Cupcakes of HOPE
Cupcakes of HOPE is a South African non-profit that provides direct financial assistance, hospital care bags, and emotional support to children with cancer and their families across 21 paediatric oncology wards, funded through community cupcake fundraisers, corporate partnerships, and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersGauteng, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Cupcakes of HOPE does
Cupcakes of HOPE is a South African non-profit company (NPC 2012/103028/08) founded in 2012 by Sandy Cipriano, following the cancer diagnosis of her two-year-old goddaughter Chiara. The organization provides direct financial assistance to children with cancer and their families, covering medical costs, medications, wheelchairs, prosthetics, travel expenses, and day-to-day living costs. It operates across 21 paediatric oncology wards in South Africa, currently assisting 140-258 patients monthly and having served over 10,000 financial requests cumulatively over a decade. Complementary programmes include hospital care bag deliveries (3,022 in 2024), birthday celebrations (111 children in 2024), and educational support through products like Able the Lion Comfort Buddy and Blankets of HOPE.
The organization's core fundraising model is community-driven, anchored by the annual National Cupcake Day campaign — South Africa's first, launched in 2012 — which mobilizes registered bakers, Cupcake Angels volunteers, and community ambassadors to bake and sell cupcakes at malls and Parties of Hope across the country. Corporate partnerships augment this base, most notably a long-standing relationship with Mugg & Bean (since 2012) that has raised over R2.6 million cumulatively through per-item donations, and newer partnerships with Louis57foundation, Nedbank, and Centurion Country Club. The organization holds dual qualifying status as a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO930053726) and BEE/Social Economic Development Certificate holder, providing donors with both tax deductions and B-BBEE/SED compliance points.
Revenue mix combines donations and fundraising (primary), e-commerce merchandise sales (hoodies, aprons, caps, ribbons, virtual cupcakes), corporate partnership contributions, and B-BBEE/SED-aligned institutional giving. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, layered with direct-to-consumer donation and merchandise sales through the website. The organization is led by Founder Sandy Cipriano, Director & Patient Support Administrator Rochelle Van Gent, and Director & Head of Finances Lucy Fernandes, supported by a team of 11-50 employees and an extensive volunteer network.
Cupcakes of HOPE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cupcakes of HOPE
- Legal name
- Cupcakes of Hope Non-Profit Company
- Website
- https://cupcakesofhope.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cupcakes of HOPE is a South African non-profit that provides direct financial assistance, hospital care bags, and emotional support to children with cancer and their families across 21 paediatric oncology wards, funded through community cupcake fundraisers, corporate partnerships, and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cupcakes of HOPE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Cancer Fundraising Services
- NAICS
- Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Blood, Organ & Tissue Donation Organizations (BPAGACAJ)
Keywords
Where Cupcakes of HOPE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gauteng
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cupcakes of HOPE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue stream through community fundraising events including National Cupcake Day, Parties of Hope, corporate events, and individual donations. Funds are used to provide financial assistance to children with cancer for medical expenses, wheelchairs, prosthetics, and day-to-day living costs.
- Product Sales (E-commerce): Online shop selling merchandise including Angel Hoodies (R300), Aprons (R160), Caps (R100), Ribbons of Hope (R50), Cancer Badges (R10), Cooling Towels, Journal & Pen Sets, and Angel Packs. Also sells virtual cupcakes (R20) and care bag sponsorships.
- Corporate Partnership Donations: Ongoing donations from corporate partners like Mugg & Bean who donate R1 per giant muffin sold and R2 per cupcake sold. Partnership since 2012 has raised over R2.6 million for the organization.
- BEE/Social Economic Development Contributions: Companies donating to Cupcakes of Hope receive points towards their B-BBEE/SED status, providing tax benefits and incentivizing corporate donations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Virtual Cupcake - R20 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sponsor a Hospital Activity Care Bag - R150 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sponsor a Birthday Gift - R250 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Angel Hoodies - R300 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Aprons - R160 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Caps - R100 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ribbons of Hope - R50 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Supporter Cancer Badge - R10 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Donation Amounts |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Cupcakes of HOPE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cupcakes of HOPE is a South African non-profit that mobilises community-led cupcake fundraisers, donations, and merchandise sales to provide financial, emotional, and material support to children with cancer and their families. Core offerings include the Party of Hope and National Cupcake Day fundraising programs, the Bake Box Initiative for schools and corporates, structured donation products (Hospital Activity Care Bags, Birthday Gifts, Virtual Cupcakes), an e-commerce merchandise shop, and direct financial assistance for medical treatment, equipment, and living expenses delivered through 21 paediatric oncology ward partnerships.
Product overview
Cupcakes of HOPE operates as a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of fundraising programs and donation-based products to support children with cancer in South Africa. The core offerings include the Party of Hope fundraising program, National Cupcake Day annual campaign, Bake Box Initiative for schools and companies, Ambassador Program for community advocacy, and Cancer Early Detection educational guides. The organization sells merchandise including Angel Hoodies, aprons, caps, and branded items through its shop. Special products include Able the Lion comfort buddy toys with medical equipment for play therapy and Blankets of HOPE with educational activities for bedridden patients. Donation products allow supporters to contribute toward hospital care bags (R150), birthday gifts (R250), and virtual cupcakes (R20).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Party of Hope
Quantifiable outcome
- 2,568 families received financial assistance in 2024
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Cupcakes of HOPE
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Cupcakes of HOPE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Cupcakes of HOPE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and flagship.
