Jeff's Place
Jeff's Place is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit children's bereavement center in Framingham, Massachusetts, providing free grief support groups, counseling, and crisis intervention to grieving children ages 3-18, young adults, caregivers, and families across MetroWest Massachusetts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersFramingham, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Jeff's Place does
Jeff's Place is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit children's bereavement center headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts, founded in 2010 by Dr. Jennifer Kaplan following the death of her brother Jeff. The organization provides free grief support services to grieving children ages 3-18, young adults aged 18-25, caregivers, and families across the MetroWest Massachusetts region, delivered through age-appropriate peer support groups, individual and family counseling, crisis intervention, and community-based professional development. Services are facilitated by licensed clinicians paired with extensively trained volunteer facilitators, and distributed in-person at the 281 Pleasant Street facility, via telehealth, and through school- and community-partnership referrals. The organization also developed the Inventory of Youth Adaptation to Loss (IYAL), the first standardized assessment tool for measuring outcomes in children's grief support, and partnered with Alex Cares for Grieving Youth to distribute it to 40 bereavement providers globally.
The business model is mission-funded rather than revenue-generating: services are provided at no cost to participants, and operating support is sourced from individual donations, foundation grants (Cummings Foundation, New York Life Foundation, Sudbury Foundation, The Parmenter Foundation, Foundation for MetroWest, among others), and annual fundraising events including the Spring Benefit, Memory Walk & Move, and Hope Grows Here campaign. Reported grant receipts grew from $95,662 in the first half of 2020 to $273,363 in 2021. IYAL is currently distributed to global providers at no charge, functioning as a research and standards-building platform rather than a licensed revenue stream. The organization is privately funded by philanthropy, with no equity, parent, or controlling entity, and is governed by a Board of Directors. Leadership transitioned in October 2023 when founder Jenny Kaplan moved to an advisory role and Melissa Kennedy Panto became Executive Director, with Kimberlee Schumacher subsequently stepping in as Interim Executive Director as of January 2026.
Jeff's Place firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Jeff's Place
- Legal name
- Jeff's Place
- Website
- https://jeffsplace.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Jeff's Place is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit children's bereavement center in Framingham, Massachusetts, providing free grief support groups, counseling, and crisis intervention to grieving children ages 3-18, young adults, caregivers, and families across MetroWest Massachusetts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Jeff's Place industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Children's Bereavement Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL)
Keywords
Where Jeff's Place is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Framingham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Jeff's Place business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Individual Contributions: Charitable donations from individuals, families, and community members supporting grief support services. All programs are provided free of charge to participants.
- Foundation Grants: Grant funding from local and regional foundations. In 2021, received $273,363 in grants from multiple organizations including Cummings Foundation ($55,000 total), Sudbury Foundation ($45,000), The Parmenter Foundation ($33,963), New York Life Foundation ($25,000), Haley Cremer Foundation ($20,000), Foundation for MetroWest ($15,000), Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation ($14,400), Boston Scientific ($10,000), MetroWest Health Foundation ($10,000), and others.
- Special Events and Fundraising: Annual events including Spring Benefit, Memory Walk & Move, Hope Grows Here campaign. The 2024 Memory Walk raised over $29,000. Hope Grows Here 2021 goal was $160,000 representing annual budget for gala and Memory Walk.
- Licensing Royalties (IYAL): IYAL tool partnered with Alex Cares to make the assessment available to 40 children's bereavement providers worldwide at no charge, with knowledge from data informing program development and policy.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free grief support services for all eligible participants |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Jeff's Place product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Jeff's Place provides free grief support services including facilitated peer support groups, individual and family counseling, crisis intervention, and professional educational trainings to grieving children ages 3-18, young adults aged 18-25, caregivers, and families in the MetroWest Massachusetts region. All groups are co-facilitated by a licensed mental health clinician and an extensively trained volunteer facilitator. The organization also developed the IYAL assessment tool, a proprietary outcome measurement instrument now used by 40 children's bereavement providers globally.
