The Diabetes Family Connection

What The Diabetes Family Connection does

The Diabetes Family Connection is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2018/2019 and headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, that serves families affected by Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) in the state. Its flagship program is Camp Morris, an overnight summer camp where 93% of counselors themselves live with T1D, providing what the organization frames as a uniquely authentic peer-support experience. In 2025 the camp served 178 campers at $1,000 per family, against a true cost per camper of approximately $1,500, indicating the program is deliberately subsidized by fundraising.

The organization's business model combines programmatic fee revenue (camp tuition at $1,000/camper and community events at $10/family) with fundraising from individual donors and corporate sponsors. Named top-tier corporate sponsors include Dexcom, Sanofi, Cone Health, and Solas Financial, each contributing $10,000 or more, alongside an Impact Fund goal of $70,000. In 2023 the organization expanded from a single summer camp into a Camp to Community model, adding year-round programs. Operations are supported by 400+ volunteers and a small staff of 1-10 employees; the technology stack is operational rather than technical, consisting of CampInTouch for registration and Zoom for virtual programming, with no disclosed proprietary software, AI/ML, or data products. Geographic expansion is underway into Hickory, Boone, Wilmington, and Durham, with 2026 plans for a second week of Camp Morris and a new Adventure Camp format.

Name

The Diabetes Family Connection

Legal name

The Diabetes Family Connection

Website

https://thedfc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Diabetes Family Connection is a North Carolina-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving families affected by Type 1 Diabetes through its flagship Camp Morris overnight program and year-round Camp to Community events across the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Health Support Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)

Keywords

• Diabetes camp programs
• Type 1 diabetes support
• Nonprofit community services
• Family health programs
• Diabetes recreation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Camper fees for camp programs, retreats, and community events. Fees are heavily subsidized through donations - campers pay $1,000 while true cost is ~$1,500.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, Impact Fund campaigns, and Party with a Purpose events. $70,000 Impact Fund goal in 2025.
3. Scholarships and Subsidies: Need-based scholarships and subsidized tuition ensure cost is never a barrier. 44 scholarships awarded and 133 campers received subsidized tuition in 2025.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Diabetes Family Connection operates year-round recreation-based programs — including summer residential camps, family weekend retreats, day camps, and community events — designed for individuals and families affected by Type 1 Diabetes, with mission-driven subsidization and scholarships made possible by charitable donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

The Diabetes Family Connection is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of year-round recreation-based programs for individuals and families living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The core programs include Camp Morris (week-long residential summer camp), Teen Retreat (weekend retreat for high school students), Family Retreat (weekend retreat for families), and Camp to Community (one-day community events). These camp and retreat programs are supported by complementary services including Real Talk (virtual caregiver support calls), the PMA Care Package program (positive mental attitude care packages), the Connection Program (peer-to-peer mentorship), and financial support through Scholarships and Fundraise Your Fee programs. The organization also operates Impact Fund (annual fundraising campaign) and Party with a Purpose (community fundraising events) to sustain operations. All programs are designed to build confidence, foster positive mental attitude (PMA), and create supportive community connections for those navigating life with type 1 diabetes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer residential camp for kids with T1D Multi-day overnight camp for children living with Type 1 Diabetes, staffed by T1D-experienced personnel in a medically-supervised recreational setting.
• Family retreat weekends Weekend retreats designed for the entire family affected by Type 1 Diabetes — including parents, siblings, and the diagnosed individual — to build peer support and shared experience.
• Day camps for kids with T1D Non-overnight, single-day camp programming offering accessible recreational and peer experiences for children with Type 1 Diabetes.
• Community events and family gatherings Periodic in-person community events and family gatherings across North Carolina to maintain peer connection outside of formal camp sessions.
• Virtual programs (Zoom-based) Online programming delivered via Zoom to extend the organization's reach to T1D families who cannot attend in-person events in North Carolina.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of campers excited to return to camp
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• YMCA Camp HanescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Camp Morris, Teen Retreat, and Family Retreat programs in King, NC
• Diabetes Education & Camping AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud member organization providing best practices and network for diabetes camping programs
• American Camping AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud member organization ensuring camp quality standards and accreditation
• Duke HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical professionals from Duke provide clinical expertise to DFC programs. Partner for Duke Diabetes Day community event.
• Novant HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical professionals from Novant provide clinical expertise to DFC programs.
• Atrium HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical professionals from Atrium provide clinical expertise to DFC programs.
• WakeMedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical professionals from WakeMed provide clinical expertise to DFC programs.
• Tryon MedicalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical professionals from Tryon Medical provide clinical expertise to DFC programs.
• YMCA (North Carolina)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with YMCA locations across NC for Camp to Community events including YMCA Camp Kirkwood in Wilmington.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• American Camp Association (ACA): National accreditation body for camps of which DFC is a member. Provides shared standards and credibility infrastructure across the broader camp industry, including diabetes-specific programs; not a competitor but an enabling organization in DFC's operating context.
• Diabetes Education & Camping Association (DECA): Industry association of which DFC is a member; aggregates best practices and accreditation for diabetes camping programs. Functions as a peer ecosystem and standards body rather than a direct competitor, but its member organizations collectively form DFC's competitive set.

Direct peers

• Diabetes Youth Families (DYF): California-based nonprofit operating residential camps and year-round programs for children and families living with type 1 diabetes. Operates Bearskin Meadow Camp and family camp programs that are directly comparable to DFC's Camp Morris and Family Retreat model.
• Setebaid Services: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit providing residential diabetes camps, family weekends, and teen programs for children and teens with T1D. Closely comparable to DFC in programming mix (residential + family + teen events) and target demographic.
• The Barton Center for Diabetes Education: Massachusetts-based nonprofit operating Clara Barton Camp (girls) and Camp Joslin (boys), year-round programs, and family education for children with T1D. Directly comparable residential camp model with similar camper demographics and lived-T1D staffing approach.

Broad incumbents

• Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF): National T1D research and advocacy nonprofit. Both a DFC corporate sponsor and a broader incumbent in the T1D funding ecosystem; competes for donor dollars and family mindshare, while also serving as a potential upstream referral source for newly diagnosed families.
• American Diabetes Association (ADA) Camps: National nonprofit operating a portfolio of diabetes camps across multiple states. Serves a substantially larger and broader audience than DFC and is referenced in DFC founder's prior experience; competes for the same T1D family donor and participant pool at a national scale.

Regional players

• Florida Diabetes Camp: Regional nonprofit operating residential diabetes camps and family programs in Florida. Comparable in mission and programming mix but serves a different geography; illustrates the regional T1D camp operating model that DFC competes with for national sponsor attention.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheDiabetesFamilyConnection
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-diabetes-family-connection

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 The Diabetes Family Connection