David's Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation

What David's Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation does

David's Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 102 East Bay Avenue in Manahawkin, New Jersey, founded on August 11, 2010 by Tim Hall and a group of friends during co-founder David Caldarella's battle with Stage IV head and neck cancer. The foundation provides financial assistance, wellness resources, and patient support services free of charge to New Jersey families affected by a cancer diagnosis, with all services rendered at no cost to qualifying applicants. Its core product set comprises four pillars: a Financial Assistance Program distributing direct grants to offset treatment-related costs; a Wellness Provider Program (launched March 2017) that connects patients with a network of integrative healthcare partners offering yoga, acupuncture, massage, counseling, physical therapy, childcare, and related services; a Patient Support Team (created March 2016) of trained survivor advocates offering peer guidance; and the Mission of Hope Giving Business Partners program, which structures recurring corporate donations tied to partner business activity. Auxiliary programs include Generation Dream (youth engagement), the Beacon of Hope Award (annual recognition), and a Planned Giving Program founded by Informed Mortgage.

The foundation operates with a 6-person paid staff and a 100% volunteer governance structure comprising approximately 15 trustees on the Board and 20+ Advisory Council members, a model that ensures nearly all donated funds pass through to beneficiaries rather than overhead. Its revenue model is community-led fundraising rather than commercial: the foundation does not charge patients for services, instead generating funds through recurring business partner pledges (e.g., Ark Wealth Solutions at $1,000/month, Lou's Electric at $500/month, Informed Mortgage at $25 per closed loan), event sponsorships, individual donations, and signature annual events such as the Spring Soiree and Cruisin' for a Cure car show. Customer-facing distribution is direct: New Jersey families apply through the foundation's application process and receive financial grants and wellness referrals upon eligibility confirmation.

Geographic scope is intentionally limited to New Jersey, with deepest community penetration in Long Beach Island and Southern Ocean County. The organization carries 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed venture, private equity, or institutional funding. Operating status is active, and the foundation continues to expand its partner and program footprint, with its 2026 Spring Soiree (Hollywood Celebration) currently promoted as a flagship fundraising event.

Name

David's Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation

Legal name

David's Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation

Website

https://davidsdreamandbelieve.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

David's Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Manahawkin, New Jersey that provides direct financial grants, integrative wellness services, and survivor-led patient support free of charge to New Jersey families affected by a cancer diagnosis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Cancer Patient Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

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

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

Keywords

• Cancer support services
• Nonprofit foundation services
• Patient financial assistance
• Wellness program services
• Community fundraising campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Manahawkin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds through donations, event sponsorships, and the Mission of Hope Giving Campaign where business partners donate through structured monthly or quarterly donation plans. Revenue is used to provide financial assistance, wellness services, and support to New Jersey families affected by a cancer diagnosis.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

