RAY OF HOPE CANCER FOUNDATION

What RAY OF HOPE CANCER FOUNDATION does

Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation, operating under the brand "Ray of Hope Colorado," is a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 by Dr. Schrier after a 17-year-old cancer patient, Raymond Wentz, faced homelessness during treatment. The foundation delivers direct financial assistance and mental health support to Colorado cancer patients and their families, with no intermediaries between donors and beneficiaries. Its core offerings include the Essential Needs Grant ($500 one-time), the Lori Jones Children's Pediatric Grant ($1,000 one-time annual), the Mental Health Support Grant (up to $600 for counseling sessions), the Sauer Subsidy ($500 monthly to seven grantees in greatest hardship), and The Uplift Project (breast prostheses, mastectomy bras, and wigs for uninsured patients).

The foundation operates a grant-application pipeline vetted by a volunteer Grant Review Committee, with medical verification required from healthcare providers before disbursement. Programs are delivered free of charge to eligible Colorado residents across all 64 state counties. Revenue is generated entirely through charitable contributions — one-time donations, recurring monthly giving, tribute donations, and corporate/community sponsorships — processed via PledgeIt, Colorado Gives, and DoJiggy. To date, the foundation has supported more than 11,000 patients with over $7 million in cumulative financial assistance.

Operational scale is intentionally lean (1-10 employees, mailing address at 2921 W. 38th Ave, #196, Denver). Distribution is anchored by referral partnerships with the dominant Colorado oncology ecosystem — CU Cancer Center, Kaiser Permanente, UCHealth, Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, Red Rocks Medical Center — supplemented by corporate sponsors (Ent Credit Union, Cargill, First Bank, DaBella, Anova Care) and grassroots community fundraisers (Willa's Wheels, Living the Dream Brewing events). The 2025 impact dashboard reports continued active operations across all program lines.

Name

RAY OF HOPE CANCER FOUNDATION

Legal name

Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation

Website

https://rayofhopecolorado.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation is a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2002, that provides financial grants, mental health counseling, and post-mastectomy supplies to Colorado cancer patients and families across all 64 state counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Cancer Patient Support

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

Keywords

• Cancer patient assistance
• Nonprofit financial grants
• Mental health counseling
• Charitable foundation services
• Community cancer support

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: The foundation raises funds through individual one-time and monthly donations, tribute donations in honor of individuals, and community fundraiser campaigns.
2. Corporate and Community Sponsorships: Local businesses and organizations serve as community partners, providing sponsorships, donations, and support through community events.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides direct financial grants and mental health support services to Colorado cancer patients undergoing treatment. The foundation operates programs including the Essential Needs Grant ($500), Pediatric Grant ($1,000), Mental Health Support Grant (up to $600), Sauer Subsidy ($500/month), and The Uplift Project for post-mastectomy supplies. Patients apply directly through the foundation's website, with grants reviewed monthly by a committee and paid directly to approved applicants.

Product overview

Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation operates as a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of financial and emotional support programs for Colorado cancer patients. The core offerings include the Essential Needs Grant (housing/utilities/groceries/transportation assistance), Mental Health Support Grant (licensed counseling sessions), Lori Jones Children's Pediatric Grant (support for families of children with cancer), the Sauer Subsidy (additional monthly awards for hardship cases), The Uplift Project (breast prostheses and wigs for uninsured patients), and Financial Tips & Guidebooks (educational resources from Family Reach). These programs are designed to remove financial and emotional barriers to cancer treatment, serving patients across 64 Colorado counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sauer Subsidy: A memorial fund honoring Mallory Anne Sauer, providing $500 monthly to seven Ray of Hope grantees facing the greatest hardship.
• The Uplift Project
• Lori Jones Children's Pediatric Grant Program

