What Amity Foundation does

Amity Foundation is a California 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1981 in Tucson, Arizona, by Naya Arbiter and Rod Mullen, operating therapeutic community programs for individuals and families affected by addiction, trauma, incarceration, homelessness, and poverty. The organization runs residential treatment campuses in Arizona and California (including Circle Tree Ranch, Amistad de Los Angeles, Vista Ranch, Beacon, Dragonfly, and La Entrada de Los Angeles) and delivers in-prison treatment programs across 19 California state prisons through contracts with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), serving approximately 20,000 people annually. Its core methodology combines the proprietary Medicine Wheel framework (Emotional Intelligence, Moral Development, Restorative Paradigms, and Family Dynamics) with the evidence-based Seeking Safety program for PTSD and substance use, supported by a 14-volume proprietary curriculum developed by the late founder.

Amity generates revenue through a diversified mix of government grants and contracts (CDCR, California DHCS, U.S. Department of Labor, EDD), charitable donations via website and fundraising events, private tuition and out-of-network insurance for residential programs, and emerging mission-aligned streams such as an alumni NFT marketplace through a partnership with The Impact Collective. The organization also acts as Third Party Administrator for LA County's Care First Community Investment program, extending its role into grant administration. Stanford University research in 2021 validated a 92% reduction in one-year conviction rates for participants in transitional housing for nine months or longer, and internal figures cite a 47% recidivism reduction for combined prison-and-therapeutic-community participants.

Following co-founder Naya Arbiter's death in March 2022, Doug Bond serves as President and CEO with Rod Mullen continuing as Co-Founder and Former CEO. Leadership is built heavily on lived experience, with senior staff including former program participants who progressed from clients to faculty. Beyond direct service delivery, Amity operates Employment Services with vocational training (including Apartment Maintenance certification and the Careers for a Cause program), administers CFCI grants as Third Party Administrator, and engages in policy advocacy through bodies such as the San Quentin Transformation Advisory Council. The organization has historically not pursued private equity or venture capital funding and remains primarily dependent on government contracts and philanthropic support.

Name

Amity Foundation

Legal name

Amity Foundation

Website

https://amityfdn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Amity Foundation is a California 501(c)(3) non-profit operating therapeutic community residential campuses and in-prison treatment programs across 19 California prisons, serving approximately 20,000 formerly incarcerated and addiction-affected individuals annually through government contracts, donations, and tuition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services and Rehabilitation

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Therapeutic community programs
• Reentry rehabilitation services
• Substance abuse treatment
• In-prison education programs
• Recidivism reduction services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Primary revenue source from contracts with California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and other government agencies for in-prison programs, reentry services, and youth offender programs. Received $2.78 million Youth Offender Program grant for Valley State Prison.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and events like the Autumn Brunch fundraiser. Accepts donations via website (give.amityfdn.org), text ('AMITY' to 325-603-3395), and mail (checks to PO Box 3043 Tucson, AZ 85702-3043).
3. Private Tuition and Insurance: Private pay tuition and out-of-network insurance accepted for residential programs. Enrollment team handles insurance verification and payment arrangements.
4. NFT Sales and Alumni Art: Partnership with The Impact Collective allows alumni artists to sell artwork as NFTs, with artists receiving 50% of sales. Creates revenue stream for graduates while supporting current students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Amity Foundation is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates therapeutic community residential programs, in-prison treatment and reentry services, employment training, and transitional housing for individuals and families affected by addiction, trauma, incarceration, homelessness, and poverty. Its offerings span multiple residential campuses in Arizona and California, programs inside 19 California state prisons, and community-based reentry initiatives, all organized around a proprietary Medicine Wheel framework and evidence-based curricula.

