The Rainbow Project
The Rainbow Project is a Madison, Wisconsin-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1980 that delivers trauma-informed mental health counseling, school-based interventions, and crisis response services to young children and families in Dane County.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersMadison, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Rainbow Project does
The Rainbow Project, Inc. is a Madison, Wisconsin-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1980 by Sharyl Kato that delivers trauma-informed, evidence-based mental health services to young children (primarily ages 10 and under) and their families in Dane County and surrounding communities. Its core service portfolio comprises Child & Family Treatment (individualized counseling, diagnostic assessment, play therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, parent education, and in-home treatment); school-based interventions including the Bounce Back program operating in every Madison Metropolitan School District elementary school, CBITS in middle schools, and Smart Start in four designated schools; the Rapid Response crisis intervention team for community violence and trauma; adult support groups such as De Mujer a Mujer (Spanish-speaking mothers) and Grandparents & Other Relatives as Parents (GORP); and the Yo Soy, Yo Soy Unica! girls' empowerment program. The organization also runs a professional consultation and training arm (CORE program and Speaker's Bureau) serving early childhood educators, childcare providers, and social service professionals.
Underlying "technology" is method-driven rather than software-driven: validated therapeutic protocols (TF-CBT, play therapy, Gottman-based Coaches' Corner), school-district-embedded service delivery, and bilingual/bicultural clinical capacity. The business model blends insurance reimbursement (BadgerCare, Group Health Cooperative, Dean Health Care, Quartz), a sliding-fee scale that guarantees no family is turned away for inability to pay, foundation and corporate grants (United Way of Dane County, Wisconsin Council on Criminal Justice, City of Madison Community Development Division, Dane County Department of Human Services, Attic Angel Association), individual donations, and signature event fundraising anchored by the annual Rhumba 4 Rainbow gala (700+ attendees). A 20+-person staff of licensed counselors, clinical social workers, and program coordinators executes the model under founder/executive director Sharyl Kato, with referral pipelines originating from schools, courts, hospitals, law enforcement, DAIS, mental health specialists, and self-referrals.
The Rainbow Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Rainbow Project
- Legal name
- The Rainbow Project, Inc.
- Website
- https://therainbowproject.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Rainbow Project is a Madison, Wisconsin-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1980 that delivers trauma-informed mental health counseling, school-based interventions, and crisis response services to young children and families in Dane County.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Rainbow Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Child and Family Mental Health Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- School-Based Mental & Behavioral Health Services (EDAJAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Family Engagement & Caregiver Support Programs (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAK), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs & Supports (EDAJAIAC), Family & Community Support Services (Case Management, Referrals) (EDAJAIAK), Crisis Response & Threat Assessment (Suicide Prevention, Violence Prevention) (EDAJAIAH)
Keywords
Where The Rainbow Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Rainbow Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to provide trauma-informed therapy and community support for children and families
- Insurance Reimbursement: Accepts BadgerCare, BadgerCare-GHC, BadgerCare-Dean, Group Health Cooperative, Dean Health Care, BadgerCare-Quartz, and Quartz insurance plans
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from organizations including United Way of Dane County, Wisconsin Council on Criminal Justice, and various foundation grants
- Event Fundraising: Annual Rhumba 4 Rainbow gala raising significant funds; received $195,000 from UW Humorology in 2017
- Fee-Based Services with Sliding Scale: Sliding fee scale for uninsured and underinsured families, with alternative funding sources covering gaps
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Sliding Fee Scale for Uninsured/Underinsured |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Rainbow Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Rainbow Project provides trauma-informed, evidence-based mental health services for children (ages 0–11) and their families across Dane County, including individual and family counseling, play therapy, TF-CBT, crisis intervention via Rapid Response, school-based group programs (CBITS, Bounce Back), support programs for relative caregivers, and bilingual Latinx-focused services. It also delivers consultation, training, and speakers through its CORE program and Speaker's Bureau to schools, courts, and community partners.
