Connor's Heroes Foundation
Connor's Heroes Foundation is a Richmond, Virginia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting families of children with cancer in Central Virginia through direct services and funding pediatric cancer research at VCU Massey Cancer Center.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersRichmond, Virginia, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Connor's Heroes Foundation does
Connor's Heroes Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in May 2006 in Richmond, Virginia, by Lisa and Steve Goodwin following their son Connor's 2.5-year battle with leukemia. The organization is dedicated to helping families in Central Virginia cope with childhood cancer and supporting community researchers working to conquer it. It serves families with children from infants to teenagers who are diagnosed with and treated at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHoR), and since founding has helped more than 1,000 children. Programmatic offerings include Heroes Bags and Backpacks (containing comfort items and iPads for newly diagnosed children), monthly Heroes Art Sessions at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond, the Holiday Heroes Program, Serving Hope meals, Family Fun Packs, the Unique Needs Fund for financial assistance, and the Room of Possibilities on the adult Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. The organization also funds a Child Life Specialist position at CHoR and has opened five dedicated rooms on the pediatric hematology/oncology floor of the new inpatient children's hospital.
The business and revenue model is that of a community-based charitable nonprofit with no products or services sold. Funding is generated through four primary streams: individual donations processed via the DonorPerfect online portal, the annual Heroes Art Ball gala (auction, ticket sales, and sponsorships) which is the largest fundraising event, corporate sponsorships, and peer-to-peer fundraising through the Hero Squad and Jr. Hero Squad programs. The Circle of Heroes giving circle recognizes recurring major donors. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; signal events include $517,000 raised at the 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball in 2022 and over $1,000,000 raised at the 15th Annual Heroes Art Ball on May 1, 2026. Operations are run with approximately 8 paid staff supplemented by volunteers, with a Board of Directors, an Advisory Council drawn from CHoR and VCU Massey Cancer Center physicians and scientists, and strategic research partnerships through the Connor's Heroes Pediatric Cancer Research Endowment Fund at VCU Massey — including the first endowed chair in pediatric cancer research (Seth J. Corey, M.D., M.P.H.) and the funded pediatric brain tumor biobank launched in 2025. The technology stack is minimal: DonorPerfect for donation processing, a WordPress-based website, email newsletter (Heroes & Hope), and social channels, with no proprietary technology or AI capabilities.
Connor's Heroes Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Connor's Heroes Foundation
- Legal name
- Connor's Heroes Foundation
- Website
- https://connorsheroes.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Connor's Heroes Foundation is a Richmond, Virginia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting families of children with cancer in Central Virginia through direct services and funding pediatric cancer research at VCU Massey Cancer Center.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Connor's Heroes Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Childhood Cancer Family Support Services
- NAICS
- Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Child and Youth Services (624110)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)
Keywords
Where Connor's Heroes Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richmond, Virginia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Connor's Heroes Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals through website donation portal (DonorPerfect)
- Annual Gala Revenue: Heroes Art Ball annual gala with ticket sales, auction items, and sponsorships; raised over $1 million at 2026 event
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors supporting events and programs
- Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Hero Squad and Jr. Hero Squad programs for peer-to-peer online campaigns
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Connor's Heroes Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Connor's Heroes Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides direct, free-of-charge support services to families of children diagnosed with cancer in Central Virginia and treated at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU. The foundation delivers a portfolio of named programs — including Heroes Bags, Heroes Backpacks, Heroes Art Sessions, Family Fun Packs, Serving Hope meals, Holiday Heroes gifts, and the Unique Needs Fund — alongside an endowed Pediatric Cancer Research Fund at VCU Massey Cancer Center. Services are funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, peer-to-peer campaigns, and an annual Heroes Art Ball gala.
Product overview
Connor’s Heroes Foundation is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of support services for childhood cancer families in Central Virginia. The core offerings include the Heroes Backpack and Heroes Bag (providing comfort items including iPads to newly diagnosed children), the Heroes Art Sessions (monthly art therapy with professional artists), and the Heroes Art Ball (annual gala/auction). The foundation also provides Family Fun Packs, Serving Hope meals, Unique Needs Fund financial assistance, Holiday Heroes celebrations, and Circle of Heroes donor recognition. The organization funds pediatric cancer research through its endowed research fund and supports a Child Life Specialist at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. The support extends across the entire cancer journey from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Heroes Backpack
- Heroes Bag
- Heroes Art Sessions
Quantifiable outcome
- 1000+ children helped since 2006
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Connor's Heroes Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Connor's Heroes Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Connor's Heroes Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Visual Arts Center of RichmondcoreProvides studio space for monthly Heroes Art Sessions at no cost, enabling childhood cancer heroes and their siblings to create art alongside professional artist mentors.
- Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHoR)coreLong-standing partnership for pediatric hematology/oncology patients. Connor’s Heroes funds a Child Life Specialist position, has opened dedicated rooms on the pediatric floor, and refers all families to the program. Advisory Council includes physicians and scientists from CHoR.
