Send It Foundation
Send It Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free multi-day outdoor adventure programs—including skiing, climbing, biking, backpacking, and surfing—to young adult cancer patients and survivors ages 21-40 across Northern California and Costa Rica.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersTruckee, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Send It Foundation does
Send It Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Truckee, California, founded by Jamie Schou in 2013 and operational since its inaugural trip in 2015. The organization provides free, multi-day outdoor adventure programs to young adult cancer patients and survivors ages 21-40, addressing social isolation, loss of identity, physical deconditioning, and mental health challenges associated with the adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer experience. Its portfolio includes six core programs: Ski/Snowboard at Palisades Tahoe, Climb & Pedal in Lake Tahoe, Backpack the Sierras, Mindfulness in Nature retreat, Electric Mountain Bike in Santa Cruz, and Luna Vida Costa Rica Adventure, all-inclusive of gear, lodging, food, guides, and instruction. The foundation also operates the Vy Nguyen Koller Grant Program ($100-$1,500) for self-directed adventures and an Alumni Leadership Program that trains past participants as trip leaders.
The business model is donation-driven with no participant fees for domestic programs. Revenue streams include individual donations processed via qgiv, corporate sponsorships and in-kind support (Tahoe Dave's, Palisades Tahoe, Santa Cruz Bicycles, Big Agnes, Alpenglow, Lahontan Community Foundation, Stanford AYA Cancer Program), merchandise sales through a Shopify storefront, and annual fundraising events (SENDtember, Spring Fling, Send Dip, Full Send Gala). The Costa Rica international program requires a $1,500 participant contribution to cover partial costs. Distribution is direct via a website application process, with participant acquisition driven by oncology clinic partnerships (notably Stanford AYA), peer testimonials, and social media communities on Instagram, Facebook, and X.
The organization has delivered 600+ lifetime adventure experiences across 70+ multi-day programs, with 517 cumulative experiences and 3,856 waves caught / 2,950 powder turns cited as current impact metrics on the homepage. A waitlist of 700+ cancer patients indicates sustained demand-supply imbalance. Operations are run by a small staff of six led by Executive Director Katie Schou (founder's sister) and Program Director Caroline Schou, with governance by a seven-member Board of Directors including oncology medical expertise. There is no proprietary technology stack, no app, no AI capabilities, and no disclosed funding rounds or institutional capital; the foundation operates entirely on charitable contributions.
Send It Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Send It Foundation
- Legal name
- Send It Foundation
- Website
- https://senditfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Send It Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free multi-day outdoor adventure programs—including skiing, climbing, biking, backpacking, and surfing—to young adult cancer patients and survivors ages 21-40 across Northern California and Costa Rica.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Send It Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outdoor Adventure Programs for Cancer Survivors
- NAICS
- Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Adventure Multi-Sport Camps & Skills Academies (THAAAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fitness & Performance Retreats (Bootcamps, Sports Conditioning) (THAGAMAH), Wellness Retreats & Immersions (Multi-day, Digital Detox, Mind-Body Programs) (THAJAHAB), Climbing & Via Ferrata Guiding / Instruction (THAAALAH)
Keywords
Where Send It Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Truckee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Send It Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting adventure programs for young adult cancer survivors. Processed online via qgiv platform.
- Corporate Sponsorships & Partnerships: Event sponsorship, in-kind support, giveback marketing, and financial contributions from corporate partners supporting programs.
- Merchandise Sales: Send It branded merchandise sold through send-it-brand.myshopify.com online store.
- Vy Nguyen Koller Grant Program: Grant program providing $100-$1,500 to empower young adult cancer survivors to pursue their own outdoor adventures. Funded through donations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | One-time | Domestic Adventure Programs - Free for Participants |
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time | International Programs (Costa Rica) - $1,500 |
| Other | One-time | Vy Nguyen Koller Grant - $100 to $1,500 |
| Other | One-time | Donation Tiers - $50 to $5,000 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Send It Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Send It Foundation provides free, multi-day outdoor adventure programs — including skiing, snowboarding, e-mountain biking, rock climbing, backpacking, surfing, and mindfulness retreats — for young adult cancer fighters and survivors ages 21-40. Programs include accommodations, meals, gear, instruction, guides, and activity expenses at no cost to domestic participants, supported by donations, corporate sponsorships, grants, and merchandise sales.
