elyssa's mission
Elyssa’s Mission is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and implements the evidence-based SOS Signs of Suicide program, along with Hope Squad, Postvention, and Grief Group services, in approximately 350 middle and high schools across Illinois and Wisconsin, delivered at no cost through grants and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersNorthbrook, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What elyssa's mission does
Elyssa’s Mission is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, that funds and implements the evidence-based SOS Signs of Suicide (SOS) program in middle and high schools across Illinois and, more recently, Wisconsin. Its mission is to educate and screen adolescents for suicide risk, identify at-risk youth, and link them to mental health resources; its primary served populations are teens (ages 10–19), school administrators and counselors, and parents/caregivers, with a secondary footprint in supporting school communities after a student suicide.
The organization’s core offering is the SOS Signs of Suicide curriculum developed by Riverside Community Care, which combines the ACT (Acknowledge, Care, Tell) student education methodology with the proprietary Brief Screen for Adolescent Depression (BSAD) screening instrument; SOS is the only school-based suicide prevention program shown in a randomized controlled study to reduce self-reported suicide attempts by 40–60%, and it is listed on SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices. Supporting products extend the platform vertically: Hope Squad delivers peer-to-peer intervention; Postvention Training provides pre- and post-suicide response protocols developed with Dr. Jonathan Singer; Grief Group offers licensed counselor-led 8-week support for suicide-loss survivors; and a Parent Suicide Prevention Training video series plus an annual Scholarship Program round out the suite.
Commercial operations are organized as direct enterprise field sales: the organization secures signed partnership agreements with school administrators, then delivers on-site planning, training, teaching, and follow-up support at no cost to the school. All programming is funded through a four-stream nonprofit revenue model — individual donations, corporate sponsorships, corporate matching gifts, and grants (notably from the Illinois Department of Health) — supplemented by annual fundraising events such as the "A Night to Embrace" benefit and the "Race to Save Young Lives." Distribution currently spans approximately 350 middle and high schools across 20+ Illinois counties and 135+ suburbs, plus Dodge County, Wisconsin, making Elyssa’s Mission the largest dedicated school-based suicide prevention educator in Illinois.
elyssa's mission firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- elyssa's mission
- Legal name
- Elyssa's Mission
- Website
- https://elyssasmission.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Elyssa’s Mission is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and implements the evidence-based SOS Signs of Suicide program, along with Hope Squad, Postvention, and Grief Group services, in approximately 350 middle and high schools across Illinois and Wisconsin, delivered at no cost through grants and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
elyssa's mission industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Suicide Prevention Education
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Educational Support Services (6117)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dropout Prevention, Re-Engagement & Truancy Intervention Programs (EDAJAEAD)
Keywords
Where elyssa's mission is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Northbrook
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
elyssa's mission business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: Individual donations from supporters who contribute to fund suicide prevention education programs
- Corporate Matching Gifts: Corporate employee matching gift programs where companies match employee donations to amplify impact
- Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors invest in suicide prevention through event sponsorships and general program support
- Grants: Grant funding from organizations such as the Illinois Department of Health to support program expansion and dissemination
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Free SOS Program for Schools |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
elyssa's mission product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Elyssa's Mission funds and implements the evidence-based SOS Signs of Suicide program in over 300 middle and high schools across Illinois and Wisconsin, teaching students to recognize depression and suicide warning signs via the ACT (Acknowledge, Care, Tell) method and screening for adolescent depression using the BSAD tool. The organization also delivers companion offerings including the Hope Squad peer-intervention program, postvention training and grief groups for schools after a student suicide, a parent suicide prevention video training series, and an annual student scholarship program, all provided at no cost to partnering schools.
Product overview
Elyssa’s Mission is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides suicide prevention education and mental health screening programs primarily for middle and high schools. The organization’s core offering is the evidence-based SOS Signs of Suicide Program, which combines student education with depression screening to identify at-risk youth. Supporting programs include the Hope Squad peer-to-peer intervention program, Postvention Training for schools responding to student suicides, and Grief Group support for affected students. The organization also offers a Parent Suicide Prevention Training video series and awards annual scholarships to student mental health advocates. All programs are provided free-of-cost to partnering schools throughout Illinois.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 40-60% reduction in self-reported suicide attempts (randomized controlled study)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use elyssa's mission
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
elyssa's mission technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
elyssa's mission partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Kendra ScottminorElyssa's Mission partnered with Kendra Scott for a Giveback Event during the holiday season, where customers could use a promotional code at checkout to support the organization. An in-store event was held at the Kendra Scott location in Old Orchard.
