CMC:Foundation for Change

What CMC:Foundation for Change does

CMC:Foundation for Change is a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 81-5115943) founded in 2017 by clinical psychologists Dr. Jeff Foote and Dr. Carrie Wilkens, alongside Director of Training Dr. Ken Carpenter. The organization develops and disseminates the Invitation to Change (ITC) Approach, a registered trademark methodology that integrates three evidence-based therapeutic frameworks—Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT), Motivational Interviewing, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy—into a unified, jargon-free curriculum organized around understanding, awareness, action, and practice.

The product portfolio centers on three training tiers (workshops for families, 16-hour professional intensives, and customized organizational training), a two-step ITC Certification pathway, and a national network of free ITC Community Groups operating on a 15-session curriculum. Supporting assets include published books and workbooks (Beyond Addiction, The Invitation to Change: A Short Guide, 20-Minute Guides) distributed through New Harbinger and major retailers, the Rethinking Rock Bottom podcast, an ITC video library, and Spanish-language programming launched in March 2026.

Revenue is generated through tax-deductible donations (one-time, monthly, stock, bequest), variable professional training fees customized to organizational size and need, book royalties, and co-sponsored workshop partnerships. Free community groups and discounted family workshops are supported by donations. The go-to-market combines event-driven professional trainings, community-led group replication via certification, and direct-to-consumer digital content (podcast, video, books). Strategic partners include Partnership to End Addiction (peer-reviewed research), Penn State Project ECHO (hybrid training format), FAR Canada (distance-learning format), Spiritworks Foundation (correctional vertical), and Your Ally Foundation (international and diaspora expansion).

Name

CMC:Foundation for Change

Legal name

CMC:Foundation for Change

Website

https://cmcffc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CMC:Foundation for Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops and disseminates the trademarked Invitation to Change (ITC) Approach—an evidence-based methodology integrating CRAFT, Motivational Interviewing, and ACT—for families and professionals supporting people with substance use.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Addiction Recovery Training

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health, Health Promotion & Behavior Change (SBCC) (BPADAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavior Change & Motivational Coaching (HSADAGAF), Change Management & Transformation Leadership (EDABAAAD)

Keywords

• Substance use support
• Family recovery training
• Addiction counseling programs
• Evidence-based therapy training
• Peer support groups

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: CMC:Foundation for Change operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization (EIN 81-5115943) relying primarily on donations. They accept one-time and monthly donations, fundraised campaigns, bequest gifts, and donations of stock and wire transfers. Donations help provide ITC workshops at free and discounted rates.
2. Professional Training Fees: The organization charges fees for professional training workshops. Training fees vary based on organization size and need. For smaller groups, attending quarterly professional trainings is more cost-effective; larger groups (15+) may organize co-sponsored trainings. As a nonprofit, they price trainings to maximize accessibility while supporting operations.
3. Book and Workbook Sales: Sale of published materials including The Beyond Addiction Workbook for Family and Friends, The Invitation to Change: A Short Guide, The Parent's 20 Minute Guide, The Partner's 20 Minute Guide, and Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change. Net proceeds help scholarship trainings and materials to those in need.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

CMC:Foundation for Change develops and disseminates the Invitation to Change (ITC) Approach—an evidence-based framework integrating Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT), Motivational Interviewing, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy—and delivers training, certification, community group programming, and publications built on that methodology to families and loved ones, behavioral health clinicians, peer specialists, and treatment organizations across the United States and Canada.

