What Mitchell Thorp Foundation does

Mitchell Thorp Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 27-0824320) founded in 2009 in Carlsbad, California by Beth and Brad Thorp in memory of their son Mitchell, who passed away on November 19, 2008 after a five-year battle with an undiagnosed medical condition. The organization provides financial, emotional, and practical support to families whose children are battling cancer, rare diseases, and critical medical conditions, operating five core programs: Medical & Home Assistance, Healing & Rehabilitation, Champion Day experiences, ADA Conversions, and the Youth Leadership Council. A distinguishing operational practice is direct vendor payment — the foundation pays family bills (mortgage, utilities, medical equipment, groceries, ADA modifications) directly to providers rather than disbursing lump sums, a structure designed to preserve government-benefit eligibility and reduce tax burden.

The foundation operates a hybrid revenue model combining individual donations (one-time, monthly, quarterly, honor/memorial), corporate sponsorships across multiple tiers, signature fundraising events (Warrior Spirit 5K Run/Walk, Par for a Purpose and Champions of Impact golf tournaments, the annual Your Children Our Future Gala, and the Season of Hope holiday toy drive), donor-advised funds, planned giving, stock transfers, and gifts-in-kind. Family access is driven primarily by referral partnerships with 16+ children's hospitals nationwide (including Stanford Medicine Children's Health, Rady Children's, Phoenix Children's, CHLA, Loma Linda, Cook Children's, Banner Children's, and City of Hope) and direct website applications. As of cumulative reporting, the foundation has supported more than 2,000 children and families, delivered over 8,000 gifts, provided more than $4.5 million in financial assistance since 2009, and engaged 2,000+ volunteers contributing 20,000+ service hours.

The go-to-market is community- and event-driven, with marketing concentrated in the San Diego region (San Diego Magazine, Ranch & Coast Magazine, Del Mar Times, 10News Leadership Award) and supported by earned media, organic social, a blog/newsletter, and the Thrive Together monthly virtual education series. The foundation holds Candid Platinum Transparency 2026 and Four-Star Rating 2025 certifications and is led by co-founders Beth Thorp (Executive Director) and Brad Thorp (CEO), supported by a small staff of approximately seven paid personnel plus a large volunteer base and Youth Leadership Council pipeline.

Name

Mitchell Thorp Foundation

Legal name

Mitchell Thorp Foundation

Website

https://mitchellthorp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mitchell Thorp Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides direct financial, emotional, and practical support to families of children with cancer, rare diseases, and critical medical conditions across 16+ partner children's hospitals, funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and signature fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Support Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Family assistance programs
• Nonprofit charitable services
• Pediatric medical support
• Community fundraising events
• Youth leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlsbad

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 Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters, processed through the website or mail. Donors can give monthly, quarterly, or as one-time gifts. Includes honor and memorial gifts.
2. Event Fundraising: Revenue generated from signature events including the Warrior Spirit 5K Run/Walk, golf tournaments (Par for a Purpose, Fairway of Hope, Champions of Impact), and the annual gala (Your Children Our Future). Includes event registrations, sponsorships, and opportunity drawings.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor events and programs at various tiers, providing financial support in exchange for brand visibility at events and in marketing materials.
4. Donor-Advised Funds & Legacy Gifts: Accepts contributions through donor-advised funds, estate planning, and stock donations. Provides tax-deductible giving options for long-term planned giving.
5. Gifts-in-Kind: Non-monetary donations of goods, services, and professional labor. Items include home supplies, gift cards, groceries, toys, and professional services that support family programs.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Mitchell Thorp Foundation provides financial, emotional, and resource support to families whose children are battling cancer, rare diseases, and critical medical conditions. Core programs include Medical & Home Assistance (paying medical bills, rent, utilities, groceries, and transportation directly to vendors), Healing & Rehabilitation (therapy, counseling, sibling support), Champion Day (memorable family experiences), ADA Conversions (home and vehicle accessibility modifications), and Youth Leadership Council (high school leadership program).

Product overview

The Mitchell Thorp Foundation is a nonprofit organization offering a suite of five primary programs designed to support families whose children are battling cancer, rare diseases, and critical medical conditions. The core programs include Medical & Home Assistance (financial support for medical treatments and home expenses), Healing & Rehabilitation (therapy services and integrative medicine), Champion Day (unforgettable family experiences), ADA Conversions (accessibility modifications for homes and vehicles), and Youth Leadership Council (leadership development for high school students). These programs are complemented by the Season of Hope holiday toy drive, Thrive Together educational series, annual fundraising events (5K Run/Walk, Gala, Golf Tournaments), and family crowdfunding services. The foundation provides personalized, dignity-preserving assistance by paying bills directly to vendors rather than giving lump sums, helping families maintain access to government benefits while focusing on their child's care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medical & Home Assistance Provides financial support for required medical treatments and equipment not covered by insurance, plus home assistance including rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries, and transportation services to families in crisis.
• Healing & Rehabilitation

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of families supported have remained intact (no divorce or separation)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

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

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, title and minor.