Product overview
The Rainbow Project is a mental health counseling and community resource organization offering a unified suite of trauma-informed services for children and families in Dane County. The core offering centers on Child & Family Treatment providing individual and family counseling, while specialized programs include crisis support through Rapid Response, children's group therapy (Bounce Back, CBITS, FACE, Yo Soy), adult support groups (De Mujer a Mujer, GORP), and parent education (Coaches' Corner). The organization extends its reach through professional consultation services (CORE program, Speaker's Bureau) and an annual fundraising gala (Rhumba 4 Rainbow). All services use evidence-based approaches including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and play therapy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Child & Family Treatment Core clinical program delivering trauma-informed therapy to children and families through individual, family, and group modalities including play therapy, parent–child interaction therapy, TF-CBT, and customized treatment plans. Designed for children ages 0–11 and their caregivers in Dane County.
- Rapid Response Mobile crisis intervention service providing immediate, on-site mental health response to children, families, schools, and community agencies in Dane County during traumatic events and acute crises.
- Bounce Back School-based small-group intervention for children who have experienced stressful or traumatic events, using trauma-informed psychoeducation and skills practice.
- CBITS (Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools) Evidence-based school-based group program for children exposed to violence or other traumatic events, consisting of structured group sessions plus parent and teacher education components.
- FACE (Fostering Awareness, Compassion, & Empathy) Community-based program focused on building awareness, compassion, and empathy around child trauma, including the Listening Project storytelling initiative.
- Yo Soy, Yo Soy Unica! Bilingual empowerment and self-advocacy program for Latina girls and adolescents, supporting cultural identity, leadership, and resilience in a Spanish-language setting.
- De Mujer a Mujer Spanish-language support program for mothers and female caregivers, combining peer support, parenting education, and self-care.
- GORP (Grandparents & Other Relatives as Parents) Support group program for kinship caregivers — grandparents and other relatives raising children — providing peer support, parenting education, and resource navigation.
- Coaches' Corner Educational outreach program designed to equip youth sports coaches and youth-serving adults with practical tools for supporting young people's mental health and well-being.
- CORE (Consultation, Observation, Resources & Education) Professional consultation, observation, and resource service for schools, courts, agencies, and clinicians seeking trauma-informed guidance, tailored trainings, and resource access.
- Speaker's Bureau Community education offering that provides trained speakers on child mental health, trauma, and related topics to schools, agencies, and community groups.
- Rhumba 4 Rainbow Annual fundraising gala supporting The Rainbow Project's clinical and community programs, featuring dinner, dance, and live/silent auction components.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10,146 children and 9,518 adult caregivers served since founding in 1980 (as of December 2014)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Rainbow Project
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Rainbow Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
The Rainbow Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Journey Mental Health CentercorePartnership for CBITS (Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools) program. Journey Mental Health organizes the FACE (Fostering Awareness, Compassion, and Empathy) network of needs-based groups for K-12 children and youth across Dane County.
- Madison Metropolitan School DistrictcoreComprehensive partnership providing Bounce Back program in every elementary school, CBITS in middle schools, and Smart Start in four designated Madison schools. Rainbow Project therapists provide on-site services across the district.
- City of Madison Community Development DivisioncoreFunding partner for CORE (Consultation, Observation, Resources & Education) program providing free services to accredited early childhood education centers in Madison.
- Dane County Department of Human ServicescoreFunding partner for CORE program and general organizational operations serving Dane County families.
- Attic Angel AssociationminorFunding partner for CORE program supporting early childhood education consultation services.
- United Way of Dane CountycoreLong-standing partnership including Days of Caring volunteer events and committee participation. United Way supports community initiatives addressing family well-being.
- Children of Violent Homes Project PartnerscoreJoint program with Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS), Family Service Madison, and Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin (Briarpatch Division) providing comprehensive services to children exposed to domestic violence.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane CountyminorPartnership pairing children in treatment with mentors. Through this partnership, children like Sullivan are matched with Big Brother mentors who work with Rainbow Project clinicians.