Product overview
Jeff's Place is a nonprofit children's bereavement center offering a comprehensive suite of grief support services. The organization provides free support groups for children ages 3 to 18, young adults aged 18-25, and their caregivers who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or other loved one. Core services include facilitated peer support groups led by licensed clinicians and trained volunteers, individual and family counseling, crisis intervention, and professional educational trainings for schools and community organizations. Specialized programs include the Grief MOVES Initiative (physical movement and mindfulness), Substance Use Loss Group, Grandparent Support Group, and Caregiver of Young Adults Group. The organization also developed the Inventory of Youth Adaptation to Loss (IYAL), a research-based assessment tool for measuring grief support outcomes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Inventory of Youth Adaptation to Loss (IYAL): A comprehensive, strength-based standardized assessment tool designed to measure outcomes associated with grief support services for youth ages 9-17, developed by Dr. Jennifer Kaplan as her doctoral thesis.
Products and services
- Grief Support Groups Free support groups for grieving children, teens, young adults, families, and individuals who have experienced the death of a loved one. Groups are facilitated by both a licensed mental health clinician and an extensively trained volunteer facilitator, held weekly evenings with pizza dinner included.
- Individual and Family Counseling Individual counseling for children requiring additional clinical support, along with family counseling services and crisis intervention.
- Professional Educational Trainings Educational workshops on childhood bereavement provided primarily in schools and community organizations to help teachers and counselors support students dealing with loss.
- Grief MOVES Initiative Physical movement and mindfulness program for grieving children and teens, incorporating movement expertise, dance movement therapy, and Fitbit activity tracking to help children process grief through physical activity.
- Substance Use Loss Group Free support group for children, teens, and caregivers who have experienced the death of a loved one due to substance use. Held twice monthly with pizza dinner and facilitated by a clinician and grief-informed volunteer.
- Grandparent Support Group Virtual daytime support group designed for grandparents whose grandchild experienced the death of a parent or sibling.
- Caregiver of Young Adults Group In-person monthly support group for caregivers of individuals aged 18-30 who have experienced loss, recognizing that grief support should continue beyond childhood.
- Inventory of Youth Adaptation to Loss (IYAL) First and only comprehensive, strength-based standardized tool designed to measure outcomes associated with grief support services. Measures changes in youth's communication, social support, sense of connection, and social and emotional experiences of loss and resilience. Developed by Dr. Jennifer Kaplan as her doctoral thesis.
- Virtual Grief Support Groups Telehealth-based grief support services provided during COVID-19 pandemic and for adults coping with COVID-19 loss, including a 12-week closed support group conducted via telehealth.
- Community Offerings Variety of programming, trainings, and workshops for the greater community including facilitator training, school-based programs, and community education on grief and loss.
Quantifiable outcome
- IYAL partnership with 40 children's bereavement providers globally through Alex Cares collaboration
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Jeff's Place
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Jeff's Place technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Jeff's Place partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- SADOD (Support After a Death by Overdose)minorSponsor of 3rd Annual Finding Support in Grief Conference. Provides community connection for those who have experienced loss of a loved one to substance use-related causes through hope, healing, support, and shared experiences.
- Theracopia Therapeutic Wellness CenterminorSelected Jeff's Place as their benefactor for September 2024. Donated gift cards, art supplies, sporting equipment, and snacks. Community partnership supporting grieving families through in-kind contributions.
- The Sun Will Rise FoundationcoreCollaboration to offer free substance use loss support groups for children, teens, and their caregivers twice monthly. Addresses stigma and shame experienced by families who have lost a loved one to substance use, providing specialized grief support alongside general bereavement services.
- National Alliance for Children's Grief (NACG)minorNational partnership for Children's Grief Awareness Month and Flip the Script campaign. Monthly social media campaign raising awareness of childhood grief prevalence and equipping public with simple strategies to support grieving children, teens, and adults.
- Alex Cares for Grieving YouthcorePartnership with Alex Cares to make the IYAL assessment tool available at no charge to 40 children's bereavement providers globally. Joint initiative to conduct groundbreaking global research study on youth bereavement, with aggregate data informing program development, policy, and standards of care for youth experiencing traumatic loss.
- Campus BoundminorIndependent college counseling company offering free college counseling services to students associated with Jeff's Place. Supports students navigating the daunting road to college, particularly important for families dealing with grief and pandemic challenges.
- The Parmenter FoundationcoreUnderwriter of $13,000 grant for virtual grief support group for adults coping with COVID-19 loss. Partner in COVID-19 crisis response grant program providing hope and building resiliency in MetroWest community. Long-standing significant partner supporting operations, outdoor space, and programming.
