Fox Valley Hands of Hope

What Fox Valley Hands of Hope does

Fox Valley Hands of Hope (FVHH) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Geneva, Illinois, founded in 1981 (originally as Fox Valley Hospice) and rebranded to its present name. The organization delivers no-cost grief support services to bereaved individuals, families, and communities across the Illinois Fox Valley region. Its service portfolio spans 27 distinct programs — including individual and group counseling, school-based grief support, suicide-loss survivor services, perinatal-loss support, and community education — and reaches more than 2,000 clients annually. The flagship school initiative, Project Hope, maintains partnerships with 46+ schools, embedding grief-sensitive programming into K-12 environments.

Service delivery is conducted by a small paid staff of 1-10 employees working alongside approximately 300 trained volunteers, including licensed clinicians and certified thanatologists. Technology infrastructure is intentionally lean: client and case management runs on the EMK Consulting database implemented in 2020, with no disclosed proprietary platforms, digital products, or technical stack beyond standard nonprofit operating tools. There is no evidence of AI/ML capability or proprietary technology development.

The business model is donation-dependent rather than revenue-generating. All client services are provided free of charge, with operating funds drawn from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and fundraising events such as the annual Garden Party (which features approximately $40,000 in prizes and $30,000 in auction-line proceeds). The organization has historically pursued foundation partnerships (e.g., the New York Life Foundation's Grief-Sensitive Schools Initiative) and corporate sponsorship relationships, and operates with thin staff overheads supplemented by volunteer capacity — a structural choice that constrains scalability but reinforces community embedment.

Name

Fox Valley Hands of Hope

Legal name

Fox Valley Hands of Hope

Website

https://fvhh.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fox Valley Hands of Hope is a Geneva, Illinois-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded 1981, that provides no-cost grief support services to over 2,000 individuals, families, and school communities annually through 27 programs and 300+ volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Grief Support and Bereavement Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Family Aftercare) (HSABAFAI), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), School Counseling Services (Individual & Group) (EDAKAMAB)

Keywords

• Grief support services
• Bereavement counseling
• Community hospice support
• Youth grief programs
• Family grief support

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: FVHH is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 36-3111451) supported entirely by the community through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants. All services are provided free of charge to clients.
2. Fundraising Events: Major annual events include Garden Party (their biggest fundraiser, raising over $40,000 worth of showcase prizes and $30,000 in live/silent auction items), Golf Classic, Bid for Hope virtual auction, and 5K to Remember.
3. Foundation and Grant Funding: Supported by grants from organizations including the Inc Board of Aurora, New York Life Foundation (Grief-Sensitive Schools Initiative), and local United Way organizations.
4. Corporate and Community Sponsorships: Garden Party and other events are sponsored by companies including AMITA Health, BEI, Hotel Baker, Moss Funeral Home, and various other local businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fox Valley Hands of Hope provides comprehensive, no-cost grief support services to individuals, children, and families experiencing loss. Core offerings include individual counseling, facilitated support groups, school-based grief support through the Project Hope program (active in 46+ schools), outdoor family retreats, Spanish-language grief support, hospice/cancer-center volunteer companionship, and a free Equipment Lending Closet for durable medical equipment.

