Experience Camps

Westport, CT ยท Founded 2007

Provides free bereavement summer camps and year-round grief support for children who have lost loved ones

Primary audience
Grieving Children
Work area
Direct Services
Topic
Bereavement Support
Contact
Sara Deren
Website Contact

About Organization

Experience Camps offers free, week-long summer camp programs and year-round resources to help grieving children normalize their grief and connect with peers facing similar loss. Based in Westport, CT, the organization served children through 22 staff members and 432 volunteers, operating with $3.9 million in revenue in 2021.

What They Focus On

Childhood Bereavement

Specialized grief support helping children process loss of parents, siblings, or other significant loved ones

Camp-Based Healing

Therapeutic summer camp environment where grieving children experience joy, community, and emotional support

Grief Education

Resources and programming that help children and families understand grief as a normal, manageable life experience

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Revenue (2021)

$3.9M

+60.8% vs 2020

Expenses (2021)

$3.6M

+87.1% vs 2020

Assets (2021)

$5.5M

-19.4% vs 2020

Employees (2021)

22

-33.3% vs 2020

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Employees
2021 $3,872,048 $3,624,546 $5,503,894 22
2020 $2,407,395 $1,937,117 $6,830,156 33
2019 $4,193,980 $1,599,179 $5,793,378 27

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. All figures in USD.

How They Work

Learn more
  • 01

    Initial Enrollment

    Families register grieving children for free week-long summer camp programs at designated locations

  • 02

    Camp Experience

    Children participate in structured activities led by trained staff and volunteers focused on grief support

  • 03

    Peer Connections

    Campers build relationships with others experiencing loss, reducing isolation and normalizing their grief journey

  • 04

    Ongoing Support

    Year-round resources and community connections help children continue processing grief after camp ends

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by Experience Camps

Summer Bereavement Camps

Free one-week residential camp programs providing grief support and community for children who have experienced loss

Peer Connection Networks

Facilitated communities where grieving children connect with others who understand their experiences and emotions

Grief Normalization Programs

Educational activities and counseling that help children understand grief as a natural healing process

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind Experience Camps.

Sara Deren

Sara Deren

Chief Executive Officer
Full-time
Compensation: $161,811
Carly Basile

Carly Basile

Chief Development Officer
Kelly Elliott

Kelly Elliott

Chief Strategy Officer
Jesse Moss

Jesse Moss

Director of Innovation
Elena Soderblom

Elena Soderblom

Director of Operations
Margo Karp

Margo Karp

Director of Development
Ashley Laughlin

Ashley Laughlin

Director of Programs
Liza Buck

Liza Buck

Senior National Camp Manager
Thomas DiGuglielmo

Thomas DiGuglielmo

Senior Manager of Fundraising Operations
Jamie Diamond

Jamie Diamond

Senior National Camp Manager
Kiri Meyer

Kiri Meyer

Senior National Clinical Manager
Michelle Cove

Michelle Cove

Communications Manager
Sydney Choi

Sydney Choi

Program Operations Manager
Ryan Jepsen

Ryan Jepsen

HR and Operations Manager
Samira Moosavi

Samira Moosavi

Innovation and Partnerships Manager
Kristen Braunschweig

Kristen Braunschweig

Events Manager
Amy O'Neill

Amy O'Neill

Clinical Manager
Kait Vanderlaan

Kait Vanderlaan

Clinical Manager
Jordan Rappoport

Jordan Rappoport

Camp Manager
Danielle Costa

Danielle Costa

Content Manager
Midge Carter

Midge Carter

Community Programs Manager
Sydney Davidson

Sydney Davidson

Major Gifts Officer
Ori Balaish

Ori Balaish

Corporate Giving Officer
Ilana Gutman

Ilana Gutman

Leadership Giving Officer
Andi Morris

Andi Morris

Foundations and Grants Officer
Sarah Burns

Sarah Burns

Camp Associate
Austin Baird

Austin Baird

Camp Associate
Joan Reilly

Joan Reilly

Development Associate
AS

Aimee Skier

Director
AW

Aron Weingard

Director
AP

Ashley Pelzel

Director
BL

Ben Luntz

Director
BA

Bill Anderson

Director
BB

Brian Beach

Director
DG

David Garlick

Director
EK

Emily Krueger

Director
ES

Eric Solomon

Director
JL

Justine Lelchuk

Director
KJ

Kristina Jones

Director
LE

Liz Eddy

Director
MM

Mark MacDonald

Director
NV

Nicole Van Valen

Director
RL

Raleigh Leahy

Director
SG

Serra Goldman

Director
VA

Vishal Amin

Director
WC

Wiley Cerilli

Director

Milestones

2007

Organization Founded

2007

Experience Camps established to provide bereavement support for grieving children through summer programs

