Hope Loves Company

What Hope Loves Company does

Hope Loves Company is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2013 by Jodi O'Donnell-Ames and headquartered in Pennington, New Jersey. It is the only U.S. nonprofit solely dedicated to providing support, resources, and community to children and young adults who have or had a loved one with ALS. The organization serves a primary beneficiary segment of youth caregivers aged 6-21 (with the Young Adult Peer Support Circle extending engagement to ages 18-35+) plus a secondary segment of parents and professionals serving ALS families.

The organization delivers six core programs: Camp HLC (three-day overnight retreats held at five regional YMCA/Ronald McDonald camp sites across the Northeast, Midwest, South Central, Southeast, and West, with an Arizona pilot added in 2024), Beyond the Bunk (monthly virtual hangouts by age group led by social workers and child life specialists), HLC from Anywhere (live two-day virtual retreats for ages 11-18), Young Adult Peer Support Circle (monthly Zoom gatherings for ages 18-35+), Parent Meetups, and Hugs of Hope (free care packages). Additional offerings include the Kids Are Curious educational video series on assistive devices (launched July 2025 with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, MTPA, and Amramp), the Together is Better PBS short film (executive produced by Bradley Cooper's Lea Pictures, premiered June 2025), a planned Q&A(LS) national digital library, and a Professional Resources & Education track for clinicians and school staff. Programs are trauma-informed and provided free of charge to all families.

The revenue model is entirely philanthropic: individual donations (Circle of Hope at $25/month, Legacy Members at $500+/year, one-time gifts, tribute and stock donations), corporate and foundation sponsorships via the Friends of HLC tiered program ($5,000 Program Champion up to $25,000 Premier Sponsor), employer matching gifts, donor-advised funds, and merchandise sales through Bonfire. The organization relies on community-led go-to-market: word-of-mouth within the ALS community, social media, earned media (NBC News, PBS, WHYY), volunteer ambassadors, and cross-promotion through partner ALS organizations. No revenue or budget figures are publicly disclosed, and there is no headcount count provided beyond a five-person leadership team.

Name

Hope Loves Company

Legal name

Hope Loves Company

Website

https://hopelovescompany.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hope Loves Company is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2013 and based in Pennington, New Jersey, that delivers free, trauma-informed support programs—including regional Camp HLC retreats, virtual peer groups, and educational content—to children and young adult caregivers impacted by ALS nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Services - ALS Family and Youth Caregiver Support

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

Keywords

• ALS family support
• Youth caregiver programs
• Nonprofit peer support
• Grief support services
• Community retreat programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Pennington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals at various levels including Legacy Members ($500+/year), monthly Circle of Hope donors ($25/month), and one-time gifts.
2. Corporate and Foundation Sponsorship: Friends of HLC program with membership levels from $5,000 (Program Champion) to $25,000 (Premier Sponsor), plus foundation grants and corporate partnerships.
3. Employer Matching Gifts: Corporate employee matching gift programs that double individual donor impact.
4. Donor Advised Funds (DAFs): Acceptance of Donor-Advised Fund grants for charitable giving.
5. Stock & Securities: Acceptance of stock and securities donations as alternative giving method.
6. Merchandise Sales: HLC Shop selling branded merchandise including t-shirts through Bonfire platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Hope Loves Company is a nonprofit organization that delivers free support programs to children and young adults (ages 6-35+) who have or had a loved one with ALS. Its offerings include multi-day overnight retreats (Camp HLC), monthly virtual peer support hangouts by age group (Beyond the Bunk), a Young Adult Peer Support Circle, virtual retreats (HLC from Anywhere), Parent Meetups, mailed care packages (Hugs of Hope), and an educational video series on assistive devices (Kids Are Curious).

Product overview

Hope Loves Company is a nonprofit organization (not a technology company) that operates as a platform of support programs for children and young adult caregivers impacted by ALS. The organization offers a suite of interconnected programs including Camp HLC (in-person overnight retreats across 5 U.S. regions), Beyond the Bunk (virtual monthly hangouts by age group), HLC from Anywhere (virtual retreats for teens), Young Adult Peer Support Circle (monthly gatherings for ages 18-35+), Parent Meetups (virtual parent support), Hugs of Hope (free care packages), and Kids Are Curious (educational video series on assistive devices). Programs are trauma-informed, led by social workers and child life specialists, and provided free of charge to families. The organization also operates membership programs (Legacy Members, Friends of HLC) and community engagement initiatives (Your Hope Stories) for donor engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Camp HLC: A three-day, overnight retreat for children and teens ages 6-17 who have or have had a loved one battling ALS. The retreat is free of charge to families and includes traditional camp activities along with coping mechanisms and grief support from certified specialists.
• Beyond the Bunk
• Hugs of Hope
• Young Adult Peer Support Circle
• HLC from Anywhere
• Kids Are Curious
• Parent Meetups

