Heart Forward LA

What Heart Forward LA does

Heart Forward LA is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit mental health advocacy organization founded in 2020 by Kerry Morrison and fiscally sponsored by Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs Inc., a 501(c)(3). It operates a community-led model inspired by the Trieste, Italy community-based mental health system, practicing what it calls "Radical Hospitality" — volunteers using gardening, cooking, art, games, and movement to build relationships with people living with mental illness in supportive housing, board and care homes, and LA County jails. Its core products are programmatic rather than technological: the Radical Hospitality Initiative, the Hollywood Clubhouse (developed in partnership with Fountain House under contract with LACDMH), the Willow Brook Third Place at 4665 Willow Brook, The Équipe learning community, The Sandbox peer advisory board formed in August 2025, and the "Heart Forward: Conversations from the Heart" podcast, which has logged over 17,000 downloads across multiple seasons since 2020.

The organization does not build or sell technology products; it has no API, no app, and no proprietary software platform. Its distribution channels are the podcast (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, PlayerFM), Instagram, the website, volunteer engagement, and conference presentations at venues including ISPS, the Society for Community Research and Action, and Occupational Science Europe. Revenue is generated entirely through donations and philanthropic grants, including a documented grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and philanthropic support from Kaiser Permanente and the Atlas Kardia Foundation; the organization does not publicly disclose financial figures.

Heart Forward serves three primary constituencies: people with mental health conditions in LA County institutions and community settings, board and care operators seeking volunteer support, and a broader audience of mental health system advocates, policymakers, and academics interested in the Trieste model. Its customer-facing relationships are community partnerships and donor relationships rather than commercial contracts, and the organization acts as a system-transformation intermediary rather than a service vendor.

Name

Heart Forward LA

Legal name

Heart Forward LA

Website

https://heartforwardla.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Heart Forward LA is a Los Angeles nonprofit, founded in 2020, that promotes mental health system reform through community programs, a podcast, and partnerships inspired by the Trieste model of community-based care.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Calabasas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropy: Heart Forward LA is a project sponsored by Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are 100% tax-deductible. The organization relies on donors to support efforts building community within supportive housing, board & cares, county jail, and the Willow Brook Third Place. Private donations also fund the Heart Forward Conversations from the Heart podcast.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Heart Forward LA is a nonprofit mental health advocacy organization that operates community-based programs inspired by the Trieste, Italy model. It delivers Radical Hospitality in supportive housing, board & care homes, and LA County jails through volunteer-driven activities (gardening, cooking, art, games, movement), runs a Hollywood membership Clubhouse for people with mental illness in partnership with Fountain House, hosts a podcast exploring the Trieste model, and convenes policy makers and mental health experts through The Équipe study program and The Sandbox peer advisory board.

Product overview

Heart Forward LA is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of programs and resources focused on transforming the American mental health system through principles inspired by the Trieste model from Italy. The core offerings include the 'Heart Forward: Conversations from the Heart' podcast (a conversational series exploring mental health transformation), The Clubhouse (a membership-based community space in Hollywood for people with mental illness operated in partnership with Fountain House), and the Radical Hospitality Initiative (a community engagement approach using gardening, cooking, art, and movement to build relationships). Supporting programs include The Équipe (a learning community that travels to Trieste to study the model), The Sandbox (a peer advisory board), and Willow Brook (a Third Place collaborative space). The organization also provides an online donation platform, volunteer programs, and maintains curated resource libraries of research articles and book recommendations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Heart Forward: Conversations from the Heart (Podcast): Podcast exploring the Trieste model from Italy and examining how principles such as radical hospitality, social recovery, accountability, and thriving could inspire a new future for mental health care in America. Hosted by Kerry Morrison, Founder & Project Director of Heart Forward.
• The Clubhouse
• The Équipe
• The Sandbox
• Willow Brook