Product overview

Amity Foundation operates as a multi-campus therapeutic community organization providing rehabilitation, reentry, and support services to individuals affected by addiction, trauma, incarceration, poverty, and homelessness. The organization runs therapeutic community programs at residential campuses in Arizona and California, in-prison treatment services across 19 California state prisons, and community-based reentry housing programs. Key programs include Employment Services with vocational training and job placement, the Careers for a Cause employment program, the Seeking Safety evidence-based treatment for PTSD and substance use, the Care First Community Investment Third Party Administrator for grant management, and an NFT marketplace partnership for alumni artists. Services focus on personal growth, emotional literacy, social responsibility, and practical life skills to help participants achieve employment, housing, education, and family reunification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Therapeutic Community Residential Programs Long-term residential treatment grounded in the Medicine Wheel approach (emotional intelligence, moral development, restorative paradigms, family dynamics) for adults affected by addiction, trauma, incarceration, and homelessness. Delivered at multiple campuses including Circle Tree Ranch (Tucson), Amistad de Los Angeles, Vista Ranch (San Diego), Beacon, Dragonfly, and La Entrada de Los Angeles.
• In-Prison Services Treatment readiness, substance abuse counseling, cognitive behavioral training, and educational curricula delivered inside 19 California state prisons (including Valley State Prison, Kern Valley State Prison, Salinas Valley State Prison) under contract with CDCR.
• Seeking Safety Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% less likely to be convicted of a crime within a year of release for program participants (Stanford 2021 study)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Treatment Communities of America (TCA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2023National organization representing therapeutic communities. Amity hosted TCA representatives to tour campuses and familiarize them with Amity's recent work and efforts. Represents peer recognition and knowledge sharing within therapeutic community field.
• The Impact CollectiveminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 December 2022NFT marketplace partnership allowing Amity alumni artists to digitize and sell artwork as non-fungible tokens. Artists receive 50% of sales proceeds. The Impact Collective provides user-friendly platform accepting credit cards and cryptocurrency, acting as manager/promoter for alumni art. This creates revenue stream for graduates while raising awareness about Amity's recidivism reduction efforts.
• California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner operating programs in 19 California state prisons including Male Community Reentry Program and Custody to Community Transitional Reentry Program. Programs allow incarcerated people with two years or less remaining to serve sentences in community-based transitional housing with rehabilitative services.
• California Division of Rehabilitative ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver Seeking Safety program and life skills curriculum to DJJ youth offenders. Received $2.78 million grant to envelop vulnerable youth aged 18-25 with focused education and rehabilitation treatment at Valley State Prison.
• Los Angeles County Justice, Care, and Opportunities DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored 'A Healing Space' community healing event addressing trauma with various services. LA County provides funding and policy support for reentry and recidivism reduction programs.
• Workforce Investment BoardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with local Workforce Investment Boards to coordinate vocational training, job placement, and employment services for program participants.
• Community CollegesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with community colleges for educational coordination, including Project Rebound, LAUSD, and direct college partnerships. Careers for a Cause (C4C) program taught at community colleges.
• California Redistricting CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with the California Redistricting Commission to inform Californians on CRC's independent statewide redistricting efforts, engaging diverse and under-represented communities including formerly incarcerated people.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): National nonprofit providing immediate employment services to people recently released from incarceration. Directly comparable reentry employment training and placement mission and serves as a benchmark for outcomes reporting in the field.
• Exodus Recovery: California-based behavioral health organization providing mental health, substance abuse, and forensic/reentry services across the state. Comparable California-focused service portfolio and DHCS-licensed provider status.
• HealthRIGHT 360: California-based nonprofit providing residential substance abuse treatment, mental health services, primary care, and reentry support. Directly comparable as a multi-program nonprofit serving justice-involved populations with residential and outpatient care across California.
• Homeboy Industries: Los Angeles-based nonprofit serving formerly incarcerated and gang-involved individuals with employment, education, mental health, and rehabilitation services. Comparable geographic focus (LA) and reentry population, with overlapping business lines like vocational training.
• Tarzana Treatment Centers: California-based nonprofit providing substance abuse treatment, mental health services, primary care, and HIV services with residential and outpatient programs. Comparable California DHCS-licensed provider footprint and high-acuity population.
• Five Keys Schools and Programs: California-based nonprofit providing accredited educational and reentry services inside correctional facilities and in the community. Direct peer in California prison-based programming with overlapping CDCR relationships.
• The Fortune Society: New York-based nonprofit offering alternatives-to-incarceration, reentry services, supportive housing, and workforce development. Comparable mission of supporting people impacted by incarceration with comprehensive wraparound services.

Broad incumbents

• CoreCivic: Large publicly traded corrections and community reentry services provider operating community correction centers, residential reentry, and workforce programs at scale. Represents a broader incumbent with substantially greater capital access and geographic reach than Amity.

Regional players

• Talbert House: Ohio-based nonprofit providing behavioral health, substance abuse treatment, and corrections/reentry services. Comparable service model (residential, outpatient, correctional, reentry) but primarily Ohio-focused rather than California.

Others

• Treatment Communities of America (TCA): National membership organization representing therapeutic communities. Amity is a member/partner that has hosted TCA campus tours; TCA is comparable as the industry body representing the therapeutic community model that Amity operates and could become a channel for national expansion.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/amityfoundation
• Xx.com/AmityFoundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Amity Foundation