Product overview
Send It Foundation operates as a nonprofit offering a portfolio of multi-day outdoor adventure programs for young adult cancer fighters and survivors ages 21-40. The core programs include Ski/Snowboard Lake Tahoe, Climb & Pedal in Lake Tahoe, Backpack the Sierras, Mindfulness in Nature, Electric Mountain Bike in Santa Cruz, and Luna Vida Costa Rica Adventure. These programs are provided free of charge to participants and include accommodations, food, gear, guides, and instruction. Additionally, the Vy Nguyen Koller Grant enables survivors to pursue individual dream adventures, and the Alumni Leadership Program trains past participants to become trip leaders, creating a sustainable community model.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Vy Nguyen Koller Grant: A grant program designed to inspire and empower young adult cancer survivors to activate their dream adventures in the outdoors. Grant sizes range from $100 to $1,500.
- Fight Club Blog
Products and services
- Ski/Snowboard Lake Tahoe A 3-day skiing and snowboarding program at Palisades Tahoe Resort offering lessons for all skill levels, with additional activities including yoga, snow tubing, and hot tub sessions. Equipment, lift tickets, lessons, food, and lodging are provided free of charge to participants ages 21-40.
- Climb & Pedal in Lake Tahoe A 5-day adventure combining 2 days of rock climbing on Donner Pass and 2 days of electric mountain biking in the Sierra Mountains, with activities including swimming in Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake, hiking, and stargazing. All gear, food, and lodging are included at no cost to participants.
- Backpack the Sierras A 4-day/3-night backcountry adventure spanning 24 miles through Sierra meadows, pine forests, and granite peaks, with elevations ranging from 6,500 ft to nearly 10,000 ft. All equipment, food, and lodging are included.
- Mindfulness in Nature A 5-day/4-night mindfulness retreat at the Send It house in Lake Tahoe featuring morning yoga, meditation sessions, hiking in nature, and intentional reflection activities.
- Electric Mountain Bike in Santa Cruz A 3-day electric mountain biking adventure in Santa Cruz, California in partnership with Santa Cruz Bicycles, featuring full suspension pedal-assist e-MTBs on forested coastal trails.
- Luna Vida Costa Rica Adventure A 6-day/5-night international retreat in Costa Rica featuring white water rafting, hanging bridges, surfing, waterfall plunges, yoga, and glamping accommodations in a rainforest retreat center overlooking the Naranjo River. Participants contribute a $1,500 deposit plus flights; designed and operated by partner Luna Vida Adventures.
- Vy Nguyen Koller Grant A grant program designed to empower young adult cancer survivors to pursue dream outdoor adventures, with grants ranging from $100 to $1,500 plus non-financial resources based on financial need. Grants must be used within 12 months of approval.
- Alumni Leadership Program A program where past participants return as trained trip leaders, bringing insight, empathy, and trauma-informed support to create spaces for new participants.
Quantifiable outcome
- 600+ adventure experiences provided since 2015
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Send It Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Send It Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Send It Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Palisades Tahoe ResortcoreSki resort partner for all ski and snowboard programs. Provides venue for 3-day skiing/snowboarding experiences at Palisades Tahoe Resort with lift tickets, lessons, and instructor support included for participants.
- Tahoe Dave'scoreLongstanding partner providing all ski/snowboard equipment donations including boots, skis, poles, boards, helmets, and outerwear. Send It founder Jamie Schou worked at Tahoe Dave's before founding the organization. Partner since the beginning, providing equipment year after year to remove barriers to access for participants.
- Santa Cruz BicyclescoreE-mountain bike partner for Santa Cruz programs. Provides full suspension electric mountain bikes which are pedal assist for uphill climbs and smooth for downhills. Partner for 3-day electric mountain biking adventures on Santa Cruz trails.
- Luna Vida AdventurescoreInternational program partner for Costa Rica retreats. Designs and operates 6-day/5-night adventure retreats including white water rafting, surfing, hiking, yoga, and glamping in Costa Rican rainforest. Sends participants to senditfoundation.org/event/send-it-costa-rica/ for applications.
- Big AgnesmajorCamping and outdoor gear partner. Logo appears in partner section of homepage indicating ongoing partnership support.
- Alpenglow SportsmajorTahoe-based outdoor gear retailer partner. Logo appears in partner section supporting outdoor programs.
