Claire Marie Foundation

What Claire Marie Foundation does

The Claire Marie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in the Baltimore, Maryland area (Timonium, MD) that focuses on melanoma awareness, education, and prevention specifically for adolescents and young adults. The foundation was established following the loss of Claire Marie Wagonhurst to melanoma at a young age, and operates a portfolio of mission-aligned programs including a Free Skin Screening Program delivered at schools and community locations, a Collegiate Ambassador Program operating on 42+ college campuses with 255 student ambassadors, a Sun Safe Sports initiative partnered with USA Lacrosse, and the "An Unexpected Life" podcast. It also administers a scholarship program for students impacted by melanoma.

The foundation's "products" are programmatic and educational rather than technology-based: in-person dermatology screenings, peer-ambassador activations, athletic-league sun-safety curricula, audio content, and scholarship disbursements. There is no proprietary technology platform or software product described in the available data; program delivery depends on partnerships with dermatologists, colleges, athletic organizations, and volunteers. Underlying technical infrastructure is limited to standard nonprofit marketing, CRM, and content-distribution tools rather than a differentiated technology stack.

The business model is that of a small U.S. nonprofit: revenue is sourced from individual donations, grants, event-based fundraising, and corporate/community partnerships, with no pricing model, recurring revenue contracts, or commercial product sales. The organization operates with approximately 13 employees and is governed as a registered charitable entity, reinvesting all proceeds into program delivery and awareness outreach rather than returning capital to owners.

Name

Claire Marie Foundation

Legal name

Claire Marie Foundation

Website

https://clairemariefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Claire Marie Foundation is a Baltimore-area 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers melanoma awareness, education, free skin screenings, and sun-safety programs targeted at adolescents and young adults through collegiate ambassadors, athletic partnerships, and a podcast.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Health Advocacy

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF)

Keywords

• Melanoma awareness
• Skin cancer prevention
• Free skin screenings
• Peer education programs
• Nonprofit health advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Timonium, Maryland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The foundation relies on tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with EIN 82-4164418, accepting donations via its website and by mail to a processing center in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Claire Marie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting adolescent and young adult melanoma through awareness, education, and prevention programs. The foundation delivers free skin screening events, collegiate ambassador and sun-safe sports education programs, an awareness campaign, a podcast, and an arts and design scholarship. The foundation was established by the family of Claire Marie Wagonhurst after her death from melanoma at age 17.

Product overview

The Claire Marie Foundation is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of programs focused on melanoma awareness, education, and prevention for adolescents and young adults. Its core offerings include a Melanoma Awareness and Education Campaign (media outreach reaching 45 million households), a Free Skin Screening Program (providing free dermatoscope-based screenings for ages 13-29), a Collegiate Ambassador Program (peer-to-peer outreach on 42 campuses), and a Sun Safe Sports Program (partnered with USA Lacrosse). The foundation also produces the 'An Unexpected Life' podcast and awards an annual Arts & Design scholarship. These programs work together to fulfill the foundation's mission of raising clarity and hope in the fight against adolescent and young adult melanoma through awareness, education and prevention.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• An Unexpected Life: The foundation's podcast hosted by CEO Marianne Banister, featuring conversations with medical experts and young melanoma survivors about adolescent and young adult melanoma awareness.

