What Cold Case Foundation does

Cold Case Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2014 and headquartered in American Fork, Utah. The foundation provides free investigative support, training, and victim advocacy services for cold case homicides, missing persons, unidentified remains, and serial sexual assault cases. Services are delivered at no cost to both the law enforcement agencies that request assistance and the victims' families served by those investigations. The organization operates with 1-10 employees and relies on a volunteer network that includes retired law enforcement professionals.

The foundation's core methodology is the Victimology Assessment Framework, a 10-filter analytical approach used to evaluate cases, complemented by the Victim Risk Continuum Assessment tool. In 2023, the organization entered a partnership with Veritone to integrate the iDEMS platform, an AI-powered digital evidence management system capable of processing multimodal data sources including CCTV, body-worn camera footage, and mobile device data. The foundation has expanded its product surface in 2025 with the launch of the Cold Case Foundation Global Academy (late 2025), civilian training programs, and student training programs, extending its curriculum beyond direct law enforcement case support.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations rather than service fees. Income streams include the Cold Case Allies recurring subscription program (with published tiers at $15, $50, and $100 per month), merchandise sales through the Cold Case Store, Cold Case Live memberships, and corporate and foundation partnerships. The organization has built brand equity through a Netflix docuseries and the public association with John E. Douglas, often credited as the founder of the FBI profiling unit, who serves in a Chairman Emeritus capacity.

Name

Cold Case Foundation

Legal name

Cold Case Foundation Inc.

Website

https://coldcasefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cold Case Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free investigative support, training, and victim advocacy for cold case homicides, missing persons, and serial sexual assault cases to law enforcement agencies and victims' families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Investigative and Forensic Consulting Services

NAICS

Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Victim Services & Witness Assistance (Justice System) (BPAIAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Litigation Support & Civil Investigations (Witness/Asset/Skip Tracing) (BPAKAEAE)

Keywords

• Cold case investigations
• Forensic consulting services
• Law enforcement training
• Victim advocacy support
• Investigative case review

Headquarters

HQ city

American Fork

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization relies on donations from individuals, including monthly recurring donations through the Cold Case Allies program and one-time gifts. Services are provided free of charge to law enforcement, victims, and victim's families.
2. Cold Case Allies Monthly Subscription: Monthly giving program with tiers at $15/month, $50/month, and $100/month, providing dependable funding for planning and sustaining cold case work.
3. Cold Case Store: E-commerce merchandise sales including branded gear and signed books from team members, with proceeds supporting the foundation's mission.
4. Cold Case Live Membership: Subscription-based membership providing access to podcasts, articles, blogs, web series, and the Cold Case Academy, supporting work on real cases.
5. Corporate and Foundation Partnerships: Contributions from corporations and other foundations as financial partners to support law enforcement, victims, and their families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cold Case Foundation provides free forensic investigation, case consultation, and victim support services to law enforcement agencies working on unsolved homicides, missing persons, unidentified remains, and sexual assault cases with serial characteristics. The organization also delivers training programs, subscription-based educational content through Cold Case Live, and customized training courses for civilians, students, and criminal justice professionals. Services are funded entirely through individual donations, corporate partnerships, merchandise sales, and subscription memberships.

Product overview

The Cold Case Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of services for solving cold cases. Their core offerings include free investigation and forensic consultation for law enforcement agencies working on unsolved homicides, missing persons, unidentified remains, and sexual assault cases with serial characteristics. The Foundation provides services through multiple channels: the main investigation and case support operations, the Cold Case Academy (launching late 2025) for training programs, Cold Case Live membership for ongoing educational content, The Vault for citizen tip submissions, and a victim support network. Services are provided at no cost to law enforcement, victims, or victim's families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cold Case Live: A membership platform offering podcasts, articles, blogs, web series, premium content, and Cold Case Academy for subscribers at coldcase.live
• Cold Case Foundation Global Academy
• Cold Case Allies
• Cold Case Store