- Lahontan Community FoundationmajorCommunity foundation partner supporting regional programs. Logo appears in community partner section.
- Marin Outdoor AdventureminorRegional outdoor adventure organization partner based in Marin County, California.
- Martis CampminorCommunity partner providing support for programs. Logo appears in partner section.
- CarveminorCommunity partner listed in partner section.
- TMRFminorCommunity partner (The Martis Fund?). Logo appears in partner section.
- BrainchildminorCommunity partner logo appearing in partner section.
- AlpenglowminorPartner logo appears in program partners section.
- Stanford AYA Cancer ProgrammajorAdolescent and Young Adult cancer program at Stanford Children's Health. Connected Send It with early participants since 2014. Pam Simon instrumental in referrals and advocacy for AYA cancer patients.
- Foundry (Website Developer)minorMarketing agency in Reno, Nevada credited as website developer in footer. Website by Foundry.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Send It Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Project Koru: Nonprofit running multi-day outdoor adventure camps (surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, skiing) for young adult cancer survivors — same demographic, same free model, and very similar program structure to Send It.
- First Descents: Provides free outdoor adventure programs (kayaking, climbing, surfing, skiing) for young adult cancer survivors ages 18–39 — directly overlapping Send It's target demographic, program format, and free all-inclusive model.
- True North Treks: Provides free multi-day backpacking and canoeing trips for young adult cancer survivors and caregivers — directly overlapping mission, target age group, and outdoor-adventure retreat format.
- Epic Experience: Runs free week-long outdoor adventure camps in Colorado for adult cancer survivors and thrivers — comparable mission, free-program model, and adventure-sport portfolio (skiing, kayaking, hiking) targeting a slightly older demographic.
- Camp Mak-a-Dream: Free Montana-based camp for children, young adults, and families affected by cancer — directly overlapping on free residential camp format, cancer-survivor focus, and multi-activity outdoor programming.
- Reel Recovery: Runs free fly-fishing retreat programs for men recovering from cancer — same free all-inclusive wellness-retreat model, but specialized in a single outdoor activity and male-only audience.
Others
- Athletes for Hope: Connects professional athletes with charitable causes — adjacent to Send It's mission in that both leverage athletic/outdoor culture for social impact, but operates as a fundraising/matchmaker rather than a direct program provider.
Broad incumbents
- Hole in the Wall Gang Camp: Founded by Paul Newman, this is one of the most established serious-illness children's/young-adult camp nonprofits in the U.S. — broader medically-fragile population than Send It but same free residential camp + adventure programming model.
- Cancer Support Community: National nonprofit network providing social and emotional support for cancer survivors of all ages — comparable mission of psychosocial support for survivors but delivered via support groups, education, and health services rather than outdoor adventure.
- Livestrong Foundation: Large, established cancer-survivor support nonprofit serving all ages and demographics — much broader in scope than Send It but serves an overlapping audience and competes for philanthropic dollars in the cancer-survivor space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Send It Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceSend It Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Send It Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Send It Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Send It Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Send It Foundation
What does Send It Foundation do?
Send It Foundation provides free, multi-day outdoor adventure programs — including skiing, snowboarding, e-mountain biking, rock climbing, backpacking, surfing, and mindfulness retreats — for young adult cancer fighters and survivors ages 21-40. Programs include accommodations, meals, gear, instruction, guides, and activity expenses at no cost to domestic participants, supported by donations, corporate sponsorships, grants, and merchandise sales.
Is Send It Foundation a public or private company?
Send It Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Send It Foundation founded?
Send It Foundation was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Send It Foundation based?
Send It Foundation is headquartered in Truckee, United States, in the North America region.
How does Send It Foundation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships & Partnerships, merchandise Sales and vy Nguyen Koller Grant Program.
Who are Send It Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Project Koru, First Descents, True North Treks, Epic Experience, Camp Mak-a-Dream and Reel Recovery. Athletes for Hope is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Cancer Support Community and Livestrong Foundation.
Does Send It Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Send It Foundation.
What industry is Send It Foundation in?
Send It Foundation's product category is Outdoor Adventure Programs for Cancer Survivors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAKAM, Adventure Multi-Sport Camps & Skills Academies, with a secondary code of THAGAMAH, Fitness & Performance Retreats (Bootcamps, Sports Conditioning). Its NAICS code is 813212 and its SIC code is 7000.