American Childhood Cancer Organization

What American Childhood Cancer Organization does

The American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 1970 in Washington, D.C. by parents of children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer. It is the nation's oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated to childhood cancer, providing free educational resources, emotional and practical support, advocacy, and awareness programming to families affected by pediatric cancer, survivors, bereaved families, and siblings. Headquartered in Kensington, Maryland with 1-10 employees, ACCO operates a portfolio that includes a Digital Library of downloadable publications on topics such as DIPG, radiation therapy, clinical trials, and chemotherapy; support programs including Hero Beads, 24-hour online peer support, and bereavement resources; and signature awareness campaigns such as Go Gold, PJammin, and Gold Ribbon Heroes. The organization sustains a national footprint through 35 Founding Hope local chapters and connects globally as the sole U.S. member of Childhood Cancer International (188 member organizations across 98 countries).

ACCO's underlying technology footprint is intentionally light: the organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform and instead leverages standard web and digital communication tools (acco.org, the ACCO Store, the Bonfire marketplace, email bulletins, and social media) to distribute resources, register events, and process donations. Its product surface is dominated by content (books, guides, journals, and digital library assets) and by community-based programs rather than software infrastructure. The organization's intellectual property is anchored in nine registered trademarks — including Go Gold, PJammin, Hero Beads, Founding Hope, Why Not Kids, Gold Ribbon Heroes, The Grassroots, Amazon Goes Gold, and the "Because Kids Can't Fight Cancer Alone" tagline — that protect its brand-driven advocacy campaigns.

ACCO's business model is donation-driven. All programs and services are provided free of charge to families, with funding sourced from individual donations, foundation grants, corporate contributions (Amazon, JelSert, Microsoft, Servier, La Roche-Posay, PalmCo, Kendra Scott, and others), merchandise sales through the ACCO Store and Bonfire, signature events including the Go Gold Gala and Go Gold The Run, and CARS vehicle donations. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market approach combines community-led grassroots activation through local chapters, event-driven fundraising and awareness, and direct-to-consumer digital engagement via the website, digital library, and 24-hour online peer support channel. Strategic distribution is reinforced by hospital partnerships for resource distribution and corporate-partner activations across consumer brands.

Name

American Childhood Cancer Organization

Legal name

American Childhood Cancer Organization

Website

https://acco.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

American Childhood Cancer Organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 that provides free educational resources, emotional and practical support, and advocacy for families affected by childhood cancer, serving over 500,000 families through 35 local chapters nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Beltsville

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: Private donations from individuals supporting the childhood cancer cause. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity funded entirely by private donations.
2. Foundation Grants: Funding received from private foundations to support programs and services.
3. Corporate Contributions: Support from corporate partners including Amazon, JelSert, Microsoft, Servier, and others through donations, cause marketing, and product partnerships.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of awareness merchandise including Go Gold® shirts, apparel, and branded items through the ACCO Store and Bonfire marketplace.
5. Signature Events: Revenue generated from signature events including Go Gold® Gala, corporate events, and community fundraising events.
6. Vehicle Donations (CARS): Donations of vehicles through the CARS program provide additional revenue stream.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

ACCO is a 501(c)(3) public charity that provides free educational resources, peer support, bereavement support, advocacy, and awareness campaigns for children with cancer, survivors, and their families. Its core offerings include a Digital Library of downloadable books and guides covering diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship topics; signature programs such as Hero Beads, Go Gold, PJammin, and Gold Ribbon Heroes; 24-hour online peer support; and a network of 35 Founding Hope local chapters providing on-the-ground assistance across the United States.

