Hope Connections

What Hope Connections does

Hope Connections for Cancer Support is a Bethesda, Maryland-based nonprofit organization founded in 2007 that delivers free, professionally led cancer support programs to people diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers. Its core service portfolio comprises three program lines: Support Groups (professionally facilitated peer groups including All Cancers, Bereavement, Caregivers, and Advanced Cancer cohorts); Mind & Body Classes (yoga, meditation, Inner Peace & Healing, and relaxation programs for stress management during treatment); and Education Programs, including the annual GI Cancer Patient Summit co-hosted with Georgetown University Ruesch Center and an Education Programs Video Library.

The organization operates through two physical facilities — the main headquarters at the W. Scott Funger House in Bethesda (10100 Laureate Way) and a Prince George's County facility in Landover (8201 Corporate Drive, Ste 605) — and has added virtual and hybrid attendance options that allow program access regardless of location, mobility, or health status. The supporting technology stack is minimal: a standard WordPress website (hopeconnectionsforcancer.org) serving as the program information, registration, and virtual access platform, with no proprietary software, applications, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities disclosed.

The business model is donation-dependent and event-funded rather than fee-based. All programs are provided completely free to participants. Revenue streams comprise (1) donations and charitable contributions from individuals, foundations, and organizations; (2) fundraising events including the annual Drive Out Cancer Golf Tournament, Celebration of Hope Gala, Hope For The Future, Trivia Night, Bourbon Night, and Poker Tournament; and (3) sales at the Hope Chest Boutique, a resale shop of women's clothing and accessories located at the Bethesda facility. Distribution channels include the two physical sites and a regional digital reach via virtual/hybrid attendance. Distribution is regional, serving the Maryland/Washington DC metropolitan area. Organizational scale is small, with a stated headcount of 1-10 employees, supported by volunteers, professional facilitators, a board of directors, and a medical board.

Name

Hope Connections

Legal name

Hope Connections

Website

https://hopeconnectionsforcancer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hope Connections for Cancer Support is a Bethesda, Maryland-based nonprofit founded in 2007 that provides free, professionally led support groups, mind-body wellness classes, and disease-specific education programs to people with cancer and their caregivers across the Maryland/DC metro area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bereavement, Grief & Family Support Services (Hospice-Linked) (HLAFAEAO)

Keywords

• Cancer support services
• Support groups
• Mind body wellness
• Cancer education programs
• Nonprofit health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Hope Connections relies on donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations to fund its free programs. The website prominently features donate buttons and calls for financial support to maintain free access to all services.
2. Fundraising Events: The organization hosts annual fundraising events including the Drive Out Cancer Golf Tournament, Celebration of Hope Gala, Hope For The Future events, Trivia Night, Bourbon Night, and Poker Tournament. These events generate revenue while building community engagement.
3. Hope Chest Boutique Sales: The Hope Chest Boutique, located on the 2nd floor of the Bethesda location, features new and gently used women's clothing and accessories with 100% of sales going to support the free programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hope Connections for Cancer Support is a nonprofit organization that provides free, professionally led programs for people with cancer and their loved ones to address the emotional and physical impact of cancer. Core offerings include peer support groups, mind-body wellness classes (gentle yoga, mindful meditation), and disease-specific education programs such as the annual GI Cancer Patient Summit. All programs are delivered at no charge through two Maryland facilities (Bethesda and Landover) and via virtual/hybrid attendance.

Product overview

Hope Connections offers a unified portfolio of free, professionally led programs for people with cancer and their loved ones, delivered both in-person at their Bethesda and Landover facilities and through virtual/hybrid options. The core offerings include Support Groups (peer support for patients and caregivers across different cancer types and stages), Mind & Body Classes (yoga and meditation for wellness), and Education Programs (disease-specific education including the annual GI Cancer Patient Summit). These programs are funded through fundraising initiatives including the Hope Chest Boutique resale shop and events like the annual golf tournament and gala. The organization emphasizes emotional support, education, wellness, and community connection for the cancer community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Support Groups Professionally facilitated peer support groups for individuals diagnosed with cancer and their loved ones, including the All Cancers Support Group, Bereavement Group, Caregivers Group, and Advanced Cancer Group, providing emotional support and coping strategies in a compassionate environment.
• Mind & Body Classes Wellness-focused classes combining stretching, breathing, and relaxation techniques, including Gentle Yoga and Mindful Meditation, designed to help participants manage stress and improve quality of life during cancer treatment and recovery.
• Education Programs Disease-specific information and educational resources for patients and families, including the annual GI Cancer Patient Summit hosted with Georgetown University Ruesch Center and an Educational Program Video Library providing tools for managing cancer care.
• Hope Chest Boutique A resale boutique featuring new and gently used women's clothing and accessories, located on the 2nd floor of the Bethesda facility, with 100% of sales supporting the free programs.
• Virtual and Hybrid Programs Online and combined virtual/in-person attendance options for support groups, educational programs, and wellness classes, expanding access to Hope Connections' services beyond the Bethesda and Landover physical locations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free access to all programs for people with cancer and loved ones

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Georgetown University Ruesch CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts the annual GI Cancer Patient Summit with Hope Connections. This partnership provides disease-specific education and information for GI cancer patients and families, along with tools for managing cancer care. The 11th Annual GI Cancer Patient Summit is hosted by both organizations, demonstrating a deep educational and collaborative relationship.
• Bethesda Country ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for the annual Drive Out Cancer Golf Tournament (2026 Scott Ogden Drive Out Cancer Golf Tournament). The tournament is held at Bethesda Country Club, 7601 Bradley Blvd, Bethesda, MD 20817.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Hope for Stomach Cancer: Disease-focused nonprofit providing support and education for stomach/GI cancer patients and families; narrower cancer-type scope but directly comparable patient-support and educational mission.

Regional players

• Ulman Foundation: Baltimore-based nonprofit supporting adolescent and young adult cancer patients with navigation, support programs, and education—comparable free-program model with regional Mid-Atlantic focus.
• Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center: Washington DC-area NCI-designated academic cancer center that partners with Hope Connections on the GI Cancer Patient Summit; offers psychosocial oncology services overlapping in patient education and support.

Direct peers

• CancerCare: National nonprofit offering free professional support services including counseling, support groups, educational workshops, and financial assistance for people affected by cancer.
• Smith Center for Healing and the Arts: Washington DC-area nonprofit offering free integrative cancer care programs including support groups, mind-body classes, and educational workshops for patients and caregivers, serving a geographically overlapping community.
• Cancer Support Community: National nonprofit providing professionally led support groups, educational programs, and mind-body wellness classes for cancer patients and their loved ones—directly mirroring Hope Connections' service model at significantly larger scale.
• Gilda's Club: Network of clubhouses offering free social, emotional, and educational support for people living with cancer and their families, with comparable in-person and virtual programming models.
• Wellness House: Nonprofit in suburban Chicagoland providing free programs including support groups, exercise/wellness classes, and education for people with cancer and their families—a strong direct analog to Hope Connections' community-center model.

Broad incumbents

• Livestrong Foundation: National nonprofit providing navigation, support, and resources for cancer survivors; broader scope but addresses similar patient and caregiver emotional/educational support needs.
• American Cancer Society: Largest U.S. voluntary health organization addressing cancer through research, patient support, and education; broader portfolio but overlapping in free support services and cancer education.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hopeconn4cancer

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 Hope Connections