What Gold Star Gamers does

Gold Star Gamers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 87-3162699) headquartered in Redmond, Washington, founded by Martha Laughman and Tom McAndrew to support children ages 6-19 who have lost a military parent. The organization addresses a beneficiary population of more than 150,000 U.S. children since 9/11, of whom 91% identify as gamers, and targets acute mental-health needs (>40% low well-being, 60% suicidal ideation, 40% PTSD symptoms). Programs include one-on-one mentorship, weeklong virtual training camps led by college-age pro gamers, competitive tournaments, a 24/7 moderated Discord peer-support community with safety bots and trained mentors, a Career & STEM Lab (coding, internships, studio tours), Healing & Wellness activities, and Salute to Service ceremonies with professional sports partners.

The core technology stack is a Discord-based moderated community platform integrated with Tiltify for charity-stream fundraising, Network for Good for donation processing, Twin Galaxies for competitive gaming leaderboards, and Twitch/YouTube/Facebook for livestream broadcasting. A new initiative, Gold Star Studios, extends into publishing veteran game creators. Programs are delivered free to eligible children.

The revenue model is donation-based: individual tax-deductible contributions, corporate sponsorships (USAA, Verizon, Turtle Beach, Gary Sinise Foundation, Enduring Games, Jolt Cola), and streaming-based fundraising on Tiltify with tiered rewards ($100-$5,000+). Supplementary revenue is generated through virtual item sales ($20-$80 tiered) during Daggerheart tabletop charity events. Fundraising is event-driven, relying on tournaments, 24-hour livestreams, and memorial-day campaigns rather than recurring subscription revenue.

Name

Gold Star Gamers

Legal name

Gold Star Gamers

Website

https://goldstargamers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gold Star Gamers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides gaming-based mentorship, peer support, competitive esports, and STEM programs for children ages 6-19 who have lost a military parent, funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and streaming-based fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Military Family Support Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Communications & Voice/Chat Platforms (Discord-like, in-game comms) (MPAFAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community/Youth Esports Centers (Recreation Centers, Nonprofit Programs) (MPAFALAH), Amateur/Grassroots Esports Leagues & Community Tournaments (MPAFADAL)

Keywords

• Military family support
• Youth gaming programs
• Esports mentorship services
• Grief support nonprofit
• Veteran community programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellevue

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals via credit card, PayPal, Venmo, Google Pay through Network for Good platform. EIN: 87-3162699. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners provide financial support, in-kind donations (gaming equipment, venues), and platform access to support Gold Star children through gaming programs.
3. Streaming Fundraising: Community members stream games on Twitch/YouTube/Facebook to raise funds through Tiltify platform. Participants earn fundraising rewards at various tiers ($100-$5,000+).
4. Virtual Item Sales (Realms of Valor): Sale of virtual Daggerheart tabletop gaming items at tiered pricing ($20-$80) during charity livestream events to raise funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Gold Star Gamers delivers structured gaming-based programs to children ages 6-19 who have lost a military or veteran parent, free of charge. Core offerings include one-on-one mentorship with military gamers, weeklong virtual training camps led by pro gamers, competitive tournaments and esports events, a 24/7 moderated Discord peer-support community, STEM and career education, wellness activities, and honor ceremonies. Newer initiatives include Gold Star Studios (veteran game creator publishing) and volunteer-driven streaming fundraisers.

Product overview

Gold Star Gamers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering a multi-faceted platform of programs for children who have lost a military parent. The core offerings include: Mentorship Program (one-on-one pairing with military gamers), Training Camps (weeklong bootcamp-style gaming camps), and Tournaments & Events (competitive gaming with branch-based teams). Supporting programs include: Peer Support via Discord (24/7 moderated community), Career & STEM Lab (coding and gaming education), Healing & Wellness (mindfulness through gaming), and Salute to Service (honor ceremonies). New initiatives include Gold Star Studios (veteran game creator publishing) and the Stream Team (volunteer streaming community). The platform connects children with mentors, peers, and professional gamers to foster healing, confidence, and community through shared gaming experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gold Star Studios: A publishing initiative focused on helping veteran creators bring their games to life. The organization collaborates with veteran game developers to help shape, refine, and ship their projects while providing visibility.

Products and services

• Mentorship Program One-on-one virtual mentorship pairing Gold Star children (ages 6-19) with military gamers, typically from the same branch as the fallen parent, plus shared community activities that build ongoing bonds.
• Training Camps Weeklong bootcamp-style virtual summer camps led by college-age and pro gamers, with up to 12 kids per half-day session focused on teamwork, skill-building, and personal growth; coaches can earn college credits.
• Tournaments & Events Competitive gaming events in which Gold Star children paired with military gamers compete as teams, including branch-based competitions, live-streamed finals with professional gamers, and charity-focused prize donations.
• Peer Support (Discord Community) 24/7 moderated Discord community providing peer support through trained mentors, safety bots, games, activity coordinators, volunteers, and multiple community channels for military-connected kids ages 6-19.
• Career & STEM Lab Computer science, STEM, and gaming skills programming including Discord homework help, coding classes, internships, studio/college tours, and hands-on workshops in coding, design, streaming, and storytelling.
• Healing & Wellness Gaming-inspired activities, mindfulness exercises, and practical coping tools supporting mental health, physical wellness, and confidence-building for children processing grief.
• Salute to Service Events and ceremonies in partnership with professional sports teams and community organizations honoring Gold Star children and the sacrifice of their military parents.
• Gold Star Studios Publishing initiative helping veteran game creators bring their games to life through collaboration on shaping, refining, and shipping projects while providing visibility support.
• Stream Team Volunteer streamer program where members raise funds, host community game nights, and represent Gold Star Gamers on their channels to support children of fallen military heroes.
• Jolt Cola Memorial Day Challenge Virtual Call of Duty: Warzone competition running May 1 to June 15, 2026, anchored by a 24-hour Memorial Day Twitch livestream, celebrity appearances, and donation matching up to $2,000 by Enduring Games.
• Realms of Valor Four-part Daggerheart tabletop RPG campaign led by Chris Perkins of Darrington Press, starting April 28, 2026, raising funds for Gold Star Gamers through live Twitch broadcasts with tiered virtual item sales ($20-$80).

