The Sandy Hook Foundation

What The Sandy Hook Foundation does

The Sandy Hook Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1989, serving as the official 'friends group' and exclusive nonprofit fundraising partner of the National Park Service at Sandy Hook, a 2,044-acre unit of Gateway National Recreation Area in Fort Hancock, NJ. It supports preservation of two National Historic Landmarks (Sandy Hook Lighthouse and Fort Hancock), environmental conservation, and cultural and educational programming. The Foundation operates with 12 employees and runs a portfolio of programs including: a Memorial Chairs + Benches dedication program (with an America 250 commemorative expansion for the 250th Anniversary of American Independence), signature fundraising events (Sunset Soiree, Anchored By America's Best Idea), and year-round public programming (yoga, watercolor workshops, bird walks, Moth Night).

Its revenue is diversified across donations (accepted via credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, DAF, stock gifts, and corporate matching), an e-commerce merchandise store (apparel $30-68, accessories $20-32, drinkware $5-65, beach gear), fee-based workshops (e.g., $50 terrarium workshop), and event tickets. The Foundation's most distinctive 2026 product is the 'Colonel Tye - Fighting for Freedom' immersive experience, a free 25-minute Apple Vision Pro spatial computing experience hosted at the Taylor-Butler House in partnership with the Monmouth County Historical Association. Conservation projects include 11 beach wheelchairs, 6 bike repair stations along the 7-mile Multi-Use Path, water refill stations, and a group campsite expansion.

The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees with Laurie Bratone (25+ years regional nonprofit development experience) as Executive Director and Peter S. Izzo as President. Its primary operating partner is the National Park Service, with significant funding from the NJ Historical Commission, NJ Historic Trust, and National Park Foundation.

Name

The Sandy Hook Foundation

Legal name

The Sandy Hook Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://sandyhooknj.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Sandy Hook Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as the exclusive fundraising partner of the National Park Service at Sandy Hook, NJ, supporting historic preservation, conservation, and public programming on a 2,044-acre national park site.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Park Support and Conservation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Historical Sites (712120), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

Keywords

• Nonprofit foundation
• National park support
• Heritage preservation
• Fundraising events
• Community programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Hancock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporate matching programs, and Donor Advised Funds supporting environmental, historical, and cultural programs and projects at Sandy Hook.
2. Merchandise Sales: The SHF Store sells apparel, accessories, drinkware, beach gear, and memorabilia including t-shirts, hoodies, hats, beach towels, and local artwork. Products range from $2.00 for stickers to $68.00 for hoodies.
3. Event Tickets and Sponsorships: Annual fundraiser events like the Sunset Soiree generate revenue through ticket sales and corporate sponsorships. Registration fees for workshops and activities also contribute.
4. Memorial Chair and Bench Program: Commemorative Adirondack chairs, rocking chairs, and benches with bronze plaques offered for purchase to honor loved ones and celebrate milestones.
5. America 250 Commemorative Program: Special commemorative plaques for the 250th Anniversary of American Independence featured on chairs and benches placed throughout Sandy Hook.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Sandy Hook Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as the official friends group of the National Park Service at Sandy Hook, NJ. It funds and delivers cultural, educational, environmental, and conservation programs, supports preservation of historic structures (Sandy Hook Lighthouse and Fort Hancock), and offers unique public-facing products including memorial dedication chair/bench programs, a merchandise store, signature fundraising events, public programs (yoga, workshops, bird walks), and an Apple Vision Pro immersive experience.

Product overview

The Sandy Hook Foundation operates as a nonprofit organization with a portfolio of interconnected programs supporting Gateway National Recreation Area at Sandy Hook. The core offerings include memorial dedication programs (Memorial Chairs + Benches and the America 250 Commemorative expansion), an innovative Apple Vision Pro-powered immersive experience (Colonel Tye - Fighting for Freedom), a merchandise store with Sandy Hook-themed apparel and accessories, and various public programming including yoga, workshops, and educational events. The Foundation also conducts conservation and preservation projects, manages signature fundraising events, and operates volunteer programs. The Colonel Tye experience represents a technology-forward initiative using spatial computing, while the merchandise store and donation programs support the Foundation's broader mission of environmental, historical, and cultural preservation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sandy Hook Young Professionals (SHYP): A subgroup of the Sandy Hook Foundation that works on projects and creates opportunities for involvement in support of Sandy Hook, made up of like-minded professionals in their 20s and 30s.

