The Support Network
The Support Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides peer-facilitated mental health support programs on college and high school campuses, serving over 5,000 students through 500+ trained leaders via a packaged Campus Launch Program, training materials, and proprietary group placement software.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersAnn Arbor, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Support Network does
The Support Network (TSN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers peer-facilitated mental health support programs to college and university students, and increasingly to high school students, through campus-based networks. Founded in 2018 from the Wolverine Support Network at the University of Michigan, TSN currently operates at 8 college campuses and 1 high school, with over 5,000 student participants served since inception and more than 500 trained peer leaders facilitating weekly groups. The organization's primary product is peer-facilitated Weekly Groups — confidential support gatherings of 6-12 students — supplemented by bi-weekly community events designed to reduce stigma and foster inclusive community.
TSN's Campus Launch Program is the primary commercial and operational channel, packaging a comprehensive TSN Blueprint (instruction manual), Peer-to-Peer Leader Training Guide, a License Agreement, and proprietary group placement software for new partner institutions. A cross-campus Slack portal connects student Directors and the TSN Board across all partner campuses, enabling collaboration and operational troubleshooting. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors with backgrounds spanning student mental health programming, clinical social work, higher education administration, and healthcare law. Distribution relies on community-led growth — student and administrator word-of-mouth, Campus Advisory Ambassadors, and direct outreach to counseling center directors, where 94% of AUCCCD-surveyed directors express interest in implementing peer support programs.
TSN's revenue model combines tax-deductible individual donations, Campus Launch Fees paid by new universities over the first three years, and recurring Active Campus Dues thereafter. Services are free to students, funded by university campus fees. The organization earned 501(c)(3) status (EIN #83-1342517), maintains a published 2025 Annual Impact Report, and is supported by an ecosystem of Campus Advisory, Communications, Learning & Evaluation, and Community Engagement Ambassadors. The first full-time staff member, Caitlin Briody (Executive Director), was hired in November 2023, marking a transition from a volunteer-led entity to a professionally staffed nonprofit.
The Support Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Support Network
- Legal name
- The Support Network
- Website
- https://thesupportnetwork.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Support Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides peer-facilitated mental health support programs on college and high school campuses, serving over 5,000 students through 500+ trained leaders via a packaged Campus Launch Program, training materials, and proprietary group placement software.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Support Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mental Health Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Peer Support, Mentoring & Student Leadership (SEL) (EDAKAMAO), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Mental Health Counseling & Psychotherapy Services (EDALAFAB), Mental Health Counseling & Therapy Services (K–12) (EDAJALAG)
Keywords
Where The Support Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ann Arbor
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Support Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting student mental health. TSN is a qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization #83-1342517.
- Campus Launch Fees: New universities are required to pay a Campus Launch Fee payable over the first three years, offsetting TSN's operational expenses as a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
- Active Campus Dues: After the first three years, active campuses pay dues to maintain their affiliation with TSN and continue receiving support, training resources, and cross-campus collaboration access.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Free for students - program cost covered by university fees |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels9 records
The Support Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Support Network provides peer-facilitated mental health support programs on college and high school campuses. Institutions contract for the Campus Launch Program, which includes a turnkey operational blueprint, peer-leader training, a licensing agreement, and a proprietary group-placement software, and then run free, student-led weekly support groups on an ongoing basis under annual Active Campus Dues.
Product overview
The Support Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit offering a single integrated peer support program for high schools and colleges. The core offering consists of peer-facilitated Weekly Groups, bi-weekly community events, and a structured Campus Launch Program. The Campus Launch Program includes the TSN Blueprint (instruction manual), Peer-to-Peer Leader Training Guide, TSN License Agreement, and proprietary software for group placement. Together, these products provide campuses with the complete blueprint, training, and ongoing advisory to establish and sustain peer support networks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Miner Support Network: Campus support network at Missouri University of Science and Technology offering peer-facilitated support groups for students.
- Wolverine Support Network (WSN)
- Spartan Support Network
- Boilermaker Support Network
- Campus Support Networks
Products and services
- Campus Launch Program Turnkey program that colleges and high schools contract for to establish a peer-facilitated mental health support network on campus. Includes the TSN Blueprint, peer-to-peer Leader Training Guide, TSN License Agreement, and access to proprietary group-placement software, structured with a launch fee typically spread over three years.
- Peer-Facilitated Weekly Groups Recurring peer-led support groups that students attend free of charge on member campuses, facilitated by trained peer leaders and supported by TSN's group-placement software. Designed to provide low-stigma, ongoing mental health support to complement traditional campus counseling.
- Bi-weekly Community Events Recurring community events held every two weeks for TSN chapter members, reinforcing peer connection and organizational culture across college and high school campuses.
