EC Aware

What EC Aware does

EC Aware (legal name: Esophageal Cancer Awareness Assoc, Inc., formerly known as ECAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, whose stated mission is to support individuals affected by esophageal cancer and to promote awareness of esophageal health. The organization is the first stop for newly diagnosed patients, providing NCCN-sourced educational content covering the disease from anatomy and risk factors through diagnosis, staging, treatment options, and post-surgery life. It serves four primary constituencies: esophageal cancer patients, caregivers and family members, survivors, and the general public/donor base, with five private Facebook communities providing tailored peer support for each group plus a public-facing official page.

The organization's service portfolio comprises an educational content library, a five-group Facebook community platform, a virtual memorial program (Plant a Periwinkle), a volunteer program, a financial and legal resource guide, and a merchandise e-commerce storefront selling periwinkle awareness items priced from $5 wristbands to $50 hoodies. It operates with no paid staff, no offices, and less than 5% administrative overhead, with board members Chris Hawley (President), Karen Kent (Treasurer), Mary Jo Bennett (Secretary), Heather Edwards, Brian Galgay, and advisor Jeff Thomas, each with a personal connection to esophageal cancer. Fundraising is distributed across direct donations, social fundraising on Facebook, Crowdrise events, Amazon Smile (1% of eligible purchases), eBay for Charity via PayPal Giving Fund, employer matching gifts, and life-event giving. EC Aware runs no proprietary technology platform and discloses no AI/ML capabilities.

Name

EC Aware

Legal name

Esophageal Cancer Awareness Assoc, Inc.

Website

https://ecaware.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: EC Aware raises funds through direct donations, social fundraising campaigns, memorial gifts, and employer matching gift programs. The organization emphasizes that 100% volunteer operations mean more of each donation goes to awareness, support, and research, with less than 5% used for administrative costs.
2. Merchandise Sales: EC Aware operates an online store selling periwinkle awareness merchandise including wristbands ($5), t-shirts ($20), bracelets ($20), key chains ($10), blankets ($30), necklaces ($40), and hoodies ($50). Merchandise serves dual purposes of revenue generation and awareness building. Large orders for events may be donated at no cost.
3. Amazon Smile and eBay for Charity: EC Aware receives a percentage of purchases made through Amazon Smile (1% of eligible purchases) and eBay Giving Works (sellers can donate a portion or all of sale proceeds). These platforms serve as passive revenue channels driven by community supporter shopping behavior.
4. Life Events and Workplace Giving: EC Aware encourages supporters to integrate fundraising into life events (birthdays, funerals, graduations, weddings) and leverages employer matching gift programs to multiply donation impact.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

EC Aware is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides esophageal cancer awareness, patient education, and peer support. It operates a comprehensive educational website covering EC types, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and life after surgery, with content partnered through NCCN. It runs five private Facebook communities (survivors, caregivers, patients, palliative care/final journey, and general EC community), and supplements its mission with an online store selling periwinkle awareness merchandise (wristbands, t-shirts, hoodies, blankets, jewelry, keychains) and a Plant a Periwinkle virtual memorial program.

Product overview

EC Aware is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing esophageal cancer awareness, education, and patient support. The organization operates as a 100% volunteer-run entity with no paid staff or offices, minimizing overhead so donations directly support the cause. The portfolio includes an online merchandise store selling periwinkle awareness items (wristbands, hoodies, t-shirts, blankets, jewelry, keychains), community support programs (online Facebook communities for survivors, caregivers, patients, and those in palliative care), a Plant a Periwinkle memorial program, volunteer opportunities, and comprehensive educational content covering cancer types, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and insurance/legal guidance. Information resources partner with NCCN and draw from top 30 leading cancer centers devoted to cancer research and education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EC Aware Merchandise Store Online storefront selling periwinkle awareness merchandise for esophageal cancer, including wristbands, t-shirts, hoodies, blankets, jewelry, and keychains. Sales support awareness and fundraising.
• Premium T-Shirt
• Premium Zip Hoodie
• Sterling Silver Pendant Charm Necklace
• Purple Blanket
• Black Lava Bracelet
• EC Key Chain
• Periwinkle Wristbands
• Plant a Periwinkle Program
• Online EC Community
• Educational Content Library
• Financial, Legal and Medical Coverage Resources
• Volunteer Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Less than 5% administrative overhead — the vast majority of donations go directly to awareness, support, and research
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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 core and minor.

• NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEC Aware's information is partnered with NCCN, which pools the top 30 leading US cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education of cancers. This partnership ensures all EC Aware educational content is grounded in the latest clinical guidance from leading institutions.
• Amazon SmileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon Smile is an affiliate program where Amazon donates 1% of eligible purchase amounts to ECAA when shoppers select the organization as their charity. This is a passive, low-effort revenue channel for EC Aware.
• eBay for Charity / PayPal Giving FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnereBay's Charity Giving Works program, in partnership with PayPal Giving Fund, allows eBay sellers to donate a portion or all sale proceeds to ECAA. Donations are collected automatically three weeks after sale completion.
• Corporate Angel NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a helpful resource on EC Aware's Helpful Links page. Corporate Angel Network arranges free travel for cancer patients to treatment across the country using empty seats on corporate jets. EC Aware connects its patients to this resource.
• Angel FlightsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a helpful resource on EC Aware's Helpful Links page. Angel Flights primarily serves patients needing transportation to or from the heartland region and can arrange longer flights to other parts of the country by coordinating with other organizations.
• National Patient Travel CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a helpful resource. The National Patient Travel Center ensures that no financially-needy patient is denied access to distant specialized medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment for lack of long-distance medical transportation.
• Abbott Patient Assistance FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a helpful resource. Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation offers assistance with Abbott pharmaceutical and medical nutrition products for low income individuals, which EC Aware connects patients to.
• Patient Advocacy Foundation - Esophageal Cancer CareLineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a helpful resource. The EC CareLine provides navigational assistance with financial and practical challenges impacting access to healthcare, including help understanding coverage options, finding financial aid resources, resolving insurance issues, and applying for disability. All services are confidential and free.
• DeGregorio Family FoundationminorOthersListed as another EC organization on the Helpful Links page. Annually funds collaborative research on the pathogenesis, early diagnosis, and treatment of Upper GI malignancies. EC Aware notes that 100% of donations to this foundation are used toward research.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Patient Advocate Foundation: A national nonprofit providing case management, financial aid, and insurance/medical navigation for patients with chronic and life-threatening illnesses. Comparable as a patient advocacy organization that addresses insurance, financial, and access barriers, though operating across many diseases rather than a single EC focus.
• American Cancer Society: The largest US cancer advocacy nonprofit, funding research, providing patient support, and running nationwide awareness initiatives. Comparable as a cancer-focused nonprofit supporting patients, families, and survivors, though broader in scope than EC Aware's disease-specific focus.
• Livestrong Foundation: A well-known cancer advocacy nonprofit supporting survivors and funding cancer research. Comparable as a patient/community-focused cancer nonprofit, though operating across all cancer types rather than specializing in esophageal cancer.
• Cancer Support Community: A large nonprofit providing social and emotional support, education, and community for people impacted by cancer across all cancer types. Comparable as a patient support community organization with professionally facilitated peer networks, but operating across all cancers rather than specializing in EC.

Direct peers

• DeGregorio Family Foundation: A nonprofit focused on funding research for upper GI malignancies including esophageal cancer. Already listed as an EC peer organization by EC Aware, with a parallel mission of funding research and supporting awareness for the same disease area.
• Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation: A nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness, encouraging early detection, and funding research for esophageal cancer. Directly comparable to EC Aware as a disease-specific EC advocacy and research-funding organization, sharing similar patient support and awareness-building missions.
• Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation (ECEF): A nonprofit dedicated to promoting esophageal cancer awareness, education, and patient support. Directly comparable as a disease-specific peer with overlapping patient resources, awareness campaigns, and community-building missions.

Others

• National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN): An alliance of 30 leading US cancer centers that develops clinical guidelines and patient education. Already a content partner of EC Aware; comparable as the upstream authoritative source for cancer education materials that EC Aware distills for patients.

Emerging players

• Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation: A nonprofit serving patients with a rare GI cancer through research funding, education, and community support. Comparable in operating model—a small, disease-specific nonprofit running patient communities and research grants—though focused on a different GI cancer.
• Sueinic Reyes Foundation: A small, disease-specific patient advocacy and research nonprofit for esophageal cancer. Comparable as a niche, volunteer-driven EC advocacy organization pursuing similar awareness and patient support goals in the same disease space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ecaware
• Facebookfacebook.com/ecaware
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/esophageal-cancer-awareness-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 EC Aware