Product overview

CMC:Foundation for Change operates as a single, unified nonprofit offering centered on the Invitation to Change (ITC) Approach—a comprehensive methodology for supporting individuals struggling with substance use. The organization's product portfolio includes training programs (workshops for families, professionals, and organizations), certification pathways (ITC Intensive and Group Leader Training), and ITC Community Groups for peer support. Publications include The Beyond Addiction Workbook, The Invitation to Change: A Short Guide, and the 20-Minute Guide series. Digital offerings encompass the Rethinking Rock Bottom podcast and a video library. All offerings are designed to disseminate evidence-based, compassionate strategies for family and community support in substance use situations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ITC Workshops for Families Free and discounted experiential workshops that teach family members and loved ones evidence-based skills—grounded in CRAFT, Motivational Interviewing, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy—for understanding substance use behavior, improving communication, and supporting positive change in their loved one. Designed for families, partners, parents, and friends of individuals struggling with substance use.
• ITC Workshops for Professionals 16-hour professional training (delivered virtually or in-person over two full days or several weeks) for clinicians, therapists, peer specialists, recovery coaches, nurses, doctors, and clinical supervisors who work with families affected by substance use. Pricing varies by organization size, with the option to bundle the additional 12 hours required for Level-1 ITC Certification.
• ITC Workshops for Organizations Customized ITC training for treatment organizations, hospitals, and community institutions seeking to train entire teams in the Invitation to Change Approach. Includes co-sponsored workshops, modified time blocks for organizational schedules, and optional embedding of ITC Certification into staff professional development.
• ITC Certification Program Two-step Level-1 certification pathway including the 16-hour ITC Intensive and the ITC Group Leader Training (12 additional hours). Provides certified professionals with ongoing access to the 15-session and 5-session ITC group curricula, monthly support meetings, the ITC Certified Facebook community, and the credentials needed to lead ITC Community Groups in clinical or community settings.
• ITC Community Groups Free, peer-led support groups offering evidence-based skills for anyone helping a person who uses substances. Built on the 15-session ITC Community Group Curriculum with sample meeting agendas, introductory readings, worksheets, and adaptable exercises, the groups serve as a science-based alternative to Al-Anon-style 12-step family support groups.
• The Beyond Addiction Workbook for Family and Friends A full-length, evidence-based workbook published with New Harbinger Publications that walks family members and friends through the Invitation to Change Approach with worksheets and practice exercises. Net proceeds support scholarship trainings and materials for those in need.
• The Invitation to Change: A Short Guide A practical, accessible self-published workbook covering nine core ITC topics with 20+ exercises for readers to practice ITC concepts. Available in English and in Spanish as 'La Invitación Al Cambio: Una Breve Guía.' Net proceeds help scholarship trainings.
• Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change Trade book by Drs. Foote, Wilkens, and Kosanke that introduces the science-based, compassion-centered approach to helping loved ones change their substance use. Sold through major retailers with proceeds supporting scholarship training.
• The Parent's 20 Minute Guide A CRAFT-based guide for parents who want to help a child struggling with substance use, published in 2016. Sold through the Foundation's own storefront with proceeds supporting training scholarships.
• The Partner's 20 Minute Guide A CRAFT-based guide for partners or spouses who want to help a loved one struggling with substance use, published in 2016 and sold through the Foundation's storefront.
• Rethinking Rock Bottom Podcast A six-episode podcast series hosted by Dr. Carrie Wilkens and Rev. Jan Brown that explores the experience of loving someone with substance use struggles, combining guest stories with evidence-based perspectives from the ITC Approach. Distributed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube as a free digital product.
• Spanish Language ITC Workshops and Support Groups Spanish-language ITC workshops and weekly online support groups designed to extend the Invitation to Change Approach to Hispanic families, anchored by Spanish Community Liaison Marcela Moren Salerno. Includes a free in-person workshop in Peekskill, NY in June 2026 and ongoing Wednesday evening virtual support groups in Spanish.