Products and services

• Free Skin Screening Program Offers no-cost skin examinations to adolescents and young adults in partnership with dermatology clinics, helping with early detection of melanoma in an age group that often faces delayed diagnosis.
• Collegiate Ambassador Program Recruits and trains college student ambassadors to deliver peer-led melanoma awareness and sun-safety education on university campuses, targeting the adolescent and young adult demographic.
• Sun Safe Sports Program Provides sun-safety education, training, and resources for young athletes, coaches, and sports organizations to reduce UV exposure and melanoma risk in youth sports settings.
• Melanoma Awareness Campaign Runs an awareness campaign to inform adolescents, young adults, and their families about melanoma risks, warning signs, and prevention strategies.
• An Unexpected Life Podcast Hosts a podcast that shares stories and conversations around adolescent and young adult melanoma, supporting the foundation's awareness and education mission.
• Arts & Design Scholarship Provides an arts and design scholarship to students, extending the foundation's youth-focused mission beyond health into supporting creative education in Claire Marie Wagonhurst's name.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2500+ children screened for melanoma
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• USA LacrossecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2019Strategic partnership to help athletes stay sun safe while on the field. CMF travels to lacrosse tournaments and conventions bringing melanoma awareness and prevention education to players, coaches, trainers, parents and families. The partnership aims to expand messaging beyond lacrosse into other competitive sports.
• ISDINcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2019Partnership with ISDIN, a company sharing CMF's passion for stopping melanoma. Collaboration includes working with CMF Medical Advisory Co-Founder Dr. Eva Simmons O'Brien M.D., FAAD on sun protection products and education.
• TeenCancerAmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner providing guidance and support to help achieve CMF's mission of fighting adolescent and young adult melanoma.
• Melanoma Research FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner providing guidance and support to help achieve CMF's mission of fighting adolescent and young adult melanoma.
• Melanoma Research AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner providing guidance and support to help achieve CMF's mission of fighting adolescent and young adult melanoma.
• Children's Cancer FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner providing guidance and support to help achieve CMF's mission of fighting adolescent and young adult melanoma.
• L'Oréal DermatologieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMission partner providing support for CMF's awareness and education programs.
• Johns Hopkins DermatologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Free Skin Screening Program providing dermatoscope-based skin screenings for adolescents and young adults ages 13-29. Hosts screening days at their facilities.
• University of Maryland Upper ChesapeakecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Free Skin Screening Program providing access to free skin screenings for young people in the Mid Atlantic region.
• Mercy Medical Center of BaltimorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Free Skin Screening Program; Dr. Vadim Gushchin serves as surgical oncologist and leads Mercy's Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center.
• Belcara HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDermatology partner hosting regular free skin screening events for the foundation's programs.
• SCS PhysicianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDermatology partner providing free skin screening services for adolescents and young adults.
• Current DermatologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDermatology partner providing free skin screening services for adolescents and young adults.
• Germain DermatologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDermatology partner hosting fall screening days for the foundation.
• Castle BiosciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDermatology partner providing expertise in skin cancer detection and supporting CMF's mission.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation: A smaller nonprofit dedicated to melanoma awareness, education, and patient support. Comparable as a peer in the niche melanoma-advocacy space with a similar small-team, donation-funded operating model.
• Outrun the Sun: A nonprofit dedicated to melanoma awareness, prevention, and research funding. Directly comparable in awareness-campaign and sun-safety education activities targeting broad populations.
• Children's Melanoma Prevention Foundation: A nonprofit focused specifically on preventing melanoma in children and adolescents. Closely aligned with CMF's youth-focused mission, sun-safety education programs, and school-based outreach.
• Skin Cancer Foundation: A long-established nonprofit focused on skin cancer (including melanoma) education, prevention, and early detection. Comparable in awareness and screening-promotion activities, though broader in scope across all skin cancers.
• Melanoma Research Alliance: A leading private nonprofit that funds melanoma research and advocates for patients. Operates in the same melanoma-awareness and prevention space as CMF with comparable mission-driven, donation-funded structure.
• AIM at Melanoma: A nonprofit dedicated to melanoma awareness, patient support, and research. Directly comparable as a peer advocacy organization serving patients and families affected by melanoma across age groups.
• Melanoma Research Foundation: The largest U.S. nonprofit focused exclusively on melanoma advocacy, research funding, and patient education. Directly comparable in mission overlap with Claire Marie Foundation's melanoma awareness and education focus, though broader in scope and larger in scale.

Broad incumbents

• Prevent Cancer Foundation: A national nonprofit focused on early detection and prevention across multiple cancer types, including melanoma. Comparable as a peer in cancer-prevention education and screening advocacy at a broader scope.
• Cancer Research Institute: A nonprofit funding cancer immunology research with patient-education programs. Comparable as an adjacent nonprofit in the cancer-research and patient-advocacy ecosystem, though focused on a different therapeutic modality.
• American Cancer Society: The largest U.S. cancer nonprofit, with broad programs that include melanoma research, patient support, and awareness. Comparable as a funder/incumbent in the broader cancer-awareness space but operates at vastly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqgfpT_DZKf8PnkTGNF6EHQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/claire-marie-foundation

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 Claire Marie Foundation