Products and services

• Heart Forward: Conversations from the Heart (Podcast) A podcast series exploring the Trieste mental health model from Italy and examining how its principles of radical hospitality, social recovery, and whole-person care could transform the American mental health system. Hosted by Kerry Morrison, the podcast features conversations with experts, advocates, and practitioners.
• The Clubhouse A membership-based community space in Hollywood for people with mental illness, modeled after the Clubhouse model. Operated in collaboration with Fountain House, it provides members with meaningful relationships and work-ordered day activities that promote recovery by building self-esteem and ending isolation.
• Radical Hospitality Initiative Heart Forward LA's core programmatic approach inspired by the Trieste model, involving volunteers who use gardening, cooking, art, games, and movement to build relationships with people with mental health conditions in supportive housing, board & care homes, and LA County jails.
• The Équipe Program An intentionally curated learning community of policy makers, leaders, and mental health experts who travel to Trieste, Italy to learn from the community-based mental health system.
• Willow Brook Third Place A shared community space at 4665 Willow Brook where Heart Forward LA hosts weekly Community Friday gatherings and events including jam sessions, calligraphy classes, knitting circles, cooking, and open mic events. Part of the Willow Brook Collaborative with six community partners.
• The Sandbox A peer advisory board formed in August 2025 comprising community members with lived experience who provide guidance to Heart Forward through monthly advisory meetings, local Third Place activation, and mutual accompaniment.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer engagement program where individuals practice Radical Hospitality in community settings using gardening, cooking, art, games, and movement to build relationships with people with mental health conditions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 17,000 podcast downloads from summer 2020 to spring 2024
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, flagship, core and minor.

• Our Lady Queen of Angels Housing AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Graciously made 4665 Willow Brook available rent-free to Heart Forward and other organizations while developing a new affordable housing project on the property in 2026. Heart Forward joined the Willow Brook Collaborative with 6 community partners.
• Fountain HouseflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Heart Forward and Fountain House signed a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2023 to collaborate on opening a clubhouse in Hollywood. Fountain House, the original American clubhouse with 75-year history, dedicated staff and development consultant. Entered contract with LACDMH and hired first clubhouse director in April 2024.
• Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs Inc. (SEE)coreOthersFiscal sponsor of Heart Forward LA as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are 100% tax-deductible through SEE. EIN: 95-4116679. Located at 23564 Calabasas Road, Suite 201, Calabasas, CA 91302.
• LA County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government department that entered into contract with Fountain House for the Hollywood clubhouse operation. Heart Forward facilitated community connections as the local guide.
• LA County Sheriff's Department Homeless Outreach Services TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeart Forward podcast documented shadowing of LASD's Homeless Outreach Services Team during Dr. Roberto Mezzina's visit to Los Angeles.
• Office of Diversion & ReentryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeart Forward conducted office visits as part of their Radical Hospitality initiative, visiting programs like Victory Starts Now and Joyous Ventures.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Clubhouse International: The international accreditation and network organization for psychosocial rehabilitation clubhouses, headquartered in New York. Heart Forward's Hollywood clubhouse operates under this model framework.
• Steinberg Institute: California-based nonprofit advancing mental health policy through education and advocacy, including hosting summits and policy fellowships. Closely comparable as a state-level mental health system reform advocate operating in California.
• Active Minds: US nonprofit focused on mental health awareness and advocacy, particularly among young adults and students. Shares a peer/community-led advocacy and education model with Heart Forward.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): The largest US grassroots mental health advocacy organization, focused on support, education, and system change for people affected by mental illness. Similar nonprofit advocacy and policy reform orientation to Heart Forward.
• Mental Health America: The nation's oldest community-based nonprofit dedicated to mental health advocacy, education, and system reform, with affiliate network spanning hundreds of local affiliates. Comparable US mental health policy advocacy mission.
• Bring Change to Mind: Mental health awareness organization using media and storytelling to reduce stigma and spark dialogue. Comparable in combining media/podcast content with community-based advocacy.
• Fountain House: The original American clubhouse model organization with 75+ years of history; Heart Forward signed an MOU with Fountain House in April 2023 to open the Hollywood clubhouse, which Fountain House now operates under LACDMH contract.

Emerging players

• JED Foundation: Nonprofit protecting emotional health and preventing suicide among teens and young adults through school-based programs and policy. Adjacent in mission but focused on a younger demographic and prevention rather than community-based care.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@HeartForwardLA/playlists
• Instagraminstagram.com/heartforwardla
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heart-forward-la

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Heart Forward LA