, corporate). Additional offerings include corporate partnerships, schools programs, legacy giving through a free will writing service, and online fundraising tools via JustGiving and EasyFundraising integrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Katie Bear: The official mascot of CHSF. Every child who has open heart surgery at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit receives a Katie Bear teddy, certificate and medal.

Products and services

• Family Support Services Comprehensive support service for cardiac families offering practical, wellbeing, financial and sign-posting assistance; includes dedicated Family Support Workers, a private Facebook community group, Cardiac Cafes, and parent accommodation support for patients treated at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit.
• Youth Hub Free membership program for young people aged 13-25 with congenital heart conditions, providing access to events, Youth Voice panel participation, and peer connection opportunities.
• Cardiac Cafes Social events for parents of young cardiac patients and adult congenital heart patients to meet the CHSF Family Support team and other local families, held across Leeds, Harrogate, Scarborough, York, and Bradford.
• CHSF Weekly Lottery Weekly lottery with a £100 prize every Friday; players subscribe for £26 per 6 months or £50 per year (licensed under the Gambling Act 2005, registration LOTREG/04846/18).
• Heart Family Tree Dedications Annual dedication program at Leeds Children's Hospital allowing supporters to dedicate a colored heart on the tree as a tribute to someone special (£30 for one year, renewable).
• CHSF Merchandise Shop Online shop selling branded merchandise including Katie Bear books (£3.00–£4.50), heart pin badges (£2.00), adult T-shirts (£7.99), baseball caps (£20.00), unisex hoodies (£29.99), water bottles, and Wear Red Day merchandise via Printful print-on-demand.
• CHSF Fundraising Events Range of fundraising events including Wear Red Day, STEPtember walking challenge, Superhero Walk, running events (Yorkshire Marathon, Great North Run, York 10K), adrenaline events (skydiving, Whitby Bungee), family events (Christmas Party), and corporate Golf Days.
• Clothing Recycling Programme Clothes recycling banks placed across Leeds, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Harrogate and surrounding areas via partnership with Nathan's Wastesavers; donated clothing, shoes, towels, bedding and curtains generate funds for CHSF.
• Legacy Giving Programme Will writing and legacy donation program partnered with Octopus Legacy, offering free will writing service (up to £150 value) and guidance on leaving gifts to CHSF.
• Corporate Partnerships Programme Business partnership program offering Charity of the Year partnerships, event sponsorship opportunities, and corporate fundraising events for businesses across Yorkshire, the Humber, North Lincolnshire, and North Derbyshire.
• Schools Programme School fundraising initiative offering free fundraising packs, school assembly support, materials, mascot visits from Katie Bear, and school charity partnerships including Wear Red Day and Charity of the Year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £10 million awarded in grants since 1988
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Priority SpacecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023South Yorkshire company that sponsored complete refit of playroom at Leeds Children's Hospital for children with heart problems. Donated £1,000 to cover 40 children at Christmas Party.
• UnfoldedminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Sustainable clothing brand partnership where 25% of every purchase from CHSF-branded children's clothing range goes to support the charity.
• Nathan's WastesaverscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership to place clothing recycling banks across Yorkshire region. Nathan's Wastesavers operates over 3000 textile banks and 500 book banks across the UK, diverting materials from landfill while raising funds for charity partners.
• Octopus LegacycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree will writing service partnership allowing CHSF supporters to write or update their will for free (cost covered up to £150 by CHSF). Partnership supports legacy giving strategy and future planning.
• JustGivingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline fundraising platform partnership allowing supporters to create personal fundraising pages. All donations through JustGiving are automatically transferred to CHSF.
• Caddick GroupflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerYorkshire-based construction company, active CSR partner supporting CHSF. Featured on 'Heart to Heart' podcast discussing partnership. Committed to providing for the charity in various ways to raise vital funds.
• PwC LeedsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional services firm with Leeds team members and families personally supported by CHSF. Active corporate partner engaging employees in fundraising activities.
• The AlchemistcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurant chain supporting CHSF as corporate partner, explaining why they choose to support the charity.
• Barratt HomesflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor housebuilder and corporate partner that has raised over £64,000 for CHSF. One of three key corporate supporters highlighted on corporate page.
• Hilton Leeds CitycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel partner supporting CHSF, explaining their involvement as one of three key corporate supporters highlighted.
• EasyFundraisingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with easyfundraising platform (7,000+ brands including eBay, Argos, John Lewis, ASOS) allowing supporters to raise free donations when shopping online.
• eBay for CharityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatform partnership allowing sellers to donate 10-100% of sale proceeds directly to CHSF when buying or selling on eBay.
• Run For CharitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership allowing CHSF supporters to sign up and fundraise at events across the country through the Run For Charity platform.
• CATCH LeedscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for youth events, including 'CATCH Day at the Farm' activities for young people with CHD aged 11+.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Charity: Regional children's hospital charity serving Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, which has its own pediatric cardiac services. Comparable regional single-hospital charity model but in the North West rather than Yorkshire.

Direct peers

• Leeds Hospitals Charity: Umbrella charity for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, of which Leeds Children's Hospital (where LCHU sits) is part. Provides corporate infrastructure, donor base, and shared regional fundraising for the same hospital ecosystem CHSF serves.
• Children's Heart Federation: UK national charity focused on congenital heart disease across all ages. Directly comparable mission (CHD family support, awareness, advocacy) but operates nationally rather than regionally, and is a member-led federation rather than hospital-tied.
• Evelina London Children's Charity: Charity supporting Evelina London Children's Hospital, including its children's heart services. Most direct comparable—single-hospital pediatric charity providing family support, equipment funding, and cardiac family services, operating in London region.
• Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital Charity: Regional children's hospital charity supporting Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital. Comparable regional scope, family support services, and hospital partnership model in a different UK region.

Emerging players

• Together for Short Lives: UK charity supporting children with life-limiting/life-threatening conditions and their families. Comparable family support service model but broader palliative focus rather than CHD-specific.
• Tiny Tickers: UK charity focused on early detection of congenital heart disease, providing training for sonographers and pulse oximetry equipment for hospitals. Smaller scale, CHD-specific mission focused on detection rather than surgery support.

Broad incumbents

• Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity: Major UK children's hospital charity raising £100M+ annually for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Comparable in mission (fundraising for pediatric hospital equipment, research, family support) but operates at much larger national scale with broader pediatric focus rather than CHD-specific.
• British Heart Foundation: Largest UK heart charity, funding research into all heart conditions including CHD. Massive scale (£100M+ annual) makes it an incumbent rather than direct peer, but it competes for CHD research funding and donor attention nationally.
• Heart Research UK: National charity funding heart disease research and community health projects. Overlaps with CHSF in funding cardiac research and community health programs but operates nationally rather than tied to a single hospital unit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CHSurgeryFund
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ChildrensHeartSurgeryFund
• Facebookfacebook.com/childrensheartsurgeryfund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/childrens-heart-surgery-fund
• Instagraminstagram.com/childrensheartsurgeryfund
• TikToktiktok.com/@chsurgeryfund

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 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 Children's Heart Surgery Fund