• Stanford Medicine Children's HealthcoreOthersOne of 16+ children's hospital partners that refers families to the foundation for support services.
• Rady Children's HospitalcoreOthersOne of 16+ children's hospital partners that refers families to the foundation for support services.
• Phoenix Children'scoreOthersOne of 16+ children's hospital partners that refers families to the foundation for support services.
• Nicklaus Children's HospitalcoreOthersOne of 16+ children's hospital partners that refers families to the foundation for support services.
• Children's Hospital Los AngelescoreOthersOne of 16+ children's hospital partners that refers families to the foundation for support services.
• Loma Linda University Children's HospitalcoreOthersOne of 16+ children's hospital partners that refers families to the foundation for support services.
• The Elizabeth HospicecoreOthersPartner hospice organization serving North County San Diego area.
• Doernbecher Children's HospitalcoreOthersOne of 16+ children's hospital partners that refers families to the foundation for support services.
• Children's Health (Dallas)coreOthersOne of 16+ children's hospital partners that refers families to the foundation for support services.
• Cook Children'scoreOthersOne of 16+ children's hospital partners that refers families to the foundation for support services.
• Banner Children'scoreOthersOne of 16+ children's hospital partners that refers families to the foundation for support services.
• City of HopecoreOthersOne of 16+ children's hospital partners that refers families to the foundation for support services.
• Independent Financial GroupmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor corporate sponsor for multiple golf tournaments and events including Fairway of Hope Golf Tournament and Warrior Spirit 5K Run/Walk.
• The GymmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for multiple foundation events.
• Bay ClubmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Par for a Purpose golf tournament.
• ThriventmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Par for a Purpose golf tournament.
• Urban Renovation & Construction West IncmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Par for a Purpose golf tournament.
• San Diego PadresmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing community presence at events including the Warrior Spirit 5K Run/Walk.
• Season Johnson / Biodynamic WellnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Thrive Together monthly virtual education series covering holistic wellness topics for families of critically ill children. Season Johnson is a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and founder of Thrive Through Cancer Formula and Thrive Beyond Cancer programs.
• Data Color AItitleGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for the Your Children Our Future Gala 2026 event in Dallas.
• ViaSatmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for foundation events.
• AethercommmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for foundation events.
• Incubate VenturesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for foundation events.
• Skydive San DiegominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing event activities for foundation events.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: Largest pediatric cancer treatment and research institution globally. Referrals to MTF may flow from St. Jude families; competes for the same donor dollars and family mind-share in the childhood illness space.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: National nonprofit supporting families of critically ill children through housing, meals, and family support services near hospitals. Directly comparable mission and family-support model, but with vastly larger national scale and brand recognition.

Direct peers

• Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research: Childhood cancer nonprofit combining research funding with family support. Comparable in mission scope (cancer + family) and use of community-driven event fundraising similar to MTF's 5K and galas.
• Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation: Regional pediatric cancer nonprofit providing financial and emotional support to families. Closely comparable in offering direct financial assistance, family experiences, and regional hospital partnership models similar to MTF.
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: Childhood cancer-focused nonprofit funding research and family support. Directly comparable in serving families of children with cancer and providing financial assistance alongside medical/caregiver resources.
• National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: Pediatric cancer-focused nonprofit funding research and treatment. Overlaps with MTF's mission of supporting children with cancer and rare diseases, with national fundraising and hospital partnership networks.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation: Grants life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses. Directly comparable to MTF's Champion Day program, serving the same population of critically ill children and families with experience-based support.
• Family Reach Foundation: National nonprofit addressing financial hardship for families facing cancer. Closely comparable in providing bill-payment and financial assistance to families with critically ill children, including direct-to-vendor payment models.

Regional players

• The Elizabeth Hospice: San Diego-area hospice and palliative care organization. Listed as MTF's core healthcare partner, serving overlapping populations of critically ill children and families in North County San Diego.

Others

• Children's Oncology Group: National cooperative research organization of children's hospitals treating pediatric cancer. Indirect comparable — MTF's hospital partners are largely COG member institutions, and COG facilitates the clinical referral pipeline MTF depends on.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mitchell-thorp-foundation

Compliance5 records

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 Mitchell Thorp Foundation