Children's Treehouse Foundation

What Children's Treehouse Foundation does

Children's Treehouse Foundation is a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in January 2001 by Peter van Dernoot after his wife's death from cancer, with the mission of providing early psychosocial support tools to children whose parents or caregivers have been diagnosed with cancer. The foundation operates the CLIMB® Program (Children's Lives Include Moments of Bravery), a six-week, group-based, manualized intervention for children ages 6-18 that combines art therapy and play therapy techniques in separate parallel sessions for children and parents, delivered at cancer centers and hospitals worldwide. Supporting assets include the CLIMB.On online delivery platform, a self-paced NASW-accredited facilitator certification program, two published books (an English/Spanish children's activity workbook and a parent guide), and a video series co-developed with MD Anderson Cancer Center. Program effectiveness has been validated through a peer-reviewed 2016 pilot study in the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology documenting significant reductions in emotional symptoms and conduct problems among participants.

Name

Children's Treehouse Foundation

Legal name

The Children's Treehouse Foundation

Website

https://childrenstreehousefdn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Children's Treehouse Foundation operates the CLIMB® Program, a six-week group-based psychosocial intervention for children ages 6-18 whose parents have cancer, delivered free to families via cancer-center partnerships, online groups, and published resources, and funded by donations and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Psychosocial Support Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Parent Mental Health, Stress Management & Wellness Programs (EDACALAJ)

Keywords

• Psychosocial support programs
• Children cancer support
• Nonprofit health services
• Family counseling programs
• Bereavement support

Headquarters

HQ city

Lakewood

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation grants. Accepts online donations via Zeffy platform (up to $10,000 with 100% retained), ColoradoGives, and Amazon Smile. Vehicle donations also accepted.
2. Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: Legacy giving programs where supporters include the foundation in their estate planning.
3. Sponsorships and Event Revenue: Corporate sponsorships for fundraising events including golf tournaments (On Course for CLIMB®), pickleball tournaments (Pickleball With Purpose), CLIMB® for Kids climbing campaign, and high tea events. Sponsorships range from $500 to $5,000+.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Children's Treehouse Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that develops and disseminates the CLIMB® Program (Children's Lives Include Moments of Bravery), a structured psychosocial intervention designed for children ages 6 to 18 who have a parent or primary caregiver with cancer. The foundation delivers the program free of charge to families through partner cancer treatment centers and hospitals, trains and certifies healthcare professionals to facilitate it, and produces supporting children's books and educational resources.

Product overview

The Children's Treehouse Foundation offers a single unified product—the CLIMB® Program (Children's Lives Include Moments of Bravery)—a group-based, manualized psychosocial intervention specifically designed to support children ages 6-18 whose parents have cancer. The core CLIMB® Program is delivered through two channels: in-person at partner cancer centers (requiring staff certification) and via CLIMB.On for online delivery. Supporting the program are two published books (Talking With My Treehouse Friends About Cancer activity workbook and Helping Your Children Cope With Your Cancer parent guide), the Kid to Kid video series developed with MD Anderson, and NASW-accredited staff training for partner organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CLIMB®: Children's Lives Include Moments of Bravery - a group-based, manualized psychosocial intervention program developed specifically to support the emotional needs of children ages 6-18 with a parent or caregiver who has cancer. The six-week program includes separate sessions for children/teens and parents, utilizing art therapy and play therapy techniques.

