Grief

What Grief does

Grief Inc. is a private, US-based mental health care organization that has provided grief support education, training, and certification services since 1986, originally operating as Big A and Company before rebranding in July 2000. The company develops and delivers customized grief support programs for professional and consumer audiences, including workshops, keynote presentations, multi-day conferences, and consultations, alongside a catalog of books and audio/video materials authored by its founders. Its core product platform is the American Grief Academy (AGA), a competency-based certification division acquired in 2001 that offers 10+ named courses ranging from one-hour orientations to four-day professional certifications, with most classes priced at $500 and correspondence courses at $200. The curriculum spans adult bereavement, children's grief ("What Color is Dead?"), caregiver burnout (Compassion Fatigue), workplace programs (Grief Goes to Work), and creative therapies.

Grief Inc.'s GTM is event-driven and field-based: delivery occurs through direct keynote and workshop engagements at conferences and corporate sites, AGA classroom and correspondence training (Seattle training academy), and a Grief Store e-commerce channel for books and tapes. The company serves five primary segments — corporate/employer organizations, funeral service professionals, healthcare and hospice professionals, educational institutions, and individual bereaved persons — with corporate and funeral service verticals marked as primary. It is not a technology business; revenue is generated from professional services and one-time content sales, with no discovered platform, API, or AI components.

The company is founder-owned and led by CEO Robert A. (Tony) Sims, Ph.D., President Darcie D. Sims, Ph.D., and Certified Grief Management Specialist Alicia Sims Franklin, LCSW, CHT, GMS. Headcount is 11-50, headquarters are in Puyallup, WA, with a Seattle training academy. There is no disclosed institutional funding, no parent company, and no reported revenue. Strategic positioning is anchored by co-chairing the World Gatherings on Bereavement (1991, 1996, 2005), a formal partnership with TAPS for military grief training, and more than 30 years of accumulated content and credentialed instructor capacity.

Name

Grief

Legal name

Grief Inc.

Website

https://griefinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Grief Inc. is a founder-owned grief support services organization that delivers workshops, keynotes, certifications through the American Grief Academy, and published books/audio materials to corporate, funeral service, healthcare, education, and individual bereaved customers across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bereavement Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (611710), Death Care Services (8122), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Bereavement, Grief & Family Support Services (Hospice-Linked) (HLAFAEAO), Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Family Aftercare) (HSABAFAI), Trauma-Informed Care & Crisis Response (School-Based) (EDAKAMAF)

Keywords

• Grief support services
• Bereavement training programs
• Professional grief certification
• Workplace grief consulting
• Children's grief education

Headquarters

HQ city

Puyallup

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Seminars and Training Programs: Revenue generated from workshops, keynote presentations, consultations, and training sessions delivered to professional and consumer audiences. Programs range from one-hour presentations to multi-day conferences.
2. Certification Programs (American Grief Academy): Competency-based training and certification for paraprofessional and professional grief caregivers. Courses range from one to four days, providing certification through AGA.
3. Books and Audio Materials: Sale of grief-related books and audio tapes authored by company founders, including titles like 'Why Are the Casseroles Always Tuna?' and 'Am I Still a Sister?'
4. Correspondence Courses: Self-paced online/distance learning courses such as 'What Color is Dead?' with a $200 enrollment fee and training package materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Grief Inc. provides grief support education, professional certification programs through the American Grief Academy, customized seminars and workshops, keynote presentations, and published grief-related books and audio/video materials for both professional and consumer audiences. Programs range from one-hour presentations to multi-day conferences covering bereavement care, children's grief, workplace grief, aftercare services, and caregiver compassion fatigue. Customer-facing touchpoints include direct delivery to corporate and professional clients, classroom certification at the AGA training center, and an e-commerce store for grief support media.

Product overview

Grief Inc. is a grief support and education services company offering a platform of educational courses and certification programs through the American Grief Academy, along with published books and audio/video materials. The core offering includes competency-based training courses ranging from one to four days, certification programs for grief service providers, and customizable seminars and workshops for professional and consumer audiences. The company was founded in 1986 as Big A and Company and rebranded to Grief Inc. in July 2000.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• American Grief Academy: Provides education, resources and support for bereavement care providers worldwide. Offers competency-based training and certification programs for both paraprofessional and professional grief caregivers.

