Name

The Michaels Organization

Legal name

The Michaels Organization

Website

https://tmo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Camden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Development Fees: Development fees generated from new construction and rehabilitation of multifamily housing properties across affordable, military, student, and market-rate segments. Revenue is project-based and tied to development pipeline.
2. Property Management: Ongoing property management fees from owned portfolio and fee management services for other private and nonprofit owners. Creates recurring revenue stream from managed units.
3. Construction Services: General contracting and construction management services provided through internal construction capabilities for company-developed projects and potentially external clients.
4. Investment Management: Asset management, investment management, and portfolio optimization services. Includes loan conversions, debt refinancing, tax credit resyndication opportunities, and investor relations.
5. Tax Credit Financing: Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) syndication generates private equity for developments. Federal and state tax credits allocated by housing finance agencies provide gap financing for affordable housing projects.
6. Acquisition and Disposition Fees: Transaction fees from acquisitions of existing properties and portfolios, as well as disposition fees from sales of stabilized assets.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Michaels Organization is a national residential real estate developer, owner, and operator that develops, constructs, finances, and manages rental housing communities across five segments: affordable, military, student, attainable (workforce), and market-rate/active adult. It operates an integrated platform spanning development, construction, property management, investment management, and acquisitions, with a portfolio exceeding 75,000 units and $12 billion in assets.