Products and services

• Cold Case Investigation Services Free forensic work, investigation, and case consultation services for law enforcement agencies working on unsolved homicides, missing persons, unidentified remains, and rape/sexual assault cold cases with serial characteristics.
• Cold Case Live Membership Monthly membership providing access to podcasts, articles, blogs, web series, premium content, and the Cold Case Academy. Membership supports the foundation's work on real cases.
• Cold Case Foundation Global Academy Training academy offering live and on-demand comprehensive training programs in cold case resolution and public safety for public safety professionals, civilians, and students.
• In-Person Customized Training Programs Premier in-person training programs tailored to specific needs of law enforcement and criminal justice professionals, focusing on advanced investigative techniques, forensic advancements, and criminal profiling.
• Civilian Training Courses Accessible courses for civilians including Understanding Cold Case Investigations, Citizen Advocacy and Force Multiplication, Intro to Forensic Thinking, and Crime Awareness and Prevention Tools.
• Student Training Programs Career-focused training for students including Criminology Basics, Investigative Techniques for Young Leaders, Career Spotlights in Law Enforcement and Forensics, and Certificate Tracks for College and Career Readiness.
• Victim Support Services Resources and support for victims of violent crime and their families, including grief support, stress management, suicide prevention, and victim advocacy training.
• Investigative Support Services Professional resource team providing investigative support including forensic psychology, victim advocacy, search and recovery, legal consulting, and media/communications services.
• Cold Case Store Online store offering merchandise and signed books including 'Predators' by Greg Cooper to support forensic testing fundraising.
• Cold Case Application Process Structured case submission system for law enforcement agencies to request CCF assistance, including VICAP form submission and multi-agency taskforce services.

Quantifiable outcome

• National solve rate improvement through resource provision
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• VeritonecoreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic AI partnership where Veritone provides its AI-powered Investigative Digital Evidence Management System (iDEMS) to help CCF manage massive volumes of digital evidence across cold case investigations spanning decades. The platform helps organize scattered evidence from paper records, physical media, CCTV, body-worn cameras, and mobile devices to uncover new leads and connections.
• YouTubeminorOthersSocial media channel for CCF content and video sharing.
• Geoti.meminorOthersPartner link appearing in The Vault tip submission section.
• AJJ EntertainmentminorOthersEntertainment partner listed in The Vault partners section.
• Hunt A KillerminorOthersTrue crime entertainment company partner providing educational resources.
• National Promise Coalition (NPC)minorOthersNon-profit coalition partner supporting the organization's mission.
• NetflixflagshipOthersCCF participated in the Netflix documentary series 'The Confession Killer' examining the Henry Lee Lucas false confession case involving Deborah Sue Williamson. The organization worked with the victim's family to participate in this docuseries.
• Yellowstone County Sheriff's DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCF acknowledges and shares best practices from Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder's cold case unit model. This partnership demonstrates how CCF collaborates with agencies to develop effective, low-budget cold case programs that can be scaled to any department size.
• Marlys DJ JacksonminorOthersPartner listed in The Vault section, possibly providing media or entertainment services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DNA Doe Project: Nonprofit that uses forensic genetic genealogy to identify unknown deceased and resolve violent cold cases. Comparable as a volunteer-driven, technology-augmented cold case nonprofit with proven case outcomes.
• Vidocq Society: Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit of retired investigators offering pro bono assistance on unsolved homicides, sexual assaults, and missing persons. Closest peer in mission, volunteer model, and free-service delivery to law enforcement.
• Project Cold Case: Nonprofit focused on raising awareness of cold cases and supporting families of victims through a public database and awareness campaigns. Comparable mission and donor-supported nonprofit model.
• Black and Missing Foundation: Nonprofit focused on missing persons of color, providing awareness, family support, and law-enforcement liaison. Comparable nonprofit operating in the missing-persons / cold case adjacent space with media-driven donor model.
• The Doe Network: Volunteer nonprofit dedicated to helping solve cold cases of missing persons and unidentified remains, with an international case database. Comparable volunteer-driven cold case nonprofit with public-facing data tools.

Others

• Veritone: AI software provider whose iDEMS platform is integrated into CCF's investigative workflow. Functions as a technology partner and enabler; also serves law-enforcement customers directly as a vendor.
• Hunt A Killer: True-crime entertainment/immersive-experience company listed as a CCF partner for educational resources. Adjacent ecosystem participant leveraging true-crime audience interest rather than a direct service peer.
• NamUs (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System): U.S. Department of Justice program providing a national database and free forensic services (DNA, dental, anthropology) for missing and unidentified persons cases. Adjacent enabling program rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Magnet Forensics: Commercial digital forensics vendor providing evidence recovery and analysis tools widely used by law-enforcement agencies. Broader incumbent in the digital-evidence layer that CCF leverages via Veritone.
• Cellebrite: Established digital intelligence vendor for mobile device extraction and investigative analytics sold to law-enforcement agencies worldwide. Adjacent incumbent in the digital-evidence stack underpinning modern cold case work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCaYSPdXtA5wIBkHk-OKsOMg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cold-case-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Cold Case Foundation