Products and services

• CLIMB® Program (Children's Lives Include Moments of Bravery) A structured, evidence-informed psychosocial support program for children ages 6–18 who have a parent or primary caregiver with cancer. The program uses facilitated group sessions, activities, and discussion to help children process emotions, build coping skills, and connect with peers in similar circumstances. It is delivered free of charge to families through partner cancer centers and hospitals.
• CLIMB.On An online version of the CLIMB® Program that delivers the psychosocial intervention to children and families virtually, extending access beyond in-person partner sites. Designed for the same target population of children ages 6–18 with a parent or caregiver facing cancer.
• CLIMB® Staff Certification Training A professional training and certification program that prepares healthcare professionals, social workers, and child-life specialists to facilitate the CLIMB® Program in their own cancer center or hospital settings.
• Children's Book: Talking With My Treehouse Friends About Cancer A published children's book developed by the foundation to help young readers understand and talk about a parent's or caregiver's cancer diagnosis, used as a supplementary resource within the CLIMB® Program.
• Children's Book: Helping Your Children Cope With Your Cancer A published parenting guide developed by the foundation to support parents with cancer in helping their children understand and cope with the illness, used as a supplementary resource within the CLIMB® Program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Significant decreases in children's emotional symptoms (p<0.05)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MD Anderson Cancer Center (University of Texas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative development of the 'Kid to Kid: Learning to Cope When Your Parent has Cancer' video series. Three-part video program to help children understand and cope with parent's cancer diagnosis.
• Novartis OncologyminorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting the foundation's programs and mission.
• Bristol-Myers SquibbcoreOthersMajor corporate sponsor that purchased 20,000 copies of 'Helping Your Children Cope With Your Cancer' for distribution to families who will benefit from it.
• Avon Foundation for WomenminorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting the foundation's mission to support children of parents with cancer.
• Taiho Oncology Inc.minorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting the foundation's programs.
• ANB BankminorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting the foundation.
• Rockies FoundationminorOthersFoundation sponsor supporting the foundation's programs.
• Anschutz FoundationminorOthersFoundation sponsor supporting the foundation.
• AbbVieminorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting the foundation's mission.
• American Cancer SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational support organization partner providing resources and referrals for cancer patients and families. Part of network of national organizations helping families facing cancer.
• Cancer Support CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit providing support, education and hope to anyone impacted by cancer. Network of 50 sites across North America. CLIMB® program integrates with their support services.
• Camp KesemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization providing free summer camps for children affected by a parent's cancer. 50+ college chapters nationwide. Shares mission of supporting children in similar circumstances.
• Kids Alive (Colorado)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado-based organization founded in 1995 to support children of breast cancer patients, expanded to all cancer diagnoses. Inspired Peter van Dernoot's first book. Longstanding relationship with foundation.
• American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnly multidisciplinary professional society dedicated to evidence-based research, treatment and practice of psychosocial oncology. Supports CLIMB® through professional network.
• Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization of social workers in oncology, advancing excellence in psychosocial care of persons with cancer, their families and caregivers.
• Oncology Nursing SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional organization of oncology nurses, clinicians, scientists, educators and mentors working to transform cancer care.
• Cancer Care, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit providing free professional help to people with all cancers through counseling, education, information and referral.
• Cancer Hope NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free one-on-one confidential support to adult cancer patients and their loved ones through trained volunteer survivors.
• Bright Spot NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides young cancer survivors who are parents of small children with safe space for healing, recovery, and reconnection.
• Lacuna LoftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit encouraging, empowering and connecting young adult cancer survivors and caregivers worldwide with online wellness support programs.
• Lawrence Memorial Hospital (Kansas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLIMB® program delivery site offering children and teens support through group sessions, lab activities, and education about cancer.
• Ulster Cancer Center (Belfast, Northern Ireland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational CLIMB® program delivery site bringing 'light and understanding to a very difficult subject' according to facilitator Rachel Smith.
• University of Colorado Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLIMB® program site where Alison Faust serves as Psychosocial Program Coordinator. Site noted for helping families communicate about cancer and reducing isolation.
• Erlanger Cancer Center (Chattanooga, Tennessee)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLIMB® program delivery site where Sam Harris M.Div serves as Patient Advocate. Site reports high satisfaction with program.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: Largest US cancer nonprofit, providing patient/family support, research funding, and referrals. Already a strategic partner of the foundation and engages the same family/children audience, though at a vastly larger scale across all cancer-related services.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Global nonprofit supporting families of seriously ill children with lodging and services near hospitals. Comparable family-psychosocial support for families affected by serious illness, though focused on the pediatric patient rather than the parent's cancer.
• Cancer Support Community: National nonprofit with 50+ North American sites offering support, education, and hope to people impacted by cancer. Overlaps with CLIMB® as a strategic partner integrating its program into CSC services; broader scope but directly comparable psychosocial support mission.
• Cancer Care, Inc. National nonprofit providing free professional counseling, education, information, and referral to people affected by cancer. Comparable psychosocial support model and beneficiary population; broader cancer-wide scope rather than child-focused.

Direct peers

• Cancer Hope Network: National nonprofit providing free one-on-one confidential peer support to adult cancer patients and their loved ones via trained survivor volunteers. Comparable psychosocial support delivery model and beneficiary population.
• Camp Kesem: National nonprofit operating free summer camps and year-round support for children affected by a parent's cancer. Directly comparable mission (children of cancer parents), overlapping population, and already listed as a strategic partner of Children's Treehouse Foundation.
• Kids Alive: Colorado-based nonprofit founded in 1995 supporting children of parents with cancer (initially breast cancer, expanded to all cancer diagnoses). Directly comparable beneficiary population and geographic overlap; described in the data as having inspired Peter van Dernoot's first book.

Emerging players

• Bright Spot Network: Provides young adult cancer survivors who are parents of small children with safe space for healing, recovery, and reconnection. Comparable focus on parents-as-patients with young children; listed as a strategic partner of the foundation.
• Lacuna Loft: Nonprofit encouraging, empowering, and connecting young adult cancer survivors and caregivers worldwide with online wellness support programs. Comparable age-cohort and psychosocial online delivery model; listed as a strategic partner of the foundation.

Others

• Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Social Workers (APOSW): Professional society of oncology social workers advancing psychosocial care of people with cancer and families. Comparable psychosocial oncology professional community; relevant for distribution and training partnerships around CLIMB® certification.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/childrens_treehouse_foundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@childrens-treehouse-foundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/childrensTreehouseFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-children-s-treehouse-foundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Children's Treehouse Foundation