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of Gold Star children identify as gamers, making gaming an ideal engagement channel for healing and connection
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Turtle BeachcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGaming headset manufacturer providing equipment and sponsorship support to Gold Star Gamers programs and events.
• VerizoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTelecommunications company supporting Gold Star Gamers through corporate sponsorship and connectivity resources.
• Gary Sinise FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship nonprofit partner supporting military families, collaborating with Gold Star Gamers on events and programs honoring fallen heroes.
• TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit providing peer-based emotional support and grief counseling for Gold Star families. Gold Star Gamers donates tournament prizes to TAPS on behalf of winning children.
• MasterClassminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline learning platform providing content access or sponsorship for STEM and educational programming.
• CyberMateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGaming and technology partner supporting cybersecurity and gaming-related initiatives for Gold Star children.
• Nxt Up EsportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEsports organization collaborating on competitive gaming events and tournament programming.
• Uknighted XPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGaming/esports partner supporting Gold Star Gamers community and events.
• HumbleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGaming bundle and software platform supporting through donations or promotional partnerships.
• Defenders GatewayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilitary support organization collaborating on resources and programs for Gold Star families.
• Twin GalaxiescoreTechnology or IntegrationCompetitive gaming platform providing leaderboard technology and video submission infrastructure for Gold Star Gamers tournaments like the Jolt Cola Memorial Day Challenge.
• Jolt ColacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEnergy drink brand sponsoring the Memorial Day Challenge tournament event with prize contributions.
• ActivisionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGame publisher (Call of Duty: Warzone) featured in competitive tournament events. Ghost character IP referenced with Jeff Leach (voice actor) as celebrity appearance.
• Darrington PresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTabletop game publisher led by Chris Perkins (D&D legend) providing Daggerheart campaign content for Realms of Valor charity streaming event series.
• The NPC GuildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTabletop gaming community organization collaborating on the Realms of Valor Daggerheart charity event.
• TiltifycoreTechnology or IntegrationCharity fundraising platform enabling streamers to raise money for Gold Star Gamers through gaming content. Primary platform for all fundraising campaigns.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Child's Play: Gaming-focused charity that places games and gaming equipment in children's hospitals and similar settings. Comparable nonprofit gaming-for-youth-wellbeing model with established streaming/fundraising infrastructure.
• Gamers Outreach Foundation: Nonprofit deploying gaming carts and programs to hospitalized children and youth in need. Strong model parallel — using games as a tool for healing/support among vulnerable youth populations.
• AbleGamers Foundation: Nonprofit that uses gaming to improve quality of life for people with disabilities, including veterans. Comparable nonprofit structure with gaming-as-therapy thesis and similar donor/sponsor ecosystem.
• Operation Supply Drop: Military-support nonprofit that delivers gaming care packages and community programs to deployed troops, veterans, and military families. Comparable model using games to support military-connected populations.
• Stack Up: 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports military veterans and active-duty service members through gaming and the gaming community. Closest direct peer — same nonprofit model, same military beneficiary population, same gaming-as-engagement thesis.

Broad incumbents

• Wounded Warrior Project: Large-scale military-veteran nonprofit with broad programming including family support. Operates in the same donor-charity pool with substantially greater scale and brand recognition.
• Gary Sinise Foundation: Large military-family nonprofit supporting veterans, first responders, and Gold Star families through programs, grants, and events. Core strategic partner of GSG; represents the established-incumbent model GSG operates within.
• Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): Large, established military-survivor nonprofit providing peer-based emotional support, grief counseling, and case assistance to families of fallen service members. GSG actively donates to TAPS, signaling overlapping mission and shared beneficiary base.
• USO (United Service Organizations): Major military-family nonprofit providing programs, entertainment, and support for service members and their families. Designated charity partner for GSG event prizes — broad incumbent serving overlapping beneficiary population.

Others

• Twin Galaxies: Competitive gaming scoreboard and tournament-platform provider used by GSG for events like the Jolt Cola Memorial Day Challenge. Technology/infrastructure enabler for GSG's esports programming rather than a mission peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/goldstargamers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@teamgoldstargamers
• Facebookfacebook.com/goldstargamers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/goldstargamers
• Instagraminstagram.com/goldstargamers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Gold Star Gamers