- UW HumorologycoreUniversity of Wisconsin student organization selected The Rainbow Project as beneficiary for their annual musical/variety show, raising $195,000 in 2017.
- Fred Astaire and Tempo Dance StudioscoreDance studios that donated time and instructors for Rhumba 4 Rainbow event, enabling the signature celebrity dance competition.
- Community Coalition MemberscoreActive participation in multiple community coalitions: Children of Violent Homes Project, Dane County Commission on Sensitive Crimes, Child Abuse & Neglect Coordinated Community Response Task Force, Children, Youth & Families Consortium, Domestic Violence Coordinated Community Response Task Force, Five Agency Cooperative Effort (FACE), Trauma-Informed Community Advisory Council.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Rainbow Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS): Madison-based nonprofit providing domestic violence intervention and support; a current Children of Violent Homes Project partner with overlapping child-trauma and family-counseling work.
- Briarpatch Youth Services: Madison-area nonprofit providing youth and family crisis intervention, shelter, and counseling; co-partner on the Children of Violent Homes Project. Strongly comparable in target population and trauma services.
- Family Service Madison: Madison-based nonprofit offering counseling and family support services, including a Children of Violent Homes Project partnership. Directly comparable nonprofit family-services peer in the same geography.
- Journey Mental Health Center: Madison, WI-based community mental health center providing counseling, crisis services, and the FACE network that The Rainbow Project partners with. Directly comparable in geography, target population, and service mix.
Broad incumbents
- Child Mind Institute: National nonprofit providing children's mental health care, education, and research. Overlaps in trauma-informed child therapy services and family support, but at national scale with significantly larger resources.
- Prevent Child Abuse America: National nonprofit focused on child abuse prevention, directly aligned with The Rainbow Project's mission. Comparable in purpose and programs, but operates at national scale rather than a single-county footprint.
- National Children's Alliance: National standards and accreditation body for Children's Advocacy Centers serving abused children. Comparable in mission around child trauma response, though much larger and accreditation-focused rather than direct service.
- Children's Hospital of Wisconsin: Major Wisconsin pediatric health system offering mental and behavioral health services for children. Comparable population and trauma-informed programming, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
- Mental Health America: National nonprofit addressing mental health needs including for children and families. Comparable in mission and education/outreach, but operates nationally and lacks the clinical direct-service focus.
Regional players
- Kids Forward: Wisconsin statewide advocacy and policy organization advancing child and family well-being. Comparable mission focus on Wisconsin children and families, though primarily policy/advocacy rather than direct clinical service.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Rainbow Project social profiles
Digital presenceThe Rainbow Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Rainbow Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
The Rainbow Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Rainbow Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Rainbow Project
What does The Rainbow Project do?
The Rainbow Project provides trauma-informed, evidence-based mental health services for children (ages 0–11) and their families across Dane County, including individual and family counseling, play therapy, TF-CBT, crisis intervention via Rapid Response, school-based group programs (CBITS, Bounce Back), support programs for relative caregivers, and bilingual Latinx-focused services. It also delivers consultation, training, and speakers through its CORE program and Speaker's Bureau to schools, courts, and community partners.
Is The Rainbow Project a public or private company?
The Rainbow Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Rainbow Project founded?
The Rainbow Project was founded in 1980. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Rainbow Project based?
The Rainbow Project is headquartered in Madison, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Rainbow Project make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are insurance Reimbursement, foundation and Corporate Grants, event Fundraising and fee-Based Services with Sliding Scale.
Who are The Rainbow Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS), Briarpatch Youth Services, Family Service Madison and Journey Mental Health Center. Broad incumbents are Child Mind Institute, Prevent Child Abuse America, National Children's Alliance, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and Mental Health America. Kids Forward is listed as a regional player.
Does The Rainbow Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Rainbow Project.
What industry is The Rainbow Project in?
The Rainbow Project's product category is Child and Family Mental Health Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAIAB, School-Based Mental & Behavioral Health Services, with a secondary code of EDAKAMAK, Family Engagement & Caregiver Support Programs (SEL/Mental Health). Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.