Products and services

• Memorial Chairs + Benches Program A memorial dedication program allowing supporters to dedicate Adirondack chairs, rocking chairs, or benches throughout Sandy Hook, each marked with a bronze commemorative plaque. Provides lasting tributes to honor loved ones, spark memories, or celebrate milestones while supporting the national park.
• America 250 Commemorative Chairs + Benches An expanded memorial chair and bench dedication program specifically marking the 250th Anniversary of American Independence in 2026, featuring commemorative plaques created exclusively for this historic anniversary.
• Colonel Tye - Fighting for Freedom (Apple Vision Pro Experience) A free 25-minute immersive spatial computing experience using Apple Vision Pro headsets to tell the story of Colonel Tye, an enslaved man who escaped and fought for the British at Sandy Hook during the Revolutionary War. Users explore primary source historical documents and face difficult choices about freedom. Available to two users at a time, with ages 13+.
• SHF Store (Merchandise) Online merchandise store selling apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, long-sleeve shirts), accessories (trucker hats, beanies), beach gear (towels, umbrellas, sunscreen), drinkware, and locally-themed items. Prices range from $2 for stickers to $68 for hoodies.
• Donation Programs Tax-deductible giving program with multiple options including online donations (one-time or monthly), Donor Advised Fund contributions, Venmo, stock gifts, estate planning support, and employee matching programs. Funds support environmental, historical, and cultural programs at Sandy Hook.
• Conservation and Preservation Projects Capital projects including campground expansion, water refill stations, trail and fence repair, observation deck rebuilding, bike repair stations, beach wheelchairs, artifact acquisition, and Nike missile displays. Projects are funded by the Foundation to support the National Park Service at Sandy Hook.
• Signature Events Annual signature events including the Sunset Soiree (fundraiser at Mule Barn Tavern), Anchored By America's Best Idea (tall ships event celebrating America's 250th anniversary), and Holiday Photography Show + Sale. Events support fundraising and community engagement for Sandy Hook.
• Public Programs and Events Year-round public programming including free yoga on the beach, sunrise yoga series, watercolor workshops, terrarium building workshops, bird walks, moth night, sound healing, shark week crafts, scavenger hunts, and build-your-own-boat activities. Many events partner with local instructors and organizations.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer opportunities including beach support at Spermaceti Cove Lifesaving Station, corporate group volunteer days, and the Sandy Hook Young Professionals subgroup for networking and park support activities.
• Documentary Videos Funded video productions including 'Preserving the Piping Plover: A Natural Partnership for Survival' (award-winning documentary on threatened piping plover population) and 'The Ospreys of Sandy Hook' (shown to visitors in the Lighthouse Keepers Quarters). Both produced by local documentarian Jeff Gould.
• Petition/Advocacy: Protect Pro-Tec Comet Trail Adjacent content partially evidenced but not a sellable product. Excluded as a standalone commercial product/service.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, regular and minor.

• Sail4th 250flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 July 2026Partnership for 'Anchored By America's Best Idea' event celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Coordinated tall ship logistics and hosted captains briefing and media events.
• New Jersey SymphonyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 July 2026Provided entertainment at the 'Anchored By America's Best Idea' cocktail party event on July 3rd, performing against the backdrop of tall ships in Sandy Hook Bay.
• National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sandy Hook Foundation is the official nonprofit friends group (official partner) of the National Park Service at Sandy Hook, a unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. The Foundation supports NPS through fundraising, project funding, and programmatic support.
• Monmouth County Historical AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosting partner for the Colonel Tye - Fighting for Freedom immersive experience at the Taylor-Butler House, a historic property operated by the Association.
• Beachy Birder AdventuresregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for bird walks and nature programs including Return of the Ospreys Walk and Moth Night on Sandy Hook. Half of registration fees donated to SHF.
• Tootsie OlanregularGTM or Marketing PartnerYoga instructor partnering for the Rise to Rise Sunrise Yoga Series at the Lifesaving Station. Fee-based registration with donation portion to SHF.
• J&J Art StudioregularGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for sea glass art workshops and fundraising events. Portion of registration fees donated to Sandy Hook.
• Alysia (Yoga Instructor)regularGTM or Marketing PartnerHosting Spring Sound Healing at the Hook events. 50% of proceeds donated to SHF.
• Roots and RiversregularGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Terrarium Building Workshop. Portion of $50 ticket price donated to SHF.
• GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.minorOthersMoth expert Blaine Rothauser, Senior Ecologist at GZA, leads Moth Night programming during National Moth Week.
• Asbury Park Sober SocialsregularGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosting Seal and Bird Walk events with Beachy Birder Adventures and SHF.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Central Park Conservancy: Major nonprofit partner managing and fundraising for Central Park. Highly comparable park-foundation model with capital projects, signature fundraising events (similar to Sunset Soiree), donor programs, and merchandise. Operates at a much larger scale than SHF.
• Friends of the Smokies: Official fundraising partner for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Directly comparable park-friends group with donation, merchandise, and event-driven revenue model supporting trail, wildlife, and historic preservation projects.
• Friends of Acadia: Official nonprofit friends group for Acadia National Park in Maine. Directly comparable as a regional park-supporting foundation that funds conservation, trail, and educational projects through donations, events, and merchandise — same business model and regulatory partnership structure as SHF.
• Appalachian Trail Conservancy: Nonprofit organization supporting a protected linear federal corridor (Appalachian Trail). Comparable in funding trail maintenance, conservation, and visitor amenities through donations and member engagement, with overlapping environmental focus on flora/fauna.
• Conservancy for the Presidio of San Francisco: Official nonprofit partner supporting a federal park site with historic preservation (similar to SHF's Fort Hancock and Lighthouse work). Comparable in supporting cultural, educational, and conservation programming through donations and events.
• Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy: Official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service and Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco. Highly comparable as a park-conservancy model with NPS partnership, fundraising, signature events, and membership programs supporting multiple park sites.

Broad incumbents

• National Park Foundation: Official national nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, providing Capacity Building Grants to local friends groups (including SHF). Broader portfolio across all national parks; serves as an umbrella funder and capacity-building resource to SHF rather than a direct competitor.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation: National nonprofit focused on preserving historic structures and sites. Comparable in its preservation mission for historic landmarks (SHF preserves Sandy Hook Lighthouse and Fort Hancock — both National Historic Landmarks). Operates at a national scale.

Regional players

• Monmouth County Historical Association: Local New Jersey historical society hosting the Colonel Tye Apple Vision Pro experience at Taylor-Butler House. Directly comparable in New Jersey historical preservation mission; serves as a strategic partner to SHF but operates as an independent nonprofit in overlapping geography.
• The Trustees of Reservations: Massachusetts-based nonprofit land trust and conservation organization. Comparable as a regional conservation nonprofit managing protected areas with donations, events, and membership; focused on habitat preservation similar to SHF's piping plover/osprey work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/sandyhookyoungprofessionals
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sandy-hook-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Sandy Hook Foundation