What Project Koru does

Project Koru is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2007 and headquartered in Hood River, Oregon, that delivers free outdoor adventure and wellness programs to young adult (AYA) cancer survivors aged 19-39. Its core program, Camp Koru, is a weeklong immersive experience offered at two physical locations — a surf camp in Maui, Hawaii and a snow camp in Mt. Hood, Oregon — supplemented by Koru Communities virtual programming (launched in March 2020 during COVID-19) and the Farman Fellows 6-month leadership development program (currently on hold). Programs are built on the Koru Continuum, a cyclical framework that brings new survivors into the community, supports their healing, and empowers them to become program leaders, underpinned by a 600+ survivor alumni "Ohana" network. The organization is survivor-led: Executive Director Beth Peck is herself a Camp Koru alumna and stage 3 triple negative breast cancer survivor, and co-founders Tonia Farman and Garrett Zallen remain connected to the mission (Farman on the Board of Directors).

The business model is donation-driven and event-driven. Primary revenue streams include individual donations (campaigns fund the $2,000 per-camper program cost), corporate/partnership sponsorships at defined tiers (Copper $2,500 to Platinum $20,000), the annual Kiteboard 4 Cancer (KB4C) fundraising event in Michigan (which raised over $235,000 in its 13th edition), merchandise sales through the Shop Koru e-commerce store ($9-$68 SKUs), and Koru Life peer-to-peer fundraising via Rally Up. Operating costs are kept low through a lean staff (1-10 employees), a virtual operating model, and the use of commodity SaaS tools (Airtable, MailChimp, Rally Up, ddock.gives). Go-to-market is community-led: survivor referrals, oncology hospital introductions, content marketing and newsletters, and the signature KB4C event drive both donor and participant acquisition. Credibility is reinforced by a 4-star Charity Navigator rating and GuideStar Transparency Seal.

Financial information is not publicly disclosed, and the organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors with no parent company, private equity, or venture capital involvement. The market is North America (primarily U.S.), and the organization has served 600+ survivors across 60+ camps and programs since inception, with a reported waitlist of 450+ survivors as of late 2020/early 2021 indicating demand materially exceeds current capacity.

Name

Project Koru

Legal name

Project Koru

Website

https://projectkoru.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Project Koru is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free weeklong outdoor adventure camps and virtual community programs, primarily surf and snow camps, to young adult cancer survivors aged 19-39, funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and its signature Kiteboard 4 Cancer event.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Young Adult Cancer Survivorship Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor Recreation & Adventure Programs (Trips, Climbing, Rentals) (EDALAIAG), Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)

Keywords

• Young adult cancer survivorship
• Outdoor adventure therapy
• Nonprofit wellness programs
• Survivor-led community support
• Cancer survivor camp programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hood River

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Primary revenue stream. Individual donors contribute to support free programs for survivors. Donations cover the $2,000 cost per camper to send a survivor to Camp Koru. Donations are accepted through an online portal.
2. Corporate/Partnership Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor at tiers including Platinum ($20,000), Gold ($10,000), Silver ($5,000), and Copper ($2,500). In-kind donations of equipment, supplies, and other resources are also accepted.
3. Kiteboard 4 Cancer Event: KB4C is North America's largest amateur kiteboarding event, serving as both a fundraising vehicle and awareness generator. The Michigan event raised over $235,000 in its 13th annual edition.
4. Merchandise Sales (Shop Koru): The organization operates an e-commerce store selling branded merchandise including apparel, drinkware, accessories, and pet items. Price points range from $9 (stickers) to $68 (cropped sweatshirt).
5. Koru Life Peer Fundraising: A community fundraising initiative where individuals create and host events around their personal passions (running, cycling, snowboarding, kiteboarding, etc.) to raise funds. Uses the Rally Up platform. Suggested minimum goal of $2,000 per fundraiser.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Project Koru delivers free outdoor adventure and wellness programs — including weeklong surf camps in Maui and snow camps in Mt. Hood — along with virtual community programming and leadership development, designed specifically for young adult cancer survivors ages 19-39. The programs combine surfing, outdoor activities, mindfulness, creative expression, and peer-led community building, structured around the Koru Continuum framework. All participation is free for survivors; costs (approximately $2,000 per camper) are covered through donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Project Koru is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of survivorship programs centered on adventure, community, and wellness for young adult cancer survivors. The core program is Camp Koru, a free week-long ocean/beach-based experience in Maui that teaches surfing and outdoor activities. Koru Communities provides virtual programming for remote participation. Farman Fellows is a 6-month leadership development program for alumni. Koru Life is a supporter-driven fundraising initiative, and Kiteboard 4 Cancer is the organization's flagship fundraising event. The Shop Koru merchandise store supports fundraising efforts. All programs follow the Koru Continuum framework—a cyclical healing model that brings in new survivors, supports their healing, and empowers them to lead future programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Camp Koru Free week-long outdoor, adventure, wellness, and community programs for young adult cancer survivors ages 19-39. Surf camp is held in Maui, Hawaii, and snow camp in Mt. Hood, Oregon. Each session accommodates 10-15 survivors and includes surf or snow instruction, vulnerability work, creative expression, yoga, mindfulness, chef-prepared meals, and peer connection in an alcohol- and substance-free setting.
• Koru Communities Virtual programming for cancer survivors providing online community, wellness activities, and peer support to address challenges like body image, social isolation, and sense of purpose. Includes single-session and multi-session courses led by survivor volunteers covering activities such as fitness, song therapy, and outdoor adventure guidance, delivered via Zoom.
• Farman Fellows A 6-month structured leadership development program for 10-15 Camp Koru alumni per cohort, focusing on purpose, identity, community, cohort projects, and post-fellowship planning. Currently on hold indefinitely as the organization focuses on other critical initiatives.
• Koru Life A community fundraising initiative that allows supporters to create and host events around their personal passions (running, cycling, yoga, kayaking, snowboarding, hiking, kiteboarding) to raise funds for cancer survivors. Operates on the Rally Up platform with a suggested minimum fundraising goal of $2,000 per participant.
• Kiteboard 4 Cancer (KB4C) North America's largest amateur kiteboarding event, held annually in Michigan as Project Koru's flagship fundraising and awareness vehicle. The 13th annual edition raised over $235,000 and unites athletes, supporters, and cancer survivors to fund the organization's survivorship programs.
• Shop Koru Online merchandise store selling branded apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, tanks, long sleeves, crewnecks), drinkware (mugs, tumblers), accessories (stickers, notebooks, phone cases, aprons), and pet items. Price points range from $9 (stickers) to $68 (cropped sweatshirt).