Quantifiable outcome

• 64-74% of loved ones engage in treatment when family members are trained in CRAFT/ITC methods
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• FAR Canada (Families for Addiction Recovery)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership to adapt ITC workshop to distance learning format for FAR Canada. Because FAR Canada recruits and trains recovery coaches continuously rather than in batches, a virtual course was developed with recorded lectures, readings, and exercises. Each new hire can take the course according to their timeline. Currently available only to FAR Canada with potential for future expansion.
• Project ECHO at Penn State College of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Penn State Project ECHO adapting ITC training to a new format emphasizing participant discussion and collective learning. Dr. Ken Carpenter facilitates 10 weeks of discussion with families in caregiving roles while FFC trainers contribute 15-minute flash talks on ITC topics. This new format explores ways to spread evidence-based approaches while bringing more people into the conversation.
• Spiritworks FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Spiritworks Foundation, led by Rev. Jan Brown, to run an ITC group for peer support mentors for incarcerated women in Chesterfield, Virginia. This women's prison initiative represents one of the organization's first ITC-based support groups in a correctional setting. Data is being collected to assess effectiveness and reception among incarcerated participants.
• Your Ally FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Your Ally Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving access to treatment for substance use disorders and related mental health disorders in low and middle-income countries as well as the African diaspora in the New England area. Currently operating in Uganda and Zambia with expansion plans. Working with founder Susan Wilkinson to develop a program integrating racial and immigration trauma into ITC.
• Railroad Street Youth ProjectcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOngoing collaboration with Railroad Street Youth Project in Great Barrington, MA for community workshops and parent training sessions. Multiple collaborative workshops conducted since 2018, with Dr. Jeff Foote leading community workshops on coping with teen substance abuse.
• Partnership to End AddictionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative evaluation of ITC approach in the context of peer-to-peer parent coaching network. Trained 228 parents as peer support specialists and conducted 15-month evaluation with 279 parents receiving coaching calls. Study published in Addictive Behaviors journal (2020). Partnership also provides referral support and online parent support communities.
• Drug Crisis in Our BackyardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsored workshops with this grass-roots organization in New York, expanding reach for family training programs in the region.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Learn to Cope: A peer-support network for families affected by opioid and substance use disorder, with in-person and online meetings plus naloxone training. Comparable to ITC Community Groups as a free, family-led alternative to traditional recovery support.
• Partnership to End Addiction: A national nonprofit providing science-based resources, peer support, and family coaching for parents of children with substance use. CMC:FFC has a Flagship partnership with them (the 2020 Addictive Behaviors evaluation) and operates in the same parent-support category.
• SMART Recovery: SMART Recovery is a science-based mutual aid alternative to 12-step programs offering self-help and family support groups grounded in CBT, MI, and REBT. Like CMC:FFC, it directly competes for the same family-member audience and explicitly positions against Al-Anon.
• Families Anonymous: A 12-step mutual aid organization for relatives and friends of people with substance use or behavioral issues. Competes with CMC:FFC's ITC Community Groups for the same family-member attendee in the same group-meeting format.

Broad incumbents

• Al-Anon Family Groups: Al-Anon is the long-established incumbent for family support groups of people with alcohol/substance use issues. CMC:FFC explicitly frames ITC Community Groups as a free, evidence-based alternative to Al-Anon, making it the primary competitor for the same family-member segment.
• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: A large addiction treatment provider and publisher of recovery resources, including books and curricula for families. Overlaps with CMC:FFC's books/workbooks and professional training offerings but operates treatment centers as its core business.
• Caron Treatment Centers: A nonprofit addiction treatment provider with family education programs. Comparable to CMC:FFC's organizational training and family workshop offerings, but operates residential treatment as the primary business.
• Faces & Voices of Recovery: A national recovery advocacy organization supporting individuals in long-term recovery and their families. Comparable in mission around recovery support and community mobilization, with an advocacy rather than training orientation.
• National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD): A long-standing advocacy and education organization addressing alcoholism and drug dependence. Comparable as a national nonprofit providing education and support for families, though broader in mandate and advocacy-driven.

Others

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: A major philanthropic funder of health-related social change initiatives. Relevant as a potential funder/funder-peer to CMC:FFC given the organization's reliance on donations and its evidence-based, community-level behavior change focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cmc_ffc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-Nj309L9kwd5kBXwD_nKuA
• Facebookfacebook.com/cmcffc
• Instagraminstagram.com/cmcffc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cmc-foundation-for-change

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CMC:Foundation for Change