Products and services

• Essential Needs Grant One-time $500 financial award to eligible Colorado cancer patients undergoing active treatment, providing direct assistance for housing, utilities, groceries, and transportation.
• Mental Health Support Grant Grant providing up to $600 in counseling sessions with licensed therapists for cancer patients, family members, and caregivers affected by diagnosis, disease progression, or loss.
• Lori Jones Children's Pediatric Grant Program One-time $1,000 annual grant awarded to the legal guardian of a minor with cancer, designed to ease everyday expenses during treatment.
• The Sauer Subsidy Monthly grant program providing an additional $500 to seven Ray of Hope grantees facing the greatest hardship, honoring Mallory Anne Sauer's legacy.
• The Uplift Project Program providing breast cancer patients without insurance coverage access to breast prostheses, mastectomy bras, and wigs after mastectomy, regardless of insurance or legal status.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11,000+ patients supported since 2002
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Colorado Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner sharing Ray of Hope's mission of supporting patients in need. Connects cancer patients to essential financial relief and mental health resources.
• Cancer League of ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner working alongside Ray of Hope to support cancer patients across Colorado.
• Kaiser Permanente ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner powering the Community Resources directory. Helps connect cancer patients to social health resources.
• Rocky Mountain Cancer CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing cancer treatment and referring patients to Ray of Hope's financial assistance programs.
• UCHealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner serving Colorado cancer patients, connecting them to Ray of Hope's support services.
• Ent Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial partner providing financial tips and guidebooks for cancer patients. Ent has supported Colorado nonprofits for 65 years and is the Family Hope partner showcasing pediatric grant efforts.
• Red Rocks Medical CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner connecting cancer patients to Ray of Hope's financial and mental health support programs.
• Anova CareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business partner sponsoring and supporting Ray of Hope's community efforts.
• Big Bill's NY PizzaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business partner supporting their community through Ray of Hope.
• Christmas CommandosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal nonprofit partner stepping up to support neighbors through Ray of Hope.
• DaBellaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business partner sponsoring community support initiatives.
• ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare partner supporting Ray of Hope's pediatric grant program and community efforts.
• Ink Inertia TattoominorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business partner contributing to community support efforts.
• JGM Properties LLCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business partner supporting community initiatives.
• Joanne Ficke Cancer FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCancer-focused foundation partner supporting patients in Colorado.
• Living the Dream BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal brewery partner supporting community fundraising efforts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CancerCare: National nonprofit providing free professional support services and financial assistance to people affected by cancer, including counseling and co-payment/fund assistance. Directly comparable to Ray of Hope's combined financial-plus-mental-health model.
• Cancer Support Community: Global nonprofit delivering free emotional and social support, including counseling and support groups, to anyone impacted by cancer. Closely matches Ray of Hope's Mental Health Support Grant arm.
• The Pink Fund: National nonprofit providing financial assistance to breast cancer patients in active treatment for cost-of-living expenses. Direct overlap with Ray of Hope's Uplift Project (prostheses, bras, wigs) for breast cancer patients.
• Family Reach: National nonprofit focused on removing financial barriers to cancer treatment by covering everyday expenses (housing, utilities, food, transportation). Family Reach's Financial Tips & Guidebooks are even distributed through Ray of Hope's website, indicating close programmatic overlap.
• Patient Advocate Foundation: National nonprofit providing case management, financial aid funds, and direct financial assistance to patients with chronic and life-threatening illnesses including cancer. Directly comparable mission around financial relief for cancer patients.

Broad incumbents

• Susan G. Komen: One of the largest breast cancer nonprofits, funding research, advocacy, and direct patient support including financial assistance for treatment-related costs. Broad incumbent in the breast cancer patient-support niche where Ray of Hope's Uplift Project operates.
• American Cancer Society: Largest US cancer nonprofit offering research, patient lodging (Hope Lodges), transportation (Road to Recovery), and 24/7 support. Competes for the same Colorado donors and corporate sponsors as Ray of Hope, while offering significantly broader services.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Large national health organization dedicated to blood cancer research, education, and patient support, including direct financial assistance. Operates at much greater scale than Ray of Hope but serves overlapping patient populations and donor pools.

Regional players

• Cancer League of Colorado: Colorado-based nonprofit supporting cancer research, education, and patient services; listed as an active partner of Ray of Hope. Operates in the same Colorado market with overlapping mission, comparable in scope but with a stronger emphasis on research funding.
• Joanne Ficke Cancer Foundation: Colorado-based cancer-focused foundation listed among Ray of Hope's community partners. Direct regional peer providing cancer patient financial support within the same geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ray-of-hope-cancer-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 →

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