What Bright Spot Network does

Bright Spot Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 84-2925337) headquartered in Alameda, California, that delivers free programs to young cancer survivors who are parents of children ages 0–10. Founded in 2019/2020 and rebranded from Operation Ohana in June 2021, the organization addresses a structural gap in oncology support by serving the entire family system — parents, partners/caregivers, and children — through a portfolio of programs: virtual support groups (active treatment, post-treatment, Stage IV/metastatic, bereavement, partners), Bright Grants ($500 financial assistance), Bright Reads (free age-appropriate books, distributed to 700+ families annually), Bright Box (free art projects co-developed with The Dolly Project), Family Resource Navigation by a licensed mental health professional, and kid-connection programs including Bright Club, Bright Circle, Teddy Bear Clinic, and Bright Birthday cards.

The organization's technology footprint is intentionally minimal: all programming runs over Zoom, communications use Mailchimp and private Facebook groups, and the website (Squarespace) handles program applications and donations. There is no proprietary platform; the underlying architecture is a human-facilitated, virtual service delivery model rather than a software product. Revenue is generated entirely through donations, corporate sponsorships (Gilead Sciences, Servier, Eisai), the Founder's Circle major-gift program ($25,000 minimum over 3 years toward a $1M goal), grants, and modest merchandise sales via Bonfire — all programs are free to eligible families. GTM is community-led, relying on oncology social worker referrals, cancer clinic and child life program partnerships, peer word-of-mouth, and earned media (a May 2025 Good Morning America feature with Michael Strahan). Staff headcount is 6, led by Co-Founder/Executive Director Haley Pollack and Director of Programs and Community Outreach Carissa Hodgson (LCSW, OSW-C), supplemented by an Edgewood College graduate-student facilitator pipeline and a distributed volunteer base.

Name

Bright Spot Network

Legal name

Bright Spot Network

Website

https://brightspotnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bright Spot Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free, virtual programs supporting young cancer survivors who are parents of children ages 0–10. Offerings include support groups, $500 financial grants, free books, art projects, and family resource navigation, serving over 700 families nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Cancer Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

Keywords

• Cancer support services
• Nonprofit family services
• Peer support groups
• Pediatric cancer resources
• Financial assistance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Alameda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: BSN offers corporate sponsorship opportunities at regional and national levels, including team-building events, program enrichment, grant sponsorships, in-kind donations, and company fundraisers. Companies can sponsor programs or general operations.
2. Founder's Circle: A high-level giving circle requiring a minimum commitment of $25,000 payable over 3 years, with a goal of $1 million in total pledges. Members receive permanent recognition, quarterly conference calls with leadership, and complimentary event tickets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bright Spot Network delivers a suite of free programs for young cancer survivors who are parents of small children (ages 0–10), including virtual peer support groups, $500 financial grants (Bright Grants), free age-appropriate books (Bright Reads), free art project boxes (Bright Box), one-on-one Family Resource Navigation with a licensed mental health professional, and kid connection programs such as Bright Club, Bright Circle, Teddy Bear Clinic, and Bright Birthday cards. All services are provided at no cost to eligible families across the U.S. via virtual delivery and direct shipping.

Product overview

Bright Spot Network is a nonprofit organization offering a suite of free programs and services for young cancer survivors who are parents of small children (ages 0-10). The core offerings center on virtual support groups across multiple constituencies (partners, post-treatment, active treatment, bereaved, Stage IV), paired with tangible resource programs including Bright Reads (free books), Bright Box (art projects), and Bright Grants (financial assistance). Family Resource Navigation provides one-on-one support, while Connections for Kids delivers age-specific programming including Bright Club, Bright Circle, Teddy Bear Clinic, and Bright Birthday cards. A partnership with Triage Cancer adds a metastatic cancer webinar series. The organization operates on a platform-plus-programs model, providing peer support and educational resources rather than a traditional technology product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bright Reads: Free age-appropriate books about dealing with big emotions, cancer and illness, and grief and loss, provided to children of parents going through cancer.
• Bright Box
• Bright Grants
• Bright Circle
• Bright Club
• Bright Birthday
• Lightkeepers
• Founder's Circle

