The Grief Club of Minnesota

What The Grief Club of Minnesota does

The Grief Club of Minnesota is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2020 that provides no-cost grief counseling, family counseling, peer support groups, and crisis response services to children, teens, young adults (age 25 and under), and their families across Minnesota who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, child, or spouse. Co-founded by Sarah Kroenke (Executive Director) and Cara Mearns-Thompson (Clinical Operations Director), the organization operates from a 9,000-square-foot purpose-built facility on 4.2 acres of natural wetlands in Chanhassen, MN, acquired in late 2022 with a $1.6 million donor gift. The clinical staff of six therapists (three full-time, three part-time) is supported by a Development Director and Administrative Coordinator, with a 16-member Board of Directors providing governance and fundraising reach.

The organization's core products are its therapeutic services (individual counseling, family counseling, peer support groups segmented by age and cause of death, and crisis/trauma response), its community programs (Healing Hearts Soiree gala, Lights of Love tribute event, Pizza with a Purpose, All Star Gathering Camp, Donuts & Dialogue, and summer programming), and its 'Supporting Grieving Students' fee-based professional training for K-12 school staff. It also sells the 'Good Grief! What's for Dinner?' community cookbook. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is built around licensed clinicians and in-person group modalities.

The business model is donation-and-grant-funded for core services, supplemented by a small earned-revenue stream from professional training ($110-$150 per attendee), cookbook sales ($35 per copy), Lights of Love tribute dedications ($25 each), and event sponsorships. The Healing Hearts Soiree 2026 carries a $400,000 fundraising goal, with presenting sponsorships at $25,000 from Crocus Foundation and Vertin. Go-to-market relies on community-led referrals from schools, healthcare systems, funeral homes, and word-of-mouth, supported by earned media coverage and an active Facebook presence. The organization anticipates reaching 4,000 client visits by the end of 2024, a ten-fold increase from its first year.

Name

The Grief Club of Minnesota

Legal name

The Grief Club of Minnesota

Website

https://griefclubmn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Grief Club of Minnesota is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides no-cost grief counseling, family therapy, peer support groups, and crisis response to bereaved children, teens, young adults, and families across Minnesota, operating from a 9,000-square-foot Chanhassen facility with six licensed therapists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Grief Counseling and Bereavement Support Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL), Bereavement, Grief & Family Support Services (Hospice-Linked) (HLAFAEAO), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Bereavement counseling
• Grief support services
• Mental health counseling
• Peer support groups
• Childhood bereavement care

Headquarters

HQ city

Chanhassen

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. Individual and Corporate Donations: The organization relies heavily on individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation support. Donations can be made online via their website, by phone, or by mail. They are registered with Benevity, GiveMN.org, and Thrivent Choice for workplace giving programs. EIN: 85-2876693.
2. Fundraising Events: Major annual fundraising events include the Healing Hearts Soiree (gala with live auction, raffle, and Fund-A-Need), Lights of Love tribute donations ($25 per light dedication), and community events. The Healing Hearts Soiree 2026 has a fundraising goal of $400,000.
3. Cookbook Sales: Sale of the cookbook 'Good Grief! What's for Dinner?' featuring 200+ recipes from community members at $35 per copy. Proceeds support the mission of providing no-cost bereavement care.
4. Professional Training Programs: Fee-based training programs for school staff including the 'Supporting Grieving Students' comprehensive training at $130-$150 per person (early bird vs regular pricing), with group discounts available. Participants receive certificates of attendance with documented contact hours for continuing education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Grief Club of Minnesota is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides confidential grief counseling, family counseling, and peer grief support groups to children, teens, young adults, and families who have experienced the death of a loved one. All core therapeutic services are delivered free of charge by licensed mental health counselors using multiple modalities including verbal therapy, art therapy, play therapy, yoga, and meditation. The organization supplements direct services with fee-based professional training for school staff and community fundraising events.

Product overview

The Grief Club of Minnesota is a nonprofit grief counseling organization offering a comprehensive suite of grief support services delivered at no cost to clients. The core service portfolio includes Individual Counseling and Family Counseling (both provided by licensed mental health counselors), Peer Grief Support Groups (offering age-appropriate groups including Kids K-8, Middle School, Donuts & Dialogue teens, Young Adults, and various adult groups such as Young Widow/Widower, Death of a Child, and Overdose Support), and Crisis & Trauma Response + Education services. Seasonal programming includes Summer Programming with Donuts & Dialogue, Middle School Group, Pizza with a Purpose, Support Squad, Colors of Comfort, and All Star Gathering Camp. The organization also provides professional training through Supporting Grieving Students: All Staff Training for school personnel. Additional offerings include published products such as the 'Good Grief! What's for Dinner?' cookbook, and community events including the annual Healing Hearts Soiree and Lights of Love tribute event.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Counseling Confidential grief counseling provided to children, young adults (ages 18-25), and their parents or caregivers by licensed mental health counselors, offering a supportive space to navigate grief and healing.
• Family Counseling Family grief counseling using specialized therapeutic interventions designed to strengthen communication skills and foster a supportive environment where families can grieve and heal together. Delivered free of charge.
• Peer Grief Support Groups Group counseling for children, teens, young adults, and caregivers, providing opportunities to connect, share experiences, learn coping skills, and receive grief education. Offered at no cost with age-specific cohorts including Kids K-8, Middle School, Donuts & Dialogue (grades 9-12), Young Adults, Young Widow/Widower, Death of a Child, and Overdose Support groups.
• Crisis & Trauma Response + Education Professional support through crisis response, debriefing, and education to guide individuals and communities through the emotional impact of traumatic death in schools, workplaces, and other community settings.
• Supporting Grieving Students: All Staff Training Practical, interactive training for school staff equipping them with knowledge, tools, and confidence to support students experiencing grief. Available in comprehensive and condensed formats, participants receive certificates of attendance with documented contact hours for continuing education.
• Good Grief! What's for Dinner? Cookbook Cookbook featuring 200 comforting recipes shared by community members, many with stories honoring the memory of loved ones. Available for $35 per copy; pickup at the Chanhassen facility or shipping available. Proceeds support the mission of providing no-cost bereavement care.
• All Star Gathering Camp Camp event for grieving children and teens featuring activities with college and professional athlete coaches who share personal stories of grief, providing peer connection and healing experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ten-fold increase in visits from first year to 4,000 visits by end of 2024
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and supporting.

