Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada

What Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada does

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered in 1978 and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. It provides comprehensive emotional, financial, and quality-of-life support services at no cost to children diagnosed with cancer (birth through age 21) and their families throughout Southern Nevada. The organization serves approximately 400 families and more than 1,800 children annually through three core program areas: Emotional Support (counseling, art therapy, mentorship via Candlelighters Connect, support groups such as Teen Scene and Young Adult Connections, and bereavement support including Day of Remembrance); Quality of Life Programs (Camp Firefly residential summer camps in Big Bear, CA and Mt. Charleston, NV, Adopt-a-Family, Thanksgiving meals, Birthday Club, and signature family events); and Financial Assistance (emergency rent/utility aid, co-pay reimbursement, out-of-area travel assistance, free local transportation through Desert Cab, funeral expense support, and a post-secondary scholarship program that awarded $45,000 to 38 recipients for the 2026–2027 academic year). The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Chief Executive Officer Rochelle Nguyen, with a professional staff of approximately 20.

The business model is donation-funded rather than revenue-generating. There is no pricing model for services to families; all programs are provided free of charge to qualifying Nevada families. Funding flows from five diversified streams: individual donations including the ShineGOLD recurring monthly club and major giving tiers ($1,000 Ambassador through $25,000 Luminary annually); corporate giving and event sponsorships with partners including Centennial Toyota (Superhero 5K presenting sponsor) and Ellis Island (Halloween Bash presenting sponsor); foundation grants from entities such as Engelstad Family Foundation, Brenden Mann Family Foundation, and Speedway Children's Charities; signature event fundraising (Superhero 5K, Halloween Bash, Spring Fling); and third-party community fundraisers (restaurant give-back nights, school events, sporting events). Go-to-market is event-driven and community-led, supplemented by digital channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, X), email newsletters, earned media, and integrations including PayPal, Smith's Inspiring Donations loyalty program (0.5% of purchases), QGIV event registration, and VOME volunteer management. The organization has no proprietary technology stack and no AI/ML capabilities; operational systems are commodity third-party SaaS.

The customer base — families with pediatric cancer — is fundamentally distributed, with no individual recipient representing a material share of service demand, which structurally limits beneficiary-side concentration risk. Strategic healthcare partnerships with Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada and Cure 4 The Kids Foundation generate referral pathways into services, while deep Las Vegas corporate and foundation relationships (MGM Resorts, Raiders Foundation, Credit One Bank, Station Casinos, Care Camps) provide event sponsorship and grant capital. The Young Adult Advisory Council, staffed by survivors and siblings, is a distinctive asset that shapes program design for the 18–39 cohort and represents an extension of the customer lifecycle into post-treatment survivorship.

Name

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada

Legal name

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada

Website

https://candlelightersnv.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free emotional, financial, and quality-of-life support to approximately 400 families and 1,800+ children affected by childhood cancer in Southern Nevada, funded through donations, grants, corporate sponsorships, and community events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childhood Cancer Family Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

Keywords

• Childhood cancer support
• Family support services
• Nonprofit fundraising events
• Financial assistance programs
• Emotional support counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Vegas

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters, including monthly ShineGOLD Club membership, major gifts at various levels, and planned giving opportunities.
2. Corporate Giving and Sponsorship: Corporate partnerships, sponsorships for events (Halloween Bash, Superhero 5K, Spring Fling), Adopt-a-Family programs, toy wishlist donations, payroll giving, and point-of-purchase sales.
3. Grants and Foundations: Grant funding from foundations including Brenden Mann Family Foundation, Canarelli Family Foundation, Care Camps, Engelstad Family Foundation, Olympia Companies Charitable Foundation, and Speedway Children's Charities.
4. Event Fundraising: Revenue from signature events including Superhero 5K, Halloween Bash, Spring Fling, and community fundraisers with various sponsorship levels.
5. Third-Party Fundraising: Community fundraisers organized by external parties including restaurant give-back nights, sporting events, school spirit weeks, car washes, and other creative fundraising activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada is a nonprofit organization that delivers free, comprehensive support services to children diagnosed with cancer (birth to age 21) and their families in Southern Nevada. Its core offerings span three pillars: Emotional Support (counseling, art therapy, support groups, mentorship), Quality of Life Programs (medically-supervised summer camp, birthday celebrations, holiday adopt-a-family, family events), and Financial Assistance (emergency rent/utility aid, co-pay reimbursement, travel assistance, local transportation, bereavement support, and scholarships). All services are provided at no cost to qualifying families.

Product overview

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of support services for children and families affected by childhood cancer. The organization operates three core service areas: Emotional Support (including counseling, art therapy, support groups, and mentorship), Quality of Life Programs (including Camp Firefly, birthday celebrations, holiday programs, and family events), and Financial Assistance (including emergency funds, travel assistance, transportation, and scholarships). Programs are provided at no cost to families and serve diagnosed children from birth to age 21, along with siblings and parents. The organization also hosts signature fundraising events including the Superhero 5K and Halloween Bash to support ongoing operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Camp Firefly Medically-supervised residential summer camp in Big Bear, California for diagnosed children, survivors, siblings, and bereaved siblings ages 9-17. Provides a traditional camp experience with activities and peer connections, offered at no cost to qualifying families.
• Camp Firefly Junior Overnight camp at Lee Canyon, Mt. Charleston for diagnosed children and siblings ages 6-8, designed to prepare them for the full Camp Firefly experience. Provided at no cost to qualifying families.
• Emotional Support Programs Comprehensive emotional support services umbrella including counseling, art therapy, support groups, mentorship, and bereavement support delivered at no cost to families affected by childhood cancer in Southern Nevada.
• Financial Assistance Program No-cost financial assistance for qualifying families covering emergency rent/mortgage and utilities, co-pay reimbursement for medical visits and prescriptions, travel assistance for out-of-area treatment, free local transportation, bereavement/funeral expense support, and scholarships for survivors and siblings.
• Quality of Life Programs Family-focused programs designed to alleviate isolation and provide normalcy during and after treatment, including birthday recognition, No More Chemo Parties, holiday Adopt-A-Family, Thanksgiving meals, and community family events.
• Candlelighters Connect Mentorship One-on-one mentorship program pairing pediatric cancer patients, survivors, and siblings with trained mentors who understand the cancer journey, providing encouragement and ongoing peer connection.
• Scholarship Program College scholarships awarded annually to young adults who have or are battling childhood cancer and their siblings. 38 scholarships totaling $45,000 were awarded for the 2026-2027 academic year.
• Superhero 5K Annual 5K run/walk fundraiser presented by Centennial Toyota that brings the community together to raise funds for families battling childhood cancer. Requires 200+ volunteers as the organization's largest fundraiser of the year.
• Halloween Bash Annual Halloween celebration presented by Ellis Island for children battling cancer and their families, featuring costumes, trunk-or-treat, games, and entertainment. The 2025 event hosted over 120 families and 375 kids.
• Spring Fling Annual spring celebration event for families featuring activities such as egg hunt, carnival games, and face painting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400 families and 1,800+ children served annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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.

• Comprehensive Cancer Centers of NevadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing cancer treatment services. Partnership supports referral pathways for families needing emotional and financial support during treatment.
• Centennial ToyotacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Superhero 5K event. Provides event sponsorship and support for fundraising activities.
• Ellis IslandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Halloween Bash event. Ellis Family and team host annual celebration for children battling cancer.
• Desert CabcoreOthersProvides free transportation to hospital and doctor visits for Candlelighters families at no cost to families.
• The RevolutioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner supporting quality of life programs and family support initiatives.
• Care CampscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting Camp Firefly summer camp programs for children with cancer.
• Smith's Food and DrugminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSmith's Inspiring Donations program allows shoppers to link their rewards card to donate 0.5% of purchases to Candlelighters.
• Cure 4 The Kids FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner. Candlelighters holds No More Chemo Parties celebrating children who have completed treatment with this organization.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: Nonprofit focused on pediatric cancer research funding and family support. Comparable as a peer in the childhood cancer nonprofit space serving families through treatment with similar community-fundraising and donor-engagement models.
• American Childhood Cancer Organization: National nonprofit dedicated to childhood cancer support, advocacy, and information resources for families. Direct peer — shares the same mission of supporting children with cancer and their families, with comparable programs around education, advocacy, and community support.
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: Childhood cancer nonprofit funding research and family support programs. Comparable peer with similar family-services orientation (travel, treatment support) and grassroots fundraising DNA.
• Children's Cancer Research Fund: Nonprofit funding pediatric cancer research and family programs. Direct peer with similar mission, family-services orientation, and community event-based fundraising model.
• National Children's Cancer Society: Provides financial and emotional support to children with cancer and their families nationwide. Direct peer offering overlapping financial-assistance and family-support services to a comparable beneficiary base.
• St. Baldrick's Foundation: Childhood cancer research and survivor support nonprofit heavily reliant on volunteer-driven, event-based fundraising (head-shaving events). Direct peer sharing both the childhood cancer mission and an event-heavy fundraising model.

Broad incumbents

• Make-A-Wish Foundation: Large, established nonprofit granting wishes to children with critical illnesses including cancer. Broader scope (all critical illnesses) and national scale make it an incumbent peer with overlapping beneficiary population and similar quality-of-life mission.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Global nonprofit providing lodging and support to families with sick children, including pediatric cancer patients. Broad incumbent with overlapping lodging/travel-adjacent services and a similar multi-event fundraising apparatus.
• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Large national blood-cancer nonprofit with overlapping pediatric cancer programs. Notable because Candlelighters' Chief Mission Delivery Officer Christina Ramirez previously worked at LLS — direct talent crossover and shared patient population make it a comparable incumbent.

Regional players

• Cure 4 The Kids Foundation: Nevada-based pediatric cancer treatment provider and direct partner of Candlelighters (co-hosts No More Chemo Parties). Regional peer — operates in the same geography with overlapping patient population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Candle_Lighters
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@candlelightersnv4915
• Facebookfacebook.com/71886524453
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/candlelightersnv
• Instagraminstagram.com/candlelightersnv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada