Diabeties Youth Families

What Diabeties Youth Families does

Diabetes Youth Families (DYF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1938 by Dr. Mary B. Olney of UC San Francisco, headquartered in Concord, California. The organization provides diabetes education, recreation, and community support programs to children, teens, and families affected by type 1 diabetes (T1D), serving more than 1,500 individuals annually through 20+ programs. Core offerings center on resident summer camps at its owned-and-operated Bearskin Meadow Camp in Sequoia National Forest, supplemented by partnership venues (Camp Jones Gulch, Mt. Gilead, Camp Arroyo) for additional summer and weekend programming, Spanish-language family camps, wilderness adventure trips, adult retreats, and year-round community programming including virtual support groups and peer-buddy mentoring. School Workshops & Trainings extend the model to educators and school nurses as a B2B/B2G offering.

DYF employs a hybrid nonprofit revenue model in which program fees (tiered pricing with scholarships covering 69% of 2022 participants) generate roughly 25% of the annual budget, with the remaining ~$1.7M raised annually through individual donations, monthly giving, foundation and corporate grants, special events (e.g., Rooted in Resilience Gala), crowdfunding via Givelively, and earned income such as Bearskin Meadow facility rentals. The organization operates with 11-50 employees and is governed by an independent Board of Directors with no parent company. Technology infrastructure is standard nonprofit SaaS: UltraCamp for registration, DonorPerfect for donor management, Givelively for fee crowdfunding, Zoom and Groups.io for virtual programs, Google Translate for website localization, and dQ&A and ShopRaise for research and passive fundraising. Medical oversight is provided through a Healthcare Provider Advisory Board including UCSF, Stanford, and Kaiser Permanente-affiliated endocrinologists, with 70% of counseling staff living with T1D themselves. DYF is a founding member of the Diabetes Education & Camping Association and holds American Camp Association accreditation (300+ standards) at Bearskin Meadow Camp.

Name

Diabeties Youth Families

Legal name

Diabetes Youth Families

Website

https://dyf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Diabetes Youth Families is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides residential camps, recreation, and education programs to children, teens, and families affected by type 1 diabetes across California. It owns Bearskin Meadow Camp and serves 1,500+ individuals annually through 20+ programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diabetes Education and Recreation Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA), Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG), Wilderness & Backcountry Lodges (Remote/Off-Grid) (THAGAIAB)

Keywords

• Diabetes education programs
• Residential summer camps
• Type 1 diabetes support
• Family camp programs
• Chronic illness recreation

Headquarters

HQ city

Concord

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Program fees cover approximately 25% of the annual budget. DYF operates a tiered pricing model where participants can select from Full Fee (Tier 1), Subsidized Fee (Tier 2), or apply for scholarships (Tier 3) based on financial need.
2. Individual Donations: DYF receives support from individual donors through one-time and monthly recurring donations via the DYF Dedicated monthly giving program.
3. Foundation and Corporate Grants: DYF receives grants from foundations and corporate sponsors to support operations and scholarship programs.
4. Special Events: Annual fundraising events including the Rooted in Resilience Gala and other community fundraising events.
5. Crowdfunded Fees: Families can crowdfund their program fees through Givelively platform, with contributions applied directly to camper fees rather than as tax-deductible donations to DYF.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Diabetes Youth Families (DYF) operates residential summer camps, weekend family retreats, adventure programs, school staff workshops, and year-round community support programs that combine medically supervised recreation with diabetes education for children, teens, and families affected by type 1 diabetes. Programs are delivered at DYF-owned Bearskin Meadow Camp and partner venues across Northern California, with bilingual Spanish-language offerings and a scholarship/subsidized pricing model ensuring accessibility.

