The Open to Hope Foundation
The Open to Hope Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a free digital grief-support platform that publishes articles, podcasts, TV episodes, books, and an annual conference for bereaved individuals, supported by donations and serving users across 26 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersPalo Alto, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Open to Hope Foundation does
The Open to Hope Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a free, digital grief-support platform built around a content management system that publishes articles written by 530+ contributing authors, distributes a weekly podcast and an award-winning television series (266+ episodes), and surfaces a curated library of 159+ ebooks. The platform, headquartered at 1385 Dana Avenue in Palo Alto, California, is structured as an online community where bereaved individuals and grief professionals share personal stories of loss and recovery, with content organized by loss type (child, spouse, parent, sibling, pet, military, suicide loss, children and teens). Underlying technology is conventional web CMS plus multi-platform media distribution (Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Books); there are no disclosed APIs, mobile apps, proprietary AI features, or SDKs.
The foundation's business model is entirely donation-funded: 100% of contributions are directed to the mission and no money changes hands with contributing writers. All content — articles, podcasts, TV episodes, books, and conference materials — is provided free of charge, and there is no subscription, paywall, or fee-for-service component. The go-to-market motion is community-led and relies on referral inflows from peer organizations (TAPS, Compassionate Friends, ADEC, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation, Soaring Spirits, Helping Parents Heal) plus earned media (Today Show appearances, Forbes Nonprofit Council membership) to reach the bereaved across 26 countries.
Governance and operations are tightly held by the Horsley family: Dr. Gloria Horsley (Founder), Dr. Heidi Horsley (Executive Director and Columbia University adjunct on the UN Global Mental Health Task Force), Rebecca Horsley Bara (Board President), and Heather Horsley (VP of Digital Technology) occupy the core leadership roles. An additional Board and National Advisory Council incorporate figures from hospice media (Joy S. Berger, Editor in Chief of Hospice & Palliative Care Today), military survivor advocacy (Bonnie Carroll, founder of TAPS), suicide prevention (Eric Hipple, former Detroit Lions quarterback), and broadcasting (Rick Haskins, former EVP/GM at Lifetime Television and The CW).
The Open to Hope Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Open to Hope Foundation
- Legal name
- Open to Hope, Inc.
- Website
- https://opentohope.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Open to Hope Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a free digital grief-support platform that publishes articles, podcasts, TV episodes, books, and an annual conference for bereaved individuals, supported by donations and serving users across 26 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Open to Hope Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Grief Support Services
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL)
Keywords
Where The Open to Hope Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palo Alto
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Open to Hope Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501c3 nonprofit organization, 100% of donations are used to further the mission of helping people find hope after loss. No money changes hands between Open to Hope and contributing writers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free access to all resources |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
The Open to Hope Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Open to Hope Foundation operates a free, donation-funded digital platform that provides multi-format grief-support content — articles, podcasts, TV episodes, books, and an annual online conference — for bereaved individuals. Content is produced by 530+ contributing authors and licensed psychologists, and the foundation has reached over 2,000,000 people in 26 countries with no fees charged to users or payments made to writers.
Product overview
The Open to Hope Foundation operates a digital content platform consisting of multiple integrated products: a central website serving as an online grief support community, a podcast series featuring audio interviews, an award-winning television series with video episodes, a library of over 7,000 written articles, a curated books section, an annual/given conference featuring grief experts, and the Dating Doctors program for widowed individuals. The core offering is the online platform that enables visitors to read, listen, watch, and share stories of hope and compassion related to grief and loss recovery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Dating Doctors: A sub-brand focused on dating advice for seniors, operated under the Open to Hope umbrella. Features Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Frank Powers, and promotes the book 'Open to Love: The Secrets of Senior Dating'.
Products and services
- Open to Hope Website A non-profit online community platform at opentohope.com offering inspirational stories of loss, hope and recovery where visitors can read articles, listen to podcasts, watch television episodes, and share their stories of hope and compassion. Free access to all resources, designed for bereaved individuals seeking grief support and community.
- Open to Hope Podcast An audio podcast series hosted by Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley featuring interviews with guests sharing inspiring stories about recovery from loss, available on Apple Podcasts and other platforms. Free subscription access.
- Open to Hope TV An award-winning television series hosted by Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley, featuring episodes that introduce viewers to people who have suffered loss and found hope again. Available on YouTube and the Open to Hope website.
- Open to Hope Articles A library of over 7,000 articles written by Open to Hope authors covering topics related to grief, loss, and recovery across categories including death of a child, spouse, parent, sibling, military, pet loss, and self care. Free to read.
- Open to Hope Books A curated list of books written by distinguished Open to Hope authors and contributors, featuring grief support literature and resources. Distributed through Amazon and other book retailers.
- Open to Hope Conference An annual online conference featuring presentations from grief experts and professionals, including sessions from ADEC conferences, focused on helping people find hope and healing after loss. Free online access.