Quantifiable outcome
- 94% of counseling center directors are interested in implementing peer support programs on their campus
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Support Network
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Support Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
The Support Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- University of Michigan (Wolverine Support Network)coreFounding campus partner where TSN originated. Wolverine Support Network is the largest student organization on campus. TSN Executive Director Caitlin Briody visited WSN at UM to kick off semesters and engage with peer facilitators.
- University of CincinnaticoreCampus partner with active Support Network implementation. Students and administrators work with TSN for program launch and ongoing support.
- Missouri University of Science & Technology (Miner Support Network)coreActive campus partner offering peer-facilitated support groups (6-12 students per group) that are cost-free and confidential. Works with Student Well-Being office. Groups held weekly on campus in 1-hour time slots.
- Lewis and Clark CollegecoreCampus partner under Community and Global Health initiatives, operating PIO Support Network.
- Cranbrook Kingswood High SchoolcoreHigh school partner with student club for peer mental health support. TSN has expanded beyond college campuses to include high schools.
- Mental Health America (MHA)minorKelly Davis, Director of Peer Advocacy at MHA, is connected to TSN. TSN board members have served on MHA's Collegiate Mental Health Innovation Council. MHA is dedicated to promoting mental health and expanding peer support services.
- JED FoundationminorTSN founders and board members have received awards from JED Foundation and served on advisory councils. Multiple TSN alumni have been recognized with JED Foundation's Student Voice of Mental Health Award.
- Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD)minor94% of AUCCCD counseling center directors surveyed were interested in implementing peer support programs on their campus. TSN has relationships with counseling center directors as part of its campus expansion strategy.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Support Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project is a leading national nonprofit providing crisis support and mental health services to LGBTQ+ youth. It is a broader incumbent in youth mental health with overlapping peer-support and crisis-intervention components relevant to TSN's student population.
- The Jed Foundation (JED): JED is a leading national nonprofit protecting teen and young adult emotional health, with a Collegiate Mental Health Innovation Council. TSN has formal ties to JED (multiple Student Voice of Mental Health Awards), and JED operates ULifeline, a comparable college mental health resource, making it a broader incumbent with overlapping scope.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): NAMI is a large national mental health nonprofit with peer-led support programs (NAMI Connection, NAMI on Campus). It is a broader incumbent addressing the same mental health conditions and offering peer-led support, but at national scale and across all ages.
- Mental Health America (MHA): MHA is a national mental health nonprofit with peer advocacy and campus mental health programs. TSN has an existing relationship with MHA (Board member on MHA's Collegiate Mental Health Innovation Council), positioning MHA as a partner and broader peer in the same space.
Emerging players
- Kognito: Kognito builds virtual simulation training for mental health awareness, designed for use in schools and universities. It is an emerging player in the same mental health training and peer support pipeline that TSN targets, differing in modality (simulation vs. in-person groups).
- Mantra Health: Mantra Health is a digital mental health provider focused on college students, offering therapy and psychiatry services via campus partnerships. It is an emerging competitor for university mental health budgets, though offering licensed clinician services rather than peer support.
- 7 Cups: 7 Cups provides peer-to-peer emotional support through trained listeners and group chat sessions. It is an emerging player with a peer-led listening model comparable to TSN's trained student facilitators, though broader in demographic and digital-first.
Direct peers
- ULifeline: ULifeline is an online mental health resource for college students operated by the JED Foundation. It directly competes in serving college students seeking mental health support, though its delivery model is an online resource directory rather than peer-led groups.
- Active Minds: Active Minds is the largest peer-to-peer student mental health nonprofit in the U.S., operating chapters on hundreds of college campuses. It directly competes with TSN in the campus-based peer-led mental health support category, with similar target customers (college students) and similar delivery model (student-led awareness and support).
- Bring Change to Mind: Bring Change to Mind is a nonprofit that runs student-led mental health awareness programs in high schools and colleges, including a High School Program. It mirrors TSN's peer-led, youth-focused mental health model and overlapping student population.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Support Network social profiles
Digital presenceThe Support Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Support Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The Support Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Support Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Support Network
What does The Support Network do?
The Support Network provides peer-facilitated mental health support programs on college and high school campuses. Institutions contract for the Campus Launch Program, which includes a turnkey operational blueprint, peer-leader training, a licensing agreement, and a proprietary group-placement software, and then run free, student-led weekly support groups on an ongoing basis under annual Active Campus Dues.
Is The Support Network a public or private company?
The Support Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Support Network founded?
The Support Network was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Support Network based?
The Support Network is headquartered in Ann Arbor, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Support Network make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are campus Launch Fees and active Campus Dues.
Who are The Support Network's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Trevor Project, The Jed Foundation (JED), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mental Health America (MHA). Emerging players are Kognito, Mantra Health and 7 Cups. Direct peers are ULifeline, Active Minds and Bring Change to Mind.
Does The Support Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Support Network.
What industry is The Support Network in?
The Support Network's product category is Mental Health Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJALAL, Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs, with a secondary code of EDAKAMAO, Peer Support, Mentoring & Student Leadership (SEL). Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.