Products and services

• Camp HLC
• Beyond the Bunk Hangouts
• Young Adult Peer Support Circle
• HLC from Anywhere
• Parent Meetups
• Hugs of Hope
• Kids Are Curious
• Professional Resources & Education
• Friends of HLC
• Legacy Members Program
• Your Hope Stories

Quantifiable outcome

• All programs provided free of charge to families
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ALS Hope FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with ALS Hope Foundation for joint educational events including the 'Someone I Love Has ALS' lecture series. The foundation provides funding for the MDA/ALS Center of Hope and Neuromuscular Research Laboratory at Drexel University. HLC partners with them for community events and awareness initiatives.
• Christopher and Dana Reeve FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud supporter of Kids Are Curious video series, providing educational content about assistive equipment for young caregivers. The foundation focuses on spinal cord injury research and quality of life improvements for paralysis.
• AmrampcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Kids Are Curious video series, providing expertise and demonstration of modular ramps and other accessibility equipment. Helps young caregivers understand home assistive devices.
• MTPA (Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting Kids Are Curious educational video series for young caregivers.
• BetterHelpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing 3 months of free online therapy to HLC participants age 12 and older through BetterHelp or Teen Counseling vouchers as part of program experience.
• ALS AssociationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFriend of HLC partner - national ALS nonprofit organization leading research, care services, public education, and public policy initiatives.
• Denali TherapeuticsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFriend of HLC corporate partner supporting ALS community through Hope Loves Company programs.
• ALS NetworkmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFriend of HLC partner organization serving the ALS community.
• ALS OnemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFriend of HLC partner organization dedicated to ALS awareness and support.
• ALS San DiegomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFriend of HLC partner organization serving ALS families in San Diego region.
• ALS United Orange CountymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFriend of HLC partner organization serving ALS families in Orange County, CA.
• Bill Doran CompanymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFriend of HLC corporate partner supporting ALS community.
• Fairview Lakes YMCAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost venue for Northeast Camp HLC location, providing accessible campground facilities for families.
• Treg Carlton's Last StandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndividual fundraiser that created GoFundMe campaign raising over $15,000 for HLC programs.
• Shady StrongminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFan of HLC supporter organization.
• The Martin Wallem FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFan of HLC supporter foundation.
• Outlier Magazine & Scott McGregorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner and Friend of HLC supporter.
• Paint for a CurecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership bringing Camp HLC to Arizona, with Paint for a Cure founder Eric Weinbrenner initiating the expansion. Partner includes team members Tracy Leavitt and Jonathan Sacks.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ALS Association: The largest U.S. ALS nonprofit, providing research, care services, and advocacy across all ALS stakeholders. HLC is a Friend of HLC partner; both serve ALS families, but ALS Association focuses broadly while HLC specializes exclusively on youth caregivers.
• The Compassionate Friends: National nonprofit offering peer-support groups and resources for families grieving the death of a child, sibling, or grandchild. Adjacent in grief-support mission to HLC's youth caregiver and bereavement programming.
• Starlight Children's Foundation: Long-established nonprofit delivering programs (hospital wear, gaming, wish-granting) to seriously ill children and their families nationwide. Overlapping beneficiary population and trauma-informed mission, with a broader pediatric illness scope than HLC's ALS-specific focus.

Direct peers

• Ele's Place: Michigan-based nonprofit offering free ongoing peer-support programs for grieving children, teens, and families, with multiple locations. Comparable model combining in-person centers, age-segmented groups, and trained facilitator support.
• Camp Kesem: National nonprofit running free summer camps and year-round support for children impacted by a parent's cancer, with 100+ chapters across the U.S. Highly comparable operating model: trauma-informed overnight camps, peer support, and ongoing community for youth facing serious parental illness.
• Camp Sunshine: Retreat program for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, offering year-round programming at a Maine campus. Comparable free, retreat-based, family-inclusive service model for children impacted by serious medical conditions.
• Kids Konnected: Nonprofit providing peer support programs for children and teens who have a parent with cancer, including summer camps, support groups, and online resources. Closely mirrors HLC's model of supporting youth affected by a parent's serious illness through free peer-based programs.
• ALS Network: Regional ALS service organization that is a Friend of HLC partner, providing care services, support groups, and clinics for ALS families. Comparable mission and beneficiary overlap with HLC's family-support focus.

Emerging players

• Chai Lifeline: Nonprofit providing year-round support services to children with serious illness and their families, including hospital visits, case management, and camp programming. Comparable family-centered support model with broader pediatric illness scope.

Others

• National Alliance for Caregiving: Research and advocacy nonprofit studying the 53+ million unpaid family caregivers in the U.S., cited by HLC for market sizing. Provides ecosystem-level context (research, policy) rather than direct service delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hopelovescompany
• Facebookfacebook.com/HopeLovesCompany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hope-loves-company-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/hopelovescompany
• Xx.com/hopelovesco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Hope Loves Company