2009

Tax-Exempt Status Granted

2009

Received IRS recognition as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in September

2019

Peak Revenue Year

2019

Reached highest annual revenue of $4.2 million, expanding camp capacity and services

2021

Volunteer Network Expansion

2021

Mobilized 432 volunteers to support camp programs and year-round grief resources

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

AS
Aimee Skier Director 1.00 hrs/week
AW
Aron Weingard Director
AP
Ashley Pelzel Director 1.00 hrs/week
BL
Ben Luntz Director 1.00 hrs/week
BA
Bill Anderson Director 1.00 hrs/week
BB
Brian Beach Director 1.00 hrs/week
DS
Danny Sarch Vice Chair 1.00 hrs/week
DG
David Garlick Director 1.00 hrs/week
EK
Emily Krueger Director 1.00 hrs/week
ES
Eric Solomon Director 1.00 hrs/week
EB
Evan Bloomberg Treasurer 1.00 hrs/week
JL
Justine Lelchuk Director 1.00 hrs/week
KJ
Kristina Jones Director 1.00 hrs/week
LE
Liz Eddy Director 1.00 hrs/week
MM
Mark MacDonald Director 1.00 hrs/week
NV
Nicole Van Valen Director 1.00 hrs/week
RL
Raleigh Leahy Director 1.00 hrs/week
SG
Serra Goldman Director 1.00 hrs/week
TA
Todd Arky Board Chair 1.00 hrs/week
VA
Vishal Amin Director 1.00 hrs/week
WC
Wiley Cerilli Director 1.00 hrs/week

Information compiled from IRS Form 990 and organizational materials.

Executive Compensation

Top compensated officers & key employees from IRS Form 990

Total Reported (2021)

$169K

Highest Paid

$169K

Sara Deren

Compensated Officers

1

Name Title Base Other Total Hrs/Wk
Sara Deren CEO $161,811 $7,212 $169,023 40

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. Compensation includes base and other reported compensation.

COVID-19 PPP Loans

Paycheck Protection Program (2020-2021)

Fully Forgiven

Total Approved

$302K

Total Forgiven

$305K

101% forgiven

Jobs Retained

36

Loan Details 2 loans

$173,619
Forgiven
Forgiven: $175,606 100%
Approved Feb 2, 2021
Lender Machias Savings Bank
Jobs Reported 27
Forgiven On Mar 24, 2022
$128,357
Forgiven
Forgiven: $129,034 100%
Approved Apr 30, 2020
Lender Machias Savings Bank
Jobs Reported 9
Forgiven On Nov 12, 2020

Source: Small Business Administration • Paycheck Protection Program (2020-2021)

Partners & Funders

Grant funding relationships from IRS Form 990 filings

$506K Grants Received
13 Organizations

Top Funders

13 total
AO
American Online Giving Foundation Inc.
$108K
FI
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund
$102K
GF
Gentiva Foundation Inc.
$75K
MS
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc.
$50K
TB
The Bessemer Giving Fund
$35K
CO
Camp Out For Kids
$35K
TS
TD Securities Underwriting Hope Fund Inc
$25K
RJ
Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund
$23K
I
Impactassetsinc
$21K
TN
The New York Community Trust
$11K
+3 more funders
American Online Giving Foundation Inc. Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Gentiva Foundation Inc. Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc. The Bessemer Giving Fund Camp Out For Kids TD Securities Underwriting Hope Fund Inc Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund Impactassetsinc The New York Community Trust PAYPAL Charitable Giving Fund American Endowment Foundation DonateStock Charitable Inc
American Online Giving Foundation Inc. Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Gentiva Foundation Inc. Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc. The Bessemer Giving Fund Camp Out For Kids TD Securities Underwriting Hope Fund Inc Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund Impactassetsinc The New York Community Trust PAYPAL Charitable Giving Fund American Endowment Foundation DonateStock Charitable Inc

Source: IRS Form 990 Schedule I filings. Amounts may span multiple tax years.

Contact

Get in touch with Experience Camps

Phone

833-226-7385

Social

Visit Website
136 Main Street 206 Westport, CT 06880