Product overview

The American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) is a nonprofit charitable organization that is not structured as a traditional product company but rather offers a portfolio of free educational resources, support programs, advocacy initiatives, and awareness campaigns for children with cancer, survivors, and their families. The core offerings include a Digital Library of downloadable books covering DIPG, radiation therapy, clinical trials, quality of life, and chemotherapy; named publications such as Understanding the Journey: A Parent's Guide to DIPG, A Parent's Guide to Enhancing the Quality of Life in Children with Cancer, A Kid's Guide to Radiation Therapy, Eva Meets Dr Mac, Chemo Craziness & Comfort, Marvelous Marleigh, A Parent's Guide to Clinical Trials, and the Dance In The Rain Teen Journal; support programs including Hero Beads, The First 48 Campaign, Gold Ribbon Heroes, 24-Hour Online Peer Support, Bereavement Support, and the Founding Hope grassroots chapter program with 35 local affiliates; and awareness/fundraising campaigns such as PJammin, Go Gold, the Awareness Tree, and Corporate Partnerships. ACCO also operates an online ACCO Store selling merchandise to raise funds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Founding Hope: A program that empowers individuals to turn compassion into action by establishing local chapters to provide on-the-ground emotional, financial, and other critical support to families coping with childhood cancer.
• Gold Ribbon Heroes
• PJammin
• Go Gold
• The First 48 Hours
• Why Not Kids

Products and services

• Digital Library Online repository of downloadable and printable books and educational resources for children with cancer, their families, and caregivers, covering topics such as DIPG, radiation therapy, clinical trials, chemotherapy, education, and quality of life.
• Understanding the Journey: A Parent's Guide to DIPG A 368-page comprehensive guide providing medical information and emotional guidance for families navigating a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) diagnosis, written by pediatric neuro-oncology experts and parents of children with DIPG.
• A Parent's Guide to Enhancing the Quality of Life in Children with Cancer A 261-page resource focused on improving quality of life through pain and symptom management, enhanced communication skills, and practical ways to help children with cancer.
• A Kid's Guide to Radiation Therapy A bilingual (Spanish and English) book written by a Girl Scout Ambassador for pediatric patients and their families, providing medically accurate information about radiation therapy.
• Eva Meets Dr Mac A children's picture book series in adventure-packed verse, aimed at breaking down barriers children and families face when hearing a childhood cancer diagnosis, inspired by a real child's battle.
• Chemo, Craziness, & Comfort A 200-page illustrated resource providing practical advice for children diagnosed with cancer, using warm and funny illustrations to help children make sense of cancer and its treatment, suitable for ages 6 to 12.
• Marvelous Marleigh A 31-page photo book for preschoolers ages 1 to 5 diagnosed with cancer, using real-life photos to help children identify with treatments and hospital stays.
• A Parent's Guide to Clinical Trials A concise reference guide explaining clinical trials, defining their process and structure in easy-to-understand language for parents.
• Dance In The Rain Teen Journal A private journal tailored for teenagers diagnosed with cancer, providing a space to write out thoughts and feelings throughout their cancer journey.
• Cozy Cares Journal A keepsake journal providing a way for children to document their cancer journey, also serving as a cherished treasure for family and friends to experience the journey through a child's words.
• Color-Me Cozy Coloring Book A downloadable and printable coloring book designed to entertain and support children with cancer, created by ACCO Creative Director Anya Broverman-Wray.
• You Can't Do That In A Hospital! A 64-page memory-maker, doodle-pad, story-storer, brain-engager, boredom-stopper designed especially for sick and hospitalized children.
• Hero Beads A program that provides beads to track each step of a child's cancer treatment journey, serving as a tangible reminder of milestones achieved throughout treatment. Distributed through pediatric oncology hospitals.
• 24-Hour Online Peer Support Round-the-clock online peer support for families and individuals affected by childhood cancer, providing community connection and emotional support.
• Bereavement Support