Products and services

• Virtual Support Groups

Quantifiable outcome

• Bright Reads grew 56% year-over-year, from 477 families to over 700 families per year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Triage CancercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSN partners with Triage Cancer on a free program for parents with metastatic cancer and healthcare professionals, which includes a 4-part interactive webinar series, Triage Cancer's Practical Guide for Parenting with Cancer, Bright Spot Network Family Resource Navigation, and Triage Cancer's Legal & Financial Navigation Program. This is a co-developed educational program combining BSN's community programming with Triage Cancer's legal and financial expertise.
• The Dolly ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSN partnered with The Dolly Project (founded by Megan and Kelsey Small, inspired by their mother Dolly's love of art and creativity) to create Bright Box — art projects and activities specially designed for children of cancer patients. The Dolly Project provides the curated art project content, while BSN distributes the boxes to families free of charge. Additional boxes can be purchased through DollyProject.com.
• Gilead SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGilead Sciences collaborated with members of BSN's community to develop 'The Adventure Jar: A Story of Magic for Families Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer,' a book designed for young family members and caregivers to help them process the emotions of a parent's metastatic cancer diagnosis. The book is distributed free through the Bright Reads program.
• Cancer Support Community – Los AngelesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSN partners with Cancer Support Community-Los Angeles on the Virtual Meet-Up for Parents Post-Treatment, combining BSN's programming expertise with CSC-LA's broader cancer support infrastructure.
• Hearts ConnectedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSN partnered with Hearts Connected, an organization connecting families to Certified Child Life Specialists who support children through complex medical experiences. Hearts Connected provides parent support phone calls and one-on-one therapeutic video sessions for kids. Hearts Connected contributed a guest blog post on responding to children's big questions.
• Edgewood CollegecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBSN established a field placement partnership with Edgewood College to host graduate students in social work, art therapy, and child life programs. Graduate Child Life Specialist students from Edgewood College facilitate the monthly Bright Circle (ages 0–5) and Bright Club (ages 5–10) meetings for children. A consistent team of 4–8 students plans and leads these sessions.
• Gilda's Club MadisonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSN's Director of Programs previously worked at Gilda's Club Madison, which served as a recruitment source for volunteers. Faye, a volunteer who led the Bright Reads program, was recruited from Gilda's Club Madison where she previously managed the library. The relationship has facilitated cross-referrals of cancer community expertise and volunteer talent.
• LGBTQI+ Cancer Network (Cancer Leaders Like Us Internship Program)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBSN hosts an intern through the Cancer Leaders Like Us Internship Program through the LGBTQI+ Cancer Network, expanding partnerships to enlist student interns across the country. This internship pipeline supports program delivery for kid connection activities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Livestrong Foundation: National nonprofit serving cancer survivors and their families with navigation, fertility preservation, and resources across the survivorship continuum. Comparable as broad cancer-support incumbent but specialized in survivorship navigation rather than the young-parent niche.
• CancerCare: National nonprofit providing free, professional support services including counseling, support groups, financial assistance, and educational resources to anyone affected by cancer. Overlap with BSN on financial grants, virtual support groups, and resource navigation serving cancer patients and caregivers.
• Cancer Support Community: National nonprofit formed through the merger of Gilda's Club and The Wellness Community, providing free psychosocial support, support groups, and education to anyone impacted by cancer. BSN partners with CSC-LA on a post-treatment virtual meet-up but operates at much smaller scale with a narrower focus.
• American Cancer Society: Largest U.S. nonprofit cancer organization funding research, providing patient services, advocacy, and information across all cancer types. Represents the broad incumbent alternative donor choice; BSN differentiates through niche focus on young-parent families.

Direct peers

• Triage Cancer: National nonprofit providing free education and resources on cancer-related legal, financial, and practical issues to patients, caregivers, and health professionals. BSN co-developed content with Triage Cancer for metastatic cancer parents; they are a direct partner with overlapping audience but differentiated service focus (legal/financial navigation vs. whole-family psychosocial support).
• First Descents: National nonprofit providing life-changing outdoor adventures and community for young adults (18-39) impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions. Directly comparable in young adult cancer survivor focus and peer-community programming model; differs in delivery medium (in-person adventure vs. virtual).
• Stupid Cancer: National nonprofit focused on young adults (15-39) affected by cancer through advocacy, community building, conferences, and peer support. Closely comparable demographic (young adults with cancer) and overlap in virtual community programming; BSN narrows further to those parenting young children.
• Hearts Connected: Nonprofit connecting families to Certified Child Life Specialists who support children through complex medical experiences via parent support calls and one-on-one therapeutic video sessions. BSN and Hearts Connected collaborate on content and cross-refer; both serve the children-of-cancer-patients population through different modalities.

Emerging players

• Elephants and Tea: Nonprofit media brand and community for and by the adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer community, producing a magazine and digital storytelling content. Directly comparable demographic (AYA/young adult cancer) and peer-community model; overlaps in serving young adults impacted by cancer.

Regional players

• Gilda's Club Madison: A Gilda's Club chapter serving the Madison, WI area with in-person cancer support programming, and a known source of volunteers for BSN. Comparable in mission to provide free social and emotional support to anyone living with cancer, but geographically limited and broader in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/survivorbrightspot
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bright-spot-network

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Bright Spot Network