- AdvocatescoreHuman services provider administering the 12-week virtual grief support group for adults. Provides referral pathways and programmatic support for grief services serving people facing developmental, mental health, or life challenges in the Framingham area.
- William James CollegecoreResearch collaboration with founder Jenny Kaplan for national research initiative to strengthen use of rigorous outcome measurements for advocacy in childhood bereavement. Academic partnership supporting IYAL development and validation.
- Framingham Rotary ClubminorCommunity partner helping make Jeff's Place Holiday Marketplace possible. Support for children who have lost a parent to choose gifts for surviving caregivers.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Jeff's Place competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Judi's House: Denver-based nonprofit providing free, evidence-based grief support for children, teens, and young adults, alongside research and training. Peer due to similar age range, free-service model, and research-driven approach through its JAG Institute.
- The Compassionate Friends: National nonprofit offering peer support groups for families who have experienced the death of a child, sibling, or grandchild. Comparable as a community-based grief support organization, though it focuses on bereaved adults supporting bereaved children.
- Bereaved Parents of the USA: National nonprofit offering self-help support groups and resources for bereaved parents and families. Comparable in community-based, peer-facilitated grief support, though it focuses on bereaved parents rather than bereaved children.
- Experience Camps: National nonprofit providing free, year-round bereavement programs for children and teens who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver. Closely comparable in mission, free-service model, and youth-focused grief support.
- Comfort Zone Camp: National nonprofit running free bereavement camps and programs for grieving children and teens ages 7-17. Comparable in target population (grieving youth), free-service delivery, and nationwide partnership-driven operating model.
- The Dougy Center: The National Center for Grieving Children & Families, based in Portland, Oregon. It is the most widely recognized peer in the children's bereavement field, offering free peer-support groups, training, and resources for grieving children and families—directly comparable to Jeff's Place's core service model.
- Kids Konnected: Nonprofit providing free friendship, grief education, and support for children and teens who have lost a parent or sibling. Directly comparable in target population and peer-support model.
Broad incumbents
- Hospice Foundation of America: National nonprofit providing education, programs, and resources on bereavement, caregiving, and end-of-life issues. Comparable as a broader bereavement-support organization, though it operates at a national scale across all ages and is not focused exclusively on children.
Regional players
- Elijah's Place: Faith-based children's bereavement ministry serving communities in the Central Texas region. Comparable in mission (free grief support for children), though it operates in a different geography and faith-based delivery model.
Others
- National Alliance for Children's Grief (NACG): National membership and advocacy organization that supports providers of children's bereavement services. Jeff's Place is a NACG Proud Member and partners with NACG on Children's Grief Awareness Month, making it a peer ecosystem partner rather than a service competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Jeff's Place social profiles
Digital presenceJeff's Place compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Jeff's Place financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Jeff's Place leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Jeff's Place funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
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Jeff's Place 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 Jeff's Place
What does Jeff's Place do?
Jeff's Place provides free grief support services including facilitated peer support groups, individual and family counseling, crisis intervention, and professional educational trainings to grieving children ages 3-18, young adults aged 18-25, caregivers, and families in the MetroWest Massachusetts region. All groups are co-facilitated by a licensed mental health clinician and an extensively trained volunteer facilitator. The organization also developed the IYAL assessment tool, a proprietary outcome measurement instrument now used by 40 children's bereavement providers globally.
Is Jeff's Place a public or private company?
Jeff's Place is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Jeff's Place founded?
Jeff's Place was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Jeff's Place based?
Jeff's Place is headquartered in Framingham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Jeff's Place make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Individual Contributions are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants, special Events and Fundraising and licensing Royalties (IYAL).
Who are Jeff's Place's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Judi's House, The Compassionate Friends, Bereaved Parents of the USA, Experience Camps, Comfort Zone Camp, The Dougy Center and Kids Konnected. Hospice Foundation of America is listed as a broad incumbent. Elijah's Place is listed as a regional player. National Alliance for Children's Grief (NACG) is listed as an others.
Does Jeff's Place have an API?
No public API is recorded for Jeff's Place.
What industry is Jeff's Place in?
Jeff's Place's product category is Children's Bereavement Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAH, Mental Health & Crisis Support Services, with a secondary code of HLADAHAL, Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent). Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8000.