• Lions Fire Pizza TruckminorOthers · 5 August 2026Event sponsor for Pizza with a Purpose family gathering. Provides pizza at no cost to attendees. The organization holds this event to provide free family fun, connection, and community for grieving families.
• Premier Pinball & AmusementminorOthers · 7 July 2025Event sponsor for All Star Gathering Camp. Provided sponsorship support for the camp event that featured athletes as 'coaches' sharing their grief stories.
• BenevityminorOthersWorkplace giving platform allowing employees to donate to The Grief Club through corporate giving programs.
• GiveMN.orgminorOthersMinnesota-based online giving platform that allows donors to contribute to The Grief Club.
• Thrivent ChoiceminorOthersThrivent's charitable giving program that directs funds to eligible nonprofits like The Grief Club.
• Eastern Carver County School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partnership hosting the Supporting Grieving Students training at Chanhassen High School. The organization provides grief support services in schools and trains school staff on supporting grieving students.
• University of Minnesota Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & HealingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for presentations and education on grief support. Sarah Kroenke was invited to present on supporting grieving children and teens to nearly 200 attendees through this partnership.
• Back Channel BrewingminorOthersEvent venue partner for community events including the Run for a Reason and Family Fun Day, as well as memorial events.
• The Brewery Running SeriesminorOthersPartner organization for Run for a Reason and Family Fun Day event.
• Constellation BrandssupportingOthersBeverage sponsor for Healing Hearts Soiree 2026, providing beverages for the event.
• The VintagesupportingOthersBeverage sponsor for Healing Hearts Soiree 2026.
• Eric Perkins (KARE 11)coreOthersBoard member and emcee for Healing Hearts Soiree. Longtime media personality who served as sports anchor at NBC affiliate, now leads Perk at Play Productions. Has multiple Regional Emmy Awards and covered five Olympic Games.
• Frank Ragnow (NFL, Detroit Lions)coreOthersBoard member. NFL player whose father died when he was 20. His mother joined The Grief Club and helped build the organization, and he participates in My Cause My Cleats program to raise awareness.
• University of Minnesota Landscape ArboretumminorOthersSpecial thanks sponsor for Healing Hearts Soiree 2026.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Children's Room: The Children's Room in Arlington, MA is a free bereavement support center for grieving children, teens, and families, with peer groups, parent groups, and community education. It is a regional direct peer with a comparable whole-family, free-service model.
• Dougy Center: The Dougy Center in Portland, OR is widely regarded as the pioneering nonprofit dedicated to providing peer support groups for grieving children, teens, and families nationwide. It is the closest direct peer to The Grief Club of Minnesota in mission (childhood bereavement), model (peer groups + family services), and free-service ethos.
• Bo's Place: Bo's Place in Houston provides free, ongoing peer-support grief groups for children, adults, and families, with multiple group offerings similar to The Grief Club of Minnesota's peer grief support structure and free-service model.
• Comfort Zone Camp: Comfort Zone Camp is the nation's largest free bereavement camp for children ages 5-25 who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver. It parallels The Grief Club's free grief support services and age-segmented programming.
• Kate's Club: Kate's Club in Atlanta empowers children and teens facing life-threatening illness or grief, offering free programs including weekend clubs, camps, and family events — directly comparable to The Grief Club's age-based programming and free-service approach.
• Experience Camps: Experience Camps runs free, one-week summer camps for grieving children across multiple U.S. states. It directly compares to The Grief Club's All Star Gathering Camp and summer programming, sharing the focus on free, peer-based childhood bereavement support.

Broad incumbents

• National Alliance for Children's Grief: NACG is a national membership organization supporting professionals who work with grieving children and families, offering resources, training, and a national conference. It overlaps with The Grief Club's training and professional-development activities for school staff.
• Coalition to Support Grieving Students: A national coalition that provides free bereavement training modules and resources for K-12 educators. Comparable to The Grief Club's Supporting Grieving Students training as a training/awareness incumbent, though broader in scope and not service-delivery focused.
• New York Life Foundation: The New York Life Foundation is a leading funder of childhood bereavement programs nationwide and a major supporter of organizations like The Grief Club. It is a broad incumbent in the childhood grief space, primarily through grantmaking rather than direct services.
• Hospice Foundation of America: HFA is a national nonprofit that provides education on hospice, grief, and end-of-life care, including bereavement programs for professionals and families. It is comparable to The Grief Club's bereavement education and crisis response work, though at a much larger national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/101892961754745
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-grief-club-of-minnesota

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 The Grief Club of Minnesota