BE REAL.
BE REAL USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops and distributes evidence-based body image and eating disorder prevention curricula (BodyKind, Let's Eat!, Body Confident Schools) for K-12 and college students, teachers, and parents via free resources, donor funding, and paid educator workshops.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersNot specified, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What BE REAL. does
BE REAL USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 84-3173807) headquartered in Glencoe, Illinois, that develops and distributes body image and eating disorder prevention curricula for K-12 and college students. Founded by Denise Hamburger, a former environmental lawyer and University of Michigan Law graduate, the organization operates with a small core team of seven (including interns), supplemented by a network of 150+ trained Ambassadors. Its flagship product, BodyKind, is an evidence-based four-lesson high school body image curriculum available in three localized variants (USA, International, and Español) plus a College BodyKind seminar for post-secondary students. Supporting programs include the Let's Eat! weight-neutral three-part nutrition lesson for middle and high school students and the Body Confident Schools Workshop for educator professional development, priced at $1,500 per three-hour session.
The organization monetizes primarily through tax-deductible donations across tiered one-time asks of $25 to $1,500, supplemented by speaking fees for in-person and Zoom group trainings. The curriculum itself is free and accessible via the Be Real Resources Site (berealresources.org), and distribution is executed through state education department partnerships, district-level direct engagement, conference circuits (SHAPE America, SOPHE, ICED, IFEDD), and the Ambassador network. Endorsements and validation come from the Arizona Department of Education, Vermont Department of Mental Health, Rhode Island HOPE Collaborative, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's STRIPED Eating Disorder Prevention Incubator, and a peer-reviewed Randomized Control Trial (n=1,150 high school students in Ireland, 2024) published in Body Image: An International Journal of Research.
Customer segments are middle and high school students and educators (primary), with secondary segments of college students, parents and families, and wellness/school counseling professionals. Geographic reach spans the U.S. (Arizona, Rhode Island, Vermont, Illinois, Minnesota, and additional states via speaking engagements) plus international programs in Ireland, Canada, Costa Rica, China, and Spain. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors including President & CEO Sarah Alter of The Network of Executive Women and has received the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar by Candid.
BE REAL. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BE REAL.
- Legal name
- BE REAL USA
- Website
- https://berealusa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- BE REAL USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops and distributes evidence-based body image and eating disorder prevention curricula (BodyKind, Let's Eat!, Body Confident Schools) for K-12 and college students, teachers, and parents via free resources, donor funding, and paid educator workshops.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BE REAL. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Body Image and Eating Disorder Prevention Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Health, Wellness & Lifestyle Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Virtual Homeschool Programs & Online Curriculum Schools (EDAJADAJ), Workshops, Webinars & Live Masterclasses (MPACALAD)
Keywords
Where BE REAL. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Not specified
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
BE REAL. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 84-3173807), BE REAL relies primarily on donations from individuals and organizations. All donations are tax deductible.
- Program-Specific Donations: Donations are directed to specific programs: $25 supports BodyKind graphic design, $100 supports teacher workshops, $250 for Ambassador Program, $500 for parent curriculum, $1,000 for middle/high school eating curriculum, $1,500 for international cultural adaptations.
- Speaking Fees: BE REAL charges $1,500 speaking fees for group training sessions (3-hour training), plus travel expenses for in-person sessions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time | $25 donation - BodyKind graphic design support |
| Other | One time | $100 donation - Teacher workshop support |
| Other | One time | $250 donation - Ambassador Program |
| Other | One time | $500 donation - Parent curriculum |
| Other | One time | $1,000 donation - Middle/high school eating curriculum |
| Other | One time | $1,500 donation - International cultural adaptation |
| Other | Multi-year contract | $1,500 speaking fee for group training |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
BE REAL. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BE REAL USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops and distributes evidence-based body image and eating disorder prevention education for young people. Its flagship deliverable is the BodyKind curriculum suite for high school, college, international, and Spanish-speaking audiences, supplemented by the Let's Eat! weight-neutral nutrition program, paid Body Confident Schools Workshops for educator professional development, and an Ambassador Program that mobilizes more than 150 trained volunteers.
Product overview
BE REAL is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of body image and eating disorder prevention educational programs. The core product is the BodyKind curriculum system, available in three versions: BodyKind USA (U.S. compliant version), BodyKind International (original 2023 version), and BodyKind Español (Spanish-language adaptation), plus a College BodyKind seminar. Supporting the curriculum are the Let's Eat! weight-neutral nutrition program and the Body Confident Schools Workshop for educator professional development. The Ambassador Program trains community members to deliver these resources locally. All materials are accessed through the Be Real Resources Site login portal. The organization has over 150 ambassadors and has reached over 10,000 teachers and educators with presentations and workshops.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BodyKind: Evidence-based body image curriculum for high school students proven to increase body appreciation and self-compassion. Available in USA, International, and Spanish (Español) versions.
- Let's Eat
- Body Confident Schools
- BE REAL Ambassador Program
Products and services
- BodyKind USA
- College BodyKind Seminar Series
- BodyKind International
- BodyKind Español
- Let's Eat!
- Body Confident Schools Workshop
- Be Real Ambassador Program
- Be Real Resources Site (berealresources.org)
Quantifiable outcome
- Statistically significant increases in Body Appreciation from pre- to post-survey (2024 RCT with 1,150 students in Ireland)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use BE REAL.
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
BE REAL. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
BE REAL. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major, regional and minor.
- University of North Carolina CharlottecoreResearch partnership for BodyKind curriculum evaluation. UNC Charlotte team surveyed students in 2022 pilot study at Brooklyn Center Community High School. Team included Jennifer Webb, Associate Professor in Health Psychology, along with doctoral students.
