Helping Friendly Farm

What Helping Friendly Farm does

Helping Friendly Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit therapeutic farm (EIN 84-3951179) located at 3240 Creamery Road, Solebury Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Founded by Jessica Zander, M.S. Ed., the farm serves families of individuals with disabilities — including ADD/ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, chromosomal disorders, chronic illness, developmental delay, Down syndrome, intellectual disability, mobility/movement disorders, mental illness, physical disabilities, and other invisible illnesses — by delivering sensory-friendly farm visits. Programming centers on three integrated components: a dedicated indoor sensory play space called the Sensory Barn, hands-on interactions with bottle-raised goats, miniature donkeys, potbellied pigs, and chickens trained to accommodate wheelchairs and adaptive equipment, and certified-organic gardens featuring lavender, rosemary, mint, blueberries, and seasonal fruit trees. The farm does not require proof of diagnosis and schedules visitors in two daily 2-hour appointment slots (Monday–Saturday, 10:30am–12:30pm and 1:00pm–3:00pm), with sensory seekers and sensory avoiders booked into separate sessions to maintain an appropriate environment. Capacity is capped at 12 visitors per session.

The revenue model blends pay-as-you-go admissions, recurring sponsorships, and event fundraising. Visits are priced at $30 per person (2 caregivers free, $10 per additional caregiver). Animal sponsorships run as recurring PayPal subscriptions at three tiers — $25/month Basic Care, $50/month Comfort & Care, and $100/month Full Support — with sponsors receiving monthly updates, bracelets, and merchandise. Annual fundraising events include the Boots & Gowns Benefit (corporate sponsorship tiers from $500 to $5,000) and the Helping Friendly Jamboree ($45 tax-deductible ticket via Givebutter). Donations flow through Bloomerang and operational supplies are supplemented via an Amazon Wishlist and volunteer labor. The organization publishes its IRS Form 990 for transparency.

Underlying technology is intentionally minimal: a Squarespace website, PayPal billing for sponsorships, Givebutter for ticketing, and Bloomerang for donations — no mobile app, no API, no AI/ML components, and no proprietary platform. The team is small: founder Jessica Zander, founding board member Amy Pinder (MA, CCC-SLP, who also leads Circles of Communication, Accessible Festivals, and co-founded Inclusion Festival), Business Manager Ira Berezhna (since May 2023), and Facilities Manager Chip Myers (joined early 2024). The farm is an independent nonprofit without parent, equity, or acquirer ownership, relying on admissions, recurring sponsorships, donations, and event proceeds.

Name

Helping Friendly Farm

Legal name

Helping Friendly Farm

Website

https://helpingfriendlyfarm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Helping Friendly Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit therapeutic farm in Solebury Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, serving families of individuals with disabilities through appointment-based sensory-friendly visits, trained animal interactions, a dedicated sensory barn, and recurring animal-sponsorship programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Recreation Services for Individuals with Disabilities

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAIAD

Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Animal Welfare & Wildlife Rescue

SECONDARYHLAMAAAE

Low-Cost & Community Veterinary Clinics

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Veterinary & Animal Health/Veterinary Clinical Services (Companion Animal)

Keywords

• Therapeutic farm visits
• Sensory barn experiences
• Animal-assisted recreation
• Special needs programming
• Inclusive family activities

Headquarters

HQ city

New Hope

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Therapeutic Farm Visits: Admission-based visits to the farm offering sensory exploration, animal interactions, and nature-based experiences for families of people with disabilities. Priced at $30/person for 2 hours, with 2 caregivers admitted free and additional caregivers at $10 each.
2. Animal Sponsorship: Monthly recurring sponsorship program for individual animals (goats, donkeys, pigs, chickens). Three tiers: $25/month Basic Care, $50/month Comfort & Care, and $100/month Full Support. Sponsors receive monthly updates, bracelets, and farm merchandise.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations supporting the nonprofit's mission. Accepts donations through multiple channels including their website donation portal.
4. Special Events: Annual fundraising events including the Helping Friendly Jamboree (music festival at $45/ticket, described as tax-deductible donation) and Boots & Gowns Benefit (elegant evening event with sponsorship tiers ranging from $500-$5,000).
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship packages for the Boots & Gowns Benefit event with four tiers: Chicken Cuddles ($500), Potbelly Snorts ($1,000), Donkey Hugs ($2,500), and GOAT ($5,000), each with increasing benefits including VIP tables, social media exposure, logo placement, and exclusive animal experiences.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Helping Friendly Farm operates an appointment-only nonprofit therapeutic farm where families of individuals with disabilities attend 2-hour sessions priced at $30 per person, combining a sensory barn, gentle animal interactions (goats, donkeys, pigs, chickens trained for adaptive equipment), and organic gardens for planting and harvesting. The core visit is complemented by monthly animal sponsorship subscriptions ($25/$50/$100 tiers), general donations, and annual fundraising events (Boots & Gowns Benefit, Helping Friendly Jamboree) that together fund the nonprofit mission.

Product overview

Helping Friendly Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit therapeutic farm offering a single unified experience centered on sensory-friendly farm visits for individuals with disabilities and their families. The core offering combines The Sensory Barn (indoor sensory play space), Animal Interactions (goats, donkeys, pigs, chickens), and The Gardens (therapeutic gardening) as integrated components within each 2-hour visit. Supporting programs include Animal Sponsorship (monthly tiers at $25/50/100), Donation collection via Bloomerang, Amazon Wishlist for supplies, and Volunteer programs. Special events include the annual Boots & Gowns Benefit (fundraising gala) and Helping Friendly Jamboree (music festival), both major fundraising initiatives supporting the nonprofit's mission. The farm serves visitors with various conditions including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities, operating by appointment only with accommodations for sensory seekers and avoiders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Farm Visits Therapeutic 2-hour farm visits by appointment for individuals with disabilities and their families, integrating sensory exploration, gentle animal interactions, and nature-based activities. Admission is $30/person, with two caregivers admitted free and additional caregivers at $10 each. Sessions are capped at 12 visitors and split between sensory seekers and sensory avoiders.
• Animal Sponsorship Program Monthly subscription sponsorship of individual farm animals (goats, donkeys, pigs, chickens) through three tiers — Basic Care $25/month, Comfort & Care $50/month, and Full Support $100/month — covering food, medical care, bedding, and enrichment. Sponsors receive monthly updates, friendship bracelets with the animal's name, and farm merchandise at higher tiers.
• Donations Tax-deductible donations supporting the nonprofit's mission of inclusive programming and animal care, processed through the Bloomerang donation portal embedded on the website.
• Boots & Gowns Benefit Annual fundraising gala featuring live bluegrass music, comedy, and farm-to-table food. Backed by four-tier corporate sponsorship packages (Chicken Cuddles $500, Potbelly Snorts $1,000, Donkey Hugs $2,500, GOAT $5,000) with graduated benefits including VIP tables, social media placement, logo placement, and exclusive animal experiences.
• Helping Friendly Jamboree Annual full-day inclusive music festival with live performances, silent disco, yoga, circus arts, gardening, arts and crafts, animal visits, and flower picking. Tickets are $45 each (tax-deductible donation), with reduced-cost community tickets available for those with financial barriers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Human-animal interactions improve social attention, behavior, interpersonal interaction and mood (supported by NIH research cited on website)

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Inclusion FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 May 2026Inclusion Festival provides silent disco entertainment at the Helping Friendly Jamboree annual music festival. Inclusion Festival is described as the nation's first sensory-friendly music and wellness festival designed to welcome and accommodate everyone, aligning with HFF's mission.
• Circles of CommunicationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 May 2026Circles of Communication provides yoga and circus arts programming at the Helping Friendly Jamboree. Founded by Amy Pinder, who also serves as a board member and consultant for HFF, the organization provides integrative speech-language therapy and alternative education programs.
• Twyl Whimsy on WheelsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 May 2026Provides entertainment/transportation services at the annual Jamboree event. Contributes to the community event experience at the farm's music festival.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Green Chimneys: Green Chimneys is a well-established nonprofit therapeutic farm and school in Brewster, NY serving children with special needs through animal-assisted and nature-based programs. It is the closest large-scale analog to Helping Friendly Farm's animal-and-sensory model.
• BINA Farm Center: BINA Farm Center provides equine-assisted therapy and farm-based programs for people with disabilities and veterans in the greater Philadelphia area. It overlaps directly with Helping Friendly Farm's therapeutic animal-interaction mission.
• Equi-librium Inc. Equi-librium is a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit providing equine-assisted therapy and farm programming for people with disabilities. Its PA geography and therapeutic animal focus make it a relevant regional peer.
• Circle of Hope Therapeutic Riding: Circle of Hope Therapeutic Riding provides equine-assisted therapy in Pennsylvania, serving people with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. Comparable in mission and nonprofit fundraising model.
• The Barn at Spring Brook Farm: The Barn at Spring Brook Farm is a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit therapeutic farm offering animal-assisted programs for individuals with disabilities. Its Pennsylvania footprint, animal interactions, and special-needs focus make it a directly comparable regional peer.
• Dreams on Horseback: Dreams on Horseback is a New Jersey-based nonprofit offering equine-assisted therapy and adaptive riding for individuals with special needs. It is a directly comparable therapeutic animal-interaction nonprofit in the mid-Atlantic region.
• Sunrise Therapeutic Riding Center: Sunrise Therapeutic Riding Center in Georgia provides equine-assisted activities for individuals with disabilities. It shares the animal-assisted therapy mission and nonprofit revenue model (lessons, donations, events).
• Great and Small: Great and Small is a Maryland-based nonprofit offering equine-assisted therapy and adaptive riding for children and adults with disabilities. It is comparable in mission and animal-assisted therapeutic model, though more equine-focused.

Regional players

• Inclusion Festival: Inclusion Festival is the nation's first sensory-friendly music and wellness festival and a documented HFF Jamboree partner. While not a farm, it shares the same audience (families with disabilities) and mission (inclusive programming).

Others

• Sensory Friendly Solutions: Sensory Friendly Solutions provides training and consultation to businesses on accommodating individuals with sensory processing challenges. It serves the same end-user population as Helping Friendly Farm but through training rather than direct farm experiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Helping-Friendly-Farm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/helping-friendly-farm

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 Helping Friendly Farm