Product overview

Diabetes Youth Families operates a portfolio of diabetes support programs centered around residential camps and community education. The core offerings include Bearskin Meadow Camp (BMC) in Sequoia National Forest - DYF's flagship facility hosting family camps, kids camps, teen camps, and the Leaders in Training program - and Camp de Los Niños (CDLN) in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The organization delivers specialized programs including Adventure Programs (backpacking, whitewater rafting), Weekend Family Retreats, and the Spanish-language Campamento Familiar en Español (CaFE). Supporting services include School Workshops & Trainings, Community Programs (virtual support groups, peer buddy programs, adult meetups), and year-round Adult Retreats. DYF's model combines recreation with diabetes education and medical support, creating a community for children, teens, and families affected by type 1 diabetes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Camp Weeklong residential program for children and teens (ages 0-17) with type 1 diabetes and their families, combining recreational activities, diabetes education, and medical support with access to endocrinologists at Bearskin Meadow Camp.
• Kids Camp Independent overnight summer camp for children ages 7-13 with type 1 diabetes offering classic camp experiences including swimming, archery, arts & crafts, games, and diabetes education at Bearskin Meadow Camp.
• Teen Camp Summer camp program for high-school aged teens (14-17) with T1D featuring sports, arts, outdoor living, fashion, and Teen Education Day - a conference-style diabetes education session addressing real-life situations teens face.
• Buddy Camp Unique program enabling kids with T1D ages 7-15 to bring a buddy or sibling without diabetes to camp, building support networks and normalizing diabetes management.
• Leaders in Training (LIT) Program Two-year leadership development program for teens ages 16-17 (with or without diabetes). LIT 1 focuses on general leadership skills and shadowing; LIT 2 provides advanced training with full counselor responsibilities, with many graduates becoming paid summer staff.
• Camp de Los Niños (CDLN) Summer camp for children and teens with T1D located in the Santa Cruz Mountains near the San Francisco Bay Area at Camp Jones Gulch, featuring swimming, sports, ziplining, hiking, ropes course, and diabetes education in cabin accommodations.
• Adventure Programs Wilderness adventure programs for teens and adults with T1D led by medical providers and wilderness guides, including Multisport Adventure (backpacking, whitewater rafting, sailing for ages 15-17), Teen Backpacking (5-day Sierra wilderness trip for ages 13-15), and Community Whitewater Rafting.
• Weekend Family Retreats Shortened weekend programs providing diabetes education and community support for families, including Spring Family Retreat in Sebastopol and Fall Family Retreat at Camp Jones Gulch in La Honda.
• Campamento Familiar en Español (CaFE) Spanish-language family camp program for Latino/Hispanic families with children ages 0-17 living with type 1 diabetes, conducted entirely in Spanish with bilingual, bicultural healthcare professionals at Bearskin Meadow and Camp Arroyo.
• Adult Retreat Weekend program for adults age 18+ with type 1 diabetes featuring diabetes education sessions (topics include pregnancy, technology, drugs & alcohol), outdoor activities, and community connection. Spouses, parents, and friends welcome.
• School Workshops & Trainings Customized diabetes education training for school staff including teachers, nurses, administrators, and counselors. Main workshop 'Supporting Students with Diabetes' provided by Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, available in-person or virtual, covering diabetes basics, blood sugar symptoms, emergency response, and student self-management support.
• Community Programs Year-round free community support programs including Sugar & Socialize quarterly meetups, Beer and Basals adult gatherings in Oakland and Sonoma County, virtual Caregiver Support Group, and virtual Adult Support Group.
• Insulliance Buddy Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 69% of participants attended on scholarship or subsidized rates in 2022, demonstrating commitment to accessibility
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Direct ReliefsupportingOthers · 1 January 2025Direct Relief provided a battery backup system for Bearskin Meadow Camp, ensuring uninterrupted power service for the facility and medical equipment.
• Environmental Traveling Companions (ETC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerETC provides river guides and basecamp facilities for DYF's Community Whitewater Rafting program. ETC handles rafting equipment, food, and activities while DYF provides camp staff and medical team for diabetes support on and off the water.
• UCSF Benioff Children's HospitalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the Insulliance peer buddy program matching youth ages 12-17 with T1D with similar-aged buddies. UCSF provides medical staff volunteers at DYF camps and contributes to the Healthcare Provider Advisory Board.
• Stanford HospitalsupportingOthersStanford Hospital contributes to DYF's Healthcare Provider Advisory Board, providing medical oversight and staff volunteers for camp programs.
• Kaiser Permanente San FranciscosupportingOthersKaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center contributes to the Healthcare Provider Advisory Board through Dr. Louise Greenspan, pediatric endocrinologist and clinical professor at UCSF.
• Diabetes Education & Camping Association (DECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDYF is a founding member of DECA, an organization that brings diabetes camps from around the United States together to share best practices and advance the diabetes camping field.
• American Camp Association (ACA)coreOthersACA provides accreditation for Bearskin Meadow Camp through a rigorous process evaluating over 300 standards for fun, safe, and effective programs.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Camp Clara Barton (American Diabetes Association): Operated in association with the American Diabetes Association, Camp Clara Barton is one of the oldest and largest diabetes camps in the country. Directly comparable as a long-running, medically-supervised residential diabetes camp serving youth with T1D.
• Setebaid Services: Setebaid Services runs diabetes-specific camps (Camp Setebaid at Sweet Valley) for children and teens with type 1 diabetes in Pennsylvania. Directly comparable to DYF as a regional diabetes camp with residential programs, scholarships, and medical staff model.
• Florida Diabetes Camp: Florida Diabetes Camp (Camp Winona, Camp Tyler, Camp Jada) provides resident and day camp experiences for children with type 1 diabetes. Directly comparable to DYF in mission, residential model, and ACA-style accredited programming for the T1D youth population.
• Camp Joslin (Joslin Diabetes Center): Joslin Diabetes Center operates Camp Joslin and other affiliated diabetes camps, the most prominent diabetes-camp organization in the U.S. It is directly comparable to DYF as a medically-supervised residential camp program serving children and teens with type 1 diabetes, with similar mission and programming.

Broad incumbents

• American Diabetes Association: The American Diabetes Association is the largest U.S. diabetes-focused nonprofit, with both Type 1 and Type 2 mandates. It operates Camp Clara Barton, funds diabetes research, and competes with DYF for foundation, corporate, and individual giving.
• SeriousFun Children's Network: Founded by Paul Newman, SeriousFun is a global network of 30+ member camps serving children with serious medical conditions. It is comparable to DYF in operating medically-supported residential camps for children with chronic illness, though diabetes-specific programming at individual member camps may be lighter.
• JDRF (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation): JDRF is the largest U.S. nonprofit focused on type 1 diabetes research and advocacy. While not a camp operator, it competes for the same T1D donor dollars, runs its own youth programs (e.g., JDRF Children's Congress), and refers newly diagnosed families to camp partners including DYF.

Emerging players

• Beyond Type 1: Beyond Type 1 is a digital-first nonprofit serving the T1D community with education, community programs, and grantmaking. It is comparable to DYF in serving T1D youth and families, but its delivery model is digital/community rather than residential camp-based.
• Tidepool: Tidepool is a nonprofit building open-source diabetes data software (DYF's Executive Director Janet Kramschuster previously served as its VP of Finance and People). It serves the same T1D population but through technology rather than camp programming.

Others

• American Camp Association: The American Camp Association is the industry accreditation body that credentials Bearskin Meadow Camp against 300+ standards. It is comparable as an ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor, governing the standards DYF's facilities meet.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgVje2-BlUTC6rdcs6JBHYg/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/dyfT1D
• Instagraminstagram.com/dyf_t1d
• Xx.com/diabeticyouth

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Diabeties Youth Families