What Twist Out Cancer does

Twist Out Cancer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2011 and headquartered in Villanova, Pennsylvania, that provides social and emotional support to individuals touched by cancer through creative arts programming. Its flagship program, Brushes with Cancer, pairs volunteer artists with cancer survivors, previvors, and caregivers ("Inspirations") to create original artwork inspired by each Inspiration's personal story, culminating in public art exhibitions. Complementary programs include Twistshops and Twist Hearts (art-therapy based workshops and collaborative installations), Runway of Resilience (a fashion show featuring individuals impacted by cancer), Plates with Purpose (restaurant partnership fundraisers), a podcast series, and a licensed program framework adopted by universities and healthcare institutions such as Wayne State University, Henry Ford Cancer, and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. The organization also offers peer-to-peer mentorship in partnership with Imerman Angels, and distributes branded merchandise and original artwork through a Shopify storefront.

The organization is volunteer-led, with a network of 200+ active ambassadors across Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Ann Arbor, Austin, Tel Aviv, Toronto, and Montreal, and has reached more than 256,000 people cumulatively since inception. Its technology footprint is limited to a standard nonprofit website, NeonCRM donation infrastructure, and a Shopify shop — there is no proprietary platform, API, or developer-facing product; the core 'technology' is the structured methodology for matching artists with Inspirations and producing exhibitions.

Twist Out Cancer generates revenue through a diversified nonprofit income model: tax-deductible individual and corporate donations, event ticket sales and sponsorships (e.g., $175-per-person Plates with Purpose dinners, Brushes with Cancer exhibition sponsors), licensing fees from institutional partners running their own programs, original artwork sales, and merchandise. Past corporate and foundation support includes the Semel Family Fund, General Motors Design Center, and a pro bono collaboration with Pentagram for its 10th anniversary publication. The organization has not raised institutional funding rounds, does not disclose revenue, and operates under Founder/CEO Jenna Benn Shersher with a small paid staff augmented by an executive board of cancer survivors and industry professionals.

Name

Twist Out Cancer

Legal name

Twist Out Cancer

Website

https://twistoutcancer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Twist Out Cancer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides social and emotional support to cancer survivors, previvors, and caregivers through creative arts programming — pairing volunteer artists with individuals touched by cancer to produce original artwork, art-therapy workshops, and community exhibitions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Villanova

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individual donors, corporate partners, and foundations supporting the organization's mission of providing social and emotional support through creative arts programming.
2. Event Tickets and Sponsorships: Revenue from Brushes with Cancer exhibitions, Runway of Resilience fashion shows, and Plates with Purpose dining events. Sponsorships from corporate partners for specific programs.
3. Artwork Sales: Sale of artwork created through the Brushes with Cancer program, where original pieces inspired by cancer survivors' stories are available for purchase.
4. Licensing Programs: Licensed Brushes with Cancer programs at universities and healthcare institutions, including Wayne State University, Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, and Adrienne Arsht Center for Performing Arts.
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise through the Twist Out Cancer shop, including the 'A Brush with Cancer' coffee table book and other items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Twist Out Cancer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides psychosocial support, education, and community programming for cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones. The organization runs signature programs such as Brushes With Cancer (an art-auction benefit), The Scarf Movement (a scarf-knitting outreach initiative), and the Twist Out Cancer Ambassador Program, connecting individuals affected by cancer through storytelling, peer support, and creative expression.

Product overview

Twist Out Cancer operates as a nonprofit organization providing social and emotional support to individuals touched by cancer through creative arts programming. The organization's portfolio consists of multiple interconnected programs: the flagship Brushes with Cancer program which pairs artists with Inspirations to create artwork; Twistshops and Twist Hearts as art-therapy based workshop programs; Runway of Resilience as a fashion event program; Plates with Purpose as a restaurant partnership initiative; and content programs including a podcast and coffee table book. Additional offerings include merchandise (Brushes Up), licensing programs for institutional partners, and peer-to-peer support through an Imerman Angels partnership. The programs are designed to help cancer patients, survivors, previvors, and caregivers share stories, find connection, and heal through creative expression.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Brushes with Cancer: Signature program that pairs volunteer Artists with Inspirations (individuals touched by cancer) to create original artwork guided by each Inspiration's stories, experiences, and spirit.
• Twistshops
• Twist Hearts
• Runway of Resilience
• Plates with Purpose

