Raising Harts

What Raising Harts does

Raising Harts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization founded in 2022 by Candice Hartford, a Mass General Hospital NICU nurse and mother of autistic twins. Headquartered at 1130 Washington St., Suite 2, Hanover, Massachusetts, it serves families with autistic and neurodiverse children across approximately 20 South Shore Massachusetts towns including Abington, Braintree, Cohasset, Hingham, Marshfield, Norwell, Plymouth, Quincy, and Weymouth. Programs include the Newly Diagnosed Mentoring Program (cohort-based, bi-monthly Zoom), Super Siblings expressive arts groups, Social Time Tuesdays 7+ ($270 for 8 weeks), Playtime for Littles ($120 for 6 weeks with music therapy), Third Thursdays with Adrien, Resting Harts caregiver yoga, Sensory Play Saturdays, Raising Authors speaker events, and the From our Harts scholarship fund. The Hanover Hub includes a sensory gym with swings, rock wall, and quiet area for in-person programming.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack: tax-deductible individual and corporate donations, a tiered annual gala (5th year in 2025) with platinum sponsorships, named corporate sponsorships (Planet Subaru, Sargent Child and Family Services, Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism), modest program fees for structured offerings, and a merchandise storefront selling branded apparel and accessories. The go-to-market is community-led: word-of-mouth, Instagram, Facebook, monthly email newsletter, and local event participation drive acquisition. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors (Lauren Davides as President, Taylor Patti as Vice President, Chris Egan CFA as Treasurer) with operational leadership including COO Annamaria Wenner, Director of Therapeutic Programs Adrien Asaff (LMHC), Director of Community Engagement Brie Casey (BCBA), Director of Grants & Sponsorship Kristin Armstrong (MPH), and Director of Programming and Social Media Sophia Bakas. The organization is now extending beyond direct family services with the Fall 2026 launch of the Raising Harts Certificate in Autism Support (6-hour paid training) and existing Neuroaffirming Training for Organizations offering, opening a B2B training vertical.

Name

Raising Harts

Legal name

Raising Harts

Website

https://raisingharts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Raising Harts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2022 that supports families with autistic and neurodiverse children on the South Shore of Massachusetts through mentorship, peer support groups, sensory-friendly programs, and caregiver wellness offerings anchored by its Hanover Hub.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Support Services for Autism and Neurodiverse Families

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (61171), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Early Intervention (Educational) (EDAKAKAB), Autism-Specific Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAA)

Keywords

• Autism community support
• Neurodiversity family services
• Parent mentorship programs
• Sensory-friendly programming
• Nonprofit autism resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanover

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. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting the organization's mission. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 88-2464335).
2. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling branded merchandise including apparel (sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats), accessories (beanies, pom pom hats, trucker hats), and decorative items (twine signs, heart blocks). Orders ship on Tuesdays or local pickup available.
3. Program Fees: Various programs charge fees including Social Time Tuesdays 7+ ($270 for 8 weeks), Playtime for Littles ($120 for 6 weeks), Sensory Play Saturday ($10/child or $20/family), and Coffee Meet-Ups (free with optional $20 childcare).
4. Gala and Event Sponsorships: Annual fundraising gala with corporate and individual sponsors supporting programs, resources, scholarships, support groups, and educational opportunities.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Ongoing sponsorships from companies like Planet Subaru, Sargent Child and Family Services, and Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism supporting the organization's mission and community reach.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Raising Harts operates a community-based nonprofit ecosystem of programs and services for families with autistic and neurodiverse children on the South Shore of Massachusetts. Core deliverables include peer parent mentorship (Newly Diagnosed Mentoring cohort), structured social and sensory programs for children (Social Time Tuesdays 7+, Playtime for Littles, Super Siblings, Sensory Play Saturday), caregiver wellness (Coffee Meet-Ups, Resting Harts yoga, Third Thursdays), professional neuroaffirming training (Raising Harts Certificate in Autism Support, Neuroaffirming Training for Organizations), annual fundraising events (Annual Gala, Evan's Run), and a branded online merchandise shop.