Quantifiable outcome

• 500,000+ families supported since 1970
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ErimishminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Erimish began partnership in September 2020 with custom bracelets inspired by childhood cancer warriors. Committed to donating 50% of each Warrior design bracelet or stack sold to ACCO.
• Matilda JaneminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Matilda Jane Platinum released GO GOLD dress celebrating bravery of girls battling cancer. Designed by two cancer moms with gold fabric and ribbon. Proceeds from dress sales benefit ACCO.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018ACCO is sole US member of Childhood Cancer International (CCI), which partners with WHO on the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. ACCO CEO Ruth Hoffman serves as President of CCI and represents families on WHO initiatives addressing global childhood cancer disparities.
• JelSertcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2008Since 2008, JelSert has provided pediatric cancer hospitals with continuous supply of Fla-Vor-Ice freezer pops in decorated freezers, bringing joy to children in treatment. JelSert simultaneously promotes the Gold Ribbon Awareness Program.
• AmazoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerACCO and Amazon collaboration celebrating children diagnosed with cancer who demonstrate interest in STEM. During September (Childhood Cancer Awareness Month), Amazon delivers smiles to 30 children in 30 days through STEM-related immersion experiences. Amazon also makes donations to pediatric oncology programs on behalf of each child. Amazon selected ACCO ambassadors like Pryce for promotional content.
• MicrosoftcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMicrosoft hosted a PJammin® for Kids with Cancer fundraising event in San Antonio & Austin, Texas as a corporate team building activity for a great cause. Microsoft engages employees in childhood cancer awareness.
• YouCaringminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYouCaring's Compassionate Crowdfunding™ program helps families facing financial hardship due to childhood cancer develop personalized online fundraising campaigns with no additional fees.
• La Roche-PosayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLa Roche-Posay donates emotional communication kits with emotive tools designed to help kids express their feelings during treatment. Also hosts a donations button on their website for customers to donate directly to ACCO.
• PalmCominorGTM or Marketing PartnerFor every customer that registers with PALMCo and its sister company Columbia Utilities, PALMCo pledges a $1.00 donation monthly to support ACCO's mission. Customers join the fight against childhood cancer by paying their utility bill.
• Goorin BrosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoorin Bros. Hats Company donated a selection of high-quality hats for children and teens fighting childhood cancer. Discount code 'FREE HAT' available at the ACCO store.
• The Loft Entertainment CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCelebrity marketing and brand acceleration company. In September 2018, The Loft + ACCO challenged key influencers in an online campaign to donate #OneGoodDollar to raise awareness and program funding.
• Servier PharmaceuticalscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerServier Pharmaceuticals supports expansion of ACCO's Why Not Kids and Founding Hope Programs. Their drug Oncaspar® (pegaspargase) is essential to treating pediatric ALL. Servier's support provides resources to execute essential programs addressing critical needs of children being treated for cancer.
• ManiologyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership bringing exclusive nail stamping plates designed with childhood cancer awareness. Every purchase supports ACCO and the battle against childhood cancer.
• Kendra ScottminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKendra Scott supports kids with cancer through donations and awareness campaigns.
• St. Jude Children's Research HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. ACCO CEO Ruth Hoffman represents CCI on the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer as President of Childhood Cancer International.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: A leading US childhood cancer nonprofit funding research and providing family support, with a comparably broad platform of grants, awareness campaigns, and family resources targeting the same beneficiary population as ACCO.
• Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research: A childhood cancer nonprofit emphasizing research funding and youth-led advocacy, targeting the same family and corporate donor pool as ACCO.
• CureSearch for Children's Cancer: A US childhood cancer organization funding research and providing educational and support resources to families, closely overlapping with ACCO's mission and program mix.
• St. Baldrick's Foundation: A childhood cancer research and family support nonprofit built around signature head-shaving fundraising events, directly competing with ACCO for donor mindshare in the pediatric cancer space.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation: While broader in scope, Make-A-Wish serves many of the same critically-ill children and corporate sponsors, with similar cause-marketing and event-driven fundraising mechanics.
• Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation: A long-standing childhood cancer family support organization providing peer connection, information, and advocacy, with a local-chapter model that mirrors ACCO's Founding Hope approach.
• National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: A childhood cancer nonprofit combining research funding with family support and awareness campaigns, competing for similar donors, partners, and family audiences as ACCO.
• Starlight Children's Foundation: Delivers programs, entertainment, and support to hospitalized children, overlapping with ACCO's pediatric hospital distribution channel (e.g., emotional communication kits) and corporate partner base.
• National Children's Cancer Society: Provides financial assistance, educational resources, and survivor support to children with cancer and their families, directly overlapping with ACCO's family support programs.

Broad incumbents

• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: A much larger incumbent in blood cancer, including childhood leukemia, that competes with ACCO for corporate partnerships, donor attention, and patient-family reach across pediatric oncology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/americanchildhoodcancer
• Instagraminstagram.com/acco_cancer
• Xx.com/accorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-childhood-cancer-organization

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American Childhood Cancer Organization