Bumblebee Foundation Inc
Supporting Pediatric Cancer Families
Learn how to support this organization
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The BumbleBee Foundation provides hope and support to pediatric cancer families. For any family facing this life-altering diagnosis of their child, financial stress is one of the main concerns. Through our Patient Aid Program, we aim to alleviate that stress even for just a moment, whether it be providing hospital parking vouchers or a Starbucks gift card to a tired parent, to assisting with rent/mortgage/utility/transportation payments, or medical bills, and sometimes funeral expenses. Additionally, our Holiday BEE Program and Spring Basket Program provides $100 Target gift card and $100 gas gift card to the parents, as well as gifts from EACH child's wish list in the family (the cancer kiddo and his/her siblings). For some families, these family adoptions are the only way they are able to celebrate Christmas/Hanukkah/Passover/Easter.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Spring Baskets
Our Spring Basket Program spreads sunshine and cheer around Easter. The BumbleBee Foundation with the help from #busyBEEs, surprise pediatric cancer families with personalized baskets. Each cancer kiddo and his/her sibling provides a personalized list of favorites. From there, #busyBEEs put together cheerful baskets to be delivered to each family. Parents receive gas cards and gift cards.
BEEday: Birthday Cards for a Pediatric Cancer Child
Each year on their birthdays, our pediatric kiddos receive a handwritten card along with a gift card to Target or Amazon. #AngelBEEs, or those kiddos who have passed away are also recognized with a hand written card to their family.
Holiday BEEs
Every Christmas holiday season the BumbleBee Foundation, with the help from a lot of #busyBEEs, spread cheer to pediatric cancer families throughout Southern California. Each cancer kiddo (siblings included) provides a personalized wish list. From there, our BusyBEEs shop, wrap, and deliver gifts to the families. Parents receive gas and gift cards.
Kelli's Wagons
While in treatment, childhood cancer survivor Kelli and her family realized just how helpful it was to have a wagon to haul personal belongings back and forth to the hospital. Thus, Kelli's Wagon program was born. A newly diagnosed family is given a wagon, mattress topper, and bedsheet to help east the transition as they start their cancer journey.
Patient Aid Program
Our Patient Aid Program is our largest program. Assistance ranges from gas cards, parking vouchers, and meal vouchers, to rent/mortgage/utility assistance, to the purchase of a new used car. We also assist with unpaid time off of work, medical payments and funeral expenses, as well as counseling assistance. Really, if the need is there, we find a way to support the family.
BEEpacks
To assist families when they first hear the devastating words, "Your child has cancer" BEEpacks include the basic necessities for families caught in the whirlwind. They are delivered to partner hospital social workers to distribute to newly diagnosed families upon hospital admission. Items in the BEEpack include, but are not limited to: travel-sized shampoo/conditioner/deodorant/lotion/hand sanitizer, lip balm, playing cards, window markers, a Starbucks card.
Where we work
Awards
Most Loved Charity 2020
HulaFrog
Affiliations & memberships
Hulafrog's Most Loved Charity 2021
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total dollars received in contributions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Families
Related Program
Patient Aid Program
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
The increase in generosity of our donors, sponsors, fundraising activity and grant acceptance illustrates growth of the BumbleBee Foundation that surpasses organic growth.
Average number of service recipients per month
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Patient Aid Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
BBF is recognized by the over 20 pediatric oncology hospitals and hospice centers throughout the state of California and multiple pediatric hospitals that serve the state of Idaho.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The BumbleBee Foundation offers emotional and financial support to those families who are dealing with a pediatric cancer diagnosis within the State of California. We hope that through this support our families find moments of joy amidst the turmoil, an opportunity to have financial burdens lifted, and the knowledge that there is a network of emotional supporters to laugh, cry, pray, and rejoice with them.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We work closely with pediatric oncology social workers/medical personnel throughout the State of California and the State of Idaho. Receiving a referral from the Social Worker/pediatric oncology nurse/doctors allows us to contact the parent, and it is through these direct conversations with the parent(s) that we learn the social, emotional, and financial needs of the pediatric kiddo and his/her family. We remain open in our dialogue with our Board how our funds are being spent, and use social media, podcasts, and additional speaking engagements to share with others the mission of the BumbleBee Foundation. Our goal is to serve as many families as is possible using the funds that are generated from fundraising events and grants written, as well as the generous donations from our supporters.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
With over eleven years experience and a wealth of community support behind us, the BumbleBee Foundation is consistently refining our approach so that we efficiently meet the needs of our families. This includes continuing to develop new ways of raising funds to support our programs.
In 2020 we established our volunteer Advisory Council who are the "hands and feet" behind organizing and implementing our programs and fundraisers - both in person and virtual. The safety and well-being of our families, volunteers, and participants is always paramount, and we pivot when necessary.
Our co-founders, Jason and Heather, know first-hand what it is like to care for a son with cancer, and the financial and emotional stress it takes each member of the family. Coming from this place of empathy, understanding and grace, has allowed them to lead this foundation with the same compassion that surrounded them during their son's 18-month cancer journey.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Since our inception in 2011, we have grown from an operating budget of $5000 to a budget of almost $500,000 to assist our pediatric cancer families. Our 5 families over a decade ago has turned into over 500 (and growing) active families throughout the state of California, representing over 20 pediatric oncology hospitals. Our home office of seven years was outgrown and in 2018 we moved into a beautiful office - our headquarters in Westlake Village - hired our first full-time employee in 2019, and continue to grow our volunteer force - Executive Board members, Advisory Council members, and other volunteers. The third quarter of 2021 brought even more excitement as we spread our wings and expanded operations to southwestern Idaho. We continue to work tirelessly to provide hope and support to the countless pediatric cancer families, and walk with them as they navigate this difficult journey. Both the Executive Director (and family) and Vice President of Operations (and family) now live in the Boise area. Working remotely and frequent travel to California allow us to maintain all six of our programs and tend to the needs of our California families while expanding services to pediatric cancer families in Idaho.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
-
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
-
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
-
What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Bumblebee Foundation Inc
Board of directorsas of 04/18/2024
Jason Donatini
Curtis Scheetz
Mike Hale
Christopher Dukes
Arica Harris
Secretary
KaSandre Kirby
Crista Hermance
Barbara Ito
Treasurer
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/14/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.