David's Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides direct financial grants, integrative wellness services, and patient advocacy support to New Jersey families affected by a cancer diagnosis. Services are delivered free of charge to qualifying families through a combination of direct financial aid, a wellness provider partner network, and trained volunteer patient advocates with personal cancer experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Financial Assistance Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,004 families helped in 2017 alone with $778,381.91 in direct financial grants
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Informed MortgagecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2015First Mission of Hope Giving Business Partner (January 2015) with promise to donate $25 per closed loan. Founding sponsor of the DDBCF Planned Giving Program.
• Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Zack Shore RealtorscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMission of Hope Giving Business Partner withGiving Agents who donate $25 per home closed. Multiple agents participate in the program.
• The Van Dyk GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMission of Hope Giving Business Partner that matches all Giving Agents' $25 donations for every home closed. Jeff Wyrsch is one of the owners specializing in Personal & Private Flood Insurance.
• D. Finelli ConstructioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMission of Hope Giving Business Partner and founding sponsor of the Spring Soiree event (2026 Hollywood Celebration). Founder M. David Finelli is an Advisory Council member.
• Lou's ElectricminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMission of Hope Giving Business Partner donating $500 per month and $100 per new construction build. Owner Lou Manganiello is an Advisory Council member.
• Fusaro PizzaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMission of Hope Giving Business Partner donating $2 from every pizza sold on the 14th of each month. Has raised $31,941 to date. Owner Andy Esposito is an Advisory Council member.
• Panzone's PizzaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMission of Hope Giving Business Partner through round-up campaign. Kristin Panzone-Moritz is an Advisory Council member. The restaurant hosts the annual Frank V. Panzone Jr. Memorial Cruisin' for a Cure event.
• BSR Physical TherapyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellness Partner pledging $5 for every patient who completes physical therapy. Dr. Ernest J. Gamble is the provider.
• The Union MarketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMission of Hope Giving Business Partner contributing monthly proceeds from specialty Dreamy Hot Cocoa to DDBCF. Jeannine Errico is an Advisory Council member.
• Busy Bees Kids TherapyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellness Partner founded by Marcella Lippman (Advisory Council member). Provides pediatric therapy services including OT, PT, and speech/language pathology.
• The Woo HoominorGTM or Marketing PartnerMission of Hope Giving Business Partner contributing profits from specialty ice cream flavor designed with David Caldarella. Also donates ice cream to fundraising events.
• ReviveO3 Functional Medicine & IV TherapyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission of Hope Giving Business Partner donating 5% of all IV infusions to DDBCF. Located in Manahawkin, NJ.
• LBI Pancake HouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMission of Hope Giving Business Partner through 'A Zest for Life' initiative, donating a portion of fresh-squeezed orange juice sales.
• Spice It Up LBIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMission of Hope Giving Business Partner donating $1 for every Dream Caprese sandwich sold.
• Bella Donna SalonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMission of Hope Giving Business Partner donating $2 per service on the second Friday of every month (increased to $5 in October for Breast Cancer Awareness).
• Ship Bottom Ice CreamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMission of Hope Giving Business Partner donating 100% of koozie sales ($3 each or 4 for $10) to DDBCF.
• Product with a PurposeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMission of Hope Giving Business Partner donating 20% of Chains4Change keychain sales to DDBCF. Owner Megan Smith is an Advisory Council member.
• Boho BitesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMission of Hope Giving Business Partner donating portion of profits from signature lavender lemonade and smoothies to DDBCF.
• The Learning ExperienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellness Partner offering childcare services to families battling cancer, providing a safe and loving learning environment for children while parents undergo treatment.
• The Yoga HiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellness Partner providing accessible yoga services to oncology patients, families, and caregivers. Instructors trained in oncology and trauma-informed yoga.
• H-Hour CounselingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellness Partner providing mental health counseling services to patients and families. Dr. Vincent Ruiz and Brooke Sikorski lead the team.
• Ocean Acupuncture & Herbal MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellness Partner providing acupuncture and herbal medicine services to oncology patients as part of the integrative healthcare program.
• Baker's Acres CampgroundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellness Partner offering a place of respite for families affected by cancer. Provides recreational camping opportunities for the DDBCF community.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• HelpHOPELive: Helps families facing medical crises, including cancer, with fundraising tools and direct financial assistance, overlapping DDBCF's grant distribution and community-led fundraising model.
• Patient Advocate Foundation: Provides case management, financial aid, and navigation for patients with chronic and life-threatening illnesses including cancer, mirroring DDBCF's patient advocacy and grant-navigation functions.
• Family Reach Foundation: Cancer-focused nonprofit that delivers direct financial grants and resource navigation to families facing cancer, closely paralleling DDBCF's flagship Financial Assistance Program.
• CancerCare: National 501(c)(3) providing direct financial assistance, counseling, and support groups to cancer patients and families — the closest model match to DDBCF's grant-plus-wellness-plus-emotional-support bundle.
• Cancer Support Community: Provides integrative wellness services, counseling, and patient navigation for cancer patients and loved ones — directly comparable to DDBCF's Wellness Provider Program and Patient Support Team.

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: The largest U.S. cancer nonprofit offering research funding, patient services, and advocacy; it competes for the same NJ donor dollars and corporate partnerships that DDBCF relies on.
• National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: Cancer-focused nonprofit funding research and family support programs; competes for donor mindshare in the pediatric oncology space that DDBCF also touches via childcare partners.
• Livestrong Foundation: Well-known cancer survivorship nonprofit offering direct navigation, counseling, and wellness resources — comparable service mix but at vastly greater national scale.
• Susan G. Komen: National breast-cancer-focused nonprofit running local affiliates that deliver patient grants and education; operates a parallel community-affiliate model in the same NJ geography.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Charitable organization providing family-centered support services to families with sick children, including oncology patients; comparable mission blend of lodging-style support, wellness referrals, and family services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/davidsdreamandbelieve
• Instagraminstagram.com/davidsdreamandbelieve
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/davidsdreamandbelieve

Compliance1 record

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 David's Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation