Camp Kids Are Kids Chicago

What Camp Kids Are Kids Chicago does

Camp Kids Are Kids Chicago (CKAKC) is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization founded in 2013 that operates an urban residential camp for children living with cancer and their siblings. The in-person program is delivered at the Hilton Hotels of Chicago, where hotel rooms are converted into bunk cabins and campers participate in campfires, talent shows, arts and crafts, games, and excursions to Chicago attractions such as Lincoln Park Zoo and the Museum of Science and Industry. The camp provides 24/7 on-site medical staffing by trained professionals who administer medications, change dressings, and respond to camper health needs throughout the program.

Beyond the in-person camp, CKAKC runs year-round virtual camp programs designed to maintain friendship and connection with campers when in-person attendance is not possible, expanding engagement beyond the summer season. The organization is staffed by a 7-person team supported by volunteers, interns, and medical professionals, and is operationally independent — there is no parent company, no equity funding, and no disclosed board governance structure in the available data.

The revenue model is donation-based: services are provided free of charge to camper families, and the operating budget is funded through individual giving, corporate sponsorships, fundraising events, and in-kind contributions. Donation capture is enabled through PayPal, Venmo (@CampKidsAreKids-Chicago), and an Amazon Wish List. Notable financial supporters include Chicago Chefs Cook ($10,000 donation from a recent event) and a broad 2024 roster of Chicago-area restaurants, attractions, sports franchises, and family foundations. CKAKC is also a member of CareCamps and the Children's Oncology Camping Association (COCA), embedding it in the U.S. pediatric oncology camp ecosystem.

Name

Camp Kids Are Kids Chicago

Legal name

Camp Kids Are Kids Chicago

Website

https://campkidsarekids.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Camp Kids Are Kids Chicago is a Chicago-based nonprofit founded in 2013 that runs an urban camp — delivered at the Hilton Hotels of Chicago and via year-round virtual programs — for children living with cancer and their siblings, with 24/7 on-site medical support and donation-based funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Oncology Camp Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Children's cancer camp
• Oncology camp programs
• Pediatric medical camp
• Urban camp experience
• Childhood cancer support

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago, IL

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization operates as a nonprofit and relies on donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and fundraising events. Donation methods include PayPal, Venmo (CampKidsAreKids-Chicago), Amazon wishlist gifts, food donations, and event donations. Chicago Chefs Cook recently made a $10,000 donation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Camp Kids Are Kids Chicago is a nonprofit that runs a no-cost urban summer camp at the Hilton Hotels of Chicago and year-round virtual camp programs for children living with cancer and their siblings. Campers participate in campfires, talent shows, arts and crafts, games, and city excursions, with trained medical professionals on site 24/7 to administer medications, change dressings, and respond to health needs throughout the program.

Product overview

Camp Kids Are Kids Chicago is a nonprofit organization operating a single, unified camp program for children living with cancer and their siblings. The organization provides two delivery formats: an in-person urban camp held at Chicago's Hilton Hotels featuring traditional camp activities and excursions, and year-round virtual camp programs for remote participation. All camp experiences include comprehensive 24/7 medical support services staffed by trained medical professionals to ensure the health and safety of campers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• In-Person Urban Camp Program A week-long urban camp experience held at the Hilton Hotels of Chicago where campers stay in hotel rooms transformed into bunk cabins. Includes traditional camp activities such as campfires, talent shows, arts and crafts, games, and excursions to Chicago attractions. Designed for children living with cancer and their siblings.
• Virtual Camp Programs Year-round virtual camp programs that provide a safe online space encouraging friendship and connection among children with cancer and their siblings when in-person attendance is not possible.
• 24/7 Medical Support Services Full medical support provided by trained medical professionals available around the clock to administer medications, change dressings, and respond to all campers' health needs throughout the duration of the camp.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hilton Hotels of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHilton Hotels of Chicago provides all accommodation for campers, transforming hotel spaces into bunk cabins. This is the primary venue for in-person camp programming and represents the core physical infrastructure partnership enabling the camp experience.
• CareCampsminorOthersCKAKC is a proud member of CareCamps, an organization supporting camps for children with cancer. Membership provides network benefits and association with the broader children's oncology camp community.
• Children's Oncology Camping Association (COCA)minorOthersCKAKC is a proud member of COCA, the Children's Oncology Camping Association. Membership connects the organization to the wider network of oncology camps.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Camp Sunshine (Maine): Year-round retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses including cancer, and their families. Comparable to CKAKC in medically-supported programming and 24/7 on-site medical care.
• Camp Quality USA: National nonprofit running free camps and programs for children with cancer and their siblings. Directly comparable to CKAKC in mission, camper population, and volunteer-driven medically-supported camp model.
• Camp Mak-A-Dream: Cost-free, medically-supervised Montana camp serving children and young adults with cancer. Directly comparable as a nonprofit oncology camp with strong volunteer medical staffing.
• Special Days Camp (Michigan): A nonprofit summer camp for children with cancer and their siblings, providing a medically-supervised residential camp experience. Closely mirrors CKAKC's mission and operational model.

Broad incumbents

• Make-A-Wish Foundation: Large national nonprofit granting wishes to children with critical illnesses including cancer. Comparable in mission to deliver joy/joyful experiences to children with cancer, but operates a wish-fulfillment model rather than camp programming.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Major nonprofit providing lodging and supportive services near children's hospitals. Comparable in serving medically-fragile children and families with residential/accommodation-based support.
• CareCamps: Funding and support organization for children's oncology camps; CKAKC is a member. Comparable as a coordinating nonprofit in the pediatric oncology camp space.
• Children's Oncology Camping Association (COCA): Umbrella association of pediatric oncology camps of which CKAKC is a member. Comparable as the broader ecosystem governing the niche CKAKC operates in, though it is a coordinating body rather than a single-camp operator.

Emerging players

• Kids Kicking Cancer: Nonprofit providing martial arts-based support and healing programs for children with cancer. Listed as a 2024 CKAKC supporter, indicating peer overlap in serving pediatric oncology families.
• One Day Foundation: Nonprofit running oncology-camp-style programming and adventure experiences for children with cancer. Comparable mission and camper population, with a more event-driven programming model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/campkidsarekidschicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-kids-are-kids-chicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Camp Kids Are Kids Chicago