Product overview

Fox Valley Hands of Hope is a nonprofit grief support organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of grief support programs and services provided free of charge to the community. The organization operates multiple distinct program categories: Youth Programs (Project Hope school-based support, Individual Youth Support, Altered Pages art therapy, Connect yoga/grief) serving children ages 5-18; Family Programs (Grief Takes a Hike, Family Forest Day, Herbie's Friends/Grief Circles) for families with children; Adult Programs (Pathways spousal loss, Guiding Star parental loss, Enduring Roots sibling loss, M.A.L.E.S. men's group, Crossroads advanced support); Spanish Language Programs (Con los brazos abiertos, Cuenta Conmigo); Specialized Support (P.A.L.S. pet loss, Hope for the Holidays, Footprints infant loss, Passages); Direct Care Services (Patient Care/Hands of Hope, Supportive Care hospice volunteers); and Community Resources (Equipment Lending Closet, newsletters, blog, grief education videos). The organization also provides volunteer opportunities and hosts fundraising events including Garden Party, Golf Classic, and 5K to Remember.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Project Hope (School-Based Youth Grief Support) School-based grief support program partnering with approximately 50 schools across the Fox Valley region, providing individual and group grief support for students ages 5-18 during school hours through licensed clinicians.
• Altered Pages (Teen Art Journaling) Weekly art therapy group for teens aged 13-17 who have experienced loss of a loved one, using art prompts and journaling to help participants navigate grief.
• Connect (Grief and Yoga Workshop for Youth) Grief and yoga workshop for youth where participants can make new friends and learn ways to manage emotions associated with loss.
• Grief Takes a Hike (Family Weekend Retreat) Weekend camping retreat for families with children ages 7-18 who are coping with the loss of a loved one, including transportation, lodging, meals, and therapeutic outdoor activities.
• Family Forest Day One-day outdoor retreat bringing together families with children ages 5-18 who are coping with loss, providing grief education, connection with others, and outdoor activities at Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls in Gilberts, IL.
• Grief Circles for Families (Herbie's Friends) Six-week family program where families who have experienced loss share thoughts, feelings, and stories; children ages 5-18 meet in small groups by developmental age while adults meet separately for support.
• Pathways (Spousal/Partner Loss Support Group) Weekly support group for individuals navigating losses related to the death of a spouse or life partner.
• Guiding Star (Parental Loss Support) Program designed to support adults who have experienced the death of a parent or parental figure.
• Enduring Roots (Sibling Loss Support Group) Six-week support group for adults who have experienced sibling loss.
• Crossroads (Post-Pathways Support) Program for individuals who have completed Pathways and are prepared to seek a new direction in life after spousal loss.
• M.A.L.E.S. (Men After Loss Expressing themselves Safely) Monthly support group for men who are grieving the loss of a loved one, providing a safe space to express thoughts and feelings with other men experiencing similar challenges.
• P.A.L.S. (Pets Are Loved Still) Pet Loss Support Four-week support group for individuals who have lost a pet.
• Passages (Spousal Loss While Parenting) Support group for parents who are struggling with the loss of their spouse while simultaneously trying to help their children grieve.
• Con los brazos abiertos (Spanish-Language Drop-In Group) Drop-in grief support group for Spanish-speaking individuals dealing with the death of a loved one, providing a welcoming and compassionate environment.
• Hope for the Holidays Program conducted in November and December providing participants with coping skills to navigate the holiday season after losing a loved one, available in English and Spanish.
• Footprints Memorial Walk Annual remembrance service and walk for those affected by miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and infant loss.
• Individual Support (One-on-One Counseling) One-on-one support where clients meet with a clinician or volunteer to receive support and learn coping strategies for their loss.
• Patient Care / Hands of Hope (Healthcare Volunteer Program) Volunteer program delivering emotional support, compassionate presence, and non-judgmental listening to patients and families in hospices, assisted living facilities, and cancer centers (including Dreyer Cancer Clinic and Presence St. Joseph Hospital).
• Supportive Care (Patient Companionship) Program providing companionship and support to patients in healthcare facilities, filling the void of human connection for those without visitors.
• Huggable Bear Program Volunteers craft teddy bears from clients' deceased loved one's clothing, providing a comforting keepsake.
• Equipment Lending Closet Free medical equipment lending service for community members in need, including wheelchairs, walkers, and other durable medical equipment, serving over 500 people each year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served over 2,000 clients annually through 27 programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and supporting.

• The Q CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2019Venue partner for the Annual Garden Party fundraiser, located in St. Charles, IL.
• Fox Valley Schools (46+ partner schools)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject Hope is a collaborative school-based grief support program operating in 46+ schools throughout the Fox River Valley. FVHH clinicians provide weekly group sessions and individual counseling during school hours for students ages 5-18.
• Dreyer Cancer CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHands of Hope volunteers provide companionship and emotional support to patients undergoing cancer treatment at Dreyer Cancer Clinic and Presence St. Joseph Hospital.
• Presence St. Joseph HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHands of Hope volunteers provide companionship and emotional support to patients undergoing treatment at this hospital location.
• Kane County Forest PreserveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for outdoor grief programs including Family Forest Day, held at Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls in Gilberts, IL.
• EMK ConsultingsupportingTechnology or IntegrationDeveloped custom client database software for FVHH to revolutionize how they confidentially track and process clients, reducing data input time and allowing clinicians more time for client care.
• Children's Grief CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization (logo displayed on website) serving grieving children and families.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• New York Life Foundation Grief-Sensitive Schools Initiative: National philanthropic program funding grief education in schools and providing grants to participating schools. FVHH is a recipient partner; the initiative defines the category of school-based grief support in which FVHH competes for funding and recognition.
• Experience Camps: National nonprofit running free grief camps for bereaved children and families, including hiking and outdoor programs like Grief Takes a Hike. Directly comparable in youth/family grief camp programming and free-service delivery.
• Bo's Place: Houston-based nonprofit providing free grief support services to children, families, and adults — directly comparable program mix, free-service model, and school-based delivery focus.
• Children's Grief Center: Partner organization displayed on FVHH's website that serves grieving children and families in the region. Directly comparable in mission, target population, and free-service delivery model.
• Camp Kesem: National nonprofit supporting children affected by a parent's cancer through free summer camps and year-round programming. Comparable in mission (free youth/family support around loss) and camp-based delivery model, though cancer-specific.
• Hope Health & Wellness (Hope for the Bereaved): Regional bereavement support nonprofit offering free grief counseling, support groups, and school-based programs. Closely comparable in mission, free-service model, and youth/family/adult program mix.
• Fernside (A Center for Grieving Children): Nonprofit offering free peer-support programs for grieving children, teens, and families. Closely comparable in youth/family program mix, free-service model, and group-based delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Vitas Healthcare: Largest hospice and palliative care provider in the US. Vitas's VP of Operations sits on FVHH's Board. Adjacent in hospice-affiliated bereavement support and represents a potential larger-scale channel partner or competitor for grief-support services tied to hospice referrals.
• The Dougy Center: National leader in the children's and family grief support field, providing direct services, training, and education. Comparable mission but operates as a broader resource/training center rather than a single-region service provider.

Regional players

• Imagine Counseling Center: Regional grief counseling center serving a different geographic market with similar free/sliding-scale bereavement programs. Comparable in target population and program structure but operates outside FVHH's Illinois territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/foxvalleyhandsofhope
• Xx.com/FVHandsofHope
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fox-valley-hands-of-hope

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Fox Valley Hands of Hope