- Dating Doctors A specialized program co-hosted by Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Frank Powers focused on helping widowed individuals navigate dating and find love after loss. Includes associated content and book promotions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Helped over 2,000,000 people in 26 countries find hope after loss
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Open to Hope Foundation
Customer profileSegments8 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Open to Hope Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Open to Hope Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC)coreADEC offers educational opportunities through annual conferences, courses, workshops, certification programs, and their publication The Forum. Open to Hope partners with ADEC for the annual conference, featuring presentations from their experts.
- The Compassionate FriendscoreOrganization providing highly personal comfort, hope, and support to every family experiencing the death of a son, daughter, brother, sister, or grandchild. Offers support to bereaved parents, siblings, and grandparents.
- Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)coreNational Veterans Service Organization providing peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, and crisis intervention for those affected by death of a loved one serving in the armed forces. Has assisted over 90,000 surviving family members.
- Elisabeth Kübler-Ross FoundationcoreVolunteer-based organization inspired by psychiatrist and hospice pioneer Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. Works to embrace all of life including death and further her mission and vision.
- Helping Parents HealcoreNon-profit organization dedicated to assisting bereaved parents through support and resources. Aspires to help individuals become 'Shining Light Parents' - shifting from emotional heaviness to hopefulness and greater peace of mind.
- Soaring Spirits Loss FoundationcoreNon-profit providing resources and peer support to people grieving the loss of a loved one, with special focus on widowed individuals. Creator of Camp Widow program.
- Widows ConnectionminorNational non-profit organization dedicated to widows helping widows rebuild their lives through unique programs created by widows for widows, addressing serious challenges and risks widows face.
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)minorThe collective voice representing public and private sectors concerned with drunk, drugged and distracted driving and their deadly threat on highways.
- Children's Brain Tumor FoundationminorOrganization improving treatment, quality of life and long-term outlook for children and families affected by a brain or spinal cord tumor.
- International Loss and Grief Organizations NetworkcorePartner organizations offering support, understanding, encouragement and hope to bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents after the death of their children, siblings, or grandchildren.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Open to Hope Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Modern Loss: Digital community and content platform for millennial grief support featuring stories, articles, and events. Directly comparable as a content-led, community-driven grief support platform with overlapping audience and digital distribution model.
- What's Your Grief: Digital grief support platform offering articles, podcasts, and online courses for bereaved individuals. Directly comparable as a digital-first grief education and community platform targeting similar grief-loss content consumers.
- ADEC (Association for Death Education and Counseling): Professional membership organization for death education, grief counseling, and certification. Comparable as a grief education and training organization, and a current Open to Hope partner that co-produces annual conference content.
- Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): National nonprofit providing peer-based emotional support, grief resources, and crisis intervention for families affected by military loss. Directly comparable in mission, peer-support model, and partnership overlap with Open to Hope's military family segment.
- The Compassionate Friends: National nonprofit supporting bereaved parents, siblings, and grandparents after the death of a child. Highly comparable as a core strategic partner of Open to Hope that addresses overlapping child-loss grief communities through peer support and resources.
- Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation: Nonprofit providing resources and peer support for widowed individuals, creator of Camp Widow. Directly comparable in grief community building for the widowed segment, and a recognized partner of Open to Hope.
- Helping Parents Heal: Nonprofit dedicated to assisting bereaved parents through support groups and resources. Directly comparable in the bereaved parents segment, and a recognized strategic partner of Open to Hope.
Broad incumbents
- The Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation: Volunteer-based foundation carrying forward Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's hospice, death, and dying legacy. Comparable as a broader grief/hospice education organization and a core strategic partner of Open to Hope with overlapping leadership (Ken Ross serves on both boards).
- National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization: Largest US membership organization for hospice and palliative care providers and professionals. Comparable as a broader end-of-life and bereavement support organization with overlapping leadership connections (Dr. Heidi Horsley and other Open to Hope advisors).
Emerging players
- Refuge in Grief: Digital grief support platform offering articles, courses, and a supportive community for bereaved individuals. Emerging peer with a similar digital-first content approach but smaller scale and narrower scope than Open to Hope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Open to Hope Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceThe Open to Hope Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Open to Hope Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
The Open to Hope Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Open to Hope 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 The Open to Hope Foundation
What does The Open to Hope Foundation do?
The Open to Hope Foundation operates a free, donation-funded digital platform that provides multi-format grief-support content — articles, podcasts, TV episodes, books, and an annual online conference — for bereaved individuals. Content is produced by 530+ contributing authors and licensed psychologists, and the foundation has reached over 2,000,000 people in 26 countries with no fees charged to users or payments made to writers.
Is The Open to Hope Foundation a public or private company?
The Open to Hope Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Open to Hope Foundation founded?
The Open to Hope Foundation was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Open to Hope Foundation based?
The Open to Hope Foundation is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Open to Hope Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are The Open to Hope Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Modern Loss, What's Your Grief, ADEC (Association for Death Education and Counseling), Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), The Compassionate Friends, Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation and Helping Parents Heal. Broad incumbents are The Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation and National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Refuge in Grief is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Open to Hope Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Open to Hope Foundation.
What industry is The Open to Hope Foundation in?
The Open to Hope Foundation's product category is Grief Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLADAHAL, Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent). Its NAICS code is 8134 and its SIC code is 8300.