Grady's Decision

What Grady's Decision does

Grady's Decision is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008 in Erie, Pennsylvania, by Ryan Smith and Katrina Vincent following the premature birth and loss of their son Grady 52 hours after birth. The organization provides emotional, spiritual, and financial support to families experiencing premature births or with infants requiring specialized medical care, serving families across Northwestern Pennsylvania counties. Core offerings are case-managed and free to qualifying families, including gas cards, parking passes (notably at Saint Vincent Hospital), food cards, housing assistance near hospitals, transportation support, and baby equipment lending (diapers, wipes, mamaroo seats). A volunteer "Love Team" conducts direct outreach to NICU families, with hospital staff at UPMC Hamot and Saint Vincent Hospital acting as the primary referral channel.

The organization operates on a donation- and event-driven revenue model with no fee-for-service pricing, supplemented by corporate sponsorships (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze tiers) and grants. Major recurring fundraisers include the Miracles & Mile Walk and Family Carnival (June), the Graden Vincent Smith Golf Tournament (August), and Bags for Babies Purse Bingo (October), with a newer Arty's Party added to the calendar. In 2023 the organization was named an Invest in Others Catalyst Finalist and received a $25,000 grant. Technology infrastructure is minimal — a basic informational website hosted by a third-party vendor, a PayPal donation portal, and a Facebook page — with no proprietary platform, APIs, or digital service delivery mechanisms.

The organization is entirely volunteer-run, with a Board of Directors comprising the founders and a small bench of NICU-experienced parents and hospital staff (including UPMC Hamot's NICU director). The Athletes in Action partnership funded Grady's Field, a memorial sports field in Xenia, Ohio, extending the brand's geographic footprint without expanding service delivery. Multiple board additions between 2022 and 2024 indicate ongoing organizational buildout, but service geography remains fixed at Northwestern Pennsylvania with no disclosed expansion plans.

Name

Grady's Decision

Legal name

Grady's Decision

Website

https://gradysdecision.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Grady's Decision is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 in Erie, Pennsylvania, that provides free emotional, spiritual, and financial support, including gas cards, parking passes, and housing assistance, to families experiencing premature births in Northwestern Pennsylvania counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Family Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Preterm/NICU-Transition Newborn Care (NCS) (HSAAACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

High-Risk & Medically Complex Newborn Support (Non-Clinical NCS) (HSAAACAG), Newborn/Infant Mother’s Helper Support (HSAAAGAB)

Keywords

• NICU family support
• Premature birth assistance
• Nonprofit family services
• Hospital family outreach
• Volunteer charitable support

Headquarters

HQ city

Erie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue comes from individual donations, corporate sponsorships at various tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze), and event-based fundraising including golf tournaments, walk-a-thons, and bingo events.
2. Rite Aid KidCents Program: Registered as an official KidCents charity through The Rite Aid Foundation, allowing customers to round up purchases and donate change to the organization.
3. Event Sponsorships: Sponsorship packages at various levels (Tournament Sponsor $2,500, Platinum $1,000, Gold $600, Silver $250, Bronze $100) for golf tournament and other events.
4. Grants: Received $25,000 grant as finalist at Invest in Others Gala.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Grady's Decision is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides emotional, spiritual, and financial support to families experiencing premature births or with babies needing specialized medical attention. Assistance is case-managed based on need and includes parking costs, food, housing near hospitals, transportation/gas cards, diapers, wipes, and baby equipment such as mamaroo seats. The organization's Love Team volunteers personally meet with and support NICU families throughout their hospital journey in Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Product overview

Grady's Decision is a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides a suite of support services for families experiencing premature births and babies with specialized medical needs in Northwestern Pennsylvania. The organization offers a unified program of emotional, spiritual, and financial support, including direct financial assistance (gas cards, food cards, parking passes), housing support near hospitals, and baby equipment lending. Core to their mission is the Love Team program where volunteers personally meet with and support families through their NICU journey. The organization also operates fundraising events including the Miracles & Mile Walk and Family Carnival, the Graden Vincent Smith Golf Tournament, and Bags for Babies Purse Bingo.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grady's Field: A sports field at Athletes in Action Sports Complex in Xenia, Ohio, named in memory of Grady Smith. The Smiths contributed to the construction funding for the stadium around this field.

Products and services

• Family Support Services
• Financial Assistance Program
• Housing Support
• Baby Equipment Lending
• Love Team Support

Quantifiable outcome

• 71 days NICU stay survived for Gianna Smith (twin who lived)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 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 flagship, minor and core.

• Athletes in Action (AIA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrady's Field at AIA Sports Complex in Xenia, OH was funded through $150,000 in donations directed by the Smith family. The field bears Grady's name and hosts college and high school baseball teams from across the country.
• Lincoln Financial GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner acknowledged at Invest in Others Gala.
• Franklin TempletonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner acknowledged at Invest in Others Gala.
• AssetMark, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner acknowledged at Invest in Others Gala.
• Sammons Retirement SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner acknowledged at Invest in Others Gala.
• Vision Creative SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationWebsite designer and host for Grady's Decision.
• RODS HeroesminorOthersWinner of Invest in Others Gala award; fellow charitable organization recognized at same event.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep: Provides remembrance photography to families experiencing the loss of a baby, directly tied to the bereavement component of Grady's Decision's mission following infant loss. Comparable in serving grieving NICU families.

Direct peers

• Hand to Hold: National nonprofit providing personalized support to families of premature infants and NICU families through peer mentoring, resources, and community. Closest direct peer in terms of NICU-specific family support mission.
• First Candle: National nonprofit focused on sudden infant death syndrome, stillbirth, and other infant loss, providing bereavement support to families. Comparable in the bereavement and family support components of the Grady's mission.
• Graham's Foundation: Provides care packages, mentors, and support programs for parents of premature infants, including a NICU care package program. One of the closest direct peer organizations in mission and service model.

Others

• Preemie Parent Alliance: Umbrella organization for NICU family support groups and prematurity-focused nonprofits. Operates as a peer network rather than direct service provider, but is a key ecosystem member for any NICU family support organization.
• Healtheon: Digital health platform focused on NICU journey support and parent resources. Comparable as a NICU family support technology provider, though nascent and technology-focused rather than a service nonprofit.

Broad incumbents

• Children's Miracle Network Hospitals: National nonprofit raising funds for children's hospitals, including NICU services. Comparable in fundraising-via-events model and alignment with hospital-based pediatric care, though broader in scope.
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: Large pediatric cancer charity with a grassroots, family-driven fundraising model similar in spirit to Grady's Decision's event-driven approach, though focused on childhood cancer rather than NICU support.
• March of Dimes: The largest national nonprofit focused on maternal and infant health, including premature birth. While they operate at much greater scale and broader mission, they concentrate significant resources on premature birth prevention and NICU family support, making them the most recognized peer in this category.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Provides housing and family support services to families with seriously ill or hospitalized children, including those in NICUs. Directly comparable for the housing-near-hospitals and family-support components of Grady's Decision.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GradysDecision
• Xx.com/Gradys_Decision

Compliance1 record

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 Grady's Decision