Products and services

• American Grief Academy Certification Programs Competency-based training and certification programs for both paraprofessional and professional grief caregivers. Courses range from one to four days and cover grief process fundamentals, aftercare services, group dynamics, compassion fatigue, children's grief, grief counseling skills, workplace grief (Grief Goes to Work), grief resource centers, and creative therapies. Most classes are priced at $500.
• Grief Goes to Work Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Award-winning self-help model for children's grief support implemented nation-wide

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home and Lawnwood Memorial ParkminorOthersJoint outreach partnership through the Life Changes Grief Management Center, a grief support initiative located at the funeral home and memorial park facilities in Covington, Georgia. Adam Cooper serves as Director and Lead Facilitator for this joint program.
• Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDarcie Sims serves as Director of Training and Certification for TAPS, a nonprofit providing peer support and grief resources for families of fallen service members. This partnership provides professional training and certification for military grief support providers.
• American Heart AssociationminorOthersTony Sims served as a board member of the American Heart Association as part of his broader community involvement in health and support organizations.
• Washington State Public Health AssociationminorOthersTony Sims served as vice president of the Washington State Public Health Association, contributing to public health initiatives in grief and bereavement support.
• World Gathering on BereavementcoreOthersDarcie Sims co-chaired the 1991, 1996, and 2005 World Gathering on Bereavement and keynoted at all 4 World Gatherings, positioning Grief Inc. as a global leader in the grief support field.
• The Compassionate FriendscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTony Sims served as chapter leader and Darcie Sims served on the national board of directors for The Compassionate Friends, a support organization for bereaved parents. This relationship established professional leadership in the grief support community.
• Children's Hospice InternationalminorOthersTony Sims is a member of Children's Hospice International, supporting grief and bereavement services for families of children with life-limiting conditions.
• National Hospice and Palliative Care OrganizationminorOthersTony Sims is a member of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, connecting Grief Inc. with hospice professionals and bereavement care resources.
• Hospice Foundation of AmericaminorOthersTony Sims served as a hospice volunteer, providing direct grief support services and connecting Grief Inc. with hospice care networks.
• National Catholic Ministry to the BereavedminorOthersDarcie Sims served on the board of trustees for the National Catholic Ministry to the Bereaved, providing spiritual grief support expertise.
• American Psychotherapy AssociationminorOthersBoth Darcie Sims and Alicia Sims Franklin are members/diplomates of the American Psychotherapy Association, contributing to professional credibility in mental health and grief counseling.
• Association for Death Education and CounselingminorOthersBoth Darcie Sims and Alicia Sims Franklin are members of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the premier professional organization for death education and bereavement counseling.
• Association of Pediatric Oncology Social WorkersminorOthersAlicia Sims Franklin is a member of the Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers, supporting grief services for families affected by childhood cancer.
• Professional Grief Support Organizations (Resource Network)minorOthersGrief Inc. maintains a grief links resource page connecting visitors to professional organizations including SIDS Institute, Association of Professional Chaplains, International Cemetery and Funeral Association, and support groups for the bereaved such as Bereaved Parents USA and The Compassionate Friends.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC): Premier professional association for death education and bereavement counseling, providing credentials (CT, FT) used across the field. Alicia Sims Franklin and Darcie Sims are members; ADEC is an adjacent credentialing body.

Direct peers

• The Dougy Center: Provides peer grief support programs, training, and education for bereaved children and families. Closely mirrors Grief Inc.'s children's grief specialization and nationwide program model.
• Hospice Foundation of America: National nonprofit that delivers grief and bereavement education programs, webinars, and professional training to hospice clinicians and the public. Directly comparable to Grief Inc.'s AGA certification and grief education business.
• MISS Foundation: Provides crisis support, counseling, and professional training for families experiencing the death of a child. Comparable bereavement support and grief specialist training offering.
• Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): Provides peer support, grief resources, and professional training for families of fallen service members. Already partnered with Grief Inc. via Darcie Sims' Director role; comparable in mission and training model.
• Center for Loss and Life Transition: Bereavement training, workshops, and consultation for professionals and grieving individuals. Comparable to Grief Inc.'s seminar/training programs and grief counseling skills courses.

Emerging players

• Lantern: Digital mental health platform offering grief support, coaching, and structured programs via app and web. Represents the venture-backed, digital-first category that could disrupt Grief Inc.'s traditional seminar and certification model.
• What's Your Grief: Online grief education platform with courses, blog content, and digital community serving both bereaved individuals and helping professionals. Emerging digital-native competitor to Grief Inc.'s in-person seminars and books.

Broad incumbents

• The Compassionate Friends: National organization supporting bereaved parents with peer support groups and professional resources. Grief Inc. founders have leadership ties; comparable mission with much larger membership footprint.
• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization: Largest US hospice industry association delivering continuing education, grief professional resources, and conference programming. Tony Sims is a member; NHPCO is a broader incumbent overlapping Grief Inc.'s hospice-facing training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GriefInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grief-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Grief