- VCU Massey Cancer CentercorePartner in pediatric cancer research. Connor’s Heroes established the Connor’s Heroes Pediatric Cancer Research Endowment Fund at VCU, funded an Endowed Chair position, and supports researchers including Dr. Elizabeth Krieger's bone marrow transplant research.
- Richmond Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics (RPDO)minorVolunteer partner providing event support at family events and the Heroes Art Ball. Display Heroes Backpacks in office. Received Hero Group Of The Year Award in 2026.
- Junior League of RichmondminorVolunteer partner assisting at family events including Holiday party and Heroes Art Ball.
- Dillard's at Stony Point Fashion ParkminorHosted VIP shopping experience for hero families attending the annual gala, helping children select outfits for the event.
- Ashland Barracudas Swim TeamminorAnnual swim marathon fundraiser that has raised over $16,000 for bone marrow transplant program and pediatric cancer research.
- Lens of Hope (Kristin Seward and Patience Salgado)corePhotography partners who document hero families' cancer journeys in portrait series featured at galas and in Heroes of RVA program, providing storytelling content for fundraising.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Connor's Heroes Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CureSearch for Children's Cancer: Accelerates pediatric cancer research while supporting patients and families. Directly comparable to Connor's Heroes' research-funding plus family-support model in the childhood cancer space.
- Hyundai Hope on Wheels: Corporate-affiliated nonprofit funding pediatric cancer research through grants to institutions and researchers. Comparable to Connor's Heroes' endowed research fund and direct researcher grants at VCU Massey Cancer Center.
- St. Baldrick's Foundation: Volunteer-driven and event-based funder of pediatric cancer research grants. Comparable to Connor's Heroes' research endowment at VCU Massey and its Heroes Art Ball-driven fundraising model.
- National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: Funds pediatric cancer research and provides family support resources nationally. Closely comparable mission overlap with Connor's Heroes' combined family-support and research-funding approach.
- Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: National childhood cancer nonprofit funding both research and family support, directly comparable to Connor's Heroes' dual-mission model. Like Connor's Heroes, it channels significant resources to pediatric oncology research while also providing direct services to affected families.
- Children's Cancer Research Fund: Funds pediatric cancer research and provides family support resources. Directly comparable mission and program mix to Connor's Heroes' research + family-support structure.
- Ronald McDonald House Charities: Provides family-centered support services for children facing serious illnesses during hospital stays — overlapping with Connor's Heroes' Heroes Bags, Serving Hope meals, and in-hospital family support programs centered on CHoR at VCU.
- Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation: Regional pediatric cancer nonprofit combining family support programs with research funding. Closely comparable in scale, dual-mission approach, and event-driven fundraising model to Connor's Heroes.
Broad incumbents
- Make-A-Wish Foundation: Larger, nationally established nonprofit granting wishes to children with critical illnesses including cancer. Operates in the same beneficiary population as Connor's Heroes but at much greater scale and with a wish-granting (rather than research-funding) model.
Regional players
- ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation: Virginia-based pediatric cancer nonprofit supporting families and funding research — the closest geographic peer to Connor's Heroes' Central Virginia service area and CHoR institutional focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Connor's Heroes Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceConnor's Heroes Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Connor's Heroes Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Connor's Heroes Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Connor's Heroes Foundation 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 Connor's Heroes Foundation
What does Connor's Heroes Foundation do?
Connor's Heroes Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides direct, free-of-charge support services to families of children diagnosed with cancer in Central Virginia and treated at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU. The foundation delivers a portfolio of named programs — including Heroes Bags, Heroes Backpacks, Heroes Art Sessions, Family Fun Packs, Serving Hope meals, Holiday Heroes gifts, and the Unique Needs Fund — alongside an endowed Pediatric Cancer Research Fund at VCU Massey Cancer Center. Services are funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, peer-to-peer campaigns, and an annual Heroes Art Ball gala.
Is Connor's Heroes Foundation a public or private company?
Connor's Heroes Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Connor's Heroes Foundation founded?
Connor's Heroes Foundation was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Connor's Heroes Foundation based?
Connor's Heroes Foundation is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Connor's Heroes Foundation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are annual Gala Revenue, corporate Sponsorships and peer-to-Peer Fundraising.
Who are Connor's Heroes Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CureSearch for Children's Cancer, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, St. Baldrick's Foundation, National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, Children's Cancer Research Fund, Ronald McDonald House Charities and Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Make-A-Wish Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent. ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation is listed as a regional player.
Does Connor's Heroes Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Connor's Heroes Foundation.
What industry is Connor's Heroes Foundation in?
Connor's Heroes Foundation's product category is Childhood Cancer Family Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAA, Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS), with a secondary code of BPAGACAC, Community Health, Prevention & Health Education. Its NAICS code is 813212 and its SIC code is 8300.