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of campers said their Camp Koru community is an important part of their support system post-camp.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Travel Scholarship Partner OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with other organizations to provide travel scholarships for eligible Camp Koru participants who cannot afford airfare to the camp locations in Maui, Hawaii and Mt. Hood, Oregon. Since participants are only responsible for their own travel, these scholarship partnerships are essential to program accessibility.
• Rally UpsupportingTechnology or IntegrationDigital fundraising platform used by Project Koru for all Koru Life peer-to-peer fundraising activities. Provides participants with unique fundraising pages that can be customized for their events.
• AirtablesupportingTechnology or IntegrationOnline application platform used for Camp Koru participant intake. Prospective participants apply through an Airtable form linked on the organization's website.
• MailChimpsupportingTechnology or IntegrationEmail marketing platform used to manage the Project Koru supporter newsletter and mailing list at mailchi.mp/projectkoru.org/project-koru-supporters.
• Columbia Gorge Wind & Water AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal outdoor sports association in the Columbia River Gorge region. Logo appears on the 'Meet Who Fuels Us' page as a supporter of the Project Koru mission.
• Frijoles LocosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business supporter. Logo appears on the 'Meet Who Fuels Us' page as a community partner.
• Go CampminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner. Logo appears on the 'Meet Who Fuels Us' page.
• Storyteller SoulminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner. Logo appears on the 'Meet Who Fuels Us' page.
• Vanlife CollectiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner supporting the mission. Logo appears on the 'Meet Who Fuels Us' page.
• Partner Cancer Charities (Historical)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiteboard 4 Cancer originally evolved from fundraising for partner cancer charities. The original KB4C event was designed to fundraise for partner cancer charities. As Project Koru developed its own programs, the relationship with partner charities evolved.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Broad incumbents

• Young Survival Coalition: Young Survival Coalition is a larger, established nonprofit serving young adults affected by breast cancer through advocacy, education, and community programs. Operates broadly in the AYA cancer space with overlapping beneficiaries but does not specialize in outdoor adventure.

Direct peers

• Epic Experience: Epic Experience empowers adult cancer survivors through free outdoor adventure programming (camping, hiking, skiing, rafting) in Colorado. Comparable mission, comparable niche, comparable nonprofit funding model.
• First Descents: First Descents provides free outdoor adventure experiences (surfing, kayaking, climbing, skiing) for young adults impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions. Nearly identical mission to Project Koru, with a larger program footprint across multiple US locations, making it the closest direct peer in the AYA cancer adventure space.
• True North Treks: True North Treks provides young adult cancer survivors with free multi-day outdoor adventure and wellness trips focused on mindfulness, connection, and physical activity. Direct peer in the AYA cancer outdoor adventure space.
• Send It Foundation: Send It Foundation provides outdoor adventures and experiences for young adults (ages 21-40) affected by cancer, including skiing, snowboarding, and mountain biking trips. Direct peer in the niche of adventure-based AYA cancer survivorship programs.
• Camp Mak-A-Dream: Camp Mak-A-Dream is a free camp in Montana serving children, young adults, and families affected by cancer. Highly comparable resident camp model focused on the cancer community with adaptive outdoor programs.

Emerging players

• Athletes for Cancer: Athletes for Cancer (formerly Kite4Cancer, originally a Tonia Farman-adjacent concept) runs outdoor adventure camps and surf retreats for young adult cancer survivors. Comparable adventure-based AYA cancer model with strong mission overlap.
• Imerman Angels: Imerman Angels provides one-on-one peer mentorship for cancer survivors, including a specific AYA track. Co-listed with Project Koru on cancer survivorship resource lists. Differs in delivery model (peer mentorship vs. adventure camps) but serves the same AYA cancer survivor community.
• Lacuna Loft: Lacuna Loft provides online support, community, and resources for young adult cancer survivors and caregivers. Co-listed with Project Koru on resource lists, with strong overlap in the AYA survivor audience but a digital rather than adventure-based program model.
• Elephants and Tea: Elephants and Tea is a media and support organization for the AYA cancer community. Co-listed with Project Koru on survivorship resources. Overlaps in audience (AYA cancer survivors) but focuses on content and community rather than adventure programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/ProjectKoruOrg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProjectKoruOrg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/projectkoru

Compliance3 records

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 Project Koru