PACEs Connection
PACEs Connection is a nonprofit social networking platform connecting roughly 69,000 members across 500 chapters and 60+ countries to advance Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACEs) science through community organizing, education, and trauma-informed practice resources.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What PACEs Connection does
PACEs Connection is a nonprofit social networking platform dedicated to the science of Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACEs), serving individuals, educators, healthcare professionals, community advocates, researchers, and policymakers across 60+ countries. Founded in 2012 by science journalist Jane Ellen Stevens, the platform operates as a programmatic division within the National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives (NPSC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and serves approximately 69,000 members organized into roughly 500 geographic and interest-based chapters. The platform's product suite centers on a web-based community platform at pacesconnection.com, supplemented by the PACEs Science 101 educational module, a LibGuides-hosted Resource Center, the ACEs & PCEs Scores self-assessment, the Cooperative of Communities premium tier with a Community Resilience Tracker, the Growing Resilient Communities (GRC) Framework methodology, a Map the Movement visualization tool (built on Shinyapps.io), a Speakers & Trainers Bureau, and YouTube-archived webinar programming. Notable technical components include built-in tracking systems for monitoring PACEs presentations delivered and community trauma-informed progress, an interactive geographic mapping layer, and reciprocal partner integrations with Origins Training and TraumaInformedJobs.com.
The business model is freemium at its core: individual membership is free, with revenue generated through tax-deductible donations, foundation grants (The Parallel Foundation cited as a major donor), and a premium Champion Membership tier routed through partner platform Resilience Learning Community at a 25% discount. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer self-serve via the website, augmented by a volunteer-staffed community facilitator network covering California regions, partner cross-promotion, and event-driven marketing anchored by the annual Scars to STARs Summit. The organization is volunteer-led with 11-50 employees per firmographics, with Carey Sipp (volunteer editor-at-large and director of upstream strategies) and Dana Brown (volunteer co-director) as key operational leaders, and Diana Fishbein, PhD as NPSC founder and co-director providing institutional oversight. Following a brief April 2025 dormancy due to a funding shortfall, the platform was revived with donor support and transitioned to NPSC as its new nonprofit home; in May 2026 it was formally integrated into the STAR Network ecosystem, marking a strategic shift from standalone PACEs community to a node within a broader trauma recovery network.
PACEs Connection firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PACEs Connection
- Legal name
- National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives (NPSC)
- Website
- https://pacesconnection.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PACEs Connection is a nonprofit social networking platform connecting roughly 69,000 members across 500 chapters and 60+ countries to advance Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACEs) science through community organizing, education, and trauma-informed practice resources.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PACEs Connection industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trauma-Informed Community Platform
- NAICS
- Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (61171), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interest-Based Communities & Forums (BPAMABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- General Web Portals & Start Pages (BPAMAAAA)
Keywords
Where PACEs Connection is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
PACEs Connection business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations. PACEs Connection is a division of the National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives (NPSC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Additional funding from foundations including The Parallel Foundation.
- Membership Fees (Optional Premium): Free basic membership with optional Champion Membership at learn.originstraining.org offering 25% discount for PACEs Connection members. Revenue supports platform maintenance and resource development.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free membership with access to community forums, resources, events, and collaboration tools |
| Subscription | Monthly | Champion Membership - Premium learning community tier |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
PACEs Connection product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PACEs Connection operates a free, web-based social networking platform that connects individuals, professionals, and local chapters around the science of Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACEs). The platform provides community organizing tools (communities map, calendar, forums), a Resource Center of curated educational materials, ACE/PCE self-assessments, a paid Cooperative of Communities membership tier, and a Speakers & Trainers Bureau directory, reaching roughly 69,000 members across 500 chapters in 60+ countries.
Product overview
PACEs Connection is a social networking platform that serves as the core product for promoting trauma-informed and resilience-building practices based on the science of Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACEs). The platform operates as a unified social network with integrated sub-products and modules including PACEs Science 101 educational content, ACEs & PCEs Scores assessment tools, the Resource Center library, PACEs Connection Cooperative of Communities (an enhanced membership tier with coaching and tracking tools), the Growing Resilient Communities (GRC) Framework methodology, Speakers & Trainers Bureau directory, Webinars/YouTube archive, and Map the Movement visualization tool. Additional community features include Calendar, Ask the Community forums, and the CRC Accelerator Program Community for certified practitioners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PACEs Connection Platform Core social networking platform connecting individuals, organizations, and communities around the science of Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACEs), with 500 chapters and roughly 69,000 members across 60+ countries. Offers community forums, calendars, presentations tracker, and community resilience tracker tools.
- PACEs Connection Cooperative of Communities Paid membership tier offering advanced tools for community chapters: diversity, equity and inclusion coaching, tailored webinars, virtual pop-up think tanks, fiscal pass-through services, and the Community Resilience Tracker for mapping progress toward becoming trauma-informed.
- Resource Center (LibGuides) Comprehensive library hosting peer-reviewed journal publications, research, presentations, and other critical tools for raising awareness about PACEs science, organized through the LibGuides platform.
- Speakers & Trainers Bureau Directory service connecting organizations with qualified speakers and trainers who specialize in PACEs science and trauma-informed practices, allowing event organizers and institutions to find vetted presenters.
- CRC Accelerator Program Community Dedicated global community for the CRC (Community Resilience Collaborative) Accelerator certification program, serving as the official home for individual advocates and organizational agents of change to gather, share, and innovate together.
- Map the Movement Interactive visualization tool displaying geographic communities, locations of ACE surveys, PACEs and trauma-informed legislation, and other movement metrics across the U.S. and internationally.