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 256,000 people impacted globally since 2012
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Midnight PastaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 July 2026Philadelphia pasta restaurant hosting Plates with Purpose benefit dinner on July 9th at BLDG 39, featuring a five-course family-style dinner with tickets at $175 per person benefiting Twist Out Cancer's free creative arts programming.
• MadCat BrewtiqueminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Philadelphia coffee shop partnered to donate $1 per 'Twist' drink sold (black sesame latte swirled with strawberry purée) to Twist Out Cancer, supporting programs for survivors, previvors, caregivers, and artists.
• Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing ArtsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership for Brushes with Cancer programming in 2025 and 2026, integrating the arts-based cancer support program into the performing arts center's community programming.
• Henry Ford Cancer (Brigitte Harris Cancer Pavilion)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2023Healthcare partner displaying select Brushes with Cancer artwork from Wayne State University's licensed program in the Brigitte Harris Cancer Pavilion at Henry Ford Cancer in Detroit, providing ongoing visibility for the program.
• Imerman AngelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeer-to-peer support partnership providing mentorship connections for cancer fighters, survivors, previvors, and caregivers. Imerman Angels offers one-on-one mentorship with nearly 17,000 volunteers who have been touched by cancer, complementing Twist Out Cancer's creative arts programming with direct peer support.
• PentagrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's largest independent design consultancy (50 years old, 23 partners worldwide, 10 in NYC) partnered pro bono with Twist Out Cancer to design the 10th anniversary coffee table book, transforming program data and participant stories into a visual narrative.
• Wayne State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensed Brushes with Cancer program featuring 17 Artists from Art, Art History, Art Education, and Art Therapy departments, matched with cancer survivors, previvors, and caregivers from around the country for art creation and campus exhibition.
• Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensed Brushes with Cancer program hosting partner in 2023, bringing the creative arts program to their community of pancreatic cancer patients, survivors, and families.
• MD Anderson Cancer Center at CoopermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare institution partnership celebrating 10 years of collaboration with Twist Out Cancer through a collaborative art project supporting their patients and community.
• WNDR MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago museum venue partner hosting the 10th anniversary Brushes with Cancer celebration and art exhibition, combining art, technology, and community in an innovative museum setting.
• General Motors Design CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan-based design center hosted the 2020 Brushes with Cancer program, providing venue and corporate support for the creative arts programming.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Imerman Angels: Cancer-focused nonprofit providing one-on-one peer mentorship connections for fighters, survivors, previvors, and caregivers. Direct peer in psychosocial cancer support; Twist Out Cancer explicitly partners with Imerman Angels to deliver this exact complementary service.
• CancerCare: National nonprofit offering free professional support services including counseling, support groups, and financial assistance to anyone affected by cancer. Closely aligned beneficiary population (patients, caregivers, survivors) and psychosocial support model.
• Young Survival Coalition: Nonprofit dedicated to young adults diagnosed with breast cancer, providing resources, connections, and advocacy. Direct peer in serving younger cancer-affected populations through community-based support programming.
• Stupid Cancer: Nonprofit focused on young adults affected by cancer, providing community, resources, and advocacy. Comparable mission to support young adult cancer patients and survivors through community programming and peer connection.
• National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship: Advocacy and survivorship-focused nonprofit promoting quality cancer care and patient empowerment. Comparable in serving the cancer survivor community with a strong psychosocial and advocacy orientation.
• Cancer Support Community: National nonprofit providing psychosocial support to cancer patients and families through in-person and virtual programs. Most directly comparable to Twist Out Cancer in mission (emotional/social support vs. medical treatment), programming model, and beneficiary population.
• Livestrong Foundation: One of the most recognized cancer survivorship nonprofits, providing navigation, emotional support, and fertility/financial resources. Operates at much larger scale but serves the same survivor and caregiver population with overlapping psychosocial support programming.

Emerging players

• Lacuna Loft: Smaller nonprofit providing support, creative outlets, and community for young adults facing cancer. Comparable mission and creative-arts-adjacent programming, though smaller scale than Twist Out Cancer.
• Elephants and Tea: Media and community nonprofit for young adults impacted by cancer, producing content and community programming. Comparable in blending creative storytelling with psychosocial support for a similar demographic.
• The Samfund: Nonprofit providing financial support and resources to young adult cancer survivors. Comparable in serving young adult cancer survivors through direct support programming and a community-driven model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/twistoutcancer
• Xx.com/TwistOutCancer
• Facebookfacebook.com/TwistOutCancer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/twist-out-cancer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Twist Out Cancer