Product overview

The Michaels Organization is a national residential real estate company operating as a platform of integrated services across five distinct housing segments: Affordable Housing (the nation's largest private-sector owner), Attainable/Workforce Housing, Market-Rate/Active Adult Housing, Student Living (Michaels Student Living), and Military Housing (Frontier Heritage Communities). Their service offerings include Development, Management, Construction, and Investment/Acquisitions. The company also operates non-profit initiatives including the Educational Foundation (scholarships) and Better Tomorrows (social services). Technology-wise, they implemented RealPage OneSite for property management operations. The portfolio spans more than 600 communities with over 75,000 units across 39 states, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Affordable Housing Development, ownership, and management of affordable rental housing communities using tax credits, HUD programs, and mixed-income financing. Michaels is the nation's largest private-sector owner of affordable housing. Targeted at low- and moderate-income families and seniors.
• Michaels Student Living Integrated student housing platform providing development, design, construction, management, and operations for on-campus, P3, and purpose-built off-campus student housing. More than $2.6 billion of student housing assets across 30 projects and over 22,000 beds. Targeted at universities and student residents.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $21 million in scholarships awarded to residents since 1991, with $2.477 million awarded in 2026 alone to 271 students
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Episcopal Diocese of PennsylvaniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Michaels selected as strategic partner for the Diocese's Transformation Initiative to evaluate and repurpose underutilized church properties into housing. The initiative aims to develop mixed-use, market-rate, workforce, and active adult housing across 26 church properties in Greater Philadelphia, potentially yielding 1,000+ housing units. Michaels serves as development consultant on master plan and developer on selective sites. Pipeline may break ground in late 2026 or 2027.
• GRJ LLCmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Joint venture partnership for acquisition of Villas on Rensch, an off-campus student housing community near University at Buffalo. GRJ serves as vertically integrated owner/developer/operator with focus on multifamily and mixed-use assets. First joint venture between Michaels and GRJ LLC.
• Capital Solutions Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Joint venture partner for student housing acquisitions. Founded in 1991 with investment portfolio exceeding $2 billion. Transaction marks the fifth acquisition Michaels has done in partnership with Capital Solutions. Provides equity for real estate opportunities across student housing sector.
• Temerity Strategic PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Formation of programmatic co-GP partnership focused on purpose-built student housing near Power 4 and Research 1 universities. Venture targets more than $1 billion of student housing acquisitions and developments nationwide. TSP closed on seed portfolio of nearly $300 million in aggregate capitalization. Michaels brings vertically integrated operating platform and $2.6 billion in existing student housing assets.
• Urban PracticecoreTechnology or IntegrationLeading residential architecture, design, and planning firm serving as design partner for Michaels developments. Both companies moved headquarters to TRIAD building on Camden waterfront. Specializes in urban planning, sustainability, and community impact. Design partner for military housing (Fort Belvoir Young Village, Fort Benning Norton Court, Fort Leavenworth New Kansa), affordable housing, and church repurposing projects.
• CBG Building CompanymajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for military housing developments including Fort Leavenworth New Kansa, Fort Belvoir Young Village, and Fort Benning Norton Court. Provides construction expertise for new military family housing projects.
• CHAminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering firm providing design services for Fort Leavenworth New Kansa military housing development.
• Holstein WhiteminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering firm providing design services for Fort Leavenworth New Kansa military housing development.
• Onyx EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering firm providing design services for Fort Leavenworth New Kansa military housing development.
• Better TomorrowscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with nonprofit organization providing comprehensive programming and individualized case management for affordable housing communities since 1989. Focused around Health and Wellness, Educational Success, Economic Stability, and Strong Communities. First-of-its-kind social service initiative in affordable housing.
• RealPagemajorTechnology or IntegrationMichaels partnered with RealPage to implement OneSite comprehensive property management platform, modernizing property operations. Partnership provided extensive hands-on support resulting in simplified user experience, centralized efficiency, and improved leasing cycles.
• Virtua HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system partnership to develop affordable housing projects in Camden, NJ addressing workforce housing shortages. Collaboration leverages distinct strengths of healthcare and real estate development to support workforce recruitment and retention.
• DisneymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partnership to develop affordable housing projects in Central Florida, addressing workforce housing needs in Disney's operating region.
• Move For HungerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational nonprofit fighting hunger and food waste. Michaels participates in Move For Hunger events including Mardi Gras-style parade at Apartmentalize 2026 conference, supporting food donation and hunger relief initiatives.
• The Michaels Organization Educational FoundationcoreOthersPrivately funded nonprofit affiliate established in 1991 by Founder Michael J. Levitt and wife Pat Levitt. Provides academic scholarships to residents of Michaels-owned and managed housing communities. Donations matched 2-for-1 by Levitts. Has awarded more than $21 million in scholarships since inception.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WinnCompanies: Boston-based owner, developer, and manager of multifamily housing with strong overlap in affordable housing, military housing (DoD privatized portfolio), student housing, and market-rate rentals. Closest comparable in business model, segment mix, and government/institutional partnerships to Michaels.
• Hunt Companies: Diversified real estate platform with a major military housing footprint (DoD privatized housing), affordable/LIHTC development, student housing, and multifamily ownership. Direct competitor to Michaels in military and affordable housing development and management.
• Bozzuto Group: Privately held multifamily developer, owner, and manager with a national footprint spanning market-rate, affordable, and student housing. Comparable vertically integrated platform (development, construction, management) and similar B2G/institutional sales motion.
• The NRP Group: Cleveland-based national multifamily developer, owner, and operator specializing in affordable, mixed-income, and market-rate housing. Direct competitor in LIHTC-funded development and government-subsidized communities.
• Campus Apartments: Philadelphia-based student housing developer, owner, and manager with on- and off-campus portfolios at Power 5 and Research 1 universities. Closest direct peer to Michaels Student Living in P3 partnerships and purpose-built student housing.

Broad incumbents

• The Related Companies: Large, diversified national developer with Related Affordable Housing Group as a major affordable/LIHTC developer and owner. Overlaps with Michaels in affordable housing and mixed-income developments but operates across a much broader portfolio (commercial, market-rate luxury, mixed-use).
• Greystar Real Estate Partners: Largest apartment manager globally and a major developer/owner across multifamily, student, and affordable housing. Comparable in scale and in the integration of investment management, development, and property management.
• Lincoln Property Company: Large national multifamily developer, owner, and third-party manager. Comparable platform scale and integrated property management model, though with less affordable and military housing concentration.
• Equity Residential: Large publicly traded apartment REIT focused on urban and high-end market-rate rentals. Useful comparable for capital markets, operating cost structure, and platform scale, though Michaels' affordable/military/student mix differs materially.
• AvalonBay Communities: Large publicly traded apartment REIT developing, redeveloping, acquiring, and managing market-rate multifamily communities. Comparable scale and geographic footprint to Michaels' market-rate segment; useful public-market benchmark.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheMichaelsOrg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1501714/admin
• Instagraminstagram.com/themichaelsorg
• Xx.com/TheMichaelsOrg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Michaels Organization