- Champion Membership via Resilience Learning Community Partner-referred premium learning community subscription at learn.originstraining.org, offered to PACEs Connection members at 25% off with code PACESCONNECTION; provides one-stop learning space for resilience practices.
Quantifiable outcome
- 62,094 members reached as of November 2025, growing to 69,000+ members by May 2026
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use PACEs Connection
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
PACEs Connection technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
PACEs Connection partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- STAR Network FoundationcoreSTAR Network Foundation and PACEs Connection announced formal integration in May 2026. PACEs Connection's 69,000-member network spanning 500 chapters will join the STAR Network ecosystem. The integration commemorates 30 years of ACEs science and positions PACEs Connection within a broader trauma recovery network.
- National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives (NPSC)coreNPSC serves as PACEs Connection's nonprofit home, enabling it to secure funding and continue its crucial work. Diana Fishbein, PhD, founder and co-director of NPSC, recognized the importance of PACEs Connection having a nonprofit home with aligned goals. PACEs Connection operates as a division within NPSC.
- Third Sector New England (TSNE)minorFormer fiscal sponsor of PACEs Connection. Transitioned to NPSC as current nonprofit home.
- Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP)minorJesse Kohler, CTIPP executive director, serves as liaison between PACEs Connection and the NPSC board. CTIPP is a key supporter helping connect PACEs Connection to broader trauma-informed policy efforts.
- Berkeley Media Studies GroupminorDr. Lori Dorfman, director of Berkeley Media Studies Group, is a content contributor helping build momentum. Supports media coverage of PACEs science and raising awareness through media strategies.
- TraumaInformedJobs.comminorJob board partnership offering PACEs Connection members 10% discount on job postings using code PACES10. Cross-promotion to trauma and resilience professional communities.
- Resilience Learning Community (Origins Training)minorPartner learning platform offering PACEs Connection members 25% off Champion Membership at learn.originstraining.org using code PACESCONNECTION. One-stop learning space for resilience practices.
- Community Facilitators NetworkminorRegional community facilitators help launch and support local PACEs initiatives: Southern California (Lara Kain), Northern California (Karen Clemmer), San Francisco Bay Area (Donielle Prince), Capitol Region (Gail Kennedy), Central Valley/Monterey/East San Benito counties (Rafael Maravilla).
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
PACEs Connection competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP): National coalition advancing trauma-informed policy and practice through advocacy, training, and resource dissemination. Directly comparable as an existing partner of PACEs Connection operating in the same trauma-informed movement, sharing audiences and mission.
- Childhelp: National nonprofit dedicated to helping victims of child abuse through prevention, intervention, and treatment programs. Comparable to PACEs Connection as a national nonprofit mobilizing communities around childhood adversity, with educational resources and chapter-based organizing.
- The Mighty: Online community platform connecting people facing health conditions and life challenges through stories, forums, and resources. Directly comparable to PACEs Connection as a condition/topic-driven social network with free membership, editorial content, and community groups.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Largest U.S. grassroots mental health organization providing education, support groups, advocacy, and a national peer community. Comparable to PACEs Connection as a nonprofit membership-driven community offering education, peer support, and policy advocacy in mental health and trauma.
- Darkness to Light: Nonprofit focused on child sexual abuse prevention through education, training, and community mobilization. Comparable to PACEs Connection in targeting adults and organizations to address childhood adversity through training programs and grassroots chapters.
- Mental Health America: Community-based nonprofit addressing mental health through screening tools, education, advocacy, and local affiliates. Comparable to PACEs Connection in combining screening/assessment tools, educational resources, and community organizing around mental wellness.
Emerging players
- PatientsLikeMe: Online patient community where members track symptoms, treatments, and outcomes across conditions. Comparable as a health-focused community with member-generated data, tracking tools, and research partnerships, though focused on physical conditions rather than trauma.
Others
- Mighty Networks: Software platform enabling creators and organizations to launch branded community, course, and event experiences. Comparable as infrastructure enabling interest-based online communities, though positioned as a SaaS vendor rather than a content/community operator.
Broad incumbents
- Inspire: Large health community platform hosting condition-specific support communities with peer forums, vetted content, and partnerships with patient advocacy organizations. Comparable as an established condition-based social network infrastructure provider in adjacent health verticals.
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Federated network of academic and resource centers advancing child traumatic stress research, treatment, and education. Comparable as an institutional knowledge hub in the childhood adversity space, though research-driven rather than community-led.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PACEs Connection social profiles
Digital presencePACEs Connection financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PACEs Connection leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
PACEs Connection funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PACEs Connection 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 PACEs Connection
What does PACEs Connection do?
PACEs Connection operates a free, web-based social networking platform that connects individuals, professionals, and local chapters around the science of Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACEs). The platform provides community organizing tools (communities map, calendar, forums), a Resource Center of curated educational materials, ACE/PCE self-assessments, a paid Cooperative of Communities membership tier, and a Speakers & Trainers Bureau directory, reaching roughly 69,000 members across 500 chapters in 60+ countries.
Is PACEs Connection a public or private company?
PACEs Connection is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was PACEs Connection founded?
PACEs Connection was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is PACEs Connection based?
PACEs Connection is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does PACEs Connection make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are membership Fees (Optional Premium).
Who are PACEs Connection's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP), Childhelp, The Mighty, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Darkness to Light and Mental Health America. PatientsLikeMe is listed as an emerging player. Mighty Networks is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Inspire and National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
Does PACEs Connection have an API?
No public API is recorded for PACEs Connection.
What industry is PACEs Connection in?
PACEs Connection's product category is Trauma-Informed Community Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMABAC, Interest-Based Communities & Forums, with a secondary code of BPAMAAAA, General Web Portals & Start Pages. Its NAICS code is 624190 and its SIC code is 8600.