HNC LIVING FOUNDATION

What HNC LIVING FOUNDATION does

HNC Living Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, founded in December 2013 by Tom and Teresa Walsh after Teresa's diagnosis with squamous cell carcinoma of the jawbone. The foundation's core function is providing direct financial assistance grants to low-income, underinsured, and uninsured head and neck cancer patients who face significant out-of-pocket costs for dental services, nutritional supplements (including tube feeding), prescriptions, transportation, lodging for distant treatment, medical supplies, and specialized therapies. Grants are paid directly to service providers rather than to patients, with eligibility tied to a household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level and residency in participating states.

The foundation operates through a portfolio of programmatic offerings: Individual Financial Assistance Grants for direct patient support, the Partners in Living Care Network that coordinates philanthropists with healthcare providers, dental specialists, and nutritionists, a Dental Services Program anchored by partnerships with Delta Dental affiliates, Transportation and Lodging Assistance for patients living 50+ miles from treatment, and Patient Support Services delivered through partner organizations such as Cancer Action. The MASKS for AID annual gala serves as the flagship fundraising vehicle, and the foundation has expanded its reach through a partnership with the Critical Role Foundation for digital fundraising.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations and grants from individuals, corporations, and charitable foundations. Cumulative grants awarded since 2015 exceed $3.7 million across more than 5,400 patients in all 50 states, with institutional support anchored by multiple Delta Dental entities (cumulatively over $400,000), UMKC School of Dentistry ($325,000), and several family foundations. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors including corporate and civic leaders, and currently employs a small team of approximately 1-10 staff under CEO Danielle Puzio.

Name

HNC LIVING FOUNDATION

Legal name

HNC Living Foundation

Website

https://hncliving.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HNC Living Foundation is an Overland Park-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides direct financial assistance grants to low-income head and neck cancer patients for dental care, nutrition, prescriptions, transportation, and lodging, serving 5,400+ patients across all 50 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Cancer Patient Financial Assistance

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

Keywords

• Nonprofit financial assistance
• Cancer patient grants
• Head and neck cancer
• Charitable health grants
• Patient advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Overland Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: HNC Living Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that generates revenue through donations from individuals, corporations, and other charitable foundations. The foundation awards grants to head and neck cancer patients, with funds going directly to service providers for dental services, nutritional supplements, prescription assistance, transportation support, and specialized therapies. Since 2015, the foundation has awarded over $3.7 million in grants.
2. Memorial and Honor Gifts: Donations made in honor of cancer survivors or in memory of those who lost their battle with head and neck cancer. The foundation sends acknowledgment cards to honorees or families.
3. Planned Giving: Estate planning donations and planned gifts that support the foundation's mission now and in future years.
4. Stock Donations: Transfer of stock or securities as charitable donations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HNC Living Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides direct financial assistance grants to low-income head and neck cancer patients to cover treatment-related expenses including dental services, prescription medications, oral and tube feeding nutrition, transportation, lodging, and recurrence monitoring. Grants are paid directly to service providers rather than to patients. The foundation funds these grants through individual and corporate donations, foundation grants, and annual fundraising events, and operates a Partners in Living Care Network that connects healthcare providers, dental specialists, nutritionists, and service partners.

Product overview

HNC Living Foundation operates as a single, unified nonprofit program rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its core offering is a financial assistance grant program that provides direct monetary support to head and neck cancer patients. The organization delivers these grants through multiple service channels: Individual Financial Assistance Grants for direct patient support, the Partners in Living Care Network for coordinated care with healthcare providers, Dental Services through Delta Dental partnerships, Patient Support Services including nutrition and medical supplies, and Transportation/Lodging Assistance. The MASKS for AID annual event serves as the primary fundraising vehicle that funds these patient assistance programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Financial Assistance Grants Direct financial assistance grants awarded to head and neck cancer patients to cover treatment-related expenses including dental services, prescription co-pays, nutritional supplements, medical supplies, transportation, lodging for treatment travel, and PET scan co-pays for recurrence monitoring. Grants are paid directly to service providers.
• Partners in Living Care Network A national network of philanthropists, healthcare providers, dental specialists, nutritionists, and service partners that delivers coordinated care and pre-negotiated services to head and neck cancer patients before, during, and after treatment.
• Dental Services Program Dental care assistance including restorative dentures and pre- and post-treatment dental services for head and neck cancer patients, funded through partnerships with Delta Dental Foundation and other dental organizations.
• Patient Support Services Support services including prescription medications, oral and tube feeding nutrition, medical supplies, and specialized therapies such as survivor yoga programs, delivered through grants to partner organizations.
• Transportation and Lodging Assistance Transportation assistance including gas cards and ride support, plus lodging grants for head and neck cancer patients who live more than 50 miles from their treatment centers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $3.7 million awarded in grants since 2015
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The University of Kansas Health SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Partner of the Partners in Living Care Network. A major healthcare provider partner supporting head and neck cancer patients with expert medical care and referral services.
• Midwest TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership has expanded HNC Living's presence to include satellite office locations in Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington.
• Cancer ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKansas City-based nonprofit providing patient services programs funded by HNC Living, including tube feeding nutrition, medications, and a dental denture program for head and neck cancer patients.
• Turning Point: The Center for Hope and HealingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity resource partner administering specialized yoga programs for head and neck cancer survivors, funded through HNC Living grants.
• St. Francis Hospital (Topeka)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hospital where HNC Living grant funding supports patient assistance including lodging, prescriptions, nutritional services, dental evaluation, and therapy services.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hnclivingfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/hncliving
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hnc-living-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 HNC LIVING FOUNDATION