The Darren Daulton Foundation

What The Darren Daulton Foundation does

The Darren Daulton Foundation is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by Major League Baseball catcher Darren Daulton, a three-time All-Star who played for the Philadelphia Phillies and the 1997 World Series champion Florida Marlins. Following Darren Daulton's diagnosis with Glioblastoma in 2013, the foundation's mission was restated from its original homelessness and youth sports focus to providing direct financial assistance grants to families affected by primary malignant brain tumors. After Darren Daulton's death from Glioblastoma on August 6, 2017, his wife Amanda Daulton continued as Co-Founder and Brett Datto, Darren's long-time personal counsel, assumed the role of President. The foundation operates with seven employees and an ambassador network of former Philadelphia Phillies players who support fundraising and community engagement activities.

The organization's core products are its Financial Assistance Program (which has issued grants to 195 families totaling over $500,000) and its portfolio of recurring fundraising events, including an Annual Golf Outing at DuPont Country Club, an Annual Celebrity Guest Bartending Event at Live! Casino, the Flip Flops & Fastballs beach event on Long Beach Island, the Sluggball All-Star Classic, an annual Gala, and as of 2026 a pickleball tournament. The foundation also operates a co-branded merchandise partnership with Passyunk Avenue (sold through yunklife.com) and runs an educational Brain Cancer Learning Center on its website. Event registration is handled through Golf Genius as a third-party platform, and e-commerce ticketing/merchandise is managed through a WordPress/WooCommerce-based storefront at ddf.mjcorpstore.net.

The business model is event-driven and donation-based with no proprietary technology layer. Revenue is generated across four streams: charitable donations and grants, event ticket and sponsorship revenue (with sponsorship tiers ranging from $300 beverage cart sponsorships to $7,500 MVP sponsorships and foursome golf packages at $1,000), merchandise sales through the Passyunk Avenue co-brand, and individual giving. Pricing for event tickets is one-time/per-event (e.g., $85 for Flip Flops & Fastballs, $100-$200 for Celebrity Bartending, $250 single / $1,000 foursome for golf, $375 gala tickets). The go-to-market motion is fundamentally ambassador-led: former Phillies players drive event participation, sponsor recruitment, and donor engagement in the Delaware Valley/Philadelphia region, supported by a board that includes a medical liaison (Dr. Kevin Judy, neuro-oncology chief at Thomas Jefferson University), a CPA (Mike Conroy, VP at Broadridge), and advisors with backgrounds in healthcare, financial services, and media.

Name

The Darren Daulton Foundation

Legal name

The Darren Daulton Foundation

Website

https://darrendaultonfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Darren Daulton Foundation is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides financial assistance grants to families affected by primary malignant brain tumors, funding its mission through charitable donations, recurring celebrity-driven fundraising events, corporate sponsorships, and co-branded merchandise sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Brain Cancer Support Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

Keywords

• Charitable foundation services
• Cancer patient grants
• Nonprofit fundraising events
• Brain tumor support
• Community philanthropy

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: The foundation receives charitable donations from individuals and organizations to fund its mission of providing financial assistance to brain tumor patients and their families.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from ticket sales to fundraising events including celebrity bartending events, golf outings, galas, and social events. These events feature former Philadelphia Phillies players and leverage baseball celebrity connections.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sales of branded merchandise including co-branded products through partnerships such as the Passyunk Avenue collaboration. Items include apparel and accessories sold through the foundation's online store.
4. Sponsorship Revenue: Corporate sponsorships for golf outings and other events, with various sponsorship tiers ranging from hole sponsors to MVP sponsors offering different levels of brand visibility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Darren Daulton Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides direct financial assistance grants to individuals and families struggling with the financial obligations arising from a primary malignant brain tumor diagnosis. It funds these grants through charitable donations, corporate sponsorships, branded merchandise sales, and a calendar of annual fundraising events (Celebrity Guest Bartending, Golf Outing, Flip Flops & Fastballs, Gala, Sluggball All-Star Classic, Pickleball tournament), supported by a network of former Philadelphia Phillies players serving as ambassadors.

Product overview

The Darren Daulton Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to individuals and families battling primary malignant brain tumors. The foundation operates primarily as a charitable organization with multiple fundraising mechanisms rather than a technology product company. Its offerings include event-based fundraising products (Flip Flops & Fastballs events, Celebrity Guest Bartending events, Annual Golf Outing with sponsorship tiers, and Gala events), educational resources through its Brain Cancer Learning Center, and direct financial assistance grants. The organization also sells merchandise through its co-branded partnership with Passyunk Avenue. The foundation leverages WordPress/WooCommerce for its e-commerce operations but does not offer a technology platform or API products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Financial Assistance Program Provides grants to families struggling with financial obligations due to a primary malignant brain tumor diagnosis. The program has issued grants to 195 families totaling over $500,000.
• Celebrity Guest Bartending Event

Quantifiable outcome

• 195 families received grants totaling over $500,000

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Passyunk AvenueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-branded merchandise partnership with Passyunk Avenue. Products available at yunklife.com/collections/darren-daulton-foundation-collab featuring collaborative branded merchandise.
• Live! CasinominorOthersHost venue for the Annual Celebrity Guest Bartending Event, providing space for fundraising activities featuring former Phillies players.
• Joe Pop's Shore Bar and RestaurantminorOthersHost venue for the Flip Flops & Fastballs fundraising event on Long Beach Island, featuring former Phillies players, live music, and food.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• V Foundation for Cancer Research: Major cancer research foundation founded in memory of basketball coach Jim Valvano. Comparable celebrity-legacy-driven nonprofit model, though at vastly greater scale and focused on research rather than direct patient aid.
• National Brain Tumor Society: Largest nonprofit dedicated to brain tumor research and patient advocacy in the US. Directly comparable mission area (brain tumors) but operates nationally with a research-advocacy focus rather than direct family financial assistance.
• Cancer Support Community: National nonprofit providing emotional support, education, and hope to people affected by cancer. Comparable patient-and-family support mission and educational resource offerings.
• Livestrong Foundation: Well-known cancer-focused nonprofit providing patient navigation and financial support services. Comparable patient financial assistance mission and celebrity-athlete-driven brand, though at much larger scale.
• American Brain Tumor Association: National nonprofit providing brain tumor patient education, support services, and research funding. Closely aligned with DDF's educational resource (Brain Cancer Learning Center) and patient-support mission.
• Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation: Leading nonprofit specifically focused on pediatric brain tumors, providing financial assistance, research, and family support. Comparable disease focus, patient assistance grants, and donor-driven funding model.

Direct peers

• Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research: Smaller nonprofit focused on brain tumor research and patient assistance. Comparable scale, mission focus on brain tumors, and direct support to patients and families.
• Glioblastoma Foundation: Foundation specifically focused on glioblastoma, the exact disease that claimed Darren Daulton's life. Closely aligned mission area targeting the foundation's primary beneficiary population.
• Live Like Lou Foundation: ALS-focused foundation leveraging the legacy of baseball Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig. Directly comparable to DDF in using a deceased MLB player's legacy to drive fundraising and family support in a specific disease area.
• Head for the Cure Foundation: Nonprofit raising awareness and funds for brain cancer research through community events. Comparable event-driven fundraising model and brain tumor mission focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-darren-daulton-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Darren Daulton Foundation