- NedbanksupportingSupported Christmas care bag deliveries and distribution. Listed as partner in bringing holiday joy to cancer warriors and families.
- Alberton Methodist ChurchsupportingProvided premises for preparing Christmas care bags and volunteer support for distribution to families.
- Fountains of IhsansupportingDonated care bags contributing to Christmas delivery initiative for cancer warriors.
- Louis57foundationcoreNon-profit partnership dedicated to supporting paediatric cancer patients and their families. Through KWC's support, enables Cupcakes of Hope to provide direct assistance to more than 230 patients every month, including medical and day-to-day needs.
- Centurion Country ClubsupportingMonthly Pink Day golf events raising awareness and funds for children with cancer. Donated R100,000 in April 2024 and R110,000 in November 2025 to Cupcakes of Hope.
- Mugg & BeanflagshipLong-standing partnership since 2012 where Mugg & Bean donates R1 per giant muffin sold and R2 per cupcake sold to Cupcakes of Hope. Muffins for Hope campaign during September (Childhood Cancer Awareness Month) doubles donations. Has raised over R2.6 million to date, with R865,108 raised in just a few months in 2023 and R2 million in 2024.
- Schools and Companies (Bake Box Program)coreEducational institutions and corporate organizations participate in the Bake Box Initiative by collecting dry baking ingredients for volunteer Cupcake Angels. Bake Boxes are collected and ingredients distributed for use in fundraising cupcakes at National Cupcake Day, Golf Days, Corporate Events, and Parties of Hope.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cupcakes of HOPE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Little Fighters Cancer Trust: South African nonprofit supporting children with cancer and their families through financial assistance, holiday programmes, and care bags. Closely mirrors Cupcakes of Hope's patient assistance and hospital delivery focus.
- CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa: South Africa's leading childhood cancer nonprofit providing medical, emotional, and financial support to children with cancer and their families. Directly comparable mission, beneficiary population, and hospital-ward operating model.
Emerging players
- Kids Kicking Cancer: International nonprofit using martial arts-based therapy and emotional support programmes for children with cancer. Comparable paediatric cancer emotional support and therapy focus, though operating outside South Africa.
- Childhood Cancer International: Global umbrella network of childhood cancer organisations. While not a direct fundraiser in South Africa, comparable in mission around paediatric cancer advocacy, awareness, and family support frameworks.
Broad incumbents
- Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA): Largest cancer-focused nonprofit in South Africa, operating across research, education, and patient support. Comparable in cause area and donor base but covers all cancer types and ages, making it a broader incumbent rather than a paediatric specialist.
- Reach for Recovery South Africa: Established South African cancer support nonprofit focused on breast cancer patients. Comparable volunteer-driven, community-funded model but addresses a different patient segment than Cupcakes of Hope's paediatric focus.
Others
- Alberton Methodist Church Community Outreach: Local faith-based community partner of Cupcakes of Hope providing premises for care bag assembly. Listed here as an adjacent ecosystem partner rather than a direct operational peer.
- Nedbank Corporate Social Investment: One of Cupcakes of Hope's supporting corporate partners (Christmas care bag delivery). Included as an ecosystem funder rather than a peer, illustrating the corporate giving channel the nonprofit depends on.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cupcakes of HOPE social profiles
Digital presenceCupcakes of HOPE compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Cupcakes of HOPE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cupcakes of HOPE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Cupcakes of HOPE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cupcakes of HOPE 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 Cupcakes of HOPE
What does Cupcakes of HOPE do?
Cupcakes of HOPE is a South African non-profit that mobilises community-led cupcake fundraisers, donations, and merchandise sales to provide financial, emotional, and material support to children with cancer and their families. Core offerings include the Party of Hope and National Cupcake Day fundraising programs, the Bake Box Initiative for schools and corporates, structured donation products (Hospital Activity Care Bags, Birthday Gifts, Virtual Cupcakes), an e-commerce merchandise shop, and direct financial assistance for medical treatment, equipment, and living expenses delivered through 21 paediatric oncology ward partnerships.
Is Cupcakes of HOPE a public or private company?
Cupcakes of HOPE is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Cupcakes of HOPE founded?
Cupcakes of HOPE was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cupcakes of HOPE based?
Cupcakes of HOPE is headquartered in Gauteng, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Cupcakes of HOPE make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are product Sales (E-commerce), corporate Partnership Donations and BEE/Social Economic Development Contributions.
Who are Cupcakes of HOPE's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Little Fighters Cancer Trust and CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa. Emerging players are Kids Kicking Cancer and Childhood Cancer International. Broad incumbents are Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) and Reach for Recovery South Africa. Others are Alberton Methodist Church Community Outreach and Nedbank Corporate Social Investment.
Does Cupcakes of HOPE have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cupcakes of HOPE.
What industry is Cupcakes of HOPE in?
Cupcakes of HOPE's product category is Nonprofit Cancer Fundraising Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAJ, Blood, Organ & Tissue Donation Organizations. Its NAICS code is 813212.