Product overview

Raising Harts is a non-profit community organization (501(c)(3)) offering a diverse portfolio of support programs and services for families with autistic and neurodiverse children on the South Shore of Massachusetts. Rather than a unified software product, the organization provides a comprehensive ecosystem of person-to-person programs including: Parent Support Groups (coffee meetups, evening support groups, Dad's Nights), the Newly Diagnosed Mentoring Program (cohort-based support for families within 2 years of diagnosis), Super Siblings Groups (expressive arts groups for siblings of autistic children), Social Time Tuesdays 7+ (social activities for older children), Playtime for Littles (music therapy playgroups for young children), Third Thursdays with Adrien (evening conversation groups), Resting Harts caregiver yoga, Sensory Play Saturdays, Evan's Run memorial fundraiser, and Raising Authors author events. The organization also offers professional training programs including the Raising Harts Certificate in Autism Support (6-hour in-person training launching Fall 2026) and Neuroaffirming Training for Organizations. Additional services include the From our Harts Scholarships, crisis help resources, newsletters, annual gala, and an online merchandise shop. All programs take place primarily at the organization's Hub in Hanover, MA, which features a sensory gym, and extend throughout the South Shore community including Abington, Boston, Braintree, Canton, Cohasset, Dedham, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Milton, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Quincy, Rockland, Scituate, and Weymouth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Parent Support Groups Tuesday morning coffee meetups, Thursday evening support groups, and regular Dad's Nights providing a judgment-free space for parents of autistic and neurodiverse children to connect and share experiences.
• Newly Diagnosed Mentoring Program Cohort-based mentoring program for parents whose children were diagnosed within the last two years, featuring six bi-monthly Zoom meetings, group support, hub connection, and one-on-one mentor pairing for an additional three months.
• Super Siblings Groups Expressive-arts groups for children who have autistic siblings, led by a licensed mental health professional who is herself a sibling of someone with special needs, building connections, relationships, and shared feelings among participants.
• Social Time Tuesdays 7+ An 8-week program priced at $270 providing social and musical activities for children ages 7 and up; drop-in not drop-off, with siblings welcome.
• Playtime for Littles A 6-week facilitated playgroup for children six and under, featuring a special guest music therapist, priced at $120.
• Third Thursdays with Adrien Free monthly evening conversation group run by Adrien, a Licensed Mental Health Professional, with a new topic each month; available in-person or via Zoom.
• Resting Harts: Caregiver Yoga Monthly caregiver yoga on the last Sunday of each month, designed to support caregiver wellness for parents of neurodiverse children.
• Sensory Play Saturday Community-building sensory events held at CheerFactor Hanover for children of all abilities including those with ASD and sensory needs; features games, obstacles, and music; priced at $10/child or $20/family.
• Evan's Run Annual memorial run in partnership with Norwell High School honoring Evan Henry; 26th annual event with a kids' run at 8:30am and adults' run at 9:30am.
• Raising Authors Special evening events featuring authors from the autism community — such as Carrie Cariello — offering reflections, insight, humor, and connection for families; example event priced at $40 per person.
• Raising Harts Certificate in Autism Support A 6-hour in-person training launching Fall 2026 that builds awareness, understanding, and practical strategies for engaging respectfully with autistic individuals; completion unlocks exclusive access to a resource page.
• Neuroaffirming Training for Organizations Custom-priced training for companies, agencies, schools, and community organizations that covers recognition of neurodivergent strengths, effective communication strategies, and inclusive space creation; typically delivered under a multi-year contract.
• From our Harts Scholarships Scholarship program that underwrites access to surfing, swim lessons, and camps for selected families who face financial barriers to programming.
• Merchandise Shop Online storefront selling Raising Harts branded apparel (quarter-zips, cropped sweatshirts, Neurodiversity hoodie, Autism Acceptance Tees), accessories (beanies, pom pom hat, trucker hat), and handcrafted decorative items (Infinity Heart Block, Twine LOVE Sign, Infinity Twine Sign, Autism Patch); all proceeds benefit the organization. Ships every Tuesday with local pickup available.
• Annual Gala The Annual Raising Harts Gala — a major fundraising event featuring platinum and other sponsorship levels whose proceeds support programs, resources, scholarships, support groups, and community events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves thousands of families across 20+ communities in South Shore Massachusetts
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Cohasset Police DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPD leads in inclusivity by wearing Autism Acceptance patches in April and equipping cruisers with sensory kits. Raising Harts sells official CPD Autism Acceptance patches with proceeds benefiting the organization.
• South Shore Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber member organization building community connections and local business relationships in the South Shore region.
• CheerFactor HanoverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner venue for Sensory Play Saturday events. Provides space for community-building events for children with sensory needs and ASD.
• Perkins School for the BlindminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue host for Early Connections Conference, a community event for families with children who are blind, deafblind, or low-vision. Raising Harts promotes this educational opportunity to its community.
• Rustic MarlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHandcrafted goods vendor creating Infinity Twine Signs, LOVE Signs, and Heart Blocks sold through Raising Harts shop. All proceeds benefit the organization.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AANE (Asperger/Autism Network): New England-based nonprofit providing education, support groups, and community programs for autistic individuals and their families. Most directly comparable peer because of shared regional New England footprint, parent/family-targeted programming, and community-led support model.
• Autism Alliance of Massachusetts: Massachusetts autism support organization providing family support, education, advocacy, and community programs. Comparable as a family-focused, geographically overlapping (MA) autism nonprofit competing for similar donors and grant funding.
• Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism: Massachusetts-based autism nonprofit raising funds through events and partnerships (including the Flutie 5K that Raising Harts participates in). Directly comparable as a regional autism family-support nonprofit with similar mission, donation/sponsorship revenue model, and community-event activation.

Broad incumbents

• National Autism Association: National nonprofit focused on autism support, education, and advocacy with programs for families and individuals on the spectrum. Operates at scale as a broader incumbent in family-support and educational programming for autism.
• Autism Society of America: Largest national grassroots autism organization supporting individuals and families through education, advocacy, and local affiliate support. Established incumbent that competes with smaller regional players for donor attention and credentialing in the autism services space.
• Northeast Arc: Large Massachusetts-based nonprofit serving people with intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities through direct services, family support, and advocacy. Broader incumbent operating in the same regional disability-services space with overlapping family-support programming.
• The Arc of Massachusetts: State chapter of The Arc, providing advocacy, family support, and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities including autism. Broader incumbent with overlapping family-support mission and Massachusetts footprint.
• Easterseals Massachusetts: Massachusetts affiliate of Easterseals providing disability services including autism-specific programs, family support, and community engagement. Larger established incumbent with broader disability portfolio and overlapping service categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/raisingharts
• Instagraminstagram.com/raisingharts143
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/raisingharts143

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

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Raising Harts