CaringBridge Inc. is a charitable
501(c)(3) non-profit organization
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
established in 1997
which allows people facing various medical conditions and their family and friends to communicate. CaringBridge is the first non-profit social network with global reach whose mission is to connect loved ones during a health journey through personal, private websites. CaringBridge prioritizes privacy with no advertisements or selling of user data. People who are provided with an individual's personal
website
A website (also written as a web site) is a collection of web pages and related content that is identified by a common domain name and published on at least one web server. Examples of notable websites are Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Wi ...
address (
URL) and password can read updates on the individual's condition or post messages to the family as needed. CaringBridge is headquartered in
Eagan, Minnesota
Eagan ( ) is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, Dakota County, Minnesota. It is south of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Saint Paul and lies on the south bank of the Minnesota River, upstream from the confluence with the Mississippi River. Eagan and the ...
. All CaringBridge sites are free and CaringBridge is funded by donor support. Since its inception, over 740,000 CaringBridge sites have been created by people all over the world.
Purpose
CaringBridge allows patients, caregivers, families, and friends to exchange information about a patient's medical condition on an ongoing basis. The websites are designed to become conduits between patients, their families, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. When visiting an individual’s website, visitors can post messages of support, donate to GoFund Me accounts, or send donations.
History
CaringBridge was created in 1997 by
Sona Mehring when her close friend gave
premature birth
Preterm birth, also known as premature birth, is the birth of a baby at fewer than 37 weeks gestational age, as opposed to full-term delivery at approximately 40 weeks. Extreme preterm is less than 28 weeks, very early preterm birth is between 2 ...
to a daughter.
The site was intended to keep family and friends informed about the child.
* 1997: Sona Mehring creates the original CaringBridge website
* 1998: More than 50 sites established on the platform
* 2000: Donor support begins
* 2001:
Board of directors established
* 2002: Nonprofit status granted
* 2005: Donations reach $1 million
* 2006: More than 5,000 sites established
* 2007: First national media coverage
* 2009: Spanish-language support added
* 2012: 132,000 donors; 110 volunteers
*2021: Tia Newcomer replaces Liwanag Ojala as Chief Executive Officer
Affiliations
*CaringBridge is a member of the
National Health Council
The National Health Council (NHC) is a nonprofit association of health organizations.
Its members are national health-related organizations, including leading patient advocacy groups such as the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Assoc ...
.
*CaringBridge is listed as an accredited
Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a private, 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization founded in 1912. BBB's self-described mission is to focus on advancing marketplace trust, consisting of 97 independently incorporated local BBB organizations in the Unite ...
(BBB) charity.
*CaringBridge is affiliated with
Community Health Charities of America.
See also
*
Social network service
A social networking service or SNS (sometimes called a social networking site) is an online platform which people use to build social networks or social relationships with other people who share similar personal or career content, interests, act ...
*
Virtual community
A virtual community is a social network of individuals who connect through specific social media, potentially crossing geographical and political boundaries in order to pursue mutual interests or goals. Some of the most pervasive virtual communi ...
References
External links
*
Organizational Profile–
National Center for Charitable Statistics
The National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) is a clearing house for information about the nonprofit sector of the U.S. economy. The National Center for Charitable Statistics builds national, state, and regional databases and develops sta ...
(
Urban Institute
The Urban Institute is a Washington, D.C.–based think tank that carries out economic and social policy research to "open minds, shape decisions, and offer solutions". The institute receives funding from government contracts, foundations and pr ...
)
Charities Navigator
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Health charities in the United States
Health informatics organizations
Organizations established in 1997
Charities based in Minnesota
Medical and health organizations based in Minnesota
1997 establishments in Minnesota