The Lucas Foundation

What The Lucas Foundation does

The Lucas Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Windber, Pennsylvania, founded in 2005 by a family following the death of Lucas Matthew Chunta on August 3, 2004. The foundation's stated mission is to assist families with a portion of funeral expenses after the death of an infant between 20 weeks gestation and 28 days old (the eligibility window was originally defined as up to 15 days and later expanded to 28 days). The organization operates regionally within Pennsylvania, with additional contact locations in Davidsville and Johnstown, and coordinates directly with the funeral home of each family's choice to deliver burial assistance.

The foundation's primary offering is its Infant Burial Cost Assistance program, under which bereaved families apply for partial financial coverage of funeral home fees, burial costs, and casket expenses, with requests evaluated against board-established guidelines. Two supplementary programs support fundraising and memorialization: a Buy a Brick program ($15 per engraved brick placed on a memorial wall) and a general Donor Program accepting tax-deductible contributions from individuals, businesses, and organizations. There are no proprietary software products, mobile applications, APIs, or technology platforms; outreach is delivered through a basic informational website launched in August 2011, a Facebook page, and recurring community events.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations and community fundraising. Annual charity golf outings — held continuously since the 1st event at Indian Lakes in 2007 — serve as the principal fundraising vehicle, with additional contributions from individual and corporate donations, eBay seller proceeds, and memorial brick sales. The foundation is governed by a small volunteer board of directors (President Keith Rager, Vice President Dr. Kristy Chunta, Financial/Recording Secretary Kerry Rager, CFO Cathy Leech, Chief Communications Officer Wayne Wyar, Senior Advisor Dr. Richard Frazer, and Board Member Jean Stineman McCormick). No paid employees are disclosed, no external funding rounds exist, there is no parent company, and the organization is not structured for equity investment.

Name

The Lucas Foundation

Legal name

The Lucas Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://thelucasfoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Lucas Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit in Windber, Pennsylvania that provides financial assistance for infant funeral and burial costs to Pennsylvania families experiencing infant loss (20 weeks gestation to 28 days old), coordinating aid with regional funeral homes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Bereavement Financial Assistance

NAICS

Death Care Services (8122), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

akta.pro primary industry

Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Family Aftercare) (HSABAFAI)

Keywords

• Infant burial assistance
• Nonprofit charitable services
• Bereavement financial aid
• Funeral expense grants
• Memorial brick program

Headquarters

HQ city

Windber

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization generating revenue through individual donations, corporate donations, and community fundraising events. Annual golf outings serve as primary fundraising events, with additional support from eBay seller proceeds and 'Buy a Brick' memorial brick sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Lucas Foundation provides financial assistance for a portion of infant funeral and burial expenses for bereaved families who have lost an infant at full gestation of 20 weeks through 28 days old. The foundation works directly with the funeral home of the family's choice to coordinate burial arrangements, and evaluates each assistance request based on board-established guidelines. Supplementary offerings include a "Buy a Brick" memorial program and a tax-deductible donor program.

Product overview

The Lucas Foundation operates as a non-profit organization offering a single core service: financial assistance for infant burial costs to families who have lost an infant aged 20 weeks gestation through 28 days old. The foundation coordinates with local funeral homes and area hospitals to deliver this assistance. Supplementary offerings include a Buy a Brick memorial program and a donor support program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Infant Burial Cost Assistance Financial assistance program that helps families pay a portion of infant burial costs for infants aged 20 weeks gestation through 28 days old. The foundation works with funeral homes to coordinate arrangements and payment.
• Buy a Brick Memorial Program Memorial brick purchasing program where individuals can purchase bricks at $15.00 each to commemorate their infant, with customizable text, photos, or sonogram images displayed on The Wall.
• Donor Program

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• G.A.P. Federal Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 September 2011G.A.P. Federal Credit Union hosted a 1st Annual Charity Golf Outing on September 19, 2011 at Summit Golf Course in Cresson, PA. All proceeds from the event benefited The Lucas Foundation, Inc.
• Ebensburg Country ClubminorOthersVenue for the 5th and 6th Annual Lucas Foundation Golf Outings. Hosted the 5th annual outing on June 25, 2011 and scheduled the 6th for June 23, 2012.
• Indian Lakes Private CourseminorOthersVenue for the 1st through 4th Annual Lucas Foundation Golf Outings (2007-2010). Located in Central City, PA.
• Summit Golf CourseminorOthersHosted the 1st Annual G.A.P. FCU Charity Golf Outing benefiting The Lucas Foundation on September 19, 2011. Located in Cresson, PA.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• MISS Foundation: MISS Foundation provides immediate and ongoing support to families experiencing the death of a child, including infant loss. Directly comparable to The Lucas Foundation in mission scope, with similar bereavement-family support and financial/resource assistance.
• First Candle: First Candle is a non-profit focused on stillbirth, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and other infant deaths, providing bereavement support and education. Directly comparable mission targeting infant/early-life loss with family support services.
• Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep: Provides free remembrance photography to families experiencing infant and early pregnancy loss. Comparable peer in the infant bereavement space, addressing a different need (photography vs. financial) but serving the same beneficiary population and referral channels (hospitals/funeral homes).
• Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support: National non-profit supporting families through pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and infant death, with peer support groups and resources. Directly comparable mission serving bereaved families around infant loss.
• Bereaved Parents of the USA: National non-profit offering support groups, resources, and community for bereaved parents, including those who lost infants. Comparable mission of providing ongoing support to families grieving the death of a child.

Broad incumbents

• March of Dimes: Large national non-profit focused on maternal and infant health, including pregnancy loss and stillbirth. Operates at much larger scale in the same infant-health/maternal space, with broader mission but overlapping beneficiary population.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Major national non-profit supporting families with seriously ill children, including neonatal loss situations. Comparable in providing family-centered support during pediatric medical crises, though at vastly larger scale and broader mission.

Emerging players

• Alexandra's House: Small non-profit supporting families experiencing perinatal loss and infant death, including burial/funeral assistance. Comparable peer in financial/funeral assistance niche for infant loss, smaller scale than Lucas but similar service model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/235733353132565
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lucas-foundation-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 The Lucas Foundation