Vital Life Foundation

What Vital Life Foundation does

Vital Life Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 2008 by Marquis Companies and Consonus Healthcare to support seniors and staff in long-term care. Headquartered in Milwaukie, Oregon, the foundation operates five core programs — Backpack to School (since 2008, distributing 24,400+ backpacks across 14+ states), Elevated Wishes (in partnership with Wish of a Lifetime from AARP, with 2,000+ wishes granted), Journey of Heroes (114+ veterans honored since 2013), Spirit Club (employee giving with over $1 million contributed and 40%+ staff participation, fully matched by employers), and Vital Volunteers (volunteer matching up to $1,500/year). It runs an annual fundraising event portfolio led by BridgeTown Bash, which set a record in 2025 by raising $790,000 and has cumulatively generated $4,048,000 since 2012, alongside Scale the Strat (largest national team, benefiting the American Lung Association), Spirit of '45 (with Dream Flights), Cupid Crew (10,000+ roses delivered in 2025 across 11 states), and Laughter is the Best Medicine.

The foundation is structurally embedded in the Marquis/Consonus senior healthcare ecosystem of 100+ campuses, which provides built-in program distribution and a captive employee donor base. It distributes funds through a board-overseen grant process to a network of charitable partners including Meals on Wheels People, Friends of the Children, American Heart Association, Alzheimer's Association, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, and others. In 2025, the foundation distributed $708,786 to charitable partners; cumulative contributions since 2008 exceed $5 million and over 100,000 seniors have been served. Revenue is generated entirely through donations, employee giving (with employer matching), corporate sponsorships (60+ sponsors), and event-based fundraising; no commercial products, software platforms, or pricing models are applicable. Governance is provided by a 15-person board chaired by Phil Fogg Jr., with Johannah Senn serving as Executive Director.

Name

Vital Life Foundation

Legal name

Vital Life Foundation

Website

https://vitallifefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vital Life Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports seniors and staff in long-term care through programs like Backpack to School, Elevated Wishes, and Journey of Heroes, funded by employee giving, corporate sponsors, and fundraising events, and embedded in the Marquis Companies and Consonus Healthcare ecosystem across 14+ states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Senior Care Charitable Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Senior care programs
• Charitable foundation services
• Employee giving programs
• Fundraising event services
• Veteran recognition programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukie

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. Charitable Donations: The foundation receives monetary donations from individual donors, corporations, and community members. In 2025, distributed $708,786 to charitable partners and initiatives.
2. Employee Giving (Spirit Club): Marquis, Consonus, and AgeRight employees contribute through payroll deductions. Over 40% of staff participate, with more than $1 million contributed by employees. Donations are matched by the companies, doubling impact.
3. Annual Fundraising Events: BridgeTown Bash is the largest annual fundraiser, having raised $4,048,000 since 2012. In 2025, the event set a record raising $790,000. Additional events include Scale the Strat and other community fundraising activities.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support. The foundation maintains a network of 60+ sponsors including healthcare companies, financial institutions, and professional services firms.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Vital Life Foundation is a non-profit charitable foundation that runs senior care programs and fundraising events. Its core offerings include the Backpack to School program (school supplies for children of senior care employees), Elevated Wishes (senior wish fulfillment with Wish of a Lifetime from AARP), Journey of Heroes (veteran recognition trips to Washington D.C.), Spirit Club (employee giving with company matching), Vital Volunteers (volunteer matching up to $1,500/year), and annual fundraising events such as BridgeTown Bash, Cupid Crew, Scale the Strat, Spirit of '45, and Laughter is the Best Medicine.

Product overview

Vital Life Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization offering a portfolio of senior care programs and fundraising events. The core programs include Backpack to School (school supplies for children of senior care employees), Elevated Wishes (senior wish fulfillment), Journey of Heroes (veteran recognition trips), Spirit Club (employee giving with matching), and Vital Volunteers (volunteer matching). Annual fundraising events include BridgeTown Bash, Cupid Crew, Scale the Strat, Spirit of '45, and Laughter is the Best Medicine. These programs create meaning and purpose for seniors and staff in senior care while raising funds for charitable partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Backpack to School: Program providing essential school supplies to children in grades K-6 whose parents work in senior healthcare communities. Since 2008, has distributed over 25,000 backpacks across 14+ states.
• Elevated Wishes
• Journey of Heroes
• Spirit Club
• Vital Volunteers