- Dublin City UniversitycoreResearch partnership for BodyKind RCT in Ireland. Ciara Mahon, Associate Professor in Department of Psychology, co-led research evaluations of BodyKind curriculum in Ireland with Jigsaw, The National Centre of Youth Mental Health.
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's STRIPEDflagshipBody Confident Schools vetted by STRIPED Eating Disorder Prevention Incubator. STRIPED surveyed 200 educator participants and found that Body Confident Schools moved the needle on knowledge about body image, eating disorders, and weight stigma.
- Victoria University (The Body Confident Collective)coreZali Yager, Associate Professor at Victoria University Institute for Health and Sport and CEO of The Body Confident Collective, is part of the international team that researched and created BodyKind curriculum.
- Towson UniversitycoreLuciana Zuest, Associate Professor of Kinesiology at Towson University, is part of the BodyKind curriculum creation team. She serves on the SHAPE America Board of Directors.
- Arizona Department of EducationmajorBE REAL's programs are listed as trusted resources in the Arizona Department of Education School Health Office Resource Hub
- Vermont Department of Mental HealthmajorBodyKind curriculum is referenced in Vermont's Model School Protocol for Suicide Prevention as a trusted resource
- Rhode Island HOPE CollaborativeregionalTrusted resource partner listed by Rhode Island HOPE Collaborative
- Media Literacy NowregionalBE REAL resources included in Media Literacy Now's Health Resource Library
- Jigsaw, The National Centre of Youth Mental Health, IrelandcoreResearch partner for BodyKind curriculum evaluation in Ireland, working with Ciara Mahon from Dublin City University
- Amazon (Body Positive Peers Employee Resource Group)minorBE REAL has presented on Body Confident Schools and BodyKind curriculum to Amazon's Body Positive Peers Employee Resource Group
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
BE REAL. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Born This Way Foundation: Founded by Lady Gaga, this foundation focuses on youth mental health and kindness, with school-based programming including 'Be There' and 'Channel Kindness.' Comparable in mission to support young people's mental health, including body image, in school settings.
- National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA): Largest US nonprofit focused on eating disorders — provides education, screening tools, helpline, and advocacy. Comparable to BE REAL in mission around eating disorder prevention and education, but broader in scope (treatment, advocacy, helpline) and significantly larger in reach and budget.
- Active Minds: US nonprofit supporting mental health awareness and education for students, with chapters in hundreds of high schools and colleges. Comparable in channel (school-based mental health education) and donor-funded nonprofit model, but broader in mental health scope.
- The JED Foundation: National nonprofit protecting teen and young adult mental health and suicide prevention, with school and college programs. Adjacent to BE REAL's body image work as broader youth mental health education infrastructure that schools already engage with.
- Dove Self-Esteem Project (Unilever): Unilever's flagship body-confidence and self-esteem education initiative for youth, widely distributed free in US and global schools. Directly comparable to BE REAL in target audience (K-12 students) and subject area (body image education), but backed by a Fortune 500 marketing budget and far broader reach.
Others
- ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders): Eating-disorder-focused nonprofit providing education, support groups, and treatment referrals. ANAD's Executive Director Lynn Slawsky sits on BE REAL's Board of Directors, signaling close mission alignment. Peer in the eating disorder education and prevention space.
- STRIPED (Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders, Harvard T.H. Chan): Harvard-based academic and policy initiative that vetted BE REAL's Body Confident Schools and surveyed 200 educator participants. Functions as both research partner and ecosystem peer in the eating-disorder prevention policy and education space.
Direct peers
- The Body Confident Collective: Founded by Zali Yager (Associate Professor at Victoria University), this organization provides body image professional development and resources for educators and parents. Direct peer to BE REAL — in fact, Zali Yager is part of the BodyKind curriculum creation team, indicating deep operational overlap.
- The Body Project: Evidence-based body-acceptance dissonance-intervention program for adolescent girls and young women, originally developed at Oregon Research Institute and now disseminated globally. Comparable to BE REAL's BodyKind in targeting youth body image with peer-reviewed efficacy data.
Regional players
- Jigsaw, The National Centre for Youth Mental Health in Ireland: Ireland's national youth mental health organization, research partner on the BodyKind RCT through Dublin City University. Comparable mission in adolescent mental health, but geographically focused on Ireland rather than competing directly with BE REAL's US operations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
BE REAL. social profiles
Digital presenceBE REAL. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
BE REAL. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BE REAL. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
BE REAL. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BE REAL. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BE REAL.
What does BE REAL. do?
BE REAL USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops and distributes evidence-based body image and eating disorder prevention education for young people. Its flagship deliverable is the BodyKind curriculum suite for high school, college, international, and Spanish-speaking audiences, supplemented by the Let's Eat! weight-neutral nutrition program, paid Body Confident Schools Workshops for educator professional development, and an Ambassador Program that mobilizes more than 150 trained volunteers.
Is BE REAL. a public or private company?
BE REAL. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was BE REAL. founded?
BE REAL. was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is BE REAL. based?
BE REAL. is headquartered in Not specified, United States, in the North America region.
How does BE REAL. make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are program-Specific Donations and speaking Fees.
Who are BE REAL.'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Born This Way Foundation, National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), Active Minds, The JED Foundation and Dove Self-Esteem Project (Unilever). Others are ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders) and STRIPED (Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders, Harvard T.H. Chan). Direct peers are The Body Confident Collective and The Body Project. Jigsaw, The National Centre for Youth Mental Health in Ireland is listed as a regional player.
Does BE REAL. have an API?
No public API is recorded for BE REAL..
What industry is BE REAL. in?
BE REAL.'s product category is Body Image and Eating Disorder Prevention Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAEAH, Health, Wellness & Lifestyle Noncredit Programs, with a secondary code of EDAJADAJ, Virtual Homeschool Programs & Online Curriculum Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111.