Camp Care, Inc.

What Camp Care, Inc. does

Camp Care, Inc. (DBA Camp CARE, acronym for "Cancer Ain't Really the End") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985 in Charlotte, North Carolina, that provides a weeklong residential summer camp and year-round programming (Camp CARE Connections, holiday party, corn maze, ice skating, circus events) free of charge to children aged 6-16 who have or have had cancer and their families. The organization is staffed entirely by volunteers and operates without a physical office, using a Charlotte mailing address (PO Box 35072). The summer camp is staffed 24/7 by medical professionals to provide continuous pediatric oncology supervision during traditional camp activities such as tubing, arts and crafts, swimming, talent shows, and dances.

The organization's product is service delivery, not technology. There is no proprietary technology stack, software product, mobile app, or AI component; technology is limited to a WordPress-based website, a self-referral form, Facebook and Flickr pages for community engagement, and donation platforms including Amazon Smile and MightyCause. Core partnerships are referral relationships with two regional pediatric oncology treatment centers — Atrium Health's Levine Children's Hospital and the St. Jude Affiliate Clinic at Novant Health Hemby Children's Hospital — which together serve as the primary feeder for the organization's 200+ annual campers and families.

Camp CARE's business model is donation-funded and event-driven. All programs are free to families, with per-child camp expenses of approximately $500-$600 underwritten by individual donations, foundation grants (the organization is a listed grant recipient), and corporate sponsorships. Revenue is generated through an annual portfolio of community fundraising events (ECLARO Golf Tournament with title sponsor ECLARO, Camp CARE 5K, Camp CARE Car Show at Hendrick Motorsports Museum), tiered event sponsorships ranging from $175 to $700+, online giving platforms, and recurring donor engagement. Leadership consists of Executive Director Carrie Keuten, Program Director Katy Wind, and Board Chairman Charles Pettigrew, succeeding the late Chairman Mike Miller, a former camper-turned-counselor whose passing in September 2021 led to the establishment of the Mike Miller Memorial Fund. The organization is a member of the Children's Oncology Camping Association (COCA).

Name

Camp Care, Inc.

Legal name

Camp Care, Inc.

Website

https://campcare.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Camp Care, Inc. (Camp CARE) is a Charlotte, NC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 that provides a free weeklong summer camp and year-round activities to children aged 6-16 with cancer and their families, funded entirely by donations, sponsorships, and community fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Cancer Support Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Pediatric oncology camp
• Family support services
• Nonprofit recreation programs
• Pediatric cancer support
• Childhood cancer activities

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

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 Fundraising: Camp CARE is funded entirely by donations and fundraising efforts. The organization hosts annual events including a golf tournament, 5K run, and car show to raise funds. Individual donors contribute through the MightyCause platform, Amazon Smile program, and direct mail. Camp expenses are approximately $500-600 per child.
2. Sponsorship Revenue: Corporate sponsors support specific events and programs through tiered sponsorship packages ranging from $175 to $700+, including presenting sponsorships, hole sponsorships, and category sponsorships for golf tournament events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Camp CARE provides a free weeklong residential summer camp staffed 24/7 by medical professionals for children ages 6-16 who have or have had cancer, plus year-round Camp CARE Connections activities and an annual holiday party for these children and their families in the Charlotte area. The organization is staffed entirely by volunteers, funded entirely by donations, and all programs are offered free of charge, with per-child camp expenses of approximately $500-$600.

Product overview

Camp Care, Inc. is a nonprofit charitable organization (501C(3)) that provides a single program offering: a weeklong summer camp and year-round activities for children who have or have had cancer and their families in the Charlotte area. The organization does not operate as a product or technology company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Camp CARE Summer Camp
• Camp CARE Connections

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves more than 200 campers and their families annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• NoDa Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor of the ECLARO Golf Tournament, contributing to fundraising efforts for Camp CARE programs.
• CCS (Construction Carriers Services)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor of the ECLARO Golf Tournament, contributing to fundraising efforts for Camp CARE programs.
• Atrium Health Levine Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary referral partner providing campers from pediatric oncology patients. Children receiving treatment at Levine Children's Hospital are referred to Camp CARE programs, making this a foundational partnership for serving the target population.
• St. Jude Affiliate Clinic at Novant Health Hemby Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary referral partner providing campers from St. Jude affiliate clinic patients. Children receiving treatment at this clinic are referred to Camp CARE programs.
• Children's Oncology Camping Association (COCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp CARE is a proud member of COCA, the Children's Oncology Camping Association, which provides network support and best practices for camps serving children with cancer.
• ECLAROmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor of the ECLARO Golfing for the Gold Ribbon Tournament, a major annual fundraising event. ECLARO provides significant financial sponsorship supporting the golf tournament's operations and Camp CARE's mission.
• Amazon SmileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon Smile charitable program allows shoppers to designate Camp CARE as their charity, with Amazon donating 0.5% of eligible purchases to the organization.
• Carolinas Lakes Golf ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for the annual ECLARO Golf Tournament. Provides golf course facilities for the fundraising event.
• Hendrick Motorsports MuseumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for the Camp CARE Car Show event, held at the Hendrick Motorsports Museum in Charlotte, NC.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Camp Quality USA: Nonprofit operating free summer camps and year-round programs for children with cancer and their families, with medically supervised programming. Direct peer in mission, delivery model, and target population.
• Special Love / Camp Fantastic: Nonprofit providing free summer camps and year-round support programs for children with cancer and their families in the Virginia region. Direct peer in medically-supervised oncology camping and family-inclusive programming.
• Camp Kesem: National nonprofit network running free summer camps and year-round support programs for children affected by a parent's cancer. Operates with a similar model of volunteer-driven, hospital-referred, donation-funded programming for children touched by cancer.
• Sunshine Kids Foundation: National nonprofit providing free group activities and events for children with cancer, including camp-style experiences. Comparable in target population (children with cancer), free-to-family model, and event-driven programming.
• Camp Sunshine: Retreat-style camp in Maine providing free programs year-round for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, including oncology populations. Comparable in medically-supervised free programming and family-inclusive model.

Broad incumbents

• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Large nonprofit providing lodging and supportive services for families of children receiving medical treatment. Comparable in donor-driven, hospital-anchored support for families navigating pediatric illness, though focused on lodging rather than recreation.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation: National nonprofit granting wishes to children with critical illnesses including cancer. Comparable in donor base, hospital partnership model, and mission focus on children with serious medical conditions, though delivers individual wish experiences rather than group camp programming.
• SeriousFun Children's Network: Global network of medically-supported recreational camps for children with serious illnesses, founded by Paul Newman. Directly comparable to Camp CARE in mission (medically supervised free camp experiences for children with serious medical conditions) but operates at much broader geographic scale and brand recognition.

Others

• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: While primarily a treatment and research institution, St. Jude runs the affiliate clinic that refers patients to Camp CARE. Comparable as a stakeholder in the pediatric oncology care ecosystem that anchors Camp CARE's referral pipeline.
• Children's Oncology Camping Association (COCA): Industry association of which Camp CARE is a member, comprising camps serving children with cancer. Comparable as the umbrella ecosystem of organizations pursuing the same mission and population.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/campcarenc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-care

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Camp Care, Inc.