Products and services

• Backpack to School Program providing fully-equipped backpacks with school supplies to children in grades K-6 whose parents work in senior healthcare communities across 14+ states, supporting over 100 senior care campuses and creating intergenerational connections between seniors and students.
• Elevated Wishes Program in partnership with Wish of a Lifetime from AARP that fulfills once-in-a-lifetime experiences for seniors, reconnecting loved ones, fulfilling lifelong dreams, commemorating service, and renewing passions.
• Journey of Heroes Initiative honoring senior U.S. military veterans by providing a meaningful 4-day community experience in Washington D.C. visiting national landmarks, with all travel, tours, meals, and accommodations provided.
• Spirit Club Monthly giving program for Marquis, Consonus, and AgeRight employees where donations are matched by the company, with over 40% staff participation and over $1 million in employee contributions.
• Vital Volunteers Program that rewards employees, residents, and groups with matching gifts for donations of time and money up to $1,500 per year, supporting their volunteer work with various charitable organizations.
• BridgeTown Bash Annual flagship fundraiser featuring Portland-inspired themes held at scenic Willamette Valley venues, having raised over $4 million since 2012 to support Vital Life Foundation programs.
• Cupid Crew Annual Valentine's Day initiative delivering roses, handmade cards, and meaningful conversations to seniors in senior care communities across multiple states, in partnership with Wish of a Lifetime from AARP.
• Scale the Strat Team participation in climbing 108 floors (1,455 steps) of the Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas to raise funds for the American Lung Association, with Vital Life Foundation forming the largest team in the nation.
• Spirit of '45 Annual event honoring veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and beyond with complimentary flights in restored WWII-era Boeing Stearman biplanes, in partnership with Dream Flights.
• Laughter is the Best Medicine Decade-long comedy fundraiser featuring local and nationally-known comedians that raised over $230,000 to support programs bringing joy to those living and working in senior care.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $5 million contributed to charitable organizations since 2008
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Wish of a Lifetime from AARPflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Flagship partnership to fulfill seniors' lifelong dreams through Elevated Wishes program. Also jointly delivers Journey of Heroes (veteran trips to DC) and Cupid Crew (Valentine's Day rose deliveries). Wish of a Lifetime was founded in 2008 by Jeremy Bloom in honor of his grandmother.
• Marquis CompaniesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Founder and primary corporate sponsor of Vital Life Foundation. Marquis is a senior care company that created the foundation to support organizations and programs for seniors and staff in long-term care.
• Consonus HealthcareflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Co-founder alongside Marquis. Consonus Healthcare provides pharmacy and rehabilitation services to the senior population and is the sister company of Marquis.
• Friends of the ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVital Life Foundation recognized at $100,000-$500,000 donor level in Friends of the Children's 2021 National Impact Report. Partnership supports mentorship programs and fights generational poverty.
• Meals on Wheels PeoplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partner providing meals to seniors. Foundation supports their mission through grants and volunteer engagement.
• Dream FlightscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide flights in vintage WWII-era Boeing Stearman biplanes to senior veterans through Spirit of '45 events, honoring their service.
• Ronald McDonald House CharitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partner supported by Vital Life Foundation grants and volunteer programs.
• American Heart AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVital Life Foundation supports heart health initiatives; senior residents participate in knitting red hats for babies born during American Heart Month.
• American Lung AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScale the Strat event benefits American Lung Association. Vital Life Foundation forms the largest team nationally (900+ participants) climbing 108 floors of Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas.
• Alzheimer's AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partner supported through foundation grants to advance Alzheimer's care and research.
• American Cancer SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partner supported through foundation grants for cancer awareness and support programs.
• Albertina KerrminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partner supported through foundation grants for community programs.
• Brian Grant FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partner supported through foundation grants for Parkinson's disease support.
• Leukemia and Lymphoma SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partner supported through foundation grants for blood cancer research and patient support.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Heart Association: Charitable partner of Vital Life Foundation through senior knitting initiatives. Comparable as a major national health nonprofit with corporate-driven fundraising and a focus on community engagement events.
• AARP Foundation: Larger national nonprofit focused on seniors, connected to Vital Life Foundation through the Wish of a Lifetime from AARP partnership. Comparable mission scope (senior wellbeing, food security, isolation) but at much greater scale and breadth.
• Alzheimer's Association: Minor charitable partner supported by Vital Life Foundation grants. Comparable as a large disease-focused nonprofit whose work intersects with the senior-care populations Vital Life Foundation serves through its campus network.
• American Lung Association: Beneficiary of Vital Life Foundation's Scale the Strat event, which fields the nation's largest team. Comparable as a large health-focused nonprofit running signature fundraising events that mobilize corporate teams and individual participants.

Direct peers

• Dream Flights: Partner organization that co-delivers Vital Life Foundation's Spirit of '45 veteran tribute flights. Highly comparable as a small nonprofit running veteran-recognition experiential programs funded through corporate sponsorship and donations.
• Friends of the Children: Recognized Vital Life Foundation charitable partner at the $100K–$500K donor tier; comparable as a youth-focused nonprofit with which the foundation shares grantmaking relationships and a similar Pacific Northwest operational base.
• Wish of a Lifetime from AARP: Flagship strategic partner of Vital Life Foundation and direct peer in senior wish fulfillment and veteran recognition (Cupid Crew, Journey of Heroes). Operates an almost identical mission of granting meaningful experiences to older adults, making it the most directly comparable nonprofit.
• Meals on Wheels People: Charitable partner funded by Vital Life Foundation that delivers nutrition and human connection to seniors in the Pacific Northwest. Comparable as a regional nonprofit supporting aging adults with measurable senior-outcome programs and donor-driven funding.

Others

• LeadingAge: Industry association that awarded Vital Life Foundation its 2017 Community Service Award. Comparable as the trade body connecting nonprofit senior care providers, but functions as an ecosystem enabler rather than a direct program operator.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Minor charitable partner funded by Vital Life Foundation. Comparable as a household-name nonprofit built on corporate partnerships and grassroots donations, though focused on families with sick children rather than seniors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/VLFoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUkbu-z0UsWXAzG0QbJvQWA
• Facebookfacebook.com/VitalLifeAMarquisAndConsonusFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vital-life-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Vital Life Foundation