THE STORY

Section 1: The problem

When my daughter Ellie was diagnosed with autism, I spent months navigating a maze that nobody had prepared me for. Medicaid denials. Waiver waitlists that were years long. A $1,500 "program" that promised to help me appeal and then disappeared with my money.

I remember sitting at my kitchen table at 11pm, spreadsheet open, trying to figure out what county I lived in for the fourteenth time because Colorado's DD system routes by county, and no one explained that.

I thought I was alone.

I wasn't.

Millions of families are figuring this out the same way I did. On their own. At 11pm. With no map.

Section 2: What we built

Guiding Pathways Foundation exists to hand every family the map.

We build free apps that guide families through Medicaid, waivers, IEPs, adult services, housing, and every complicated system that determines whether disability families get the care they need.

Autism Pathways — for families of autistic children (live in 50 states)
Adult Pathways — for adults navigating their own disability services (launched in beta on August 15)
Disability Pathways — for families raising kids with any disability, not just autism (launched publicly on August 15)

Everything is free. The guidance is always free. Every family gets the same map, whether they can pay or not.

Section 3: Why we need you

Building these apps costs money. Servers, state-by-state research, AI infrastructure for our Ask Me Anything tool, provider network development, and the countless hours of writing and updating pathways as laws change.

We currently sustain the mission through optional premium subscriptions ($14.99/mo for organizational tools like unlimited AI questions and the housing locator). Every premium subscription helps keep the free tier free for the next family.

I have been firm about this from day one: I will never, ever charge families for guidance.

A few months ago I reached a crossroads. Build a business that could support itself, or protect the promise I made to families.

I chose a third path. Become a nonprofit.

But our real dream is this: operate 100% on donations, so we never have to charge anyone for anything, ever.

Your donation makes that dream real, faster.

Section 4: What your gift does

Every donation, no matter the size, funds three things:

Free guidance for families who couldn't afford premium
State-by-state research to keep our pathways accurate as laws change
Provider network growth so families find the right professionals faster

We're a small, scrappy team. There is no CEO salary. No fundraising overhead. No corporate expenses. Every dollar you give goes directly into keeping the mission free and expanding it.

Section 5: The ask

We're aiming to raise $10,000 by the end of 2026 to cover our foundational operational costs and start moving toward a fully donation-funded model.

If Guiding Pathways has helped your family, or if you believe in a world where disability families never have to fight alone, please join us.

Every gift counts.

Every gift helps another family.

Every gift is a step closer to free forever.

Thank you.

With all my love,

Jessie Fielding Founder, Guiding Pathways Foundation

💰 DONATION LEVELS

One-Time Gifts

Amount	Impact Label	Description
$10	The Coffee Fund	Sponsors one family's premium access for a month
$25	Weekly Researcher	Funds a week of state-specific waiver research
$50	Quarter Sponsor	Underwrites a family's premium tools for 3 months
$100	Content Creator	Funds one blog post that helps hundreds of families
$250	Provider Sponsor	Sponsors a nonprofit clinic as a Founding Provider
$500	State Champion	Funds research + guidance content for one US state
$1,000	Founding Donor	Recognized on our site + annual impact report
$2,500	Mission Circle	Recognized as a Guiding Pathways Ambassador + private updates

Monthly Giving — "The Compass Circle"

Amount	Level	What it does
$5/mo	Free Tier Defender	Keeps guidance free for another family every month
$15/mo	Pathway Sponsor	Matches a premium subscription each month
$50/mo	Founding Member	Recognized on the site + special quarterly updates
$100/mo	North Star	Named partner in our annual impact report + direct access

Design note for monthly section:

"Join The Compass Circle — our community of monthly donors keeping Guiding Pathways free for families. Cancel anytime."

❓ CAMPAIGN FAQ

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Guiding Pathways Foundation has filed for 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (application filed August 2026). Once approved, your donation will be retroactively tax-deductible to the date of gift. We will send you an updated tax receipt upon approval. Approval typically takes 3-6 months. If for any reason our 501(c)(3) is not approved, we will contact you with options including a full refund.

Where does my money go?

100% of your donation funds mission work: free guidance for families, state-by-state research to keep our content accurate, AI infrastructure for our Ask Me Anything tool, and provider network development. There is no fundraising overhead or CEO salary. We are a small, all-volunteer or contract-based team.

What is Guiding Pathways Foundation?

We are a nonprofit that builds free web and mobile apps to help families navigate developmental disability services, autism care, adult transition, and related systems. Our apps include Autism Pathways, Adult Pathways, and Disability Pathways. All guidance is free. Optional premium tools ($14.99/mo) currently help sustain the mission until we can operate fully on donations.

Why do you have premium tools if the mission is "free for families"?

Our guidance is always free. Premium tools (unlimited AI questions, unlimited housing searches, unlimited reminders) exist to help sustain the mission during our early years. Every premium subscription keeps the free tier free for another family. Our goal is to phase out premium as donations grow, so eventually everything is free forever.

Can I donate in someone's honor or memory?

Yes. In the donation form, you can add a note and we will send a card to the honoree or their family (for gifts $50+). Please contact hello@guidingpathways.help for details.

Can I set up recurring giving?

Yes. Choose "monthly" on the donation form. You can cancel anytime by logging into your Givebutter account or emailing us.

How do I know my donation was received?

You will receive an immediate email confirmation with your tax receipt. If you don't see it, check spam or contact us at hello@guidingpathways.help.

Can my company match my gift?

Many employers match nonprofit donations! Check with your HR department. We can provide documentation once our 501(c)(3) is approved.

Are there sponsorship opportunities for businesses or organizations?

Yes! Please email hello@guidingpathways.help to discuss corporate sponsorship, provider partnerships, or foundation grants.

Make the Apps Free for Families. Forever.