- Riverside Community CarecoreRiverside Community Care, a Massachusetts-based organization that pioneered the concept of large-scale mental health screening and education programs, developed the SOS Signs of Suicide program. Elyssa's Mission funds and implements this evidence-based program in Illinois schools, receiving program materials and support for implementation.
- DuPage High School District 88coreDuPage High School District 88 partnered with Elyssa's Mission and Jonathan Singer, Ph.D. to launch a postvention video series covering foundational protocols schools should have in place before a student suicide. District 88 provided generous dissemination of grant funds from the Illinois Department of Health.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
elyssa's mission competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hope Squad (Hope for Tomorrow): National peer-to-peer youth suicide prevention program bringing Hope Squad chapters to schools across the U.S. Elyssa's Mission itself licenses/implements Hope Squad, but as a standalone it is the originating peer-to-peer model — directly comparable school-based peer intervention program.
- Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program: School- and community-based suicide prevention nonprofit offering free awareness and gatekeeper training programs to schools, parents, and teens. Closely comparable audience (K-12 + parents), free delivery, and training-based model.
- The Jason Foundation: Nonprofit dedicated to youth suicide prevention and awareness, providing free educational curricula and training resources to schools and communities. Comparable nonprofit, school-focused, evidence-based program delivery model.
- Sandy Hook Promise: National school-based violence and suicide prevention nonprofit delivering free, evidence-informed programs (e.g., Say Something, Signs of Suicide) directly to K-12 schools. Directly comparable mission, school-channel GTM, and no-cost delivery model.
Broad incumbents
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): Largest U.S. nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention, funding research, advocacy, and community/outreach programs including school-based initiatives. Broader in scope (research, policy, advocacy) than Elyssa's Mission but overlapping mission and audience.
- Jed Foundation (JED): Nonprofit focused on protecting teen and young adult emotional health and preventing suicide, with school- and college-based programming and consulting. Comparable youth mental health mission, though primarily higher-education focused.
Regional players
- Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services: California-based nonprofit providing suicide prevention education, crisis intervention, and mental health services, including school-based programs in the LA area. Comparable youth suicide prevention programs and screening expertise, but geographically California-anchored.
Others
- RI International (now Ascend Behavioral Health) / Community Mental Health Institutes: Behavioral health/crisis services provider operating suicide prevention hotlines, school-based crisis training, and postvention support across multiple states. Adjacent — provides infrastructure that complements school-based programs like Elyssa's Mission.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
elyssa's mission social profiles
Digital presenceelyssa's mission financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
elyssa's mission leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
elyssa's mission funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
elyssa's mission 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 elyssa's mission
What does elyssa's mission do?
Elyssa's Mission funds and implements the evidence-based SOS Signs of Suicide program in over 300 middle and high schools across Illinois and Wisconsin, teaching students to recognize depression and suicide warning signs via the ACT (Acknowledge, Care, Tell) method and screening for adolescent depression using the BSAD tool. The organization also delivers companion offerings including the Hope Squad peer-intervention program, postvention training and grief groups for schools after a student suicide, a parent suicide prevention video training series, and an annual student scholarship program, all provided at no cost to partnering schools.
Is elyssa's mission a public or private company?
elyssa's mission is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was elyssa's mission founded?
elyssa's mission was founded in -1.
Where is elyssa's mission based?
elyssa's mission is headquartered in Northbrook, United States, in the North America region.
How does elyssa's mission make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Matching Gifts, sponsorships and grants.
Who are elyssa's mission's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hope Squad (Hope for Tomorrow), Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program, The Jason Foundation and Sandy Hook Promise. Broad incumbents are American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and Jed Foundation (JED). Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services is listed as a regional player. RI International (now Ascend Behavioral Health) / Community Mental Health Institutes is listed as an others.
Does elyssa's mission have an API?
No public API is recorded for elyssa's mission.
What industry is elyssa's mission in?
elyssa's mission's product category is Youth Suicide Prevention Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAEAD, Dropout